Award-winning filmmaking animator John Robert Serpentelli, founder of Animation Stewdio (now closed) and director of more than 100 films for networks such as Nickelodeon, HBO, PBS and Sesame Street, has died in his Chestnut Hill home of the past 27 years. He was 59.
Serpentelli taught and lectured at Woodmere Art Museum, Drexel University, Amherst College, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Museum of Art and various art centers and schools. He won the Blockbuster Award from the New York Expo of Short Films and the Most Creative Award from the American Motion Picture Society for his animated film, “Once Upon a Time.” His films were favorably reviewed in Variety, the New York Times, Animation Magazine and numerous other publications.
Serpentelli, who died in May, told the Local in a 2022 interview that his classes “take a free wheeling surprise attack approach to making collages. No delicate dream boards here. The intention is to discover visual connections, create meaning out of clashing images and to illustrate life in all its chaotic glory.”
Serpentelli was raised in Toms River, N.J., and came to Philadelphia after high school in 1983 to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He stayed for three years, then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied film and art history, and developed a passion for animation. His Penn education introduced him to various fine art disciplines. Woodblock printing stood out to him, but "I realized I was 200 years too late for that," he said.
Still, he figured animation and woodblock printing shared similar techniques. Each woodblock print in an edition of maybe 20 had to be the same, but Serpentelli's attempts at prints varied. Each one had a small difference. He realized that was much like creating an animated scene, where to make a character wave, an animator might have to draw a dozen almost identical images. That's when he first started to dive into animation.
Serpentelli completed his studies at Penn in 1988 and went on to graduate at the University of the Arts, where he became a professor. He earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts in art and film in 1991, a master's degree in teaching in 1993 and went on to teach art and animation. In 1997, he quit his day job as a middle school teacher after a Sesame Street producer viewed one of his films at a New York City festival.
“My favorite film would be my first, 'Some Girls in the Hood,'” he told the Local. “I taught collage art making at The Allegheny School for Girls (for students who had committed weapon offenses). It was a life-changing experience. At that point, I had never taught before and had no idea what I was doing. The girls were so welcoming and appreciative to have their voices heard. It was a truly beautiful experience.”
One of Serpentelli's most powerful films, "Animating Autism," won "Best Documentary" at the 2011 Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival. The film depicts a group of children with autism as they learn how to animate. Before that, Serpentelli had worked with blind children and those suffering from conditions like Down syndrome.
When asked about his then-25-year history of living in Chestnut Hill, Serpentelli said, “I love living in Chestnut Hill. I love the old-fashioned shops, the small town feel and the nice neighbors. My only complaint is the Pickleballers right outside my bedroom window.”
Serpentelli loved conducting animation workshops for students at the Penn Charter School, The Philadelphia School and Crefeld School in Chestnut Hill, among others. During a typical animation workshop at Penn Charter, students worked collaboratively to make a film that examined how people treat others who are different.
Serpentelli wanted the students to make films that were not just entertaining but also had a humanitarian message. For example, his film entitled “Just Do Unto Others” utilized scripts written by students as well as several animation techniques. A second film, “From Homeless to Hopeful,” a combination of live-action documentary with animation, was produced by the students at Serpentelli’s summer classes.
The focus was on nonprofits and programs that enable people without housing to take an active role in helping themselves work towards a better life. People without homes were interviewed about their lives and what they were doing to turn them around.
“My own favorite filmmakers,” Serpentelli commented, “are Woody Allen, Ken Burns and John Cassavetes because of their take on the complexities of the human condition and their passion and humane approach.”
When asked what was the hardest thing he ever had to do, Serpentelli responded, “It was to accept that my father was slowly fading away due to Alzheimer's Disease. It took over eight years, but the best advice I ever received was from him when he would say, 'Just do the best you can with what you've got.’ So that's what I always tried to do.”
Serpentelli is survived by his siblings, Eugene, Kathy and Michael, and his beloved cat, Zen, who has retired to Florida. A website, johnserpentelli.com, is being developed to showcase much of Serpentelli's work.
Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.
