June 16, 2023 • By Christine Pasalo Norland
Hello Barkada at Comic-Con International 2023
Hello Barkada hosted animation professionals Pearl Low, Christina Moreland, Elizabeth Ito, and Natasha Kline on the panel "The Short of It: Animation is a Medium," as well as comics professionals Jamila Rowser, Nidhi Chanani, Victoria Ying, Kiara Valdez, Marco Finnegan, and Amanda Meadows on the panel "From Burnout to Brainstorm," both presented at Comic-Con International 2023.
I was also honored to appear on the panel "What's so Funny? Humor and Satire in Comic Strips and Cartoons" coordinated by Dr. Shamika A. Mitchell, a writer, philosopher, scholar, and educator who teaches at The State University of New York; the editor-in-chief of WinC Magazine, the seasonal magazine of Women in Comics Collective International (WinC); and the creator of #SalaamFandom, an initiative to celebrate and uplift Muslims in all aspects of fandom.
HELLO BARKADA PREMIERES NEW PANEL AT COMIC-CON 2023
Presented on Sunday, July 23, at 11:00 a.m. in Room 4 of the San Diego Convention Center, "The Short of It: Animation is a Medium" featured animation professionals in conversation about the art and appeal of animated shorts and what the short medium offers that's distinct from long-form animated projects. Confirmed to participate were Pearl Low, Oscar-winning story artist of Hair Love (2019, Sony Pictures Animation); artist, illustrator, and independent animator Christina Moreland, creator of the indie animated series Afro Gurl; Elizabeth Ito, director of the animated shorts Welcome to My Life (2017) and Mall Stories: Atilla the Grilla (2022), and a multiple Emmy winner and Peabody winner for her work on Adventure Time (Cartoon Network) and her animated series City of Ghosts (Netflix); and Natasha Kline, creator, director, and producer of Primos (Disney).
PANELISTS APPEARING ON "THE SHORT OF IT: ANIMATION IS A MEDIUM" AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2023 (L-R): PEARL LOW, CHRISTINA MORELAND, ELIZABETH ITO, NATASHA KLINE, AND CHRISTINE PASALO NORLAND.
HELLO BARKADA'S FROM BURNOUT TO BRAINSTORM RETURNS TO COMIC-CON
Premiered at Comic-Con International 2022 and presented earlier this year on Hello Barkada's livestream program Allowed and in person at WonderCon 2023, "From Burnout to Brainstorm" is a conversation in which professionals in the popular arts share the joys and tolls of making and producing their work, the practices they want to see change in the media and arts industries, and the ways they take care of themselves and others in the work they do. Past panelists include Rowser, Valdez, and Meadows, as well as cartoonist and illustrator Amber Padilla, writer and WinC NYC founder Regine Sawyer, award-winning writer Amy Chu, Annie and Emmy Award winner Sandra Equihua, and Emmy and Peabody Award winner Elizabeth Ito. This year's panel took place on Sunday, July 23, at 1:00 p.m. in Room 29AB of the San Diego Convention Center.
PANELISTS APPEARING ON "FROM BURNOUT TO BRAINSTORM" AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2023 (L-R): JAMILA ROWSER, NIDHI CHANANI, VICTORIA YING, KIARA VALDEZ, MARCO FINNEGAN, AMANDA MEADOWS, AND CHRISTINE PASALO NORLAND.
It's long been necessary to hold space for this multifaceted discussion—which isn't new nor exclusive to the popular arts—in as many open and public forums as possible. Doing so can bring healing and new energy as it did for Mai Gibson, a senior in the television, radio and film program at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University who attended "From Burnout to Brainstorm" at WonderCon 2023 and shared their experience of it on the Newhouse LA Blog. The conversation can also validate and stir solidarity as seen through #ComicsBrokeMe, a hashtag started by Ignatz and Eisner winner Shivana Sookdeo on Twitter on June 10, 2023 in the wake of the untimely death of much-respected cartoonist Ian McGinty. When aspiring, emerging, and veteran creators see they aren't alone in wanting a healthy, sustainable career in the arts, they can become empowered to move and advocate together for change. They can become equipped to confront and uplift.
What we don't want is to stay in a holding pattern. Discussions cannot be the only action that takes place, and creators shouldn't be the ones tasked with rebuilding what needs correcting. To paraphrase Taika Waititi during his keynote at the second annual "Raising Our Voices" luncheon hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, artists want the capacity to do their work. It's past due for CEOs and board presidents—in the creative sector and across industries—to explore and implement any one of the variety of answer keys already provided to them by creators, talent agents, editors, and more. It's high time that business leaders act in ways that value creators, whose art and vision they so readily profit from monetarily and societally.
Comic-Con International 2023 took place in person at the San Diego Convention Center from Thursday, July 20, through Sunday, July 23, with Preview Night on Wednesday, July 19.
THE SHORT OF IT: ANIMATION IS A MEDIUM
SUNDAY, JULY 23 • 11:00 AM • ROOM 4
Oscar-winning story artist Pearl Low, independent animator Christina Moreland, Emmy-winning and Peabody-winning animation director Elizabeth Ito, and animation director and producer Natasha Kline discuss the art and appeal of animated shorts and their impact on storytelling and culture at large, what animated shorts offer that's distinct from long-form animated projects, and animated works that excite and inspire them. Moderated by Christine Pasalo Norland.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Pearl Low (they/them) is a non-binary Cantonese Jamaican and Oscar-winning Story Artist, Comics Artist and Writer. Their film credits include the short films Hair Love (Sony Pictures Animation) and Canvas (Netflix), and the animated series Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network). As a graphic novelist, they have adapted books #1 and #2 of The Adventures Of The Bailey School Kids Book Series by Marcia T. Jones and Debbie Dadey. They also host and produce What Caa4 Thinking?, a podcast in which they have conversations over tea with folks of the Cantonese diaspora and those who engage with Cantonese communities, to share thoughts about culture, (generational) legacy, and everything in-between. Find Pearl on Instagram at @fumichun and on Twitter at @fumi_chun.
Christina Moreland (they/them) is an independent artist, illustrator, and animator, and the creator behind Afro Gurl, an animated comic series that highlights some of the nuances, hardships, emotions, and triumphs of growing up brown, Black and gay. Outside of their self-published projects, their clients include Arket, That Good Good, Darlene Love, REI Co-Op, Amazon Prime, Facebook, and Known Supply among others. Find Christina on Instagram at @morelaaand.
Elizabeth Ito (she/her) is an Emmy Award-winning and Peabody Award-winning animation veteran whose credits include Adventure Time (Cartoon Network) and City of Ghosts (Netflix), and the animated shorts Welcome to My Life (2017) and Mall Stories: Atilla the Grilla (2022). Follow Elizabeth on Instagram at @ottersnaps and Twitter at @kikutowne.
Natasha Kline (she/they) is an illustrator, cartoonist, and an Emmy Award-nominated animation veteran whose credits include Big City Greens (Disney), South Park (Comedy Central), and Bojack Horseman (Netflix). They are also the creator, director, and executive producer of the animated series Primos (Disney). Follow Natasha on Instagram and Twitter at @osoamelie.
Christine Pasalo Norland (she/her) is the founder and president of Hello Barkada, and a contributing writer to Popverse and the forthcoming Gladiolus Magazine from Black Josei Press. In 2022, she was named a Kinnard Awardee by the indie press Laneha House for her work in cultivating an inclusive comics community. Follow Hello Barkada on Instagram and Twitter at @HelloBarkada.
FROM BURNOUT TO BRAINSTORM
SUNDAY, JULY 23 • 1:00 PM • ROOM 29AB
Award-winning writer Jamila Rowser, cartoonist and award-winning illustrator Nidhi Chanani, critically-acclaimed author and artist Victoria Ying, writer and graphic novel editor Kiara Valdez, cartoonist and educator Marco Finnegan, and Eisner-nominated comics editor Amanda Meadows discuss how they've navigated publishing to produce work that excites them, and how industry mindsets must change to offer creators more support and fans more stories that reflect a wider range of experiences. Moderated by Christine Pasalo Norland.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Jamila Rowser (she/her) is an award-winning writer and the founder of Black Josei Press. Her comics credits include the Broken Frontier Award-winning minicomic Ode to Keisha co-created with artist Trinidad Escobar, the minicomic Wash Day co-created with artist Robyn Smith, and hers and Smith's award-winning and Eisner-nominated debut graphic novel Wash Day Diaries, which won the LA Times Book Prize Award. Find Jamila on Instagram and Twitter at @jamilarowser.
Nidhi Chanani (she/her) is a freelance writer and the cartoonist behind the critically-acclaimed middle grade original graphic novels Pashmina and Jukebox, the early reader graphic novel series Shark Princess, and the illustrator behind the picture books I Will Be Fierce, written by Bea Song; Binny's Diwali, written by Thrity Umrigar; and the ALA Stonewall Honor-winning Strong, written by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood. In 2012, she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. Her upcoming original graphic novel Super Boba Café will be released in October 2023 from Abrams Books. Follow Nidhi on Instagram and Twitter at @nidhiart.
Victoria Ying (she/her) is a critically-acclaimed author and artist whose solo book works include the graphic novels Hungry Ghost, Diana Princess of the Amazons, City of Secrets, and City of Illusion. She is also a character designer and visual development artist whose film credits include Big Hero 6, Over the Moon, Wreck it Ralph, and Moana. Follow Victoria on Instagram and Twitter at @victoriaying.
Kiara Valdez (she/her) is graphic novel editor currently at First Second and a writer. Works she has edited include the award-winning middle grade graphic novel Frizzy by Claribel Ortega and Rose Bousamra, Himawari House by Harmony Becker, Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying, Snapdragon by Kate Leyh, and New York Times-bestselling graphic novel adaptation of Ngozi Ukazu's Check, Please. Her written works include the Scholastic storybooks We Are Groot and Karma's World: The Best Slumber Party Ever. She is currently writing her debut graphic novel tentatively titled Stepping Up, which is the first of a two-book deal with HarperAlley. Follow Kiara on Instagram and Twitter at @dezinpub.
Marco Finnegan is a cartoonist and educator who illustrated the NAACP Image Award-nominated and Glyph Award-nominated graphic novel The Keeper written by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes. His credits include the critically-acclaimed historical YA graphic novel Lizard in a Zoot Suit, Dynamite Entertainment's 007 limited series, and Crossroad Blue and Last Fair Deal Gone Down with Edgar Award-nominated writer Ace Atkins. Follow Marco on Instagram at @marco.finnegan and Twitter at @marco949.
Amanda Meadows (she/her) is an Eisner-nominated editor of comics, illustrated books, and prose who has previously worked for Lion Forge Comics and Limerence Press, Oni Press' imprint dedicated to sexual wellness, gender studies, and romance in fiction and non-fiction. In recognition of her work, Publishers Weekly named her a "Rising Star" Honoree in 2015 as co-publisher of the critically-acclaimed indie humor press The Devastator. Follow Amanda on Instagram at @megamander and Twitter at @amandonium.
Christine Pasalo Norland (she/her) is the founder and president of Hello Barkada, and a contributing writer to Popverse and the forthcoming Gladiolus Magazine from Black Josei Press. In 2022, she was named a Kinnard Awardee by the indie press Laneha House for her work in cultivating an inclusive comics community. Follow Hello Barkada on Instagram and Twitter at @HelloBarkada.
WHAT'S SO FUNNY? HUMOR AND SATIRE IN COMIC STRIPS AND CARTOONS
THURSDAY, JULY 20 • 12:00 PM • ROOM 9
Comics artists and cartoonists discuss the best practices for using humor and satire in comic strips and cartoons. Panelists David F. Walker (Bitter Root, Planet of the Apes), Jules Rivera (Love, Joolz and Mark Trail), Christine Pasalo Norland (Hello Barkada), Maxi Rodriguez (Chronicles of a ChubbyBunny, Plus Size Girl Magic), Lisa Burdige (Background Noise), and John Hazard (Frankenstein Superstar, Background Noise) discuss what makes them laugh, and how they find humor in everyday life. Moderated by comics editor, writer, and professor Dr. Shamika Mitchell (State University of New York, Rockland/Women in Comics).
Follow Dr. Mitchell on Instagram at @mutantxfactor.
The party starts now, with over an hour of music that eats.* Featuring classics by Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, old school R&B from Janet Jackson and Floetry, beats from Missy Elliott, Jurassic 5, and The Roots, and spice from Janelle Monáe, Lizzo, Kimmortal, Saweetie, Doja Cat, Lil' Kim, and more, this Spotify mixtape is sure to make you move. Wear it out and share!
*Includes explicit song versions
Do these conversations matter to you? Become a Barkada Backer and support independent arts journalism and programming. Join a community of like-minded people who are passionate about arts & culture, help support our comics series and livestream programs, and much more. Become a Barkada Backer today!
TAGS: ART NEWS, PROGRAMS & EVENTS
UPDATED JULY 29, 2023 TO SPEAK OF EVENTS IN THE PAST TENSE.
