Animix, the animation / cartoon festival, returns to Tel Aviv

Animix, the Israeli animation, comics and cartoons festival in Tel Aviv, will take place August 10-14 at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque live and in top form, following last year’s online version .

The festival is celebrating its 20th year – plus one, because of the 2020 version – and at 20, it’s a force to be reckoned with in Israel’s cultural landscape and one of the most purely fun events of the year.

All events will be held in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations and the festival will include screenings of animated feature films and short films from Israel and around the world; master classes with renowned artists and animators; art exhibitions; tributes to prominent Israeli artistic personalities; and a market with stalls selling comics and many other wares. Animix offers a wonderful opportunity for people to experience the world of animation and comics and for those who are deeply involved in this world to come together and share ideas.

The opening night program is a visual and musical tribute to iconic Israeli comedy trio, Hagashash Hahiver (literally The Pale Tracker), in which Hagashash’s Shaike Levi will participate. Another program that looks back on Israel’s cultural heritage will be a tribute to the poet Leah Goldberg, whose poems have so often been set to music and who has written a number of beloved children’s books, by artists from all over the world. comic book and musicians. Another tribute will pay tribute to the distinguished political cartoonist and frequent participant of Animix Itamar Daube.

Political cartoons are always part of the mix and this year there is a look back at the cartoons inspired by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Tower of the Falls of Babel is a program of short animated films that approach society from an offbeat angle.

Director Alon Gur Arye, who directed the film Mossad, will give a talk about the achievements of Pixar Animation Studio, which has been creating commercial films that have delighted children and adults for over 30 years.

In addition, there are many high-quality events, including workshops and screenings, aimed at children. Considering their low cost compared to so much children’s entertainment, these workshops and other programs are a wonderful opportunity to get the kids out of the house during the late summer doldrums and give them a special experience.

This year, Animix’s offerings aimed at children include the “Shy Robots and Nervous Aliens” lecture and workshop given by Uri Goldberg, an animator who is a member of the Jerusalem-based animation collective TOHU, and Gilat Parag, a veteran animator. cinema and television. . The workshop will teach children ages five and up how to play a character in animation and how to make the characters they create express emotions and appear real and engaging. Another program, this one for adults, the Coups de cÅ“ur de la TOHU, presents the work of TOHU facilitators.

Artist Uri Fink leads a workshop called “Anyone Can Create Comics”, in which he will teach the basics of comics and help participants create their own characters.

The clay workshop (plastilina) with Noam Raz teaches different ways of playing and creating with the very popular malleable art materials for children. You may have seen Raz appear in children’s programs or purchased his books which teach simple techniques for making just about anything out of clay, and the chance to learn from him in person will be fun for you. the whole family.

There will be a tribute to Japanese animator / director Hayao Miyazaki with screenings of Ponyo, Princess Mononoke and Howl’s Moving Castle, all films best seen on the big screen.

And because we are in our second year of coronavirus, artist Erez Zadok will be giving a workshop called “Enough Masks! On how to create attractive facial expressions, suitable for decorating masks.