Beaks here...

"Every now and again we folks here at AICN are lucky enough to bring a film to your attention. Somehow, to seemingly discover the film. When we find one of these jewels, we push the living bejeesus out of it because something in the film illicits that pure visceral feeling of wanting the film to succeed.

Not all great films or classic films do succeed. Some bellyflop tremendously, and that’s what I don’t want to see happen here."

Ten years ago, Harry wrote the above in the preface to his review of Brad Bird's THE IRON GIANT*. Unfortunately, in accordance with Warner Bros.' wishes, the film did flop. Big time. In fact, its failure essentially marked the beginning of the end for WB's feature animation division. Shameful.

Today, however, THE IRON GIANT is considered a modern classic. And as for that Bird fella, he found a soft landing (and two Oscars) up in Emeryville, California. So how cool would it be to revisit the film - and to thumb your nose at faulty conventional wisdom - with the writer-director and his crew on its tenth anniversary? Well, if you've got $10 to spare, you can join Bird and company at the ASIFA's special screening of THE IRON GIANT on October 23rd at the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium in Burbank, California!

For more info on the event, click here. Or just check out the excerpted press release below. Even if you've seen the film a gazillion times, it'll be well worth another go-round just to hear Bird's comments now that he's ended up on the right side of history. He's not known for mincing words. This could be a truly special - and lively - Q&A.

See you there?

IRON GIANT REUNION
Friday, October 23, 2009- 7:30 pm
Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium
Woodbury University
7500 Glenoaks Bl
Burbank, CA 91510

Tickets on sale now: www.asifa-hollywood.org/irongiant
ASIFA-Hollywood Members: $5
Woodbury students: $5
General Admission: $10
Parking is free. Proceeds benefit the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive. This event is made possible by a generous grant from the Walter Lantz Foundation.

About The Iron Giant Reunion

ASIFA-Hollywood will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Annie Awards winning 1999 animated masterpiece "The Iron Giant", with an evening with lively discussion with some of the animators and crew members on Friday, October 23, 2009, at 7:30 pm, at the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium, Woodbury University, in Burbank, California.

Among the many artists expected to attend will be writer and director Brad Bird, background artist Anne Guenther, art director Alan Bodner, lead animator Steve Markowski, and Scott Johnston who created the ToonShader software for the film. The panel will be moderated by animator Tom Sito.

"The Iron Giant is one of those rare films that flawlessly merged CG with traditional animation and represented superior storytelling," said ASIFA-Hollywood Vice-President Tom Sito. "ASIFA-Hollywood wants to showcase the individuals who made the iconic film, and the event will be extra-special with a rare appearance by Brad Bird."

*So weird to see my old talkbacks black-boxed.