US Hollywood

Over the course of five decades, ASIFA-Hollywood has dedicated itself to being one of the premiere organizations in the world promoting the art and industry of animation…but that’s only the beginning of the story. From its inception in the early 1960s, ASIFA-Hollywood has managed to set trends and establish institutions, and even launch an industry or two. Animation cels were not considered collectible art until ASIFA-Hollywood began to offer them for sale to the public. Awards were given to animation only on a token basis until the creation of the Annie Awards. Both of these innovations were the creations of the guiding force of ASIFA-Hollywood, June Foray. But there is so much more to ASIFA-Hollywood’s story: historic screenings and presentations; classes; AniFest; the Animation Opportunities Expo; the Animation Archive; and publications such as The Inbetweener and Grafitti, just to name a few of our more visible activities.

The list of people who have been involved with ASIFA-Hollywood is a virtual who’s who: June Foray, Bill Scott, Steven Bosustow, Ward Kimball, Frank and Ollie, Chuck Jones, Mark Hamill, Gary Owens, Bill Littlejohn, Roy Disney, Tom Kenny, Seth Green, Stan Lee…even William Shatner and Phyllis Diller!

ASIFA-Hollywood is a California non-profit organization established to promote and encourage the art and craft of animation. To achieve this purpose, ASIFA-Hollywood is dedicated to striving for the following goals:

  • Support and encourage animation education
  • Support the preservation and critical evaluation of animation industry
  • Recognize achievement of excellence in the art and field of animation
  • Increase the public awareness about animation
  • Act as a liaison to encourage the free exchange of ideas within the animation community
  • Encourage journalism documenting current trends and activities in animation
  • Encourage the social interaction of professional and non-professional animation enthusiasts
  • Encourage the development and expression of all forms of animation

To meet these objectives, ASIFA-Hollywood sponsors the following programs and projects:

ANNIE AWARDS
Since 1972, ASIFA-Hollywood has hosted an annual awards ceremony to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the art of animation. Originally designed to honor the lifetime achievements of legendary veterans of the field, the Annie Awards now recognizes the year’s best animated productions and outstanding individual achievements in the field of animation. Qualified members participate in the nomination process and final voting. The Annie Awards are regarded as animation’s highest honor, and the ceremony is one of ASIFA-Hollywood’s most prestigious and elegant events. Information on the Annie Awards can be found at the official website.

ANIMATION ARCHIVES
At its facility in Burbank, California, ASIFA-Hollywood is building an archive, museum, and library devoted to the art of animation. Volunteers are hard at work digitizing artwork, cartoons and other educational material for inclusion into a digital animation database for the use of artists, scholars and students. Plans are underway to syndicate the collection to universities, libraries and museums around the world.

ANIMATION PRESERVATION PROJECT
Prior to 1950, motion pictures were printed on unstable, flammable nitrate film stock that decomposed over time, placing many early animated films in danger of being lost forever. Through the Animation Preservation Project, ASIFA-Hollywood seeks out and rescues endangered cartoons, and raises funds to preserve them on safety film stock.

ANIMATION EDUCATOR’S FORUM
The Animation Educator’s Forum is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of animation through education. Our members, with their diverse backgrounds in both the animation and educational fields, are focused on extending their knowledge and experience to others within the burgeoning animation community, worldwide.

MEMBER EVENTS
Throughout the year members are invited to special screenings of the latest animated features often with an informative Q & A with the filmmakers. There are also frequent panel discussions and screenings celebrating past animation classics as well as educational symposiums aimed at both the student and the professional.

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