“Animation is about creating the illusion of life. And you can’t create it if you don’t have one.”¹

Geek Out

Get animated. I used to love heading to one of the campus theaters at the end of the term in college to watch the fruits of the animation students’ labors. Inspired animation has a way of flaunting its creator’s ingenuity and hard work without seeming too showy about it. Maybe we’re predisposed to appreciate the craft because it seems so magical in the first place. Amateurs and pros alike will be flaunting their magic at the 2008 Animation Block Party, which opens tonight at Automotive High School (50 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn) and continues through the weekend at BAM Cinématek (at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave.).

(The film above, Escargo by Hubert Chan, was shown at the 2007 Block Party. Chan has another short, Taxi Guy, in this year’s festival.)

Geek In

Howl. Who says the alpha geeks at FOO Camp should have all the fun? You don’t have to be able to solve Werewolf to enjoy it. Get together a large group of people (at least 6, larger numbers are better), assign roles, and revisit the age-old conflict between man and werewolf. There are plenty of rules sheets around to get you started. I recommend trying plain-vanilla Werewolf until you know the ropes, and then add in variants like seers, healers, etc. Then invent your own twists. The great thing about Werewolf is all the add-ons are free.

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1. According to Brad Bird, director of The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille, among others. Bird was also more responsible than most realize for establishing the look of The Simpsons in its heyday. ↑