Mission Theater

We've all heard the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Turns out, nature seems to agree! From the fossil record to the animals living around us today, evolution has a funny habit of coming up with the same solutions again and again. Different animals can end up looking remarkably alike and sometimes even behaving alike despite evolving completely independently. This fascinating phenomenon is called convergent evolution.

In this fun and fascinating pub talk, paleontologist Nico Spadafora will take you on a journey through the weird, wonderful, and oddly repetitive world of convergent evolution. We'll explore how it happens, why evolution keeps repeating itself, and what these evolutionary "reruns" can tell us about the incredible diversity of life on Earth.

Science Pubs are a casual lecture series located in fun venues across the region, recommended for ages 10 and over.

Science Pub Mission Theater is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone. No scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks and knowledge! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: [email protected].

On November 17, Portland will recognize its first annual day honoring the life and legacy of Will Vinton as proclaimed by Mayor Keith Wilson.

The event celebrating this momentous occasion will take place two days prior on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at McMenamins Mission Theater. This event is free and open to the public.

We will be displaying pioneering stop motion equipment from Will Vinton Studios, screening his award winning short films, and hearing about his impact on the world from friends, family, and fans.

About Will Vinton

Will Vinton was an award winning stop motion animator and filmmaker who called Oregon home. He laid the groundwork for Portland's animation scene, and today the city is widely considered to be the stop-motion capital of the world.

Vinton first gained notoriety in 1975 when his short film Closed Mondays won an Academy Award, the first film produced in Portland to do so. From there, Vinton opened the doors of his stop motion animation studio in the heart of Portland’s Nob Hill district. He would go on to produce numerous short films, television series, music videos, commercials, and special effects which are still influential today; such as The Little Prince (1979), Moonlighting (1987), Disney’s Return to Oz (1985), The PJs (1999 – 2001), and The California Raisins.

Later in life, Vinton branched into live action and CGI work, taught at The Art Institute of Portland, and created a musical titled The Kiss.

By the end of his career, Vinton had accumulated one Academy Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards alongside multiple nominations for both.

About MOSMA

This proclamation and event are spearheaded by MOSMA (the Museum of Stop Motion Animation). MOSMA is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2022 by president Brian Capati. We have been collaborating with local businesses and theaters to host various programming including quarterly screenings of stop motion films at the Hollywood Theatre, community collaborative animation workshops, and speaking events with industry professionals.

We are centered around strengthening the bonds between art, community and industry in efforts to establish a permanent stop-motion museum.

MOSMA’s Mission Statement

The Museum of Stop Motion Animation is a creative nexus between local industry and the global community. Building upon Portland's unique legacy in this remarkable medium, our goal is to enrich the public’s understanding and appreciation by inviting them to peer behind the curtains of this intriguing art form.

Stop motion is a symphony of artists who contribute their gifts to create truly handmade cinema. We seek to preserve stop motion animation and promote a united passion for it, so that this wondrous art form may continue to evolve and enchant audiences.

Website: mosmapdx.org