Learn more about The Art History of Anime with Helen McCarthy as we delve into the ins and outs of this iconic medium of animation and appreciate the impact of anime on a global scale even more. Anime is a medium of animation that has evolved into many styles and techniques but preserves its distinctive style of Japanese visuals and aesthetics. From TV shows to films, anime has revolutionized a genre of art that even scholars, researchers, and writers pursue studying this art form and understand the history behind it and how it has evolved to this day.
Anime has become one of the most popular genres of animation that continues to produce famous works such as One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Demon Slayer. It is a diverse medium with distinctive production methods that mesmerize viewers with its art style, character design, and cinematography.
The Art History of Anime with Helen McCarthy Event
Helen McCarthy is a researcher who has been studying anime since 1981. A writer and independent scholar, Helen has written numerous books on anime such as The Anime Encyclopedia, the widely recognized seminal text for the study of anime; Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation; The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga; and Leiji Matsumoto: Essays on the Manga and Anime Legend.
Because of her widespread knowledge of anime and Japanese pop culture, Helen has been invited as a guest speaker at universities, cultural institutions, and even anime conventions across America, Asia, and Europe. From the British Museum to the Akita International University, Helen continues to share her expertise in anime and love for Japan globally.
Anime Event details:
When
The event is on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 – from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM BST.
Doors open at 7 PM on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where
The talk will be held at Juju’s Bar and Stage at 15 Hanbury Street London E1 6QR UK, as well as online for live streaming.
Tickets
The event has a Mobile eTicket system where you can purchase your tickets here. Ticket prices range from £11.50 to £18.00, excluding online fees and tax. The eTicket will be emailed to the registered email address 24 hours before the stream and 1 hour before it starts.
Livestream tickets are also available for those who are not in London, UK.
What To Expect
A Brief History of Anime and its Origins
Although the exact origins of anime remain unclear, it has been discovered that anime can be traced back to the start of the 20th century with animated films dating from 1912. The first anime feature film, Momotaro: Umi ni Shinpei, directed by Mitsuyo Seo, was made in 1945 as a propaganda film during World War II.
In The Art History of Anime with Helen McCarthy we will mainly discuss how anime has evolved since then and how it started to separate itself from its Western roots and develop distinct animation genres such as mecha. By noting prominent works in the successful evolution of anime such as Astro Boy, Lupin III, and Mazinger Z, we will further understand how anime became a global phenomenon through its unique characteristics and styles.
The Key Characteristics of Anime Art Style
What makes anime unique are its distinctive characteristics that are shown through its art style, character design, and animation techniques. We will talk through some of the key characteristics of anime to be able to point out what makes it so vibrantly different.
Learn more about how most anime artists design and animate their characters. Anime is known to exaggerate the physical features of its characters from brightly colored hair to large expressive eyes.
Complex storylines also play a role in defining anime. Storylines are often developed to last a few episodes, but some anime shows can have more than 50 episodes until the storyline is completed.
Did you know most anime artists still utilize limited animation and storyboarding? Anime still uses 2D animation which allows the artists more freedom to create different anime art styles that are visually striking and colorful without adherence to depict the real world.
The Types of Anime Art Styles
In this event, you learn more about how anime has diversified into various art styles and animation designs. One of the most popular anime art styles is Shōjo, a style that is cute, smooth, and catered to young girls. There is also Shounen art that has a rougher and darker style for an audience of young boys. More anime art styles include chibi, seinen, josei, and kemono. Learning more about these fascinating art styles gives you a better glimpse of anime and its unique way of animating.
The Influence of Iconic Anime Creators
Anime is nothing without its notable animators, artists, and directors. We will highlight renowned creators who have influenced the production of anime throughout the decades. Notable anime creators include Hayao Miyazaki. He is critically acclaimed for producing the Academy Award-winning movie Spirited Away. Osamu Tezuka is well-known for creating Astro Boy. CLAMP the all-female Japanese manga artist group known for the creation of Cardcaptor Sakura.
These three are just some of the many creators who have contributed to the rise of anime and making it mainstream. Learning more about their techniques, inspirations, and artistic visions allows us to see why their passion for art and animation deserves to be famous.
The Impact of Anime in Global Art and Aesthetics
In modern society, anime has had a great impact in the context of fashion, art, and even music. With the rise of J-pop, kawaii aesthetics, and Harajuku fashion. One can’t help but wonder what draws these people into adapting styles and aesthetics heavily influenced by Japanese pop culture and anime. We will discuss further the global impact of anime. Furthermore, it maintains its relevance as a mainstream form of art.
Hosted by Seed Talks
Seed Talks, an independent events company dedicated to sharing interesting and worthwhile knowledge around the areas of Science, Psychedelics, Wellness, Philosophy, Psychology and Neuroscience, was founded in London in late 2021. The company’s speakers are carefully selected and vetted by a team with over five years of experience in public education. This means that attendees can rest assured that they are learning from a trusted professional at Seed Talks events.
Whether you’re a Japanese history professor, an independent scholar, or simply an avid fan of anime. Let the event encourage you to look into the history of anime. Furthermore, gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this iconic art form.
Buy your tickets here now!
