Gathering for Good Times T

his issue of Animation Magazine is going to press just before Thanksgiving, and flipping through its pages, it’s easy to see a lot to be thankful for.

First, we had a couple of great events in early November: the revived World Animation Celebration and the third annual World Animation and VFX Summit. Both events outperformed even our highest expectations with programming, guests and attendees that demonstrated why this art form we all love is so fantastic. It also was great to see so many of you, our readers, at both events and I had a great time talking with many of you about animation and about the magazine.

Which brings me to this particular issue. Nothing has impressed me quite so much in the short time I’ve been editor of the magazine as the subject of this month’s cover story: Glen Keane’s Duet. Many of you are no doubt familiar with Keane and his many years animating at Disney, and I’m also sure many of you have seen the linear short-film version of this fabulous project either online or at a festival. But to see, use and play with the interactive version is a different and very exciting new experience and I can’t wait for it to come to iPhone so I can play with it some more.

Last issue, we looked into the awards situation for animated features and shorts. This issue, we update those races with the list of qualifying features and short-listed shorts before delving into a preview of the visual-effects race.

And, since it’s the holidays, we have our annual gift guide and look ahead to all the milestones animation is poised to achieve in 2015.

I am off with our president, Jean Thoren, to bring some of that Animation Magazine SIGGRAPH Asia, so until next time, enjoy the magazine and the holidays!