Anime: A History - Softcover

Jonathan Clements

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844573907 ISBN 13: 9781844573905

Publisher: British Film Institute, 2013

Synopsis

This comprehensive history of Japanese animation draws on Japanese primary sources and testimony from industry professionals to explore the production and reception of anime, from its early faltering steps, to the international successes of Spirited Away and Pokémon.

About this title

Review:

Clements writes in his introduction, 'There is... no full-length history of Japanese animation available in English an omission that this book seeks to remedy, articulating 'anime' as a succession of conceptual systems that form and change throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first...' And he does exactly what he promises, going into great detail about the history of anime, and also bringing up questions about the meaning and definition of anime that can even cause major otaku to scratch their heads. This book is definitely a must for fans who want a scholarly look into the history of their favorite medium.' - Otaku USA Magazine
'[A] scholarly yet engaging history...it adopts a much more rigourous, fact-based approach to previous studies, drawn from primary sources such as industry almanacs, studio histories and autobiographical accounts from key practitioners, in order to chart the evolution of Japan's animation industry as a whole.' - Sight & Sound
'This study is authoritative and detailed, and will be essential reading for anime fans and scholars alike.' - P.D. Smith, The Guardian
'Anime: A History provides a comprehensive background of the medium, from the early years of the 20th Century to the contemporary landscape of 3D digital animation, online streaming and fansubs...we highly recommend.' - MyMyMy

'Historian Jonathan Clements traces the evolution of anime by exploring the history of its production and reception over the past 100 years, identifying periods in which cultural and technological developments ushered in new ways of thinking about the basic concept of 'moving pictures.'' - The Japan Times

'...a fascinating read.' - The New York Times
'Anime: A History questions the stories we think we know of anime's rises and falls, its heroes and breakthroughs.' - Manga UK
'One of the most important and comprehensive books on anime ever written for the western market.' - Neo Magazine
'Anime: A History is a magisterial effort and will undoubtedly prove invaluable for scholars, particularly in the social sciences, who are interested in the political economy of anime production. Indeed, while Clements may profess to be skeptical of history as a narrative project, his book may well shape the discourse on the subject for years, if not decades, to come.' - LSE Review of Books
"A highly detailed discussion on the history of animation, predominately in Japan and its spread round the world. Unusually, it has a great deal of depth of early 20th century animation...This book touches on a lot of points that are not usually covered in this type of book, allowing the reader to get a more rounded appreciation of the history of anime and the impact Japanese culture, plus its effect on the west and its influence on modern media." - SFCrowsnest.org.uk"

Book Description:

A comprehensive history of Japanese animation that explores anime's production and reception history, from its early faltering steps, to the international successes of Spirited Away and Pokémon

About this edition

• Publisher: British Film Institute
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1844573907
• ISBN 13: 9781844573905
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256