Why such a late start no one seemed to have a direct answer. Even during both Opening and Closing some openly wondered why they were starting on a Thursday.
I am not going to bash the convention, they did a great job. Okay so I am still smiling because my panel was such a hit.
I am not going to say everything was perfect… we had construction
They were building bus lanes
and even this
The glass panel broke, to be honest I really never heard any one in trouble for it.
The Hyatt did so out of there way to help us furries feel welcomed.
Anyone noticed there room key?
Frankly I wish I could have kept them.
They did have a few issues all of them minor, but as every con teaches those who operate it. They learn to improve things by the next convention
Like me originally planning to walk from the Greyhound depot to the hotel. But instead took a $35 Uber ride and 17 minutes to get around all that construction.
Will I be going back… Yes I just can’t say when for now.
I’m Michel Gagné, a BAFTA and Annie Award-winning animation filmmaker, and I thought the story behind my new feature film, The Saga of Rex, might be of interest to Furry Times.
Rex is an anthropomorphic little fox I first created in 1998 in a 32-page black-and-white storybook, A Search for Meaning: The Story of Rex. In 2002, I released a color edition of the book, which was a huge hit at Anthrocon 2004, where I was Guest of Honor at the convention.
The character later evolved into a series of graphic-novel chapters published in Kazu Kibuishi’s FLIGHT anthology and was eventually collected as the graphic novel, The Saga of Rex, by Image Comics.
For the past 14 years, I’ve been adapting that story into a hand-drawn animated feature film. I created, directed and single-handedly animated the film, with the assistance of one inbetweener, my friend Seung Kim.
The film’s first official trailer will premiere worldwide online this Friday, August 21, at noon Pacific Time.
My professional career has included work on more than 25 feature films, as well as animation, visual effects, video games and comics, but The Saga of Rex has been an unusually personal undertaking. I essentially stepped outside the traditional production system and spent 14 years creating the feature according to my own vision.
I thought the connection to the furry community going back to Anthrocon 2004, combined with Rex’s long history as an anthropomorphic character and the unusual 14-year production, might make for an interesting story or interview for Furry Times.
I’ve attached my press release, which includes a private screener link for the trailer, as well as production stills and additional information. I’d be happy to provide anything else you might need or make myself available for an interview.
Thank you for considering it.
Best,
Michel Gagné Creator / Director / Animator The Saga of Rex
Sorry for the delay folks, but here it is finally the trailer of The Saga of Rex
Gagné began developing the feature film in earnest following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012. Shortly afterward, the film was optioned by GRID Animation in Belgium. GRID ultimately relinquished the option in 2018, and the IP and all rights reverted to Gagné.
Free from the constraints of a traditional production structure, he embarked on an unusual experiment: making the feature himself, with the assistance of a single inbetweener.
The result is a film born from an intensely personal creative process—one in which Gagné created, designed and animated the film over more than a decade.
“I wanted to make the film that was in my soul,” says Gagné. “To do that, I needed to remove the commercial and transactional aspects of the process. The film became a pure form of expression, dictated by the story and by my own creative instincts.”
Gagné’s career spans decades of work in animation and visual effects, including work on numerous major feature films. He is a BAFTA and Annie Award-winning animation filmmaker whose distinctive visual style has been seen across films, video games, comics and more.
Yet The Saga of Rex represents something fundamentally different: an attempt to create an entire feature film according to one artist’s singular vision and on his own terms.
The film is now nearing completion, with final sound work underway. Gagné plans to have the film completely finished by the end of 2026, with festival screenings and release plans beginning in 2027.
Began with littlemiafox, who made 4,120 wooden ‘flea’ clips with hand-drawn designs, started the gag at Midwest FurFest. It also has apparently spread to other conventions including IFC. Where in someone would clip a wooden clothespin to someone’s fursuit without their knowledge or consent. I only heard about this at my Final Day of IFC. When someone with a bag of clothespins was detained by security. They were given a choice give up the clothespins or get booted from the convention. They gave up the clothespins.
I know some treat this as a joke. But those fursuits are expensive, and no one wants to see them damaged. You don’t place anything on someone’s fursuit without asking first.
First off the Fat Rooster is located inside the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis. In that food court area they share with PNC Bank.
Although the food was good, service was minimal. Not to forget the most I spent on a single meal during my entire stay. Nearly $30, was it worth it. Frankly no, I give Fat Rooster 3 out of 5 stars. So what did I get for $30 their Breakfast Buffet
To be honest, the first thing i noticed was the drop in the crowd. I really can’t say by how many. But i can say people didn’t start dragging themselves out of bed until at least 11am. Also a steady stream of con goers checking out all day.
Me, i am tired, more a lack of my normal diet. And lack of good night sleep
I think i will just stick with the biggest events of the day. Fursuit games were fun. For all, suiter or not.
The only issue i saw was how they concluded. Limbo contest, down to the last 7. They just stopped.
Closing Ceremony was great. The Charity got $10,905.
My own estimates of the crowd were far off the final number.
2773
I think it looked larger due to the cons layout.
2 final things.
It seems Hyatt shares the building with PNC Bank. Their 1st floor had their food court. So, technically, the Hyatt site was correct.
Con Tour videos. Won’t be happening. I accidentally came across something that had planned their own. They gave up. From the outside, everything looks the same.
Yesterday was the day of my 3DS Streetpass panel. Frankly, only getting 4 hits during the entire con I was more than a bit anxious.
I was told i could enter the room and set up early. Then, as i did one by one, they came.
I think we topped around 40. Then the number of hits exploded.
I can’t tell you the number i missed.
Now for the frustrating bit. The escalator between the 2nd and 3rd floors stopped working. Plus the crowd. All i wanted to do is drop off my gaming gear in my room then join a comedy panel.
Never made it. I am sorry to say it took nearly an hour to run a simple trip.
Which cascaded in to me missing 2 game show panels. All because there was no place to sit down.
That was also the reason why i missed the 7pm panel i wanted to see. The room was packed.
Did find something to do.
Hopefully today is simpler. Did managed to sleep 8 hours. Shows you i was exhausted
Last Day.
Do have a few things planned.
Yesterday during the Sponsor Dinner
A memer of the staff admitted it was a record GULP attendance. Closing will give us the exact number.
Furry Times 