Hardback, colour and black and white illustrations, 244 pages, W240mm x H280mm
A sweeping journey through the history of Japanese animation, tracing
this cultural phenomenon from its origins in traditional art to the
present day. A dominant force in its home country since the 1970s,
Japanese animation has become a global phenomenon in recent years. But
far from being a contemporary invention, anime draws on the same
centuries-old artistic traditions that form the basis of manga.
Widely
disparaged when it first appeared in the West, today the real value of
Japanese animation is recognized, and it has inspired international film
directors. Fairytale, romance, adventure, fantasy, science-fiction:
anime encompasses many genres and its current creativity knows no
bounds.
The author studies the evolution of Japanese animation through
the centuries, retracing its history from painted scrolls to woodblock
prints, to animated films, first in black and white, and then in color. A
number of prominent artists are showcased including Tezuka Osamu, the
godfather of anime and Hayao Miyazaki, founder of the world-renowned
Studio Ghibli and creator of films such as Spirited Away, the first anime
film to win an Academy Award.
Illustrated with over five hundred images,
many rarely seen in the West, this book bridges the gap between art
history and pop culture.