Cartoon & animation fest beckons families
Published on | Source
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff reporter
Those who grew up watching Disney animations may remember shedding tears when Bambi's mother or Simba's father died. Experts like Maryanne Redpath, director of the Berlin International Film Festival's Generation section, says that the power of animations and cartoons should not be underestimated, for they inspire as much believability in children as live action films, and, of course, in "older kids" as well.
One way to indulge in the stuff of childhood imagination is at the annual Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Fair (SICAF), which opens in parts of southern Seoul from Wednesday through Sunday.
Korea hosts some of the largest film festivals in Asia and SICAF is among the world's top five animation events, being the only one with a digital cartoon exhibition section and cartoon/animation market (SICAF Promotion Plan or SPP). In addition to offering a colorful array of animated films, the festival will also hold a cartoon/animation fair in the form of a theme park.
"Beginning last year we tried our best to make it a festival that people of all ages could enjoy. We have been expanding our offerings of interactive programs for festivalgoers for the coming event", said Kang Han-young, SICAF festival director.
The theme park at COEX, Samseong-dong will particularly cater to family crowds in time for the summer vacation season. It is more than a playground for children where they can meet characters like the Smurfs; adults can also check out a special exhibition of sketches by Hur Young-man, the master cartoonist of classics like the culinary series "Sikgaek" which inspired popular film and television adaptations.
Fans can also look forward to a selection of timeless Italian cartoons as well as Korean and Japanese monster cartoons. Other features include a section dedicated to Hur Moon, who is known for breaking down the barrier between cartoon and animation, as well as a corner that showcases music-themed cartoons.
From Friday through Sunday, SICAF exhibition-goers will be able to freely enter the Seoul Character & Licensing Fair, also ongoing at COEX.
Some 300 animation works, divided into five sections, will be screened at CGV Apgujeong. This year Kim Woon-ki's "Fuss Farm" will open the film section on Wednesday. The film follows the adventures of Goti and Sumsum as they embark on an adventurous cycling competition through the labyrinthine path of Konfusing Forest. It shows the value of friendship and cooperation through tough times in a comical way, and is rendered in a digital cut-out format.
Programmer's picks not to miss include works from not only the anime empire of Japan but also Eastern Europe and more: "Jungle Emperor Leo: The Brave Change the Future" (Japan, 2009), "In the Attic: Who Has a Birthday Today?" (Czech Republic, 2009), "Je t'aime" (Japan, 2010), "To Swallow a Toad" (Latvia, 2010), "Chicory'n'Coffee" (Slovenia, 2008), "Touch" (Hungary, 2010), and "Please Call Back Later" (Belarus, 2010) in which a young girl explores various corners of Seoul.
Festivalgoers can also participate in various sideline events, including autograph sessions with popular webtoon artists and a chance to make Gundam robot models. Moreover, fans will have a chance to meet master animators including Alexander Petrov, the Russian director who is known for beautiful oil painting-like depictions of literary classics like Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea". Jamie Mitchell, producer and animation director at the Disney Channel, will share behind-the-scenes anecdotes from creating "Winnie the Pooh" and "The Little Mermaid" series.
Tickets for the cartoon/animation fair cost 2,000 won for children, 5,000 for middle/high school students and 7,000 won for adults. Admissions for animated films cost from 4,000 to 5,000 won. Visit http://www.sicaf.org for more information.
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"Fuss Farm" by Kim Woon-ki, about two friends being challenged in a tough bicycle race, will open the14th edition of an annual cartoon and animation festival in Seoul. The event continues through Sunday at CGV Apgujeong Theater and COEX, Samseong-dong. / Courtesy of SICAF
Staff reporter
Those who grew up watching Disney animations may remember shedding tears when Bambi's mother or Simba's father died. Experts like Maryanne Redpath, director of the Berlin International Film Festival's Generation section, says that the power of animations and cartoons should not be underestimated, for they inspire as much believability in children as live action films, and, of course, in "older kids" as well.
One way to indulge in the stuff of childhood imagination is at the annual Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Fair (SICAF), which opens in parts of southern Seoul from Wednesday through Sunday.
Korea hosts some of the largest film festivals in Asia and SICAF is among the world's top five animation events, being the only one with a digital cartoon exhibition section and cartoon/animation market (SICAF Promotion Plan or SPP). In addition to offering a colorful array of animated films, the festival will also hold a cartoon/animation fair in the form of a theme park.
"Beginning last year we tried our best to make it a festival that people of all ages could enjoy. We have been expanding our offerings of interactive programs for festivalgoers for the coming event", said Kang Han-young, SICAF festival director.
The theme park at COEX, Samseong-dong will particularly cater to family crowds in time for the summer vacation season. It is more than a playground for children where they can meet characters like the Smurfs; adults can also check out a special exhibition of sketches by Hur Young-man, the master cartoonist of classics like the culinary series "Sikgaek" which inspired popular film and television adaptations.
Fans can also look forward to a selection of timeless Italian cartoons as well as Korean and Japanese monster cartoons. Other features include a section dedicated to Hur Moon, who is known for breaking down the barrier between cartoon and animation, as well as a corner that showcases music-themed cartoons.
From Friday through Sunday, SICAF exhibition-goers will be able to freely enter the Seoul Character & Licensing Fair, also ongoing at COEX.
Some 300 animation works, divided into five sections, will be screened at CGV Apgujeong. This year Kim Woon-ki's "Fuss Farm" will open the film section on Wednesday. The film follows the adventures of Goti and Sumsum as they embark on an adventurous cycling competition through the labyrinthine path of Konfusing Forest. It shows the value of friendship and cooperation through tough times in a comical way, and is rendered in a digital cut-out format.
Programmer's picks not to miss include works from not only the anime empire of Japan but also Eastern Europe and more: "Jungle Emperor Leo: The Brave Change the Future" (Japan, 2009), "In the Attic: Who Has a Birthday Today?" (Czech Republic, 2009), "Je t'aime" (Japan, 2010), "To Swallow a Toad" (Latvia, 2010), "Chicory'n'Coffee" (Slovenia, 2008), "Touch" (Hungary, 2010), and "Please Call Back Later" (Belarus, 2010) in which a young girl explores various corners of Seoul.
Festivalgoers can also participate in various sideline events, including autograph sessions with popular webtoon artists and a chance to make Gundam robot models. Moreover, fans will have a chance to meet master animators including Alexander Petrov, the Russian director who is known for beautiful oil painting-like depictions of literary classics like Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea". Jamie Mitchell, producer and animation director at the Disney Channel, will share behind-the-scenes anecdotes from creating "Winnie the Pooh" and "The Little Mermaid" series.
Tickets for the cartoon/animation fair cost 2,000 won for children, 5,000 for middle/high school students and 7,000 won for adults. Admissions for animated films cost from 4,000 to 5,000 won. Visit http://www.sicaf.org for more information.
_____________
"Fuss Farm" by Kim Woon-ki, about two friends being challenged in a tough bicycle race, will open the14th edition of an annual cartoon and animation festival in Seoul. The event continues through Sunday at CGV Apgujeong Theater and COEX, Samseong-dong. / Courtesy of SICAF
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