MICHAEL SPORN

Another

legend 

has left us.

Michael Sporn

His name was synonymous with animation in New York.

He

hired, taught, nurtured, advised, mentored, 

and/or remained friends with 

so many in the 

New York animation community

over so many decades.

The thing I remember most 

about Michael is that he 

seriously,

really and truly

wanted to make films

that would change the world.

I'd periodically get into good-natured arguments 

with him about this.

Why wasn't it okay to just want to make people laugh?

What's wrong with a film about

FARTS?

That's not to say Michael didn't like funny films.

(or farts)

Quite the contrary.

But he thought that

animation,

as a medium,

had so much more to give:

Heart

Intelligence

and especially

Social Awareness

I can think of very few people who

saw animation as such a pure art form.

And I'll always respect him for that.

You can check out some 

of Mr. Sporn's work over

HERE.

And

if you get a chance,

take a long walk

through

his

SPLOG.

Rest well, Michael.

You defined what it was to be an

animator in

New York City.