The New Yorker Festival - Anarchy and Animation: Cartoon Chaos Theory

Tad Friend, a staff writer at The New Yorker, has been contributing pieces since 1987. He writes the magazine's "Letter from California" and often reports on the entertainment business. He is the author of Lost in Mongolia, a compilation of articles and essays, many of which were first published in The New Yorker.

Brad Bird is a director at Pixar Animation Studios and the writer and director of the Academy Award-winning animated feature The Incredibles. He also wrote and directed The Iron Giant and served as executive consultant on the TV series The Simpsons and King of the Hill. He completed his first animated film at the age of 14.

Matt Maiellaro is the co-creator, with Dave Willis, of the animated TV series Aqua Teen Hunger Force, which is currently being adapted for a feature film. He is the voice of the character Err, a two-dimensional inhabitant of the moon, among other characters. He joined the Cartoon Network in 1993, when he began writing for the animated TV series Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

Trey Parker is the co-creator, with Matt Stone, of the animated TV series South Park and the live-action sitcom That's My Bush!. He has co-written and co-directed, with Mr. Stone, the films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police. He has also directed two live-action feature films, Cannibal! The Musical and Orgazmo, in which he starred.

Matt Stone, the co-creator, with Trey Parker, of South Park, is the basis for the series' fictional character Kyle Broflovski.

Dave Willis is the co-creator, with Matt Maiellaro, of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, which features three anthropomorphic fast-food products. He is the voice of the characters Meatwad, Carl, and Ignignokt. Previously, he was a writer and producer for the animated TV series Space Ghost Coast to Coast.