CTNX Animation Expo Since seeing
The Secret of Kells at the San Francisco International Animation Festival in 2009, I've been a fan of director
Tomm Moore. While viewing the
Cartoon Saloon website, I discovered the opportunity to purchase Tomm Moore watercolor commissions which I shared with friends. In 2014, my excitement ran high when my brother called to say Tomm and producer Paul Young would be signing
Designing the Secret of Kells at my brother's
Stuart Ng Books booth at SDCC. After the con, we followed them to Woodbury University and DreamWorks Animation to sell books after Tomm, Paul, and Cartoon Saloon's US representative
Jamie Kezlarian Bolio gave talks. On February 4. 2015, I attended a screening of
Song of the Sea followed by Tomm's question-and-answer session in San Francisco thanks to my
ASIFA-SF membership. I showed my book to and chatted with Steve Leialoha and Trina Robbins prior to the movie. Later, I discovered the San Francisco Film Society brought the director to speak to
San Francisco school children as part of their education program. The
Cartoon Art Museum hosted
The Art of Song of the Sea and the Secret of Kells exhibit from February 21 – September 12, 2015. Tomm appeared at the opening reception on February 25 and signed and drew for all three hours. I got a book for my friend Rae and chatted with Tomm and ASIFA-SF's Karl Cohen. At CTNX, I waited with friends for Tomm's signing session. We spoke briefly then and agreed to meet later. It became a lunch and our small group gathered some illustrious company. Tomm passed out postcard-size pamphlets about his next movie
Wolfwalkers which will follow Cartoon Saloon co-founder Nora Twomey's
The Breadwinner. As the group broke up, Tomm drew the witch Macha for me while standing at the bar. I'm grateful he extends so much effort for his fans. It was a real pleasure to share the excitement of seeing Tomm with friends and I retained the happiness of this event for weeks.
