Earlier this year, we launched Book Talk, an online series of live interviews with authors of new books that relate directly or indirectly with the work of FSWC. We’re now pleased to announce the next segment in the series, which will feature Michael Hirsh.
The son of Holocaust survivors, Michael is a Toronto-based producer, TV executive and entrepreneur who played a major role in building Canada’s successful animation industry and has created award-winning children programming over the past 40 years.
In his just-published memoir, Animation Nation, he discusses the lasting impact of growing up with parents who lived through the Holocaust and his emotional visit to Auschwitz where his father was incarcerated.
For more on Michael’s life, read this article in The Times of Israel by FSWC’s Senior Writer Robert Sarner.
Join us on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 7:30 PM EDT for what will surely be an engaging conversation between Michael and Robert. This online event is free to attend.
About the book: Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire
In 1978, an obscure animated TV show produced by an upstart Toronto firm caught the eye of the world’s then-hottest filmmaker, George Lucas. He was looking for someone to produce an animated short for a CBS Star Wars TV special. The ensuing collaboration not only put Nelvana on its path to becoming the world’s leading independent animation company, but kickstarted Canada’s most successful creative industry -- children’s animated entertainment.
Born in Belgium, raised in Toronto and New York, Michael Hirsh was a cofounder and CEO of Nelvana and the driving force behind Canada’s animation dominance. Animation Nation is his behind-the-scenes account of working on such famous cartoon franchises as Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, Berenstain Bears, Franklin, The Magic School Bus, and Beetlejuice, and larger-than-life personalities including Roseanne Barr, Mr. T., Deborah Harry and Tim Burton.
Packed with humour and hard-won wisdom, Animation Nation is a lively account of how creative talent and entrepreneurial zeal built a global cartoon empire.
Register Here
This will be a virtual Zoom event and the link will be provided upon registration.
If you have any questions, please contact Alysse Mathalon at amathalon@fswc.ca.
