Japan's Anime Revolution! - by Jonathan Clements (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Twenty pivotal moments in anime filmmaking--and the untold drama behind them. From secret production battles to box-office triumphs, Japan's Anime Revolution reveals how each landmark film transformed Japanese animation

Anime expert Jonathan Clements presents gamechanging moments in Japanese film history--from Japan's first black-and-white animated feature to modern blockbusters which have redefined the art form. From box-office hits to career-threatening flops, each of these case studies has changed the anime world in its own unique way, influencing developments in content, production methods, or distribution, capturing all the vibrancy and diversity of this world-beating medium.

This illuminating book describes the twenty most notable films in anime history, including:

• Momotaro--Released at the end of World War II, this was Japan's first feature-length anime
• My Neighbor Totoro--Miyazaki's iconic work, consciously created as an alternative to formulaic animated films with no conflict or antagonist
• Ghost in the Shell--The influential sci-fi feature that inspired The Matrix
• Spirited Away--The first Oscar-winning anime--and highest-grossing Japanese film of all time!
• A Silent Voice--Adapted from a popular manga, an essential entry from a woman director
• Plus 14 other landmark films!

Clements reveals behind-the-scenes decisions that changed the course of Japanese animation. Which movie was finished by a staff of out-of-work waitresses? Which animator hated his work so much that he threatened to shave off his own eyebrows? How did a maverick producer enlist fans to drive his movie to box-office gold? Which director learned his trade by watching The Bad News Bears ten times?

Illustrated with full-color images, this fascinating book is a must-read for every devoted anime fan!

Review Quotes

"...makes an erudite case for each film's inclusion with insight built on decades of writing about anime and Japanese culture." --Zack Davisson, translator of Space Battleship Yamato and author of The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai

"A lovingly curated and researched deep-dive into some of the most important Japanese animated feature films ever made." --Jerome Mazandarani, Answerman, Anime News Network

"Jonathan Clements' knack for storytelling takes readers on an adventure every bit as exciting as the productions he profiles." --Matt Alt, author of Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World

"You can't go wrong with this fascinating and fun new book about anime. It is, after all, by Jonathan Clements, an icon among anime experts, who has watched more anime than most doctors would advise, and written (with wit and expertise) about it for decades." --Frederik L. Schodt, translator of Astro Boy and author of Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics

About the Author

Jonathan Clements is the author of Anime: A History, The Anime Encyclopedia and A Brief History of Japan. He's a contributing editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and has worked on dozens of anime films as a translator, voice actor, or dubbing director--including Grey: Digital Target, Sol Bianca, and Musashi: Dream of the Last Samurai. He has provided commentary tracks to films including Vexille, Golgo 13, and Weathering with You. He is the annual festival jury chairman at Scotland Loves Anime.