“Weird Al” Yankovic and Bill Plympton Unite for NYC Retrospective

Musical artist “Weird Al” Yankovic is set to host a unique weeklong animation retrospective celebrating the career of acclaimed animator Bill Plympton. The event, titled “Plympton’s Toons,” will take place at the IFC Center in New York from September 15–21.

The program will feature a curated selection of Plympton’s signature hand-drawn shorts, alongside two new premieres and a special collaboration with Yankovic. Plympton, a two-time Academy Award nominee, has been a leading figure in independent animation for over four decades, recognized for his distinctively surreal and often bizarre style.

The retrospective will showcase some of his most notable works, including the Oscar-nominated shorts “Your Face” and “Guard Dog.” Attendees will also get to see cult classics and a sequence Plympton animated for “The Simpsons,” a project he created for Matt Groening.

Among the new films premiering at the event are “Duckville,” a dark comedy narrated by Jim Dale, and “Whale 52,” a film inspired by a true story. “Whale 52” features the voice of Bruce Vilanch and a score by Zuill Bailey, with a portion of its proceeds dedicated to The Trevor Project.

Despite his international acclaim and numerous awards from prestigious film festivals like Cannes, Sundance, and Annecy, Plympton has maintained a fiercely independent career, making this retrospective a special look into the work of a true animation pioneer.