Adventures in Plymptoons! A documentary about Oscar nominated animator, Bill Plympton by Alexia Anastasio.

Meet the Man that Blazed his Own Way in Life, Animation, & Hollywood

When it comes to independent animators, Bill Plympton is the undisputed king. His illustrations have been featured in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Penthouse, and National Lampoon.

Since 1981, when his political cartoon Plymptoons was syndicated nationally, he has become a major force and inspiration in the animation world. His work is recognized instantly: he's the guy behind the animated morphing heads, which became famous on MTV, as well as the opening credit sequence for The Simpsons.

Moving into motion pictures, Plympton earned two Academy Award® nominations, has directed and animated over sixty animation shorts, live action features, music videos, commercials and documentaries including: One of Those Days, How To Kiss, 25 Ways to Quit Smoking, Plymptoons, The Tune, and Mutant Aliens. He's the only artist who has animated six feature length films ...all by himself.

Alexia Anastasio's Adventures in Plymptoons! goes deep inside the method and madness of America s most independent animator, creatively incubated in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Interviews with many of Plympton s collaborators, such as Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants), David Silverman (Director The Simpsons Movie ), Terry Gilliam (Writer, Monty Python and the Holy Grail ), Martha Plimpton ( The Good Wife ), Matthew Modine ( Full Metal Jacket ), Ed Begley, Jr., Peter Jason, Moby and Weird Al Yankovic, offer candid and comic insights into the irreverent man.

Adventures in Plymptoons! while being entertaining and thought provoking, allows its audience to explore the mind of a true genius and perhaps gleen helpful life & career hints from a man who has become an international success by not selling out.

TICKETS FOR THE LOS ANGELES ANIMATION FESTIVAL

Admirer and Connoisseur of Great Animation, Sean Lennon, To Serve As Artistic Director

LOS ANGELES, CA, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 – Tickets for the highly anticipated 3^rd annual Los Angeles Animation Festival (LAAF) are currently on sale and may be purchased online at http://blog.laafest.com/tickets/. The Festival will run from Wednesday, March 7^th through Sunday, March 11^th at the historic Regent Showcase in Hollywood. Festival passes and tickets to all individual events can also be purchased in person at the Regent Showcase beginning on March 7^th.

Longtime LAAF supporter, Sean Lennon, is serving as this year’s Artistic Director and has hand selected four feature films which he will personally introduce. In addition, Lennon has also selected some animated shorts from famed Japanese pop artist Keiichi Tanaami which will screen before wach of his feature selections.

Events honoring celebrated animator and Academy Award^® nominee, Bill Plympton, will include the world theatrical premiere of Adventures in Plymptoons, a documentary on Plympton’s career by Alexia Anastasio, and a special screening of Plympton’s first animated feature film, The Tune, celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. Additional events include a cast and crew screening of The Iron Giant with a post-screening Q&A with director Brad Bird; a revival of Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Team America: World Police with Phil Hendrie & Puppeteers LIVE on-stage; a screening of Shrek honoring its 10^th Anniversary and it’s win of the first Oscar^® for Animated Feature; and a screening of this year’s current Oscar^® Nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, A Cat in Paris.

LOS ANGELES ANIMATION FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

Wednesday 3/7/12

7:30 PM OPENING NIGHT PARTY: Host TOM KENNY, stage show, special guests, festival previews/teaser reels, music from live band NYLON PINK (www.nylonpink.tv) and DJ TUNA.

Plus JERRY BECK'S Cartoon-orama

Joint Event with ONE PLUS HUB Productions and LA Film School

Thursday 3/8/12

7:15 PM SEAN LENNON Presents AKIRA
10:15 PM ANIMAYO Presents TWO DIAMONDS - Erotic Animation by Female Directors (Adults Only)

Friday 3/9/12

7.30 PM CHARITY SCREENING IRON GIANT - Cast & Crew Event with Director BRAD BIRD attending. Great 35mm print on the big screen.
10:00 PM MTV LIQUID TELEVISION Best of Historical and the New Series followed by an AFTER PARTY sponsored by LIQUID TELEVISION & TITMOUSE featuring music from live band NYLON PINK (www.nylonpink.tv) and DJ TUNA.

Saturday 3/10/12

12:00 NOON Family "ENCORE" Matinee IRON GIANT - reduced price admission
2:00 PM Web Sensation DICK FIGURES LIVE! - screening with cast & crew!
4:00 PM SEAN LENNON Presents FANTASTIC PLANET
5:30 PM ASIFA presentation of GULLIVER’S TRAVEL (1939) & Superman short “Mechanical Monsters"
7:30 PM HONOREE BILL PLYMPTON WORLD PREMIERE ADVENTURES IN PLYMPTOONS (Bill Plympton & Dir. Alexia Anastasio in person)
9:30 PM WEST COAST PREMIERE A MONSTER IN PARIS
11:30 PM TEAM AMERICA - with PHIL HENDRIE and puppeteers on-stage

Sunday 3/11/12

12:00PM THE CAL ARTS LEGACY- the program will feature the student works of JOHN LASSETER, HENRY SELICK, and the creators of TV hits SpongeBob SquarePants, Power Puff Girls, and Dexter’s Lab as well as the films of recent graduates

2:00 PM GALA EVENT DREAMWORKS and SHREK - celebrating its 10th Anniversary Oscar win & feature fil screening
4:00 PM 2012 OSCAR Nominee - A CAT IN PARIS

6:00 PM SEAN LENNON Presents GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

8:00 PM HONOREE BILL PLYMPTON 20th Anniversary Screening THE TUNE - Bill Plympton in person. And LAAF Awards Ceremony with host TOM KENNY

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ANIMATION FESTIVAL
The Los Angeles Animation Festival was founded in 2007 by John Andrews and Miles Flanagan. Frustrated by the lack of a cohesive animation festival in Los Angeles, the founders sought to create a festival experience that allowed unknown animators to meet and mingle with industry professionals. LAAF is now the largest International Animation Festival in Los Angeles and offers a unique social and business experience to those attending, celebrating both mainstream and independent animation with special screenings, events, panels, awards and contests. More information regarding the festival can be found at www.LAAFest.com.

Miles Flanagan, LAAF Founder & Co-Director
LAAF co-founder Miles Flanagan has been producing and directing commercials and station IDs in the U.S. since the mid 1990's. Originally from the UK and a graduate of both St. Martin's School of Art and Middlesex University, he directed music videos for The Pogues, Dave Stewart and Paul McCartney before coming to the States. His first job in the U.S. was to create and direct the opening theatrical logo for Lakeshore Entertainment. His award-winning animated spots include work for Microsoft, Pringles, Visa, and CBS. He recently opened his own studio, Parallax Studioworks, Inc. to develop features and another film festival in LA.

John Andrews, LAAF Founder & Co-Director
LAAF co-founder John Andrews served as MTV's VP of Animation in the mid 1990's. He was hired to produce the series Beavis & Butt-Head in 1992 and produced most of MTV’s animated shows in the 90’s as well as the feature Beavis & Butt-head Do America. In 1997, he became Executive Producer of Commercials and Special Projects for Klasky Csupo where he remained for 12 years. Currently John serves as Executive Producer and Creative Director of 6 Point Media and EP of Development at Six Point Harness.

Ross Otterman, Festival Director
LAAF Festival Director Ross Otterman is a Los Angeles based Producer with a number of recent feature film producing credits. In 2010, Ross Otterman produced Death and Cremation, overseeing the project’s development, casting and production. In 2011, he produced the thriller The Employer and followed up the project with the horror-psychological drama Excision, a 2012 Sundance selection. Most recently he produced the action comedy In Security.