Mike Judge presents The Animation Show!
The Animation Show is a showcase for the world's greatest independent animated short films. We currently license animated short films for a variety of programs including our theatrical and DVD collections, iTunes and web channels and for television (via MTV).
The Animation Show was started as an annual feature-length theatrical compilation of short films from around the world, exclusively curated by Mike Judge (Office Space, "Beavis and Butt-Head," "King of the Hill") and Academy Award nominated animator Don Hertzfeldt (Billy's Balloon, Rejected, The Meaning of Life).
As animation continues to be plagued as the single most misunderstood film medium, the animated short film is sadly undervalued and underexposed in American cinema, despite widespread appreciation throughout the rest of the world. With luck, popular animated shorts may see limited theatrical play, but most are relegated to the dungeons of the internet, or with luck, DVD.
The theatrical animation festival was born in 1976 with the launch of the Fantastic Animation Festival. This was the first show to create the now-universal "program on a flyer" and the first to receive a first-run 35mm theatrical release. The Fantastic Festival's popularity helped pave the way shortly thereafter for similar commercial programs throughout the 80s and 90s, including Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation, the Tournee of Animation, and several others that came and went with varying success.
The Animation Show launched in 2003, making it the first festival of animation created and produced with actual animators at the helm. A sister series of high quality Animation Show DVDs now supplement the theatrical tour with additional insights and brand new lineups of films - while the main Show remains a unique and unforgettable annual program that is usually gone forever once it is out of theaters.
Every year the Show works diligently to put animated shorts into more theaters than any festival in American history: giving these filmmakers the wide exposure their work deserves and sharing their short masterpieces on the big screen, where they belong.
ANIMATION SHOW FAQ
**(because we get this a lot)** How appropriate is the Animation Show for my children?
The new theatrical program is officially Unrated but we'd put a suggested rating of PG-13 on the current line-up. It's not as (violent/graphic/obscene) as an R rated film but there are some adult oriented material (mostly violence), I wouldn't recommend for younger children (10 and under).
What is the Animation Show (I skipped your blurb up top)?
The Animation Show began as an annual theatrical tour with the goal of bringing the world's best animated short films into more theaters across North America than any touring festival in history. It has since spawned a separate DVD series of additional amazing animated films. Now in its third touring season, the Animation Show continues to grow as short films (seen in the theatrical tour and in the DVD series) can now be see on our iTunes and web channels with more television programming planned for 2008.
How often is the theatrical show released?
We are currently in production on the 4th theatrical program. The three previous tours were released roughly a year and a half apart. We’re working to release an annual event but only time will tell.
How do I get tickets? What’s the price?
Visit our schedule page for ticket information on various city venues. Prices vary but generally match your average movie ticket. For updates on venue changes and screening times please sign up for our screening newsletter.
We would like to book the Animation Show. Where do I find booking information?
Please see our contact page for e-mail information to our home office.
When will the show arrive to my hometown?
Cities and venues are added throughout the year. Again we recommend you sign up for the screening newsletter to receive an e-mail update.
How do you decide what cities to hit?
The list of live events was put together based on cities where we’d received the strongest response in the past. We are continually in touch with new venues in cities where the film isn’t booked and additional dates will be added throughout the year, please check back with our schedule page for updates.
Who will be coming to the screenings in my hometown?
Several filmmakers from the tour will be appearing at a handful of dates TBA. We’re working to set up additional animator appearances as well with other film makers involved with the show. Updates on these events will be listed on our schedule page and through our screening newsletter.
How do I reach Mike directly?
We get a lot of mail for Mike in here to the show. We pass all messages along but ask that you please don’t send food items or clothing.
Are there internship opportunities available?
Yes there are. Contact the main office via e-mail with further inquires. We can use all the help we can get but we ask you to please make sure you have time in your schedule before committing and contacting us to help. Thank you!
I live out of state but want to help the show.
Our Animation Show Underground recruits help from around the country for a wide variety of work. The help we receive each year has been vital in keeping this show on the road. See our Underground page for more info.
For Film makers and submissions
How do I enter my short film?
For more information about film submissions check us out here. We view submissions all year around and license films for a variety of different platforms. Unlike most festivals there is no cost for film submissions and the animation show pays licensing fees for any market we may end up programming your film in. We do not take any rights upfront so submitting your short for consideration does not take away any of your rights.
How many shorts can I send you?
There is no limit to the amount of work you can submit in a given year. We watch everything that comes in to the office. We ask that you please include contact information on each submission piece as work is separated from packaging once it arrives.
I’ve submitted my work before with no luck should I resubmit my latest work?
Absolutely! There are a variety of reasons why a particular film might not work for one of our programs and doesn’t mean we won’t reconsider the piece at a later date or consider new work from a film maker.
What format do you accept?
We watch films on VHS, DVD (NTSC or PAL), online submissions work fine just be sure the link is up long enough for us to view.
Is there a charge for submissions?
Nope.
Will I hear back from you guys about my film?
We view thousands of submissions a year making it nearly impossible to write back to everyone. If you’d like to get in touch with us check out the contact page for specifics. If it’s been weeks and months since you’ve submitted your film and are unsure if the copy arrived please contact us via e-mail. We’re a very small group and can get back to you more efficiently via e-mail.
The Animation Show DVD Series, iTunes and web channels
When will the next dvd be released?
Animation Show Volume one and Volume two will be released across the country on January 16th. The DVD’s will be sold separately on our website at this point as well.
Why is the line-up of films on the Animation Show DVDs a little bit different than the theatrical releases?
The Animation Show's annual theatrical program is special, something unique that can only ever be seen in movie theaters. The DVD series is meant to be similar but supplemental, an outlet to release additional cool films into the world. If you miss the Show in theaters, it's gone forever.
Moreover, getting the exact same line-up of films on DVD would be almost impossible. Often, some of the films - particularly studio films or rarer, archival pieces - are only made available to the Animation Show for theatrical exhibition only. For instance, studios like Disney would never in a thousand years allow anyone else to release their material on DVD.
Other times, films are left off of the Show's DVDs simply because they are already available on other DVDs. For instance, Rejected was left off of the Animation Show Vol. 1 because it had already been released as a "single", and Don didn't want to take up space on the disc that could have gone to another filmmaker.
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