San Diego Comic Convention’s Comic-Con Museum announced its 2023 exhibits opening on Feb. 4, including the headlining exhibit, “The Animation Academy—from Pencils to Pixels”, that will indulge guests in interactive activities and historic art from the world of animation.
For its second year, the Comic-Con Museum will be featuring “The Animation Academy – from Pencils to Pixels”, which lets visitors transport themselves behind the scenes of some of their favorite cartoons and animated characters. The comic con museum will also feature “Cover Story: Five Decades of Comic-Con”, as well as updates to the Comic-Con Masquerade display and featuring the PAC-MAN Arcade.
“Our second year at the Comic-Con Museum will bring more interactive features, historic art, guest artists, and entertainment opportunities for all ages,” said Comic-Con Museum Executive Director Rita Vandergaw. “We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors from San Diego and beyond in February and throughout the year.”
“The Animation Academy – from Pencils to Pixels” takes visitors behind the scenes of some of their favorite cartoons and animated characters. Animation Academy has over 20 interactive stations, which allow visitors to experiment and create their stop-motion animated short, learn about the art of storyboarding, snap photos in the sets of their favorite animated TV shows and movies, and see the world’s largest traveling 3D zoetrope.
According to event organizers, special guest Bill Farmer (the official voice of Disney’s Goofy, Pluto, and more) and Disney Fine Artist Manny Hernandez are expected to attend the opening of the exhibit. Hernandez will offer painting lessons throughout the day.
The museum will also feature the “Cover Story: Five Decades of Comic-Con” exhibit which features the artwork of souvenir program books for each year’s convention, including Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Milton Caniff, and Neal Adams to Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiwicz, Jim Lee, and Alex Ross.
The covers of these books are veritable who's who of comic art.
This exhibit opens on Feb.4, also promoting the organization's mission of creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms. There will also be a special exhibit on noted comic artist Rick Geary and his creation of the famous Comic-Con Toucan.
According to event organizers, exhibit and program enhancements include: “Comic-Con Masquerade,” featuring new and former winners and entrants’ costumes from the Comic-Con Masquerade; and Makerspace Workshops, offering hands-on crafts for visitors of all ages, including new animation art drawing classes.
Workshops are free with museum admission and guests can drop in from 10-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Cardboard Superheroes Workshops will also fly back into San Diego with new designs and activities on Feb. 4. Participation is free with admission, as space allows.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at bit.ly/ComicConMuseumTickets.
