Join us this January for a series of laid back film and sketch nights, hosted by CultureWorks alum and aspiring animator, Joshua Villanueva. Along with watching these groundbreaking films, we’ll spend some time talking about aspects of animation, sketching in different styles, and developing our own characters who might find themselves fighting alongside Spider-Man or traveling with Ponyo. Register for 1, 2 or all 3 nights.
January 7 – Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse: While trying to juggle a life of education at a new school as well as maintaining his roots as a youthful artist in the streets of Brooklyn, Miles Morales is tasked with another hurdle as he’s bitten by a radioactive spider that gives him superhuman abilities. He’s thrust in a new world of heroism and action to fight alone until meeting a group of others just like him from other universes. Now it’s up to him to return them back to their own realities, while also defeating the ruthless villain that is The Kingpin. Through a story of growth and finding oneself, paired with breathtaking visuals, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse has set a new precedent for 3d animation and superhero films.
January 14 – Isle of Dogs: All canine companions of (fictional) Megasaki City, Japan have been banished to Trash Island by government decree! One 12-year old boy, Atari, travels to this garbage dump in search of his best pal/former pet Spots, wherein he meets a group of lovable misfit dogs that aid him on his journey. He and his dog friends take on the task of reuniting Atari and Spots as well as fighting for dogs to be allowed back to Megasaki City. A fun family movie from the same creators as Fantastic Mr. Fox makes for a heartfelt adventure of love and companionship between a boy and his dog.
January 21 – Ponyo: A story of love and friendship pours throughout the movie that is Ponyo, starring royalty from underwater, traveling to the surface world against her father’s wishes. Through her voyage, she meets a little boy named Sosuke, who makes Ponyo yearn to be a human. As their connection with one another grows, Ponyo becomes more human-like, much to her father’s dismay, causing him to look for her and bring her back to the ocean kingdom in which they reside. However, this proves to be a much harder task for the King, as Ponyo’s will grows so strong that she fights to be with Sosuke by any means necessary, which accidentally causes harmful repercussions to Sosuke’s village.