May 19, 2006

AOD 2006 announces Merlin Crossingham of Aardman Animations

SAN FRANCISCO, May 19, 2006 - AOD 2006, the convention destination for fans of cartoons, anime, claymation, and all kinds of animation, is pleased to announce the attendance of Merlin Crossingham, claymation superstar from Aardman Animations, as a guest of honor. AOD 2006 will be August 4-6, 2006 at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco.

Crossingham's television works include: Morph, Creature Comforts and numerous commercials. He worked as a key animator on both "Chicken Run" and "Tortoise and Hare," and was second unit director and lead animator for the characters Wallace and Gromit in the award-winning "Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit" feature film. One of the superstars of Aardman Animations, Merlin was the first person in the world to film a stop-motion 3D IMAX test.

Fans can look forward to seeing Merlin Crossingham in person at numerous AOD 2006 events including a focus panel, autograph session, and claymation workshop. More event details will be announced soon at the AOD 2006 website (http://www.aodsf.org).

ABOUT AOD:

AOD 2006 is operated by the Federation for the Promotion of Animation, a not-for-profit organization established to educate people on the art of animation and make use of its richness to promote cross-cultural learning and understanding in a fun, family-oriented environment. Formerly known as Anime Overdose, AOD 2005 was packed with all-star guests, exciting events, and tons of family-friendly fun. Visit http://www.aodsf.org for more information.