When it comes to providing entertainment that kids, teens and families can all enjoy, the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is once again providing Ottawa families with fun family offerings.
Parents and kids can sample the diversity of animation aimed at younger audiences. This includes watching a 25th anniversary screening of The Little Mermaid by the world’s most beloved, successful and pioneering Walt Disney Animation Studios or My Mom is an Airplane, by Ylua Aronova, an innovative and modern short about a young boy who imagines that his mother is an airplane who travels to exotic lands.
High school students who attend the teen events can finally prove to their parents that hours watching cartoons and playing video games really does have career potential!
Family Day at the National Gallery on September 20th, will feature the Short films and Series Made for Kids Competition screenings. These are collections of the best new animation made for kids works selected from over 2,100 entries of a mixture of short independent films, TV, commercials, series, student films, music videos and more. Sit with the Festival Kid’s Jury and decide which films YOU think should win!
An exciting event for kids and parents is the special 25th Birthday screening of The Little Mermaid, with both directors, Ron Clements and John Musker in attendance! The film marked the start of the Disney Renaissance, with increasingly successful films to follow. On Sunday September 21st, SilverCity Gloucester will be showing the film, and the OIAF will be there with a giant Little Mermaid cake, face painting, and balloon and glitter tattoo artists. We guarantee that guests will walk away with an “Under the Sea” earworm!
Teens can participate in OIAF with a free Toon Apprentice Pass, which allows them to meet with top Animation Schools and other industry professionals at the Animation Career Fair on September 20th. Its good for all OIAF events that day until 6pm. Just bring your high school I.D. and pick up your pass at St. Brigid’s (310 Saint Patrick St.). They can also attend the Motion Capture Workshop, on September 21st, hosted by BIT, the School of Information Technology, Interactive Multimedia and Design program, which will showcase the use of optical motion capture technology to animate characters. Pre-registration is required.
For a full schedule of screenings please check the website. Individual tickets are available online and 30 minutes before show time for all other screenings.
ABOUT THE OIAF
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is one of the world’s leading animation events providing screenings, exhibits, workshops and entertainment since 1976. OIAF is an annual five-day event bringing art and industry together in a vibrant hub, with a total attendance of 28,000 artists, producers, students and animation fans from around the world.
This year’s Festival runs from September 17-21. For more information about the Ottawa International Animation Festival, visit www.animationfestival.ca.
