The Delaware College of Art and Design will show “Animation Now!” a curated exhibition of contemporary animation, Nov. 7-Jan. 9 in DCAD’s Toni & Stuart B. Young Gallery. Five animation studios, art centers, individuals and collectives from across the globe who create content for the web, TV, social media and game development will participate in this show. Featuring such animation as stop motion animation (Center for Creative Works and Tromarama), cut out animation (Kelly Gallagher), and digital 2D Animation (Augenblick Studios and Honeycomb Interactive), “Animation Now!” showcases the breadth and scope of contemporary animation, including works that transcend the boundaries between art and entertainment worldwide. They include work by Augenblick Studios, an animation production facility in Brooklyn, N.Y. Opened in 1999 by Aaron Augenblick, the company has created a wide variety of content for film, television, and the Internet. Productions include “Ugly Americans” (Comedy Central), “Superjail” (Adult Swim), “Wonder Showzen” (MTV), “Shorties Watchin’ Shorties” (Comedy Central), and “T.I. & Tiny: The Holiday Hustle” (VH1). In addition, Augenblick Studios cartoons have been seen in film festivals throughout the world, including Sundance, SXSW, Annecy and Ottawa. Augenblick Studios has won numerous awards, including the Promax Award, Webby Award and SXSW Best Animation. You’ll also see work by Honeycomb Interactive, a game studio founded by DCAD alumni Grant Andrew Ervin. Honeycomb’s first game, Mammoth Jockeys, is a 2D racing game set in an alternate-history Victorian England where the aristocracy’s racing steeds of choice are giant prehistoric birds called “mammoths.” The game features inventive mechanics and controls, but most important, there is a powerful amount of animation being created for the game’s hand-drawn visuals, which take inspiration from mid-century Disney films and French Impressionism. Mammoth Jockeys is currently in pre-production, and is slated for an October 2015 release through Steam on Mac and PC. There’s more, of course. For information, call 622-8000, or visit www.dcad.edu.
