Michael Sporn Animation – Splog

Daily post 25 Jan 2014 12:42 pm

Celebration

Comments (16)

16 Responses to “Celebration”

1. on 25 Jan 2014 at 5:05 pm 1.Teodor Ajduk said …

   Thanks.
   All the best to you

2. on 25 Jan 2014 at 8:31 pm 2.mimi brennan said …

   Love the drawing of Michael.
   Mimi

3. on 25 Jan 2014 at 9:38 pm 3.Matt Lyon said …

   Onwards and upwards x

4. on 26 Jan 2014 at 9:02 am 4.Jason McDonald said …

   Peace & Love to you Heidi.

5. on 26 Jan 2014 at 1:54 pm 5.Roberto Severino said …

   I wish you the best, Heidi and thank you!

6. on 26 Jan 2014 at 3:39 pm 6.Jim Zerwick said …

   Dear Mimi,

   You don’t know me and Michael hadn’t either for about the last 45 years. Even back then we never knew each other well, but I haven’t forgotten him because of the type of person he was and also because I knew that he would go far with his art. So it was a shock to see his obituary in the NYT the other day, but also gratifying to know that he had done so well with his life and art.

   We were in the Navy in 1968-69 taking Russian at the Defense Language Inst. in Monterey, CA and later at San Angelo AFB TX for security training. Mike was always drawing, of course, and amazing his barracks mates with his creativity and skill. He seemed to know everything about the Disney animators and everything else animation.

   But more than that I remember Mike’s friendliness and good humor in spite of the daily distractions and frustrations of military life, especially when it interfered so much with his passion. The rest of us were always bitching about this or that but Mike was always calm and unperturbed.

   I regret that I lost touch with him, but he was sent to Alaska and I to Spain, and later, to Turkey, but I originally had orders to Adak that were changed suddenly. If I had gone there with Mike, I have no doubt he would have helped make that desolate place bright and sunny.

   My sincerest condolences,

   Jim Zerwick
   Verona, WI

7. on 27 Jan 2014 at 9:45 pm 7.Jody Gray said …

   My dear Heidi,

   So many loving tributes. Much love always,

   Jody Gray
   Jacquie Hawley

8. on 29 Jan 2014 at 11:02 am 8.Lewis Achenbach said …

   Storytelling being Michael’s realm, I’m apprehensive about spinning takes myself. But pockets of memory are flooding in, Michael being the central figure. So I may share a few, with the readers of this Spog, with Heidi’s kind consent. And being candid, following Michael’s lead.

   Michael introduced me to Yuri Norstein, another legend of animation. Yuri was in NY. And Michael spoke to him in Russian, if I remember. Like Michael, Mr. Norstein was humble about his talents. Unassuming, plodding along on The Overcoat; doing his job.
   It was good to see two bearded artists of similar persuasion simply smile at one another, saying things beyond my knowledge and relate so strongly by proximity and conversation.
   Michael knew many greats. Richard Williams, the list is very long. And it never ceased to amaze me, that my boss is a big man in the industry. And has a deep well of know how that I get to be around and drink from from time to time.

9. on 12 Feb 2014 at 6:45 am 9.Markus said …

   Wishing you strength and all the best in to your life, Heidi. God bless you.

   And thank you for Michael sharing so much knowledge and information about animation through his blog. Hopefully this blog stays online, so new animators and people who are interested in animation can browse this blog in the future.

10. on 18 Feb 2014 at 12:11 pm 10.Clive Shaw said …

    Heidi
    From a huge fan of Michael and this magnificent splog, please accept my sincerest condolences. Love this drawing, and the hedgehog.
    Best wishes, Clive Shaw

11. on 11 Apr 2014 at 1:32 am 11.Brian Evans said …

    Michael gave me my first job in animation back in 2004. It seems inconceivable to me that he’s gone. This blog has been so influential to so many people… everywhere I go I meet people who read it.

    My deepest condolences to you.

    Brian

12. on 15 Apr 2014 at 1:34 pm 12.Kevin Hogan said …

    Thank you, Heidi. I miss Michael’s words on a daily basis.

13. on 23 Apr 2014 at 7:15 am 13.Pierre said …

    I just wanted to say that on what would have been Michael’s birthday (or so my Outlook calendar tells me), that he is sorely missed. He was a guiding light to animators everywhere and a great soul as well who gave his time and encouraging words to so many people.

    With lots of love,
    Pierre

14. on 01 Nov 2014 at 12:33 pm 14.Daniel said …

    My deepest condolences to you.

15. on 04 Nov 2014 at 11:51 am 15.Josh said …

    Wish you all the best heidi, thank you

16. on 09 Nov 2014 at 7:26 am 16.q8meth said …

    Love the drawing of Michael.

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