Michael Sporn has posted the program for his retrospective at New York's Museum of Modern Art. It takes place November 9-12 and I recommend you attend if you'll be in the New York area on those dates.
The films showcase Michael's interest in New York, social problems, children's literature and show the range of his eclectic design approach. In addition, the films include excellent animation by Tissa David (The Red Shoes, The Marzipan Pig), John Dilworth (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) and Dante Barbetta (Ira Sleeps Over).
Several works by William Steig are adapted including Abel's Island (for my money, Mike's masterpiece, pictured above), the Oscar nominated Dr. DeSoto and The Amazing Bone. If your only knowledge of Steig is Shrek, see what Steig looks like when his books are faithfully adapted for animation.
Michael will be appearing on stage for an interview conducted by John Canemaker and Joshua Siegel on November 12 at 7 p.m.
Thanks for the mention Mark, but you're too modest as usual to mention your own name. You did some great animation on a number of the films to be shown. I think inmmediately of your great number in Ira Sleeps Over as well as the end of The Red Shoes.
ReplyDeleteMichael, the best animation I did for you was on Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. I did next to nothing on The Red Shoes.
ReplyDeleteOn Ira Sleeps Over, I know that I shared the song with Dante Barbetta. I can't remember if I had to leave the production for some reason or if I couldn't hit the deadline and handed some of the song back to you. In any case, when I saw Dante's animation I instantly knew I was outclassed.
I'm still grateful to you for sending me work during that time and I did my best on it, but there's no question that you had many other animators whose work was superior to mine. That's not modesty, it's fact.
I hope they video tape the interview !
ReplyDeleteMark, I'm not going to argue with you about your work. However, you have to know that you were incredibly important to me in the making of those films, and I put a lot of faith in you (which I felt was always rewarded) and your animation.
ReplyDeleteAs for favorite pieces, my favorite piece you did was in "The Tin Frog" from the poetry film we did. I love that short piece enormously.