Even giants have humble beginnings. Or do these “first steps” also bear the mark of a genius?
Ron Diamond, founder of the Animation World Network and Director of Acme Filmworks, asked some of the big names working in the animation world today if they would be prepared to let him have a look at their first films. Many agreed and out of this was born a very inspiring program.

Overwhelming talent and originality  can already be detected in the first works by the makers of animation features such as Toy Story, Wallace and Gromit, How to Train Your Dragon, Disney’s Aladdin, Lilo and Stitch and Monsters, Inc. These first films offer an - up until now – almost unregarded insight into a unique chapter in animation film history. Today, John Lasseter, Eric Goldberg or Nick Park respresent studios like Pixar, Aardman, Disney or Dreamworks. Their names are virtually synonymous with blockbuster animation: UP, Shrek, Arthur Christmas. Without these animation giants, whose names are only known in expert animation circles, there would have never been a Lion King, Tarzan or The Beauty and the Beast.

This special program “Giant’s First Steps” will present a selection of their first films. Here, the audience will have the opportunity to discover the then already burgeoning tale-telling talents and design expertise of these great animation professionals. Among others, John Lasseter’s (Disney/Pixar) student films, for which he received the Student Academy Awards, will be screened.

This program will be presented by Johannes Wolters, head of International Night and Days of Animation Cologne (INDAC) in cooperation with AWN.com and Walt Disney Pictures Germany.

More Information about AWN.com
http://www.awn.com

More Information about INDAC
http://indac.blogspot.com

FILMFORUM  11/12/2011  5.30 p.m.