Reviews
[This book] will surely be enjoyed by fans of anime but also by those interested in the world of film production., For some time now, there has been a bi-directional pop-culture mind-meld going on between Japan and America. In this lavishly illustrated book, Northrop Davis uses his industry insights and shines new light on the remarkable relationship between manga/anime and Hollywood. Kudos for a book both educational and entertaining!, "For some time now, there has been a bi-directional pop-culture mind-meld going on between Japan and America. In this lavishly illustrated book, Northrop Davis uses his industry insights and shines new light on the remarkable relationship between manga/anime and Hollywood. Kudos for a book both educational and entertaining!" - Frederik L. Schodt, award-winning author of Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics and other books on Japan "Fans all over the world, in the West and in Japan, make comparisons between American cartoons and comics and Japan's anime and manga. Northrop Davis has given the debate a new focus. As an academic with one foot in Hollywood and a deep appreciation of Japanese graphics, he's brought together his experience as a writer, comic creator, teacher and passionate otaku in a book that mixes American student art with Japanese industry interviews, facts and figures with fun and a spirit of exploration. This engaging book shows what a fresh outlook can bring to the longest-running debate. It's both an interesting assembly of information and an enjoyable read." - Helen McCarthy, author of A Brief History of Manga and The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation, "For some time now, there has been a bi-directional pop-culture mind-meld going on between Japan and America. In this lavishly illustrated book, Northrop Davis uses his industry insights and shines new light on the remarkable relationship between manga/anime and Hollywood. Kudos for a book both educational and entertaining!" - Frederik L. Schodt, award-winning author of Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics and other books on Japan "Fans all over the world, in the West and in Japan, make comparisons between American cartoons and comics and Japan's anime and manga. Northrop Davis has given the debate a new focus. As an academic with one foot in Hollywood and a deep appreciation of Japanese graphics, he's brought together his experience as a writer, comic creator, teacher and passionate otaku in a book that mixes American student art with Japanese industry interviews, facts and figures with fun and a spirit of exploration. This engaging book shows what a fresh outlook can bring to the longest-running debate. It's both an interesting assembly of information and an enjoyable read." - Helen McCarthy, author of A Brief History of Manga and The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation "In this educational and engaging book, Davis (media arts, Univ. of South Carolina) examines the elements and influences Japan's manga and the comics, animation, and movies of the US have in common. Although these media industries developed separately, they have exerted considerable influence on each other. In both Japan and the US, there is a close relationship between pop culture and graphics, and that relationship has resulted in new forms of media, storytelling, and creative expression--a sort of hybrid media industry that combines the highly successful models of Hollywood and Japan. In addition to creative and artistic influences, Davis considers the roles of business culture and legal culture--e.g., rights management and contractual obligations). The book is richly illustrated with examples of manga, anime, and adaptations to US television and movies. Especially enlightening are the interviews with media-arts professionals and the case studies that reveal the impact of collaborations between the Japanese and US entertainment industries. The book concludes with a discussion of the future of the hybrid media arts and a glossary of common terms in the industry. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers." - CHOICE
