The Television Academy cordially invites members and guests to
It's Not Just a Cartoon 2019:
A Celebration of Diversity in Animation
Explore a world of diverse creativity and imagination as top animation studio talent welcomes you to experience a variety of animation styles and techniques, cutting edge technology and formats ranging from traditional to hand-held stop motion to interactive VR.
This extraordinary, experiential afternoon is for the entire family:
Meet and perform alongside the top Voice Over talent behind your favorite characters
Create animation shorts using real-time videogaming engines and VR
Preview Big Hero 6 – "Baymax Dreams" concept art and learn how to use VR painting tools
Meet Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick
Marvel at the magic of Quill technology with Disney Television Animation's Realtime demo
Dance to the live music of Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys
Meet Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar, artists Tiffany Ford and Elle Michalka from 12:45 – 2:15 PM and get an autographed copy of their book, The Answer
Fun for the entire family with face painting, balloon art and a wonderful selection of food trucks
Move into the Wolf Theatre at 3:00 PM as Emmy, Annie and College Television Award-winning animation creator-painter-writer-director Jorge R. Gutierrez shares his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture.
After the presentation, enter a special drawing for a chance to win a private tour for four of Netflix studios, and a free year of Netflix!
Enjoy an incredible celebration of diversity in animation!
All ages welcome! Members are invited to bring up to 3 guests.
Click here to RSVP for yourself and up to three (3) guests. RSVP is required.
Only Television Academy Members with valid membership cards. Seating is subject to availability; first come, first served. Admittance is not guaranteed.
Participating Studios include:
Amazon Studios, Bento Box, Cartoon Network Studios, Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Marvel Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Shadow Machine, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, and Warner Bros.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
JORGE R. GUTIERREZ
A Mexican animator, painter, writer & director who, along with his wife and muse Sandra Equihua, created the award-winning animated television series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera for Nickelodeon.
Born in Mexico City and raised in Tijuana, Gutierrez attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) where he received his BFA & MFA in Experimental Animation. There he created the 3D short Carmelo, which won the 2001 College Television Emmy Award in animation and was screened at various festivals around the world, including Kodak's Emerging Filmmakers Program at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
Beyond winning two Annie Awards and one Emmy Award for El Tigre!, Gutierrez has also worked on many animated series, including ChalkZone, ¡Mucha Lucha!, The Buzz on Maggie (Annie Award nominated), Maya & Miguel and Brandy & Mr. Whiskers.
Gutierrez also co-wrote and directed the animated feature The Book of Life for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.
For more information on Mr. Gutierrez, please check out his website and at @mexopolis on Twitter.
VOICE-OVER ARTISTS
BOB BERGEN
Three-time nominated actor Bob Bergen announced to his parents when he was five he wanted to be Porky Pig. His mother replied, "You can't be Porky Pig. You're Jewish." Despite this, he was determined.
At fourteen he phoned Mel Blanc after researching a dozen or so phone books, crashed a recording session pretending to be Blanc's assistant, and watched him in action. Realizing he needed training, and for his voice to change, he began studying voice-over with every vo coach LA had to offer. Combined with two years at a Meisner acting conservatory and three years of improv study with The Groundlings, he was able to secure an agent at eighteen and pursue his dream, while tour guiding at Universal Studios allowed him to eat. He's performed in all aspects of on-camera television: from sitcoms to soaps to game shows - hosting Jep!, the kids' version of Jeopardy! for GSN.
His voice is heard in thousands of commercials, promos, games, animated series and specials. He's voiced dozens of animated features, including Minions, Sing, Despicable Me 3, Wreck it Ralph, The Secret Life of Pets, Trolls, Tangled, Tinker Bell, Spirited Away, Cars, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Iron Giant, The Emperor's New Groove, WALL-E, Toy Story 2&3, Up. For 20 years he's voiced Luke Skywalker in dozens of games as well as three Robot Chicken: Star Wars specials. Series work includes Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Marvel's Avengers Assemble, Clarence, Mr. Pickles, TripTank, Curious George. 2018 marks his 28th year voicing Porky Pig. He currently stars as Porky and Tweety in the series New Looney Tunes.
Bergen has been an active member of the Television Academy since 1994, serving on the Performers Peer Group Executive Committee, Daytime Committee, Executive Committee (four years), Television Academy Honors Committee, Governors Award Committee (Chair), Governors Ball Committee, Diversity Committee, Creative Arts Prime Time Emmy Committee (Vice Chair and co-Executive Producer), and Membership Committee. Over the years, he's served as co-host and announcer for the Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards.
JORGE DIAZ
A first-generation Mexican-American raised in the heart of Los Angeles, Diaz's love for acting and his passion for the arts have led him to projects that trail blaze new stories and images for Latinos in the entertainment industry.
An Alum of UCB Improv School, Diaz has appeared on a number of hit comedies, including Jane The Virgin and The Good Place, along with the upcoming 5th season of Arrested Development. Most recently Diaz starred as SPC Israel Garza in the Critic's Choice nominated Iraq war drama, The Long Road Home based on The New York Times bestseller by Martha Raddatz.
Diaz earned his first nomination for Best Supporting actor at the 29th Annual Imagen Foundation Awards for his performance as Hector Estrella in Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. The film became the first studio film ever to be released worldwide with an all-Latino lead cast. In 2013, Diaz starred as the lovable goofball "Paulie" in the groundbreaking half hour drama East Los High. The series became an instant hit winning several awards along with being nominated for five Daytime Emmys. The innovative teen drama made history and headlines as the first English-Language show with an all Latino cast. In 2018, Diaz can be seen as the lead of a new digital series High and Mighty, which won the Audience Award at the 2017 LA Film Festival and has become an official selection of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
Diaz' childhood dream of becoming a voice over artist came true when he booked the lead role of Noah in the Emmy-nominated animated series Oh Noah! He is also honored to voice Gabe in the 2017 Emmy nominated animated series, Elena of Avalor, which featured Disney's first Latina Princess. Diaz also voices Ojo, the blue haired giant munchkin, in the Amazon Studios Emmy*winning series Lost In Oz.
When Diaz isn't working on a project, he spends much of his time with his diverse group of friends sharing ideas, creating art and supporting each other's passions. Diaz currently resides in Los Angeles with his dog, Trusty Boots.
GREY GRIFFIN
Grey Griffin is an accomplished American voice actress and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter. According to Behind The Voice Actors, she has voiced more characters than any female in the industry, including iconic characters "Daphne Blake" from the classic Scooby-Doo franchise and "Emily Elizabeth" on Clifford the Big Red Dog, to cult favorites like "Azula" of Avatar: The Last Airbender and "Ming-Hua" on The Legend of Korra. She currently records voices for Star Wars Resistance, The Loud House, Scooby Doo Guess Who, Unikitty, Yabba Dabba Dino, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, DC Superhero Girls, Tom & Jerry, Elena of Avalor, Star vs The Forces of Evil, The Owl House, Puppy Dog Pals, Avengers Assemble, She-Ra, Harvey Street Kids, KIPO, Dragons Rescue Riders, Curious George and many more. She was also cast as "Setsu Oiwa" in the Japanese animated film, When Marnie Was There.
Some of Grey's other credits include DC Comics characters' "Lois Lane" and "Wonder Woman," heroic "Lady Sif" on Marvel Comics' Mighty Thor and the evil "Amora the Enchantress" on the Superhero Squad Series. Grey has also voiced characters in major motion pictures such as Bolt, and The Book of Life, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the category for Best Animated Picture last year.
Grey is also an accomplished singer, having released five full-length albums and contributing songs to several soundtracks and tribute compilations from 2000-2007. The compilation album, Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster, which featured Grey's rendition of "Willie We Have Missed You," won a Grammy Award in the category for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2005.
Grey is of Dutch, French, Irish, Mexican and Norwegian descent. She resides in Glendale with her husband, and three children.
PHIL LAMARR
Phil LaMarr is most widely known as one of the original cast members of Mad TV and as Marvin in Pulp Fiction. A Los Angeles native, Phil is an alumnus of Yale University and The Groundlings. In addition to numerous appearances in films like Men, Women & Children, Step Brothers, Free Enterprise and the record-setting Incredibles 2, and TV shows such as Get Shorty, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Superstore and VEEP; Phil has been profiled for his extensive voice-over work, which includes regular roles on the animated series Futurama, Samurai Jack, and Justice League, recurring roles on Family Guy, Disney's The Lion Guard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Young Justice and Star Wars: The Clone Wars and video games including Shadow Of Mordor, Mortal Kombat X, and the Injustice, Metal Gear Solid and Darksiders series.
Currently, In addition to writing, producing and starring in the web series Inside The Legend and the animated series Goblins, Phil is performing monthly with The Black Version, appearing in Craig Of The Creek, DC Superhero Girls, The Loud House and starring in Tyler The Creator's animated series, The Jellies for Adult Swim.
JESSICA MCKENNA
Jessica is a Southern California native. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from Northwestern University. Since moving back to L.A., Jessica has studied sketch and improv at The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and The Groundlings. She can be seen regularly performing at UCB with improv juggernaut ASSSSCAT and the musical improv teams Magic to Do and Baby Wants Candy.
Jessica starred on the Fox sketch show Party Over Here. Other television credits include Jalen Vs. Everybody, the improv comedy series RIOT, Filthy Sexy Teens, The Goldbergs, The Hot Wives of Las Vegas, @Midnight, Adam Ruins Everything and Comedy Bang! Bang!. She has also voiced many a scrappy kid including roles on the upcoming DC's Superhero Girls (Cartoon Network), Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network), Voltron (Netflix) and the lead in Little Big Awesome (Amazon).
She is also one half of the musical sketch duo, The Zach and The Jess with Zach Reino. They've written musical sketches for Party Over Here, Buzzfeed, FunnyOrDie, Nickelodeon, and they created and starred in "Serious Music," a digital series for ABC. Jess and Zach also do a weekly improvised musical podcast called, "Off Book" on Earwolf. Between their podcast and UCB performances Jess and Zach sometimes improvise four musicals a week. It's almost like it's no big deal to write a musical. Boom! Rodgers and Hammerstein ya been roasted!
ATTICUS SHAFFER
Atticus Shaffer was born on June 19, 1998 and is a native Southern California. In 2006, he landed a guest starring role in the series The Class. That role led him to the role of Brick in The Middle, which had a 9-year run. Guest roles on multiple series followed, such as My Name Is Earl, Days of Our Lives, Carpoolers, Out of Jimmy's Head and many others.
He is perhaps best known for the bus stop scene he shared with Will Smith in Hancock. Atticus' other roles in feature films include The Unborn, An American Carol, Leaving Barstow and Opposite Day.
One of Atticus' most notable acting passions is his love for voiceover work. Animation has especially provided him with creative excitement, which he was able to express in lending his voice to shows and movies such as Disney's Fishhooks, Frankenweenie, The Lion Guard, Cartoon Network's Steven Universe, Dreamwork's HOME: Adventures with Tip and Oh, Harvey Girls Forever! (aka Harvey Street Kids), Amazon's Pete the Cat and many others.
Having been home-schooled his whole life, Atticus is thankful he was able to develop interests and his personality in a way he says he would not have otherwise. While being a proud nerd, he adores the many interests of nerdom, including but not limited to: video games, comic books, books, trading card games, movies and shows. Atticus is very passionate about storytelling and desires to not only write and produce his own content, but after receiving much praise and encouragement while enrolled in Warner Bros. Director's Workshop program, he hopes to also get involved in directing.
Shaffer has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, type IV, a genetic condition inherited from his mother, who has type I. Atticus says that the condition is just a small part of who he is, and it in no way disables him or hinders him.