This year, the festival focuses on comics, so K. Prapuolenis’ work is a great example of how the language of comics transfers into animation, video games, and other contemporary storytelling forms.
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“Comics are often considered a separate art form, but in reality, they are the foundation of many of today’s visual narratives. Framing, rhythm, character creation, world-building – all of these are equally important in comics, animation, video games, and virtual reality works. This year’s festival aims to show how one idea travels through different media and how different industries inspire each other,” says Laura Almantaitė, head of the BLON festival.
K. Prapuolenis was born in the USA to a family of Lithuanian immigrants, studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he learned the subtleties of comics from Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman (“Maus”). His works have been published in “The New Yorker” and “Raw Magazine,” and his authorial comic “Underworld” was printed for many years in US newspapers. Since 2001, the creator has worked as a storyboard artist and screenwriter at studios such as “Nickelodeon,” “Cartoon Network,” and “Disney,” and in the past decade, he has focused mainly on writing animation scripts.
“Today, many more people can create animation than before – digital technologies have made it more accessible. Because of this, we see many more different storytelling methods and visual styles. And I always tell young creators: you can learn the technique, but the most important thing is to develop your perspective on the world. Read, watch, dream, and look for what only you can tell,” says K. Prapuolenis.
The twelfth BLON festival, taking place in Klaipėda from September 10–13, will bring together creators and fans of animation, video games, and digital art from Lithuania and abroad. The festival program includes internationally recognized animated films, a video game competition program, virtual reality experiences, creative workshops, lectures, and meetings with industry professionals.
K. Prapuolenis’ participation in the BLON festival is funded by the Audiovisual Works Authors’ Rights Association AVAKA. The festival is funded by the Klaipėda City Municipality, the Lithuanian Film Centre, and the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
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