Soul of Anime

Ian Condry is Associate Professor of Comparative Media Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization, also published by Duke University Press.

(Starred Review) “This book is highly recommended for all lovers of Japanese history, Japanese culture, anime, manga, and animation.” - Sally Bryant (Library Journal) “It’s a pleasure to have Condry guide us through the complex and ultimately rewarding world of anime.” (Animation) “An anthropologist by training, Condry bases his arguments in part on fieldwork consisting of interviews with studio personnel and direct observation of working practices.  One may question (as the author himself does) how representative these anecdotes are, but they stimulate numerous intriguing interpretations. . . . Condry writes thoughtfully and occasionally displays wry wit. His book contains much of value to scholars of Japanese popular culture.” - Alexander Jacoby (TLS) “Condry is no armchair theorist – there can be few Westerners who’ve explored the industry as energetically as he has. . . . For readers who do like amassing anecdotes, The Soul of Anime offers oodles of them, often gained first-hand by the intrepid author, ploughing through the anime multiverse.” - Andrew Osmond (Manga UK) “Get this if you’re interested in the depth of anime, the pioneers and renowned figures within the anime movement (yes, of course including Miyazaki), and significant anime milestones. . . . For the serious anime lover who wants to move from fan to expert . . . this is a must.” - Gini Koch (It's Comic Book Day blog) "For students and teachers who wish to gain a full understanding of the inner workings of the world of anime and to do serious research of their own in this area, a careful reading of ... Condry's ... book is definitely a must."  - Michael McCaskey (Journal of Japanese Studies) “Superb critical, historical, and ethnographic study of the anime phenomenon; a model of cross-media analysis.” (Science Fiction Studies) “Part of the appeal of the book is the many popular assumptions about anime it disavows and the new information it provides. … In addition, his work underscores the fact that the production process has really only begun with an animation’s release: fans’ ‘consumption’ of animation is inherently productive as they draw existing characters into storylines of their own invention, compete to produce the best subtitles of their favorite shows, and do innumerable other creative things with animated worlds and characters that ultimately determine not only their success but also their global reach.” - Elise Edwards (American Ethnologist)

• Note on Translations and Names ixIntroduction. Who Makes Anime? 11. Collaborative Networks, Personal Futures 352. Characters and Worlds as Creative Platforms 543. Early Directions in Postwar Anime 854. When Anime Robots Became Real 1125. Making a Cutting-Edge Anime Studio: The Value of the Gutter 1356. Dark Energy: What Overseas Fans Reveal about the Copyright Wars 1617. Love Revolution: Otaku Fans in Japan 185Conclusion. Future Anime: Collaborative Creativity and Cultural Action 204Acknowledgments 218Notes 221References 227Index 237