Animation Block Party

NYC's animated celebration wises up and comes to Philly.

by Matthew Schantz

[ film/festivals ]

Like good bagels, the Animation Block Party was, for years, something New York City had and Philly didn't. Thousands gathered on Brooklyn streets to watch the works of both big-name and fresh-out-of-art-school animators, while we looked on with jealousy.

This year, though, the Animation Block Party is finally coming down to the Sixth Borough to air the 20 best animated films from the festival's past five events. Founder Casey Safron insists that, despite the move, the ABP will stay true to its mantra of "balancing the Pixar with the totally underground." To honor the setting, Safron also says there will be several made-in-Philly films in the lineup.

Featured works include claymation clips of Chelsea Manifold's Cooking 420 with Chef Barry, which follows a scraggly, red-eyed foodie who's always trying to put his secret ingredient — "oregano" — into ill-fated dishes; Ben Meinhardt's Binge and Purge, which eventually became MTV's Perfectland; and Bob Fox's Christian and Greg, which satirizes diner patrons and whiny Manhattan Community Art College students.

The latter clip was such a hit that Sundance is turning it into a miniseries, Breakfast. While that may sound like the opposite of Safron's mantra, know that it isn't. UArts students' works will be also be shown — in all their amateurish glory.

Sat., May 30, 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and midnight, $7, 941 Theater, 941 N. Front St., 215-235-1385, 941theater.com.