Hollywood Animation Archive is Now Open to the Public

Monday, 20 November 2006 10:54

Burbank, CA - The ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive is now open to the public in its facility on Burbank Bl. in Burbank.  Volunteers and ASIFA members are working to build out a virtual archive of material for the use of researchers, artists and students.  Three workstations are networked to a main server used for digitizing.  There is an extensive library of books related to animation, and an exhibit space for displaying artifacts from the history of animation.  It is quickly becoming one of the foremost facilities devoted to animation in the world.

In the past year, the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive has reached several of its initial goals.  Through the generous donations of ASIFA members and corporate sponsors, we funded the purchase of the computer equipment- top of the line Macintosh computers with high resolution digitizing ability.  We leased the building in Burbank, networked it and set up the equipment, and mounted the first two exhibits- a collection of drawings from the Fleischer Studios, including Grim Natwick's original character designs for Betty Boop; and the Annie Award nominated submissions for the character design, production design and storyboard categories.

Over 600 rare cartoons have been digitized and entered into the database- including the Fleischer Popeye cartoons, an important collection of rare B&W Terrytoons, and important Eastern European films from the Kratky Studios. We have also scanned original artwork from the 1950s commercial animation house, Ray Patin Studios, classic illustrated books by Disney concept artists Gustaf Tenggren, Mary Blair and Kay Nielsen; and comics by cartoonists Virgil "Vip" Partch and Milt Gross.