Graphic Novels, Comic Books, Anime, and Manga

Heidi MacDonald discusses the progress of the graphic novel after the successes of the two groundbreaking works from the end of the last century, "Maus" and "Watchmen".
2014, Library of Congress. 53 minutes.

In the novel-driven world of popular fiction, graphic novels and short-short stories haven’t had much of a place—until recently. In this program, Art Spiegelman, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus; Giller Prize-finalist John Gould, writer of 55 fiction and palm-of-the-hand stories; and others who are daring to be different share their successes with these robust genres. Topics range from the influence of manga on the rise in popularity of graphic novels to a growing respect in literary circles for compressed forms of fiction. Portions of graphic novels by Spiegelman and others and readings by Gould are included.
2009. TV Ontario. 28 minutes.

“Every time I’m about to do a strip, it’s because I can’t avoid it, either because I need the money—in the old days—or now, because I just need to think something through, make it manifest.” In this program, Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman—humble, humorous, and completely honest—talks about his life history and his creative process using New York City as a backdrop and family photos, clips from home movies, and panels from comic creations such as Maus, Raw magazine, and In the Shadow of No Towers as props. Françoise Mouly, Spiegelman’s wife and cover editor at The New Yorker, is interviewed as well. Contains instances of explicit language and imagery.
2009, Wichita Films. 43 minutes.

If not for Scott McCloud, graphic novels and webcomics might be enjoying a more modest Renaissance. The flourishing of cartooning in the ‘90s and ‘00s, particularly comic-smithing on the Web, can be traced back to his major writings on the comics form. His book Understanding Comics, a comic book about comics, has been translated into 13 languages and has made him an evangelist for comics as a valid literary form. McCloud coined the term “infinite canvas” for the new comics medium made possible with Web browsers. In this fun TEDTalk, McCloud bends the presentation format into a cartoon-like experience, where colorful diversions whiz through childhood fascinations and imagined futures. This captivating look at the magic of comics will prove to viewers why McCloud’s admiring fans include a laundry list of superstar cartoonists.
2009, TED. 17 minutes.

A valuable and colorful examination of 40 years of changing representations of Black masculinity in a significant area of popular culture - comic books. This genre's reach and impact extended into other forms of cultural production such as movies and animated TV series.
2012, Jonathan Gayles/California Newsreel. 54 minutes.

Studio Ghibli writer, producer and director Kihara Hirokatsu discussed his experience in Japanese anime production.
2019, Library of Congress. 53 minutes.

Filmed in Japan, this program pushes beyond the stereotypes to objectively examine the history of manga, how manga are drawn, and manga’s influence on Japanese life as illustrated by cosplay bars, where people dress up as their favorite characters; manga kissa, 24/7 manga cafés; and Comicket, the twice-annual comics market that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. The program also introduces viewers to a cross-section of mangaka icons: Vagabond creator Takehiko Inoue; Naoki Urasawa, author of The Pushman and Other Stories; Jiro Taniguchi; Yoshihiro Tatsumi; and Kan Takahama. (Portions in Japanese with English subtitles).
2005, France Television Distribution. 52 minutes.

An outrageous mockumentary that combines anime with strange interviews of anime fans. A half animated/half live-action mockumentary about the world of Japanese geekdom.
2002, MVD Entertainment Group. 1 hour, 36 minutes.