The Art of Animation: Storytelling in the Digital Age

August 3–31, 2023

We welcome the coauthors of the recently published Making the Cut at Pixar: The Art of Editing Animation, Bill Kinder and Bobbie O’Steen, as our guests for this series that showcases an impressive lineup of feature-length animated films. Made since 1999, these films benefit from methodologies of storytelling developed during the digital era. Kinder and O’Steen offer insights into every stage of production on an animated film, from storyboards to virtual cameras and final animation.

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  • Spirited Away

  • The Incredibles

  • Fantastic Mr. Fox

  • Ratatouille

  • Upcoming
    Films
  • Upcoming
    Events
  • Selected
    Objects
  • Past
    Films
  • Past
    Events

Past Films

  • Free Outdoor Screening: Persepolis

    • Thursday, August 31 7 PM
    Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
    France, 2007

    Recommended for ages 12 and up

    The story of a young girl’s coming of age in difficult times, Persepolis, based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, is a striking animated production that unfolds with grace, intelligence, and charm.

  • Waltz with Bashir

    • Wednesday, August 30 7 PM
    Ari Folman
    Israel, Germany, France, 2008

    Recommended for adults

    Waltz with Bashir is a striking animation film depicting the horrors of Israel’s first war in Lebanon in 1982, and the events leading up to the killings in the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Awarded the prestigious Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign-Language Film and nominated in the same category at the Academy Awards.

  • The Incredibles

    • Saturday, August 26 4 PM
    Brad Bird
    United States, 2004

    Closed captioned
    Recommended for ages 7 and up

    Meet the Incredibles, just a normal suburban family except for one thing: they’re all superheroes. This joyous Pixar pic won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.

    Introduced by Bill Kinder

  • Flee

    • Friday, August 25 7 PM
    Jonas Poher Rasmussen
    Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden, 2021

    Closed captioned
    Recommended for ages 13 and up

    Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s award-winning film depicts the refugee experience through vivid animation in a moving memoir hailed as “a feat of humanistic filmmaking” (Harper’s Bazaar).

    Introduced by Bill Kinder

  • My Life as a Zucchini

    • Saturday, August 19 5 PM
    Claude Barras
    Switzerland, France, 2017

    English version
    Recommended for ages 12 and up

    Will Forte, Nick Offerman, Elliot Page, and Amy Sedaris lend their voices to this stylized and sympathetic stop-motion animation about an orphan boy called Zucchini. Nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. 

    Bobbie O’Steen and Ken Schretzmann in Conversation

  • Spirited Away

    • Friday, August 18 7 PM
    Hayao Miyazaki
    Japan, 2001

    Original Japanese version
    Recommended for ages 8 and up

    The English version of Spirited Away screens on Saturday, August 12.

    In this celebrated Hayao Miyazaki fantasy, ten-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon an abandoned theme park that turns out to be a true magic kingdom. Joe Hisaishi’s exquisite score enhances a cinematic feast. Winner of the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

    Introduced by Bobbie O’Steen

  • Free Outdoor Screening: Finding Nemo

    • Thursday, August 17 7 PM
    Andrew Stanton
    United States, 2003

    Recommended for all ages

    Nemo is a little fish kid whose overprotective dad, Marlin, is perfectly voiced by Albert Brooks. When Nemo defiantly swims too far out to sea, the adventures begin. “It’s all tremendously entertaining stuff, with oodles of wonderful detail and superb direction by Andrew Stanton” (Peter Bradshaw, Guardian).

  • Spirited Away

    • Saturday, August 12 4:30 PM
    Hayao Miyazaki
    Japan, 2002

    English version
    Recommended for ages 8 and up

    The original Japanese version of Spirited Away screens on Friday, August 18.

    In this celebrated Hayao Miyazaki fantasy, ten-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon an abandoned theme park that turns out to be a true magic kingdom. Joe Hisaishi’s exquisite score enhances a cinematic feast. Winner of the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

    Introduced by Bill Kinder

  • Fantastic Mr. Fox

    • Thursday, August 10 7 PM
    Wes Anderson
    United States, 2009

    Recommended for ages 8 and up

    George Clooney and Meryl Streep lend their voices to this hilarious and heartwarming animated adventure from visionary director Wes Anderson. Based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel about a fox clan and other animal friends eluding human predators, this is a meticulous work of stop-motion animation.

    Introduced by Bill Kinder

  • Ratatouille

    • Saturday, August 5 4 PM
    Brad Bird
    United States, 2007

    Recommended for all ages

    “Ratatouille is delicious. In this satisfying, souffle-light tale of a plucky French rodent with a passion for cooking, the master chefs at Pixar have blended all the right ingredients to produce a warm and irresistible concoction that’s sure to appeal to everyone’s inner Julia Child” (Justin Chang, Variety).

    Introduced by Bill Kinder

  • Free Outdoor Screening: Toy Story 2

    • Thursday, August 3 7 PM
    John Lasseter
    United States, 1999

    Recommended for all ages

    “An awe-inspiring display of special effects, and its characterization, particularly that of the all-American hero Buzz, is very funny. As well as being a landmark of sorts in commercial cinema, Toy Story 2 really is that mythical beast: an extremely enjoyable picture for all ages” (Peter Bradshaw, Guardian).