Chris Robinson is the artistic director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) and is a well-known figure in the animated film world. As an author, program planner and historian, his contribution to the promotion of independent animated film earned him the 2004 President's Award given by ASIFA-east, the New York chapter of the International Animated Film Association. His style is lively and direct. He is quick to speak out vigorously on various platforms and is famous for his outbursts and aversion to empty rhetoric. Robinson authors a column entitled The Animation Pimp on Animation World Magazine's website. Robinson published thirteen books between 2003 and 2011, including Between Genius and Utter Illiteracy: A Story of Estonian Animation (2003, reprinted in 2006), Canadian Animation: Looking for a Place to Happen (2008), Ballad of a Thin Man: In Search of Ryan Larkin (2008) and Japanese Animation: Time Out of Mind (2010). His highly original books are at times autobiographical and tackle a number of topics from an eminently personal point of view. They are infused with a broad spectrum of references ranging from philosophy and art to sports. He is currently working with artist, Theodore Ushev, on My Balls are Killing Me, a graphic novel about his experiences with testicular cancer.