Autumn Heats Up I

t’s been a hot summer, and autumn is looking like a hot time for animation.

But first — make sure you read Jean Thoren’s note above on the upcoming World Animation and VFX Summit. This is an event you don’t want to miss. We are very proud of the lineup we’ve put together for this year’s event and think you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t sign up and make sure you’ll be part of the fun.

And the perfect set-up for the summit can be found in the World Animation Celebration, put on Nov. 1 by Animation Magazine and our friends at Animation Libation. This event is going to feature some amazing animated short films in a special and fun one-day celebration at the Los Angeles Film School. This issue is packed full of in-depth looks at some of the season’s most compelling animated releases. The Book of Life is the second film from Free Birds makers Reel FX, and nothing has us more excited about this movie than the sheer enthusiasm director and co-writer Jorge Gutierrez has shown at every stage of its making. The final film looks beautiful and is as full of life as the title suggests, making it a perfect October treat for animation fans.

There are two great returns in our coverage of Song of the Sea. One is the film itself, which is Cartoon Saloon’s long-awaited follow up to the amazing Secret of Kells. The other is the return to our pages of former editor in chief Ramin Zahed, who did a wonderful job writing the article.

And there are few of us who don’t love Star Wars. So Disney XD’s new Star Wars Rebels animated series — which not only brings back the beloved franchise but also heads back to the familiar era before Episode IV: A New Hope — is another sweet treat.

Fun is fun, but there’s plenty of business to take care of, too, as we give you the essential info needed to navigate MIPCOM and the Brand Licensing Europe show. We also give you the scoop on some of the most innovative and interesting animation producers in the world, looking at Mattel’s still-new Playground Productions operation, the charming work of Paris-based Go-N and inside the redesign of the animated commercials icon known as the Trix Rabbit.

All in all, it’s a pretty sweet lineup. Don’t forget to brush your teeth afterward, and we hope to see you next issue, when we swing into the awards season.