Johnnie May plans great ESCAPE

I miss Johnnie May. We all miss Johnnie May. It’s been almost 10 years since he split for Madison, Wisconsin, where the pedigree is more hip and the atmosphere more conducive to coaching soccer and animating little pipe cleaner figures. (I’m only speculating on that last part.) Although, Mr. May actually began animating little pipe cleaner figures when he still lived in Champaign-Urbana and taught at Uni High. Some of the stop-motion evidence will be on display tomorrow, Saturday, May 26, according to an e-postcard that I received:

Tabletop Studios retrospective @ ESCAPE Java Joint, Madison, WI

If you happen to be up Madison way, then stop by the ESCAPE Java Joint & Art Gallery, 916 Willy St., around 8:30 p.m. I’m guessing that Johnnie May will roll out all the Tabletop Studios oldies including CA 1999, ISOLATION, “Drive On,” “Completely Dresden,” and previews for other long-in-coming works like CA II: SOB. His new film, (i am going to love you..) SOMEDAY, is an interesting 14-minute amalgamation of his different animation styles – and it’s in French, too! (Don’t worry. He also knows how to animate subtitles.) Let’s hope that Mr. May will consider taking his retrospective on the road, such as a place due south from Madison just off I-57 that we all know so well … and we ain’t talkin’ Kankakee, buckaroo.

~ Jason Pankoke

Comments closed.