– Nancy Denney-Phelps, a notable figure within the animation industry, has traversed the festival circuit with her films.
– Known for her writing and her collaborations with her composer partner, Nik Phelps.
– Their presence in the industry is evident not only through their films, but through their roles on juries, selection committees, and as event hosts.
– Their passion and dedication to the field of animation continues to fuel their work across different platforms.
A Tumble Down The Animation Trail:
Everybody’s New Favorite ‘It’ Book
Alright, strap on your 3D glasses and hold onto your popcorn, folks! The animation industry is about to introduce its brassy, sassy, and ever so classy diva: Nancy Denney-Phelps. This is a woman whose roles are as diverse as the color palette on an animator’s desk. Jurist, selector, host, programmer – she’s got more titles than a 90’s video store.
Partnered with her equally talented composer beau, Nik Phelps, their one-two punch of creativity has become a cornerstone of the animation festival circuit. I guess when they say ‘animation runs in the blood,’ they weren’t just doodling around!
Hot Take:
Now, simmer down my little sketchbooks. While we’ve seen our fair share of pencil pushers and mouse jigglers, Nancy and Nik are in a different league altogether. They aren’t simply content with creating awe-inspiring animations. No, they wanna judge ’em, categorize ’em, present ’em, programme ’em and possibly even take them out for a fancy dinner. And with the same amount of zest as a 3D character springing out the screen. Their trailblazing journey is a testament to the endless creative paths within the animation industry. So, if your case of Monday blues has left your creative palette more monochromatic than a ‘Sin City’ movie, take a leaf out of the Denney-Phelps book. Guaranteed to add some Technicolor to your life, one frame at a time!
Many animators are no strangers to the dynamic industry writer Nancy Denney-Phelps who, along with her music composer spouse Nik Phelps, has become an integral part of the animation festival scene. Her multifaceted roles include jury member, selection committee member, event host, and programmer. The visualization of Denney-Phelps on the book cover, which is a masterpiece from renowned animator Joanna Quinn, is an immediate attention grabber.
Image: CRC Press
Drawing on her vast festival reporting experience, Denney-Phelps has penned her latest book titled On The Animation Trail: 20 Years of Animation Festival History – an intriguing compilation of her festival circuit tales. The book makes a unique contribution to the kit of animation reading material which seldom includes anecdotal accounts such as Bill Plympton’s informal writings and Chris Robinson’s Canadian Animation: Looking for a Place to Happen.
Despite some downsides like arduous journeys and unanticipated expenditures, the book reflects a fond retrospective of the festival circuit for the past twenty years. The narrative uncovers interesting trivia about KLIK Festival’s (now Kaboom) amusing name origin, festivals adapting to the pandemic, and the repercussions of government cost-cutting measures.
Readers are taken on a journey across the ever-changing landscape of animation festivals, with notable events like Annecy, featuring its shift towards impersonalization and its fringe event Annecy+. Readers will also come across endearing reminiscences of the lakeside antics, open-air picnics at the welcoming Animafest Zagreb, and spontaneous moments like an impromptu composition of a film score.
Through her personal narrative, On The Animation Trail offers an engaging insight into the festival culture while occasionally touching upon controversial industry figures. The book articulates the essence and benefits of animation festivals for animation students and newcomers, who might overlook the physical events in the digital age of online prominence.
On The Animation Trail: 20 Years of Animation Festival History is out now via CRC Press
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/on-the-animation-trail-review/