Tonight in New York: Animation Block Party Opening Night

Animation Block Party, New York’s largest annual animation event, kicks off its twelfth edition today.

The opening night outdoor screening, which is free and open to the public, takes place tonight at Brookfield Place (220 Vesey St. in lower Manhattan). Doors opens at 6:30pm, with live music at 7:45, and films at 8:45pm. In the event of rain (and there is the possibility in the forecast), the event will take place indoors at the same location.

Following tonight there will be three packed days of film programs at the BAMcinématek in Brooklyn, as well as parties in the evenings.

Highlights include multiple competition programs of short films, a 20th anniversary screening of Mamoru Oshii’s sci-fi anime Ghost in the Shell, a program of risqué pre-Code theatrical shorts, a Sesame Street retrospective, and a JibJab retrospective followed by a Q&A with studio co-founder Evan Spiridellis.

For a full schedule of events and ticket info, visit AnimationBlock.com.