Japanese comics and animation have had a strong influence on modern art and popular culture throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. Colorful and energetic, anime enjoys worldwide popularity through numerous television series and feature films such as AKIRA (1988), GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995), PERFECT BLUE (1998) and METROPOLIS (2001).
Perhaps most widely known in the U.S. are the works of Hayao Miyazaki, which include PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997); SPIRITED AWAY (2001), which won the Academy Award for Animated Feature Film in 2002; and the Oscar-nominated feature HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2004).
This electrifying traveling exhibition explores the history, aesthetics and production of Japanese animation from its earliest beginnings up through the cinematic successes and popular heroes of the late 1970s serials, and on to the current computer and video game manifestations of this cultural phenomenon.
"ANIME!" illustrates the fascination of anime and its dramatic, and often breathtaking, visual language. On view are rare collectors' items and artwork that has seldom been seen outside Japan. A portion of the exhibition is devoted to manga and its relationship to anime, providing a historical overview of the development of this "comic book" genre from 19th century Japanese woodcuts and book illustrations to the mass-produced manga of the present.
When: May 15 through August 23, 2009 Where: The Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery and Fourth Floor Gallery in Beverly Hills
Public viewing hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays and May 23-24. Admission: Free
