Taking It In The Shorts

Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation returns to La Jolla this month, marking the 30th anniversary of the original touring film collection.

Don’t confuse this festival with Spike & Mike’s other well-known offering, the Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation. This collection is slightly more tasteful and refined.

“This 30th anniversary of our Festival of Animation is the best we have ever done,” says co-creator Craig “Spike” Decker. “It is an accumulation of the newest, most award-winning, technically savvy films, and the most award-winning and popular shorts we have ever shown.”

Before Spike and his partner, the late Mike Gribble, got into film, Spike’s band projected Betty Boop and Superman cartoons onto on- stage screens during concerts. The band eventually broke up, but the projections carried on.

This year’s festival will feature 23 animated shorts, including early student works by award-winning director John Lasseter (Toy Story) and a special presentation from The Simpsons director/ producer David Silverman.

If you’re in the mood for something sicker and more twisted, those Spike & Mike films usually make an appearance at Comic-Con in July.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
2/9 - 3/22
700 Prospect St., La Jolla
mcasd.org, spikeandmike.com