Artist Talk: Brushstrokes of Animation - A Journey through Willie Ito's Remarkable Career and Personal History
Date & Time
Saturday, January 27th.
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Check-in time: 1:15 pm
Program starts at 1:30 pm
Your prompt arrival will ensure a more pleasurable experience not only for yourself but for the other participants as well.
Fee
$10 General / $8 Senior, Military/ $7 Students
Includes Garden Admission for the day
Donation appreciated to help fundraise for the completion of his short film, Hello miss this rare opportunity to connect with a true animation pioneer!
Description:
In this Artist Talk, animation legend Willie Ito shares the brushstrokes of his illustrious career, spanning the Golden Age of Hollywood to his recent work on the upcoming short film, "Hello Maggie!"
Don't miss this rare opportunity to connect with a true animation pioneer!
Event Highlights:
·Insider Insights: Explore the fascinating tales behind working on iconic hand-drawn animated films like "Lady and the Tramp" and beloved characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
·Personal Narratives: Willie delves into his own experiences, from his early days at Disney to his contribution to groundbreaking animated tv shows like "The Jetsons" and "The Flintstones."
·Behind-the-Scenes: Get a sneak peek into the animation process as Willie discusses his current project, "Hello Maggie!", a poignant exploration of his wartime experiences.
Willie Ito's Remarkable Journey: In 1954, Ito began his career at Walt Disney Studios as an assistant animator on the film "Lady and the Tramp." He later collaborated with animation legends Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng at Warner Bros., contributing to iconic cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The 1960s saw him at Hanna-Barbera Productions, working on beloved shows like "The Jetsons" and "The Flintstones." After 14 years, he returned to Disney in 1977, leaving an indelible mark in its consumer products division.
A Personal Tale of Resilience: Born to Japanese immigrant parents, Willie and his family faced incarceration during World War II under Executive Order 9066. From the Tanforan Assembly Center in San Francisco to the Topaz Relocation Center in central Utah, Willie's childhood was marked by hardship. He beautifully captures this time in the children's book, "Hello Maggie!" Illustrated by Willie, the book shares the words of author Shigeru Yabu, recounting his own experience at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. The short film, also animated by Mr. Ito, is currently in post-production.
Story from KABC in LA from 2018
Book Signing:
Stick around for a chance to have your copies of Willie's children's book, "Hello Maggie!", signed by the artist himself.
Trailer Sneak Peek:
Catch an exclusive glimpse of "Hello Maggie!" in its final stages of production.
https://hellomaggiefilm.com/
Presented by:
ASU Film and Media Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies, The Piper Center for Creative Writing, and AZ Humanities.
Mark your calendars for an evening of animation magic and personal storytelling with Willie Ito. Be part of this extraordinary Artist Talk that celebrates a lifetime of creativity and innovation!
Location:
Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
1125 N. 3rd Ave, Phoenix AZ 85003
Workshop Area, north part of grassland
Artist Bio:
<span class="TextRun SCXW44878700 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="white-space-collapse: preserve; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="" xml:lang="EN-US">Willie Ito (b. 1934) is one of the last surviving animators of the Golden Age of Hollywood. In 1954, Ito began working for Walt Disney Studios as an assistant animator on the film Lady and the Tramp. He later joined Warner Bros. where he worked with animators Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng on Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons. In the 1960s, Ito moved to Hanna-Barbera Productions and continued working there for 14 years, contributing to shows including The Jetsons, The Flintstones, The Yogi Bear Show, and Josie and the Pussycats as well as helping to create Hong Kong Phooey. Ito returned to Disney in 1977, where he worked in its consumer products division designing Disney merchandise. As child born to Japanese immigrant parents, he and his family were incarcerated during World War II due to Executive Order 9066, first at the Tanforan Assembly Center in San Francisco, and later at the Topaz Relocation Center in central Utah. He captures this time in the children’s book, Hello Maggie! for which he illustrated the words of author Shigeru Yabu about his own experience at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. The short film, Hello Maggie!, animated by Mr. Ito, is currently in post-production. .png)
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