Next Tuesday, an evening with Tom Sito

The general membership meeting on Tuesday, July 30 will feature a discussion with TOM SITO, the Guild's President Emeritus and author of the new book, Moving Innovation: A History of Computer Animation.

Computer graphics has changed the way we experience the art of moving images. Computer graphics are the difference between Steamboat Willie and Buzz Lightyear, between ping pong and PONG. It began in 1963 when an MIT graduate student named Ivan Sutherland created the first true computer animation program. Instead of presenting a series of numbers, Sutherland’s Sketchpad program drew lines that created recognizable images. Sutherland noted: “Since motion can be put into Sketchpad drawings, it might be exciting to try making cartoons.” Moving Innovation, the first full-length history of CG, shows us how Sutherland’s seemingly offhand idea grew into a multibillion-dollar industry.

Sito is the author of Drawing the Line: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions. At the meeting, Sito will be available to answer questions and autograph his book. The meeting will also feature a discussion of the upcoming officers' election.

The meeting will be held at the Guild's offices at 1105 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank. Pizza and refreshments will be served at 6:30 pm followed by the meeting at 7 pm.