“Animation Takes on the World (Wide Web)”

May, 2002
The future of East Coast animation is here… and it is as accessible to the animator as his or her computer. Just the click of a mouse takes an amateur, student, or professional animator all to one new, yet prominent name in animation: Animators Unite, Inc.!

Animators Unite, Inc. is a non-profit corporation aimed at improving the future of East Coast animation via an Internet-based community of services and support. Using information, current events, news, and promotional services as a vehicle, Animators Unite, Inc appeals to both the aspiring student animator and professional alike. Membership to the web site (www.animatorsunite.org) is free to all. This site offers a wealth of discussion boards, a free newsletter, an online film gallery of members’work, animation news, upcoming local and national events, as well as local and national job postings. The only requirements for membership are an active email address and a love of animation!

A board of local New York City artists leads animators Unite, Inc.: Robert Kohr, Celia Bullwinkel, and Grace Koleczko. Through their hard work and perseverance, Animators Unite, Inc. continues to grow tremendously towards its goal of connecting animators on both a local and national level. From the School of Visual Arts (where the Animators Unite, Inc. was conceived) to the surrounding communities of New York City (where it continues to thrive today), Animators Unite, Inc. is growing through its web site — reaching students, teachers, and local artists. It was announced in January of this year that Animators Unite, Inc. received a very generous grant from the Visual Arts Foundation, which is diligently applied to improving the web site and increasing web participation.

Participation within the web community is vital to Animators Unite, Inc., as it exists for the animator to display and discuss his and her work, as well as to see what his and her peers are producing. One of its primary goals is to provide an excellent promotional service to all artists with animated films. Currently several thesis films by SVA 2001 alumni are available for viewing by visiting the “Film” section of AnimatorsUnite.com. These include Mike Pappa’s The Elite, James Ross’ The Metronome Heart, Celia Bullwinkel’s The Rammellzee Three, Chris McDonnell’s Sketch Modern, and Michael Blank’s Waldemar. Also available is Michl Banks’ Face (2000), and Rob Kohr and Rich Browd’s The Malicious Pizza Guy (1999).

Those with animated films should submit inquires to films@animatorsunite.com to have their film shown on the Animators Unite, Inc. web site. It is the intent of Animators Unite, Inc. to host film competitions in the near future — check the web site often for new films and details!

Also coming soon to the Animators Unite, Inc. web site… a memorial to the late Chuck Jones. Animators Unite, Inc. is currently building an online tribute to the late animation genius, which will include the life story of Mr. Jones and a message board where visitors can leave tributes. Highlighted in the memorial is a ten minute filmed interview with Chuck Jones by Charlie Rose from 1994. Animators Unite, Inc. is only a click away — the future of East Coast animation is at www.animatorsunite.org . It is a virtual headquarters of all things animation!

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“Kohr unites animators in cyberspace”

by Kristan Zimmer, Press Staff

Thursday, April 11, 2002
For most college students, drawing cartoons is what you do when you are trying to avoid doing work, but for Robert Kohr, 1999 graduate of Ridgefield High School and animation major at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, drawing cartoons is his life’s work.

But while Mr. Kohr loves what he is doing, he is slowly discovering an animator’s life isn’t as fun and fanciful as the worlds he or she creates. As corporations get larger and companies such as Disney, AOL/Time Warner, Viacom and Dreamworks continue to consolidate and lay off even the best artists, it makes it harder and harder for artists to find their place on the sketchpad of life. This is why Mr. Kohr has created another world for animators of all shapes and sizes can unite.

AnimatorsUnite.com is a web site and non-profit corporation devoted to bringing animators together and providing them with informational and promotional materials. There is a West Coast union for animators but since the 1980’s there hasn’t been one for the East Coast. Although he dislikes calling it a union, Mr. Kohr, along with fellow classmates, felt a place should be formed to “develop like-mindedness among animators.”

Public Guild
“Over time we found that it is death by association to say that we are a unio” said Mr. Ko”hPresently we are acting more like a guild or an online animation version of PBS. Our site offers a non-biased way for animators to meet without geographic, racial, or sexual boundaries.”

He teamed up with classmate Celia Bullwinkel and fellow Ridgefield High School graduate Adrien Zap (Class of 2000) to start this Web site. Mr. Kohr said Ms. Zap, a photo major at New York University, has since resigned from the team but she is an excellent writer and wrote the group’s articles of incorporation. He said that her original input was a valuable asset since she was able to supply an objective opinion as an outsider of the animation industry.

Mr. Kohr, president and chairman of Animators Unite, said he and the two other staff members — Ms. Bullwinkel, vice president of development and trustee, and Grace Koleczko, art director — hope to raise interest in the site in the year to come as well as financing for it. Their goal is to have 20 films on the site by the end of the fiscal year and to create an online memorial to acclaimed animator, Chuck Jones, creator of Warner Bros. Characters Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian, Road Runner, Pepe le Pew, Sam and Michigan J. Frog. Mr. Jones recently died at 89 in Corona Del Mar, Calif., due to congestive heart failure.

Commentary on life
While his art is more realistic and darker in nature compared to the veteran Warner Bros. Artist, Mr. Kohr sees even the most fanciful of animated tales is about real life. “I am a traditional animato” said Mr. Kohr who advises young animators to draw from life. (His own cartoon, [ Metronome Heart* ], can be viewed on his Web site at www.kohr.tv.) “Animation is a commentary on life, thus we must understand it to commen.”

As he is just starting out himself, he knows how difficult the industry can be, so Mr. Kohr also hopes to include a Job board on the Web site for visitors and to have a film competition for all the films they collect for their site after their first year. While there are other venues for animators they hope to remain completely Web-based so that users around the globe can take advantage of the information they compile.

“We are also reaching into the world community,” said Mr. Kohr. “Film making is a business, but it is also an art,” said Mr. Kohr. “These factors are always at odds with one another.”

Mr. Kohr hopes the odds aren’t against them as they reach out to news organizations and contact New York and Los Angeles studios to ask for support. The School of Visual Arts has supplied Animators Unite with seed and grant money but it must come up with matching funds to meet its goal of $3,000 this year. Its non-profit status allows it to receive pro-bono legal service and offer those who donate money a tax break. But right now Mr. Kohr said Animators Unite is still a hobby, “an eccentric hobby, but a hobby.”

Most of all, he said, the Web site is there for the viewers and Animators Unite wants their input. Viewers, not a focus group, decide what gets best billing. “We are artist friendly in a business savvy and art unfriendly world.”

For those interested in viewing the site, the address is www.animatorsunite.com. Members may sign up for free. Mr. Kohr said he is still looking for designers and programmers who are interested in volunteering their talents, and is also seeking doantions. Those who would like to contribute may contact Mr. Kohr at
[ rkohr@animatorsunite.com ]. Anyone interested in posting a film on the site may write to [ films@aniamtorsunite.com ].

* The Metronome Heart is a film by James Ross.
It was edited by Robert Kohr.

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“Animators Unite”

by Adrien Zap

February, 2002
Have you heard about Animators Unite, Inc.? If not…head over to www.animatorsunite.com and be sure to check it out! It’s a brand new, East coast-based animation on-line community and you don’t want to miss out!

Animators Unite, Inc. offers a bunch of information through discussion boards, local and national news postings, announcements of upcoming events in the animation world, local contests, portals to other great animation web sites, as well as a film forum for members’ work. The newest film to enter the Animators Unite, Inc. gallery is SVA alumnus Chris McDonnell’s Sketch Modern (2001). This dramatic animation is a portrayal of a young artist sketching from streets the city - only to find her sketches later come to life and enter her world. Be sure to check the film section often as new films are added every month! Do you have a finished film you want the animation world to see? What better place to put it than in the Animators Unite, Inc. film gallery! Drop a line to films@animatorsunite.com to get in touch with Celia about making your film a part of the web site. And while you’re visiting the web site, be sure to register for FREE and become a member of Animators Unite, Inc. Membership includes the free Animators Unite, Inc. cyber newsletter and access to the discussion boards.

Animators Unite, Inc. is a non-profit incorporation under the state of New York since August of 2001, and has been generously sponsored by a grant from the Visual Arts Foundation.

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January 7, 2002
SVA student Robert Kohr (Animation 2003) has created a new online community organization called Animators Unite, Inc. (www.animatorsunite.com). Animators Unite, Inc. includes discussion boards, contests, galleries of members’ work, industry news, job postings, and upcoming events. This online community also hopes to serve as a support system where student animators can learn from one another’s experiences. Mr. Kohr is president of the organization, and SVA alum Celia Bullwinkel (Animation 2001) is vice president of development. In recognition of this unique forum for emerging animators, the Visual Arts Foundation recently awarded the organization a $1,000 grant.

< < RELATED LINKS >>
[ Animators Unite, Inc.™ in the Visual Arts Briefs ]

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December 10, 2001
Animators Unite, Inc. is a non-profit corporation operating with the intent of improving the future of the American animation industry - specifically by way of providing desperately needed informational services to the animation world through an Internet-based community, [ http://www.animatorsunite.com ].

This web service will offer numerous services pertaining to animation and its growth as an industry. These services include (but are not limited to) discussion boards, contests, and online galleries of members’ work, news pertaining to the world of animation, upcoming local and national events, and local and national job postings. All of this will be provided to the site member at no charge.

It is also the intent of this company to establish connections through the Animators Unite, Inc. community where students of animation might benefit from one another’s experiences. Those currently involved in the animation industry would also bring a great deal of knowledge and support to up and coming animators. Animators Unite, Inc. will approach various New York City institutions, as it has already done so with the School of Visual Arts, and will attempt to obtain memberships from the student body as well as teachers.

Animators Unite, Inc. exists for the animator to display and discuss his and her work, as well as to see what his and her peers are producing. We will provide news and information, primarily on topics that relate to the state of East Coast animation. Animators Unite, Inc. will also present specials on different studios and particular artists as well as feature a link page to other sites of interest. Overall, the goal of Animators Unite, Inc. is community building, to bring the animation community together to work for the common goal of the betterment of the animation industry.

Animators Unite, Inc. is proud to announce that it has received a very generous grant from the Visual Arts Foundation. All proceeds will go to the improving [ http://www.animatorsunite.com ] and developing our user base.

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October, 2002
ANIMATORS UNITE REMEMBERS CHUCK JONES.
Animators Unite, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that provides informational and promotional services to the animation industry, has dedicated an entire area of their site in remembrance of animator 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 and a forum to post your comments. Also included are links to additional sites to learn more about this amazing artist. Visit the Animators Unite Website at:
–> http://www.animatorsunite.com

Animators Unite recently partnered with Bill Plympton to host his revolutionary Ani-Cam, where you can watch Bill create his next feature film, HAIR HIGH, live on the Internet.
–> http://www.hairhigh.com

See the actual article at [ AWN ].

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January 31, 2003
Animators Unite is proud to announce that it is now exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

If you would like to support our mission to provide free informational and promotional services to the animation industry please make a tax deductible donation. You can use our donation tool at [ http://www.animatorsunite.org/donate ] or you can send a check made payable to Animators Unite, Inc. 525 85th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209.

As a result of receiving tax exempt status, we hope that we will be able to further accomplish our goal to promote the art of animation and build public awareness of independent animation.

Thank you for your continued support!

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by Jake Friedman

Witty animation with mature themes have inspired most of us [watch “Stoned Wheat” on Youtube.com] but much credit should probably be given to JJ Sedelmaier. Very few studios have a track record like JJ Sedelmaier Productions; upon entry of the studio, which currently houses six hired full-time staff, nearly a hundred awards grace the shelves. This is the studio that introduced us to SNL’s “TV Funhouse” the first season of “Beavis and Butthead,” the intro to “Strangers with Candy,” countless memorable animated commercials, and most recently the Tek Jansen sequences on “The Colbert Report.”

In an age of CG departments in 2D studios, or in which all the drawing done is on digital Wacom tablets and Cintiq screens, Sedelmaier’s studio, co-run by JJ and wife Patrice, stands out in the sea of time. It’s a studio that encourages a creative vibe with hands-on art, using [ooh!] light discs and [ah!] pencils. I was recently graced with freelance animation work at the White Plains studio, where one of my first tasks there was cleanup and inking with pens on paper!

There’s no question of Sedelmaier’s strength in the New York animation community, but I wanted to uncover the secrets of the masked man, Sedelmaier himself.

JF: What’s your sense of quality work that you strive for?

JJS: It’s based on really thinking about why something is designed the way it is and trying to keep it as valid as I can. You can have something that feels conventional, but there should be something about it that sparkles. Sometimes it’s a glorious, luscious style. Other times the style is very rudimentary, even crude, but there’s still something charming or smart about it. (Read the article)

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