Shannon Muir’s Take on the Animation World

I have been so busy (in a good way) I hadn’t been able to get the info out about my Anime Los Angeles appearance until now.

I’ll be at the convention one day only - tomorrow, Saturday the 5th.  The panel I’ll be on will focus on ADR writing and production, and appearing with me will be fellow animation writer Craig Miller, and that runs from 2-3 pm.  Planning to just spend some time at the convention besides that but not sure how much yet.

Full details at http://www.animelosangeles.org

Hope to see some of you there!

I had a nice, intimate turnout for the discussion I did on ADR vs. Original Animation.  Broke down the differences in the production pipeline for each, how changes in both broadcast standards and practices and available venues have influenced adapting ADR animation (comparing the 80s where shows like VOLTRON and ROBOTECH were highly rewritten, to where that happens a lot less frequently today and it is often more an adaptation of the story closer to the original).  Also took a fair amount of questions.

 An interesting experience doing this solo the first time as well.  All my other experiences have been in panels with other people, both at smaller cons and larger ones.  I thank people for bearing with me and I feel I learned a lot doing the discussion in this format.  I just hope others learned from me as well.

A full list of panels and workshops is now available at the Pacific Media Expo website: http://www.pacificmediaexpo.com

My panel on “Producing ADR vs. Original Animation” is scheduled at noon on Saturday, November 10th, in Pacific Ballroom B. Though as always advised, doublecheck for any last minute changes if you do come to the LAX Hilton to attend.

There’s lots of other great content as well for anyone interested in anime, manga, and Asian culture. Check it out.

Hope to see some of you readers there!

Sorry for the short notice, but I just got word that I will have a 60 minute programming slot at Pacific Media Expo, November 9-11 at the LAX Hilton.  My panel’s currently slated to be from noon to 1 that Saturday.  More details as I have them.  You can find out more about Pacific Media Expo at: http://www.pacificmediaexpo.com.

I’ve been invited to be one of the guest speakers at Anime Los Angeles, happening January 4-6, 2008, in Burbank, California at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. There I’ll be talking about animation writing and production, the topics discussed in my book GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION.
My bio on the site is here:
http://www.animelosangeles.org/ala/content/view/88/42/

I’ll let you know when the official program schedule is announced so you know where to find me and what all else is happening at this convention. I look forward to meeting those of you who can come!

Got home at around 7PM from Comic-Con. Good, but I was too wiped out Sunday to manage much. Still am, truth be told. All I did was wander an hour around the hall before leaving with my boyfriend around 1:30. (He took his niece and nephew in separately earlier while I rested up)

Tell you more when I’ve caught my second wind. And thanks to all who came to the panel Saturday!

While I plan to speak in detail about my own panel in this blog after the fact, the kind folks at AWN who are spearheading our on-scene blog at http://awnatcomiccon.animationblogspot.com/ have allowed me to also post with them as time and availability permits, though it is Rick DeMott and Gina Ruiz of AWN that deserve the credit for leading the charge with the above blog.  They’ll be your main sources throughout the Con.  Check in reguarly and see what they have to say!  They and the rest of their crew will start immediately, and I’ll get into town Thursday night and join in behind.

 They’re basically doing what I would have done on my own - post about my experiences throughout the Con in more detail - and to me it made no sense for us to compete.  So I’m glad to get to work with them. 

So check out http://awnatcomiccon.animationblogspot.com/ for AWN’s collective, multiple view, up to the minute coverage, and see you there, or keep up online!

GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION is finally out and available! Order it from major online retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy, stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders. It’s available through Ingram Booksellers, so anyone who uses Ingram as their distributor should be able to get it for you.

Please accept my personal apologies for the long delay. Early April to late July is a very long wait, and I’m sorry that you had to do so, those of you that pre-ordered. But none of that was under my control. It’s just the printing biz I guess.

I put my heart and soul into this book hoping that it brings something to everyone who reads it. The last twenty plus years of my life have been an incredible journey, and it became so because many people in the industry were amazingly kind and helpful to me. The people who contributed to this book were the same way. I thank each and every one of them for their time and consideration.

Looking forward to seeing some of you at Comic-Con Saturday. I’ll be with Tad Stones and Greg Weisman (who have mini-interviews in the first book), and Stephanie Graziano, who among other things is the new incoming president of Women in Animation, Inc. Just be aware that our room only holds 240 seats, and Saturday admission is TOTALLY sold out, so if you want to hear us talk about the Animation Production Process, be sure to be there at Room 3 6:30 to 7:30 on Saturday!

Well, folks, I’m going to do it again. Practically a whole new cast, possibly even in slightly a different style, so even if you saw it at Wondercon you just might want to come visit again!

Here’s the scoop:

SATURDAY, JULY 29TH

6:30-7:30 The Animation Production Process—What goes into bringing an animated script to screen? Producers Stephanie Graziano (X-Men: The Animated Series), Tad Stones (Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms), and Greg Weisman (Spectacular Spider-Man) take you behind the scenes and into the trenches. Moderated by Shannon Muir (Invader Zim), author of Gardner’s Guide to Writing and Producing Animation from GGC, and currently project management coordinator at Animation World Network. Room 3

Hope to see you there!