Chuck Jones Exhibition WHAT'S UP, DOC? Enters Final Weeks at Moving Image

During the final month of the popular Smithsonian exhibition What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones -- closing Monday, January 19 -- Museum of the Moving Image will be celebrating animation in its galleries, theaters, and classrooms. In conjunction with the Chuck Jones exhibition, this holiday period, the Museum is presenting daily screenings of classic Chuck Jones cartoons and "Stop Motion Shapes," family animation workshops inspired by the legendary animator. In addition, the Museum will present the contemporary animated features Coraline (in 3-D), Ratatouille, Toy Story 2, The Wind Rises, and others.

A schedule and program descriptions are included below.

What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones features 23 of Chuck Jones's animated films, a short documentary and an interactive experience -- both of which give insight into the animation process -- and 136 original sketches and drawings, storyboards, production backgrounds, animation cels, and photographs that reveal how Jones and his collaborators worked together to create some of the greatest cartoons ever made. In addition to the cartoons Jones made for the Warner Bros.'s Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes series, the exhibition explores his collaborations with author Theodore Geisel on the enduringly popular television specials Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) and Horton Hears a Who! (1970); films that featured the hapless animated character Private Snafu, made for the U.S. Army during World War II; the Oscar-winning public health film So Much for So Little (1949); and the television special Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975), based on a story by Rudyard Kipling.

The exhibition is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, and Museum of the Moving Image. After debuting at the Museum, the exhibition will continue on a thirteen-city tour through 2019.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR FINAL MONTH OF 'WHAT'S UP, DOC? THE ANIMATION ART OF CHUCK JONES,' DECEMBER 20, 2014-JANUARY 19, 2015:
All screenings take place in the Sumner M. Redstone Theater or the Bartos Screening Room at Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Avenue in Astoria. Screenings are included with Museum admission and free for Museum members unless otherwise noted.

Please note the following holiday hours: The Museum will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day). The Museum will be open on Monday and Tuesday, December 29 and 30, for NYC public schools winter recess, and also open on Thursday, January 1, New Year's Day, and Monday, January 19 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Coraline in 3-D
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1:00 P.M.
Dir. Henry Selick. 2009, 100 mins. Presented in Dolby Digital 3-D. With the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Ian McShane. An inquisitive girl discovers a portal to a parallel universe that isn't as perfect as it seems. This whimsical coming-of-age tale, based on the beloved children's novel by Neil Gaiman, marries old-school stop-motion puppetry with a truly expressive use of digital 3-D. Recommended for ages 9 and up. (Part of See It Big! Animation)

Toy Story 2
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1:00 P.M.
Dirs. John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, Lee Unkrich. 1999, 92 mins. 35mm. With the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack. When a toy collector steals Woody, Buzz Lightyear and friends vow to rescue him. But the masterful sequel to Toy Story is also a deeply moving story about a boy who is growing up and outgrowing his toys. Recommended for ages 4 and up. (Part of See It Big! Animation)

For Scent-imental Reasons and other cartoons
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1:00 P.M.
MONDAY-FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29-JANUARY 2, 1:00 P.M.
In conjunction with the exhibition What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones, the Museum is presenting matinees of cartoons directed by Jones. Except for the first two, all cartoons will be shown as 35mm prints from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Cartoons include: Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century (1953, digital projection), Broom-Stick Bunny (1956, digital projection), For Scent-imental Reasons (1949), From A to Z-Z-Z-Z (1954), Ali Baba Bunny (1957), Robin Hood Daffy (1958), Gee Whiz-z-z (1956). Total running time: approx. 49 mins. Mon.-Fri., December 29-Jan. 2, at 1:00 p.m. Recommended for ages 5 and up. (Part of Chuck Jones Matinees)

Winter Holiday Family Workshop: Stop-Motion Shapes
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2:30 P.M.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 & 28, 1:30 and 3:00 P.M.
MONDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29-JANUARY 4, 2:30 P.M.
In the short cartoon The Dot and the Line, Chuck Jones brought two simple shapes to animated life. Families will make short videos of their own in this hour-long workshop using cutouts, strings, and blocks, giving simple squares, triangles, and lines personalities and movements. See other dates through January 4.
Ages 8+. Materials fee: $5 (free for Family members and above). Advanced reservation is available to Museum members only. Tickets are only available for purchase in person on the day of the workshop at the admissions desk. Tickets are limited and are first-come, first-served.

Ratatouille
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 7:00 P.M.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 3:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 3:30 P.M.
Dir. Brad Bird, 2007, 111 mins. DCP. With the voices of Brad Garrett, Lou Romano, Patton Oswalt. Who would have thought that the unlikely story about a rat who teams up with a young cook to take over the kitchen in a French restaurant would form the basis for one of Pixar's most beautifully realized and beloved masterpieces? Also showing Saturday, December 27 at 3:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 28 at 3:30 p.m. Recommended for ages 5 and up. (Part of See It Big! Animation)

The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 12:00 P.M.
Dir. Hayao Miyazaki. 2013, 126 mins. DCP. With Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto. Reported to be Japanese master Miyazaki's final film, The Wind Rises is a wondrous retelling of the life of a visionary airplane designer. Overflowing with breathtaking imagery and profound reflections on creativity, this is a poignant farewell from Japan's most beloved living filmmaker. (Part of Curators' Choice 2014)

Baton Bunny and other cartoons
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 1:00 P.M.
In conjunction with the exhibition What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones, the Museum is presenting matinees of cartoons directed by Jones. All cartoons will be shown as 35mm prints from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. The Dover Boys (1940), Dripalong Daffy (1951), A Bear for Punishment (1951), Much Ado about Nutting (1953), Baton Bunny (1959), Whoa Be-Gone (1958), High Note (1961), and Chariots of Fur (1994). Total running time: approx. 56 mins. Also showing Sunday, November 9, at 1:00 p.m. Recommended for ages 5 and up. (Part of Chuck Jones Matinees)

Animation Takeover in the Drop-in Studio
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 12:00-5:00 P.M.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 &18, 12:00-5:00 P.M.
To celebrate the closing weeks of What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones, animation activities will take over the Museum's free drop-in studio for families. Using pencils, crayons, cameras, and computers, young visitors will make media inspired by the exhibition. Recommended for ages 7+, accompanied by an adult (12+ on their own).

A full schedule of the series See It Big! Animation is available here.

MUSEUM INFORMATION - Museum of the Moving Image (movingimage.us) advances the understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media. In its stunning facilities -- acclaimed for both its accessibility and bold design -- the Museum presents exhibitions; screenings of significant works; discussion programs featuring actors, directors, craftspeople, and business leaders; and education programs which serve more than 50,000 students each year. The Museum also houses a significant collection of moving-image artifacts.

Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10:30 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Holiday hours: The Museum will be open 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mon., December 29; and Tues., December 30. The Museum will be closed on Wed., December 24; and Thurs., December 25.
Film Screenings: Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays, and as scheduled. Tickets for regular film screenings are included with paid Museum admission and free for members at the Film Lover level and above.
Museum Admission: $12.00 for adults; $9.00 for persons over 65 and for students with ID; $6.00 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 and Museum members are admitted free. Admission to the galleries is free on Fridays, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets for special screenings and events may be purchased in advance by phone at 718 777 6800 or online.
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Subway: M (weekdays only) or R to Steinway Street. Q (weekdays only) or N to 36 Avenue.
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Pictured: Photograph and drawings courtesy Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Film stills courtesy Warner Bros.™ Looney Tunes Characters © & TM Warner Bros.