Hello, animation fans - I hope everyone's having a wonderful autumn.

I've just returned from Macau, "The Las Vegas of China", where I presented a retrospective of my works. Although the audiences weren't large, they treated me very well and I really enjoyed the city.

One little scandal was the highlight. They had an exhibition of my artwork, including a drawing of Monica Lewinsky servicing our past president. As the Cultural Center was also the location of a hoity-toity opera ("The Magic Flute"), they took down all my artwork for fear of offending the upper crust. It got a lot of press but unfortunately didn't increase my attendance.

I also visited Hong Kong and the studio that made "My Life as McDull", a wonderful animated feature. They took me out for a wild lunch of chicken feet and fish lips - yum yum.

Also, everywhere I went they had infrared T.V. cameras watching people's temperatures as a precaution against the re-occurence of SARS. I felt like I should have been wearing a surgical mask.

I actually had an excellent time and want to thank everyone for their hospitality.

On my return to New York, ASIFA-East held an open screening with some very interesting new work. I showed a clip from "Hair High" that seemed to go well.

I'm now at the stage of getting feedback on the rough cut, drawing new shots and re-shooting all the bad shots. Then I'll start the re-edit and finish the sound - and then try to sell the damn film.

I've just seen the best film of the year - "Kill Bill". I believe that Quentin Tarantino is the most original and entertaining director working today. The film has everything - great action, great dialogue, great music, great story, great design and great humor. Rush out and see it!

This week's cartoon is another from early in my career, when I was interested in cars, and especially the relationship between cars and people. It's a cartoon cliche that people look like their pets - so I took that cliche and substituted automobiles, in this case a VW. I was soon to leave this style and adopt a smoother line and smaller hands and feet.

I'm now off to the Hamptons Film Festival. Adieu till next week,

Bill