What is the International Animation Day?

In 2002, ASIFA, the International Animated Film Association, launched a global event to celebrate the art of animation. October 28th was proclaimed as International Animation Day, commemorating the first public performance of Emile Reynaud’s Theatre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris in 1892.

Beyond the several national ASIFA Chapters (more than 30 different countries) which celebrate the International Animation Day, ASIFA invites cultural structures to join in by screening animated films, organizing workshops, exhibiting artwork and stills, providing technical demonstrations, and helping to promote the art of animation. Such a celebration is an outstanding opportunity of putting the animated film in the limelight, and making this art more accessible to the public.

In 2007, International Animation Day was observed in 42 different countries all over the world. For the first time, countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mozambique and Poland participated. Some countries considerably developed the celebration and extended it to several cities and several days, especially in France and Brazil, but also in Canada, Hungary, India, Israel, Portugal, Sweden and USA Each year, the Asifa also calls upon a famous director to create the visual of the IAD. This visual is then adapted for each country in order to guarantee a worldwide visibility of the event. Previous editions involved the work of directors such as Iouri Tcherenkov, Paul Driessen or Abi Feijo.

What is shown?

Some full length animation films have major box office successes – and this is true on all continents – partly because they go further than basic entertainment. Animated shorts, TV series, video clips, ads, and special effects also invade our different screens.

We are thus witnessing an important development of this art, regarding not only inspirational sources but also influences from many different fields. An extraordinary range of techniques are imagined – drawing, painting, animating puppets and objects, using clay, sand, paper, computerised techniques etc – which, combined with stories, sets and sounds, give an infinite variety of aesthetics and messages.

ASIFA’s role is both to enhance and satisfy the public’s curiosity, in particular with the means of other forms of shows: encounters, concerts, exhibitions, dynamic activities related to contemporary events or local interests…

Communication tools

Each year, ASIFA calls upon a famous animator to create the visual of IAD. This visual is then adapted for each country in order to guarantee a worldwide view of the event. Previous editions involved the work of animators such as Iouri Tcherenkov, Paul Driessen, Abi Feijo, Eric Ledune, Noureddin Zarrinkelk and Michel Ocelot. In 2009, Nina Paley (creator of Sita Sings the Blues) designed the IAD visual.

Program exchanges

In 2005, a system of program exchanges was created to help participants put together culturally diverse animation programs from around the world. In 2008, programmes coming from Brazil, China, France, Hungary, Korea, Poland, Portugal, Russia, USA, Ghana, etc. were proposed. The exchange is an incredible opportunity to discover films from all over the world during this great international animation celebration.

The event organisers who wish to screen one of these programs must contact the ASIFA representative of their country to order the DVDs.

For any further information, please contact Juliette CROCHU, coordinator of the International Animation Day on behalf of Asifa International.

Contact : Juliette Crochu, Afca-Asifa France E-mail : j.crochu@afca.asso.fr Phone : 33 1 48 78 25 67 / Fax : 33 1 40 23 09 17