The Animated Movie Guide
That Walt Disney did not invent cartoons is deftly demonstrated in this attractive and comprehensive guide to more than 300 animated films that have been theatrically released in the U.S. Author Beck is one of the creators ofAnimationmagazine, has written articles and books on his subject, has taught at UCLA and NYU, is a consultant for Cartoon Network, and has served as vice president for animation for Nickelodeon Movies. He maintains two Web sites: http://www.cartoonresearch.com, and, to keep this guide up-to-date, http://www.-animatedmovieguide.com, which is made of very brief entries.The descriptions for the films include release date, credits, plot synopsis, commentary, and a star rating system--from zero stars for films that are "Pure Torture" to four for a masterpiece. Entries place each film into both artistic and historical context. Beck's comment sections are interesting, and his editorializing is amusing and insightful. He describes films from all of the major and relatively unknown studios, running the gamut from the most vapid of children's fare (My Little Pony) to the adult features of the swinging 1970s, such as Ralph Bakshi's X-ratedFritz the Cat.Japanese anime is one of the most popular forms of animation for children and adult, with anime clubs becoming active on many college and university campuses, and the entries on anime are particularly informative for the novice.Beck includes a chronological list of all 308 features, from 1926'sThe Adventures of Prince Achmed, which is based upon stories from theArabian Nights, toSky Blue,a popular South Korean science fiction story. There are three appendixes: "Limited Release Animated Features," "Top 60 Animated Features Never Theatrically Released in the United States," and "Top 20 Live-Action Films Featuring Great Animation."A good choice for collections of popular culture, film studies, and graphic arts, this will also be a popular title for fans of animated film and parents who want quality entertainment for the kids.Lisa JohnstonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved