World Animation Day is coming up in six days, and for me, the excitement is palpable. After all, animated film happens to be one of my favorite things in the world, and on top of all of that, starting today, the National Film Board is launching week-long festivities in order to celebrate animation in our country.

The NFB's Get Animated! program features workshops, screenings and activities, all relating to animated film, and best of all, it's all free. The National Film Board has been behind some of the best animated short films to be ever created, including last year's Oscar-winning The Danish Poet, and has an extensive library of award-winning and critically-acclaimed animated films available for viewing — all for free — during the Get Animated! festivities.

Get Animated! activities will occur in various cities across Canada starting today, but the fun in Toronto kicks off on Thursday with a masterclass with directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, makers of Madame Tutli-Putli (short review here), one of the best films — animated or live action, short or feature — of the year. Other activities including film screenings and children's workshops will follow throughout the week.

Fore more information on the NFB's Get Animated! festivities, check out the NFB website. And if you see any great animated shorts you think I should check out, drop me a line and let me know!

(Photo: Production still from Madame Tutli-Putli, courtesy NFB.)