Lynchburg VA center for arts, culture, and community building
Animation Festival 2025
Join us at the Academy Center of the Arts for the Animation Festival – Featuring the work of Chuck Jones, a tribute to the legendary animator who brought to life some of the most beloved characters and stories in animation history. Doors open at 11:00 AM, and attendees can enjoy an exciting array of pre-film activities in the lobby, including local food trucks, hands-on art activities, and a special exhibit of original Chuck Jones character studies and cell animations, brought to us by The Daura Gallery from the University of Lynchburg.
The festival will feature a curated selection of Jones’ iconic work, starting at 12:00 PM, including his directorial debut The Night Watchman (1938), and beloved classics like Scaredy Cat (1948), featuring Porky Pig and Sylvester, and Rabbit Hood (1949), with Bugs Bunny and a live-action cameo by Errol Flynn, who famously played Robin Hood in the 1939 Warner Bros. feature The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Audiences will also enjoy the Warner Bros. cartoon with the most characters, The Scarlet Pumpernickel (1950), and fan favorites like The Rabbit of Seville (1950), Bewitched Bunny (1954), and the unforgettable One Froggy Evening (1955), starring Michigan J. Frog. The festival will include Jones’ later works such as Mad as a Mars Hare (1963), The Dot and the Line (1965), the last MGM cartoon to win an Academy Award, and The Bear That Wasn’t (1967), MGM’s final theatrical short. We will also highlight Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½ Century (1980), a revival of Jones’ iconic Duck Dodgers series, and his television production Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (
This festival is proudly sponsored by Framatome, Scott Insurance, Advocates of the Arts Bo & Flo Hall, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Help the fight against hunger by bringing a canned food donation for Knights of Columbus!
Sponsored By:
Bo & Flo Hall
Know before you go:
Accessibility
Age Requirement
All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket for this event unless otherwise stated. All ages are welcome.
Camera Policy
Videography and audio recording during the performances are prohibited. Photography of the set on stage is allowed pre-show, post-show, and during intermission. But we do ask that you show our designers and visiting performers some love by crediting them (and by tagging us) in your social media posts.
Content Advisory
The Academy Center of the Arts offers a diverse selection of entertainment. Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every guest or for all ages. Ticket buyers should take responsibility for making informed decisions regarding their purchases. We recommend visiting the official show website of each show you are coming to see at the Academy. If you ever have questions about the content or appropriateness of a show, please contact us at boxoffice@academycenter.org.
Doors Open
Unless otherwise noted, our lobby doors open 60 minutes prior to show time and house doors open 30 minutes prior to show time for seating.
Parking & Directions
Parking is available on-site and throughout downtown Lynchburg. Our parking map (linked below) shows all of the free public and paid parking available. In addition, street parking is also available on most streets.
Ticketing Policies
Ticketing purchases are non-refundable. By purchasing a ticket to an event at The Academy Center of the Arts, you are agreeing to our ticketing policy. View our full ticketing policy.
Volunteer
Want to volunteer and see this show for free? Contact Mele Thompson, mthompson@academycenter.org, for more information.