We welcome ALL comments, questions, and opinions on issues pertaining to sections of the Animators Unite, Inc.™ web site. Also, please feel free to offer any news, current events, and/or information to share on AnimatorsUnite.com. Please leave a comment below to contact us. Some questions maybe posted as a comment below if we feel that our users can benefit from the information. Otherwise note “PRIVATE” in the subject.

Thanks

Robert Kohr
president, Animators Unite, Inc.

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Animators Unite is an animation / cartoon non-profit organization which provides educational, informational and promotional services to those in and who want to be a part of the animation industry. All of our services are free. In addition we strive to provide our users with plenty of entertainment from the world’s best animators and some of tomorrow’s rising talent.

We are currently a a New York not-for-profit corporation exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Though early on we chose to be reviewed by the IRS after 5 years and are currently awaiting the announcement of our permanent status.

Our original logo was in use from September 2001 until February of 2007. We are currently in the process of updating out site and porting over all of our content from a static HTML format to a much newer databased system.

Animators Unite had its beginnings in 2000 at the School of Visual Arts as an after school study group, which eventually evolved into an action group that attempted to change the nature of the animation program at the school. Following this success the group idealistically split into two totally separate groups Animators Unite and Animators Ink.

In 2001 Animators Unite was incorporated as a New York State non-profit company, and later obtained its tax exempt status from the state as well as exemption from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. After that we started with a BBS board and later added video services as well as articles to provide information and reviews dealing with the animation industry. In 2005 we started a podcast on iTunes, for now that project has been on hold, but should be up and running once this newest incarnation of Animators Unite is complete.

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Executives
Robert Kohr president
Robert is and alumna of School of Visual Arts and currently employed as a Flash Animator and Illustrator for Nickelodeon. His clients have included Bill Plympton, Alter Image, McDonalds, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Dominick Media.
[ http://www.kohrtoons.com ]

Celia Bullwinkel vice president of media
Celia is an alumna of School of Visual Artsand currently works at Little Airplane Productions as an animator on the new Nick Jr. series “Wonder Pets” . She recently finished working on Bill Plympton’s latest feature film, HAIR HIGH, and has worked at Oxygen Media, Nickelodeon’s “Little Bill” and Stretch Films.
[ http://www.celiabullwinkel.com ]

Brad Chmielewski vice president of systems
Brad is in his final semester at Columbia College Chicago where he has been studying television post-production, and focusing on broadcast graphics. He has been doing opening bumpers for students projects and working for the schools closed circuit television station.
[ http://www.digitalhitchhiker.com ]
Trustees

Robert Kohr Chairmen of the Board of Trustees
Celia Bullwinkel Trustee
Brad Chmielewski Trustee

Brian Haimes Trustee
Brian is a School of Visual Arts graduate and currently works for SO! Animation. He is a Stop Motion animator but has worked commercially for Bill Plympton, NBC Saturday Night Live, HBO, Radio City Music Hall and has worked on digital effects for a few independent features. Check out his personal website here.
[ http://www.brianhaimes.com ]

Staff

Jake Friedman Writter
Brad Chmielewski Web Designer, Writter
Chris McCullough Writter
Sean Gooden Writter

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October 7, 2002
One of animations most influential voices was Chuck Jones. He created so many well known characters including, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian, Road Runner, Pepe Ie Pew, Sam and Michigan J. Frog. His cartoons have been watched by children for over fifty years while still many adults find enjoyment in them too. In remembrance and as a tribute to his wonderful life, Animators Unite has set up an entire area of their site for Chuck Jones. Included is a ten minute interview that Chuck Jones had back in 1994 on the Charlie Rose Show, a biography of Chuck Jones’ life and achievements. Also included are links to additional sites to learn more about this amazing artist. You can learn more at [ Chuck Jones: A Tribute ].

Last month Animators Unite helped Bill Plympton build his revolutionary Ani-Cam which you can see at [ http://www.hairhigh.com ]. Watch as Bill creates his next feature film live over the internet.

Animators Unite is also proud to announce the launch of its 3 new films ORBIT by Valerie Morone, MY NIGHTMARE by Irra Verbitsky and HEALING MANDALA by Don Duga.

Animators Unite also has two new articles, one on the AXNY/BAAF from the perspective of an animator. The other is a review of Hayao Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY.

Finally in an effort to generate more revenue for the company, Animators Unite lanched its donations section. Those who like what we are doing and want to show their support can make a monetary contribution online at [ http://www.animatorsunite.com/donate/ ].

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by Rob Kohr

Axiotron and Other World Computing have teamed up to make the first ever Mac Tablet PC dubbed the ModBook. ModBook is basically a modded MacBook that is purchased from apple, the screen and keyboard are removed, then a Wacom Penable tablet screen in place on time making this machine a slate tablet pc, er um mac. Its available in all the MacBook configurations and also retains the iSight camera that is built into the cover.

Having a tablet PC myself (Motion Computing’s M1400) and seeing this in action, I have a few thoughts. First I tend you use quick access buttons a lot especially one that will mimic the space bar. This is a necessity if you want to move around in Photoshop or Alias Sketchbook. On my Motion Computing machine I have 4 buttons which I can assign any number of key board commands. Ones I also find useful include buttons that allow me to skip forward and back frame by frame in Flash. The ModBook does not have this.

On the plus side the ModBook actually has an eraser on its pen. This might sound surprising, but since most tablet PCs are not geared to artists, they tend to neglect what the artist needs. Unlike my Wacom Cintiq the M1400 tablet PC seems more geared to the mobile business type. In fact the first tablet PC I owned was a Compaq, which didn’t even have pressure sensitivity! (Read the article)

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by Jake Friedman

When the question arises as to the best character animator alive today, one unquestionably thinks of Andreas Deja. Following in the footsteps of the pioneers at Disney and learning from the “Nine Old Men” themselves, Deja has made a name for himself with the creation of such characters as King Triton, Jafar, Gaston, Scar, Hercules, Lilo and countless others. He could barely speak proper English when he came from Germany to animate on Disney feature films and was part of the resurgence of animation that started booming with The Little Mermaid. Recently, when all the drawing tables at Disney were being replaced with computers, Deja’s office was the one holdout to still use paper and a pencil-test machine, a decision that would otherwise the risk the company losing one of its greatest talents.

I had the chance to talk with Andreas, and it’s my honor to share some juicy bits of his history, technique and approach to the craft.

JF: What’s the hardest thing about being a Disney lead animator?

AD: The hardest thing is to live up to the expectation of pulling together important scenes of the films. You have to lead a group of animators and help them along to meet their footage requirements, and you have the least time of any animator. You have to work with the group, spend time with them, you have to do the most important pieces of film yourself because you are the lead animator on that character, and you are expected to do the most footage of them all. So it’s quite a challenge. (Read the article)

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