Animator Discusses His Art at Library

Master animator and puppeteer Bob Baker this week helped launch a new series at the North Hollywood Library celebrating the television industry.

As part of the library’s “50th Anniversary of the Emmy Awards Celebration,” Baker, who has been a puppeteer and worked on numerous animation projects for more than 60 years, lectured Thursday night on creating animated productions.

“Basically, anything that can be moved by man is animation of some sort,” Baker said. “A lot of people have no idea of how time-consuming and delicate it used be to make an animated film.”

Baker’s discussion was the first of five that the library will host to celebrate the television industry.

“We’re trying to bring in different types of professionals to get people in the library,” said Kenneth Wolff, president of the Friends of North Hollywood Library, a sponsor of the lectures.

“This is the NoHo Arts District and the academy plays a pivotal role in the district,” Wolff said. “We also want the library to play a pivotal role in the district.”

The next presentation will be by Dennis C. Brown, composer for the television series “Dharma and Greg,” and Emmy award-winning lyricist Dennis Spiegel on June 18. They will talk about the dramatic impact of music for television.

On July 23, Jessica Pazdernik, set costumer for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” will talk about breaking into costume design.

On Aug. 20, Conrad G. Bachmann, an actor and the governor for the Academy’s Performers Peer Group, will discuss the acting profession.

And on Sept. 17, there will be a post-Emmy panel featuring the executive director of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, James Loper.

All presentations begin at 7 p.m. at 5211 Tujunga Ave.

For more information call (818) 766-7185.