MISSION: The Animaticus Foundation is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation, education and evolution of traditional 2D animation in a digital age. The 2D animation industry is in great danger of losing all the knowledge and expertise it has gleaned from its almost 100 years existence. It therefore becomes increasingly more imperative that this precious artform is preserved and evolved. The Animaticus Foundation believes that if 2D animation is to survive it has to do so through education and high level production. The Animaticus Foundation therefore intends to raise the creative bar while enabling the young animators of the future an opportunity of studying and gaining real experience by apprenticing to established master animators. It is suggested that traditional hand-drawn animation is a unique and inspirational art form, embracing all the aesthetic and creative skills of Mankind… storytelling, classical drawing, sound design, music, color, movement and dramatic art. No other art form can offer this opportunity. Therefore our primary focus is to encourage the application of both 'art' and 'artistry' to the medium of animation. The well-trodden 'cartoon' path is surely now very close to being exhausted. With this in mind, The Animaticus Foundation is committed to the following practical objectives… i) The offering of specialist teaching programs, guest masterclasses and/or apprentiship opportunities. ii) The creation of unique and ground-breaking animated productions that can realize better the infinite potential that traditional hand-crafted animation is still capable of achieving. iii) The introduction of this 'new animation' to the public in ways that are both inspiring and commercially desirable. To achieve these aims, The Animaticus Foundation will begin to seek funding through public grants, private donations and industry sponsorship. The successful hosting of the '2D OR NOT 2D" Animation Festival' is yet another way of realizing funds to support these aims. To assist in these objectives, we invite all individuals and organizations that are in agreement with our stated goals to further enable our work by becoming members of the Foundation. A $25.00 yearly donation ($12.50 for fulltime students) will entitle members to regular updates on the Foundation's activities through the members' newsletter. Members will also receive discounts on Foundation merchandizing, as well as on events such as the '2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival'. Applicants who choose to increase their membership donation to $50 or more will recieve a signed copy of Tony White's accomplished animation 'Archive Reel', containing over 40 minutes of award-winning work not available elsewhere.   MEMBERSHIP: To become a member of The Animaticus Foundation, please mail a check for $12.50 (students only), $25.00 or $50.00 to… Membership, The Animaticus Foundation, P.O. Box 12324, Everett, WA 98206. Please don't forget to include the following membership details... Name: Address: Phone number: Email address: Animator/Supporter/Student: Donation amount:   Please note: 100% of all proceeds donated will be used to enable our stated aims, as indicated above. Personal details provided by members will always be considered confidential (i.e. for the purposes of the Foundation only) and will therefore never be sold or distributed to any thrid part outside the Foundation.