📖 Overview
Animation in Asia and the Pacific provides a comprehensive survey of animation history, styles, and production across multiple Asian countries. The book covers key animation developments from the early 20th century through contemporary works in Japan, China, South Korea, India, and other nations in the region.
Editor John A. Lent brings together contributions from scholars and industry professionals to document animation techniques, major studios, influential creators, and cultural contexts. The text includes analyses of both traditional hand-drawn animation and emerging digital technologies, with attention to how different countries have developed their own distinctive approaches.
Through case studies and interviews, the book examines the economic, political and social factors that shaped animation industries across Asia. The evolution of animation education, government policies, and international co-productions receives particular focus in understanding how the medium has grown.
The work stands as an essential resource for understanding animation's role in Asian cultural expression and artistic development. Its examination of animation as both an art form and commercial industry reveals broader patterns in how Asian societies have engaged with modernity and visual culture.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of John A. Lent's overall work:
Readers consistently note Lent's thoroughness in documenting comic art across cultures, particularly in his bibliographic works. Students and researchers find his books valuable as reference materials.
What readers liked:
- Comprehensive coverage of previously undocumented comic traditions
- Detailed source citations and bibliographic information
- Clear organization of complex historical and cultural information
What readers disliked:
- Academic writing style can be dry and dense
- High textbook prices limit accessibility
- Some readers note outdated information in older works
Review data is limited, as most of Lent's works are academic texts:
- "Asian Comics" (2015) - 4.5/5 on Amazon (6 reviews)
- "Comic Art in Africa, Asia..." - Referenced frequently in academic citations but few public reviews
- "Animation in Asia and the Pacific" - Used primarily as a teaching text, limited public ratings
One researcher noted: "Lent's bibliography remains the definitive starting point for studying global comic art, despite its age." A student reviewer called his work "information-rich but requires determined reading."
📚 Similar books
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South Korean Animation: From Origins to Post-Digital Future by Daniel Martin This study chronicles South Korea's animation industry from its roots as an outsourcing hub to its emergence as a creative force in global animation production.
Understanding Animation by Paul Wells The book examines animation techniques, styles, and practices across multiple cultures with specific focus on Asian animation developments and influences.
The Making of Chinese Animation by Daisy Yan Du This text documents the evolution of Chinese animation from the 1920s through contemporary times, exploring its relationship to politics, culture, and artistic movements.
Anime: A History by Jonathan Clements The work traces Japanese animation's development from early theatrical shorts to global media phenomenon through industrial, technological, and cultural perspectives.
South Korean Animation: From Origins to Post-Digital Future by Daniel Martin This study chronicles South Korea's animation industry from its roots as an outsourcing hub to its emergence as a creative force in global animation production.
🤔 Interesting facts
🎬 Author John A. Lent spent over 15 years traveling across Asia and the Pacific, conducting more than 400 interviews with animators for this comprehensive study
🎨 The book was one of the first major English-language works to extensively cover animation in countries like Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines
📚 Beyond just covering anime, the book explores lesser-known animation traditions like China's water-ink animation style and Vietnam's puppet animation
🌏 Many of the animators interviewed for the book worked during wartime, using animation as propaganda or social commentary during periods of conflict
🎯 The research reveals how numerous Asian animation studios initially developed by doing outsource work for American and European production companies before establishing their own unique styles and industries