Dec 13: J-Film: Our Little Sister

Enjoy a free Japanese film at the JICC!

From internationally acclaimed director Hirozaku Kore-eda, comes an adaptation of Yoshida Akimi's best-selling graphic-novel. "Irresistible. An intimate, warm embrace of a film that radiates joy and harmony. Deeply charming and quietly moving."  Dave Calhoun (TIME OUT) Three twenty-something sisters - Sachi, Yoshino and Chika - live together in a large old house in the seaside town of Kamakura. When they learn of their estranged father's death, they decide to travel to the countryside for his funeral. There they meet their shy teenage half-sister Suzu for the first time and, bonding quickly, invite her to live with them. Suzu eagerly agrees, and begins a new life with her older sisters. Starring Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirose Japanese with English subtitles | Not Rated | 126 min | 2015 | Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda Registration is required. Presented with Japan Commerce Association of Washington, D.C., Inc. You are invited to J-Film: Our Little Sister Wednesday, December 13th, 2017 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EST) Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th Street Northwest Suite 100 Washington DC 20036 US CLICK HERE TO REGISTER! This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Program begins at 6:30PM. Doors open 30 minutes before the program. No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat. The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 | Washington, D.C. 20036-3838 TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 | jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp © 1981-2017 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

The Post on Olaf, Snoopy and Pocahantas

Here's why that irritating Olaf short film doesn't work as a lead-in to 'Coco'

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 29 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/29/heres-why-that-olaf-short-film-doesnt-work-as-a-lead-in-to-coco/

reprinted as It's not Olaf's fault the short film didn't work.

Express (November 30 2017): 56

"Olaf's Frozen Adventure." (Walt Disney Animation 2017)

Snoopy — the world's coolest dog — finally gets the book he deserves

By Michael Tisserand

Washington Post November 30 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/snoopy--the-worlds-coolest-dog--finally-gets-the-book-he-deserves/2017/11/28/56e71bde-cbdb-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html

A note to Eric Trump: Many found Disney's 'Pocahontas' offensive, but not for its title

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 28 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/28/a-note-to-eric-trump-many-found-disneys-pocohontas-offensive-but-not-for-its-title/

"Pocahontas." (Walt Disney Studios)

Liniers interviewed in Takoma Park

This interview was done at Busboys & Poets at Takoma Park. I was Linier's ride so I had a drink while they talked. If you haven't read his comics, do so now.

The Argentine Cartoonist Who Moonlights As A Nerd Rockstar

Camilo Garzón

NPR's Alt.Latino blog November 30, 2017

https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2017/11/30/566384555/the-argentine-cartoonist-who-moonlights-as-a-nerd-rockstar

World War II "Made in Washington" propaganda comic article

Kimble, J. J. 2017.
Framing the president: Franklin D. Roosevelt, participatory quests, and the rhetoric of possibility in World War II propaganda.
Speaker & Gavel, 54 (1): 94-112.
Online at https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.fr/&httpsredir=1&article=1142&context=speaker-gavel

This essay examines The Life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a comic book distributed internationally by the Office of War Information (OWI) in late 1942, as a creative form of international propaganda. Drawing from existing research in comic scholarship, narrative theory, and visual inquiry, this case study suggests that OWI's booklet represented a fusion of verbal and visual appeals, which together worked to produce a potent depiction of President Franklin D.Roosevelt's character traits and exceptionality. The analysis concludes that this depiction ultimately presented the president as the protagonist of a romantic quest narrative, one that actively invited foreign readers to envision an Allied victory in the ongoing war.

Thanks to Leonardo de Sa for the tip, and he'd be glad to hear from anyone with more information on this comic.

Jim Scancarelli, Class of 1959 in Wakefield High School's Hall of Fame

Reprinted with permission from Warrior News, Fall 2017. For information on alumni from Wakefield High School (Arlington,VA) and the scholarship program, click here.

2017 Inductees into the Hall of Fame

Jim Scancarelli, Class of 1959

Provided by David Mitchell '65,
Hall of Fame Committee, Chair
 

Jim is a cartoonist who writes and draws the syndicated comic strip "Gasoline Alley". He is also a well-known and prize-winning bluegrass fiddler.

Jim's cartoon career started at Wakefield. The student newspaper and literary magazine of his era are filled with his drawings. The student newspaper featured a cartoon "Gus Todian", about a Wakefield custodian. Fifty years later, Jim revived Gus, the custodian at Wakefield, in "Gasoline Alley". During his time at Wakefield, Jim says "Comics were my escape ... The characters became my friends." He says he wasn't a good student and it was the work of several teachers who channeled his desire to draw and taught him the skills he needed to be successful.

From the November 10, 1955 Signal, Wakefield's Student Newspaper

Jim has been a freelance magazine illustrator, wrote and acted in radio programs, and was even the Art Director for "The Johnny Cash Show" in the early 1960s. Jim began his work on Gasoline Alley in 1986, and has collaborated on the Mutt and Jeff comic strip, as well.

From the December 7, 1955 Signal, Wakefield's Student Newspaper

His comic strip often has social and community meanings. Through his comic strip, he brought attention to the construction of the World War II Memorial and the National Museum of the United States Army. In 1988, he received the National Cartoonists Society's Story Comic Strip Award. As a bluegrass fiddler, he founded the Kilocycle Kowboys and was a prizewinner at the Old Fiddlers Convention. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has his fiddle recordings. He jokingly says "I've been playing the fiddle too long to be bad at it."

Jim donated the original boards for the Gasoline Alley Gus Todian strips he did in 2015 and they are on display at school.  Photo courtesy of  Conchita.

Heroic Aleworks to close on Dec. 15

In a Facebook post today, Heroic Aleworks, a superhero-themed brewery in Woodbridge, Virginia, that opened in January, announced that it will close on December 15, citing that "the  numbers just weren't in our favor."

From the post: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Heroic Aleworks will be closing on December 15. Thank you all so much for your support over the past year and for sharing this experience with us. But we still have a few weeks left, and you know we're gonna go out in style, so stay tuned for the announcements. We hope you'll be able to join us before it's all done to make some more great memories!"

Dec 8: Animezing!: Ghost in the Shell

Join us for a FREE classic anime film at the JICC!

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Japanese animation, the JICC is presenting a retrospective of landmark animated films! "A work of profound and melancholic beauty..." Daily Telegraph UK "A stunning work of speculative fiction..." James Cameron, director of Titanic The stunning sci-fi spectacle that broke the boundaries of mainstream animation! In 2029, a female government cyber agent, Makoto Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of The Puppet Master - a computer virus capable of invading cybernetic brains and altering its victim's memory. Created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and codenamed Project 2501, this "hacker" is actually a prototype virtual agent which has now defied its makers by seeking asylum within a new host body outside of the electronic net. Now the two agencies must maneuver against each another to capture the omnipresent entity. In Japanese with English subtitles | Not Rated | 1995 | 83 min | Directed by Mamoru Oshii Registration is required. Please note this film contains scenes of violence and mild nudity. It is intended for mature audiences only. You are invited to Animezing!: Ghost in the Shell Friday, December 8th, 2017 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EST) Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th Street Northwest Suite 100 Washington DC 20036 US CLICK HERE TO REGISTER This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Program begins at 6:30PM. Doors open 30 minutes prior to start of program. No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat. The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 | Washington, D.C. 20036-3838 TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 | jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp © 1981-2017 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

Nov. 30: Animators Happy Hour @ Franklin Hall

Per The Duke & the Duck animators regarding a happy hour on November 30 at Franklin Hall:  

"Hey DC animators! We're hosting a happy hour to bring together all the awesome talent that is in DC. It'll be a pretty low key event, just hanging out chatting about new projects, clients from hell and the latest and greatest cat videos (well maybe not the last one...) We're meeting up at Franklin Hall, they have a huge selection of drinks and an awesome open space. Hang out starts at 6, but feel free to come by whenever. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! -The Duke & The Duck Team"

Catching up with Comic Riffs on Coco, Justice League and Watchmen

How Pixar's 'Coco' became a huge box-office hit [in print as After early missetp, Pixar guided 'Coco' to cultural authenticity]

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 26 , Washington Post November 28 2017, p. C1, 3

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/26/how-pixars-coco-became-a-huge-box-office-hit/

Frida Kahlo empowered an actress to fight harassment. Now she voices Frida in 'Coco.'

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 22 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/22/frida-kahlo-empowered-an-actress-to-fight-harassment-now-she-voices-frida-in-coco/

How 'Justice League's' Ray Fisher took on fan-favorite Cyborg as his first major movie role

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 20 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/20/how-justice-leagues-ray-fisher-took-on-fan-favorite-cyborg-as-his-first-major-movie-role/