Juju's Bar & Stage

Anime is a global phenomenon with millions of fans of all ages. There are even university courses in anime all the way up to PhD level. Yet not many people are aware of the rich history, the intersections with technology and the artistic inspirations that go into creating the hundreds of films and TV series you can stream direct to your phone.

Helen McCarthy, who wrote the first book in English on anime and co-wrote the seminal Anime Encyclopedia,will take you on a tour of the evolution of the medium and its evolution from its earliest days to the unique and diverse medium we know today. Looking at the influence of iconic creators such as Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki and CLAMP, we’ll see how they and other have helped to shape anime into both a mass entertainment and a true art form. You’ll gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of your favourite shows, their original cultural context and their role in our global media mix.

Helen McCarthy is a writer, presenter and independent scholar who was introduced to anime in 1981 and has been studying it ever since. She has spoken at universities, cultural institutions and of course anime conventions across America, Asia and Europe, from the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution to Akita International University and the Japan Foundation in London and Kuala Lumpur. Her works include The Anime Encyclopedia, widely recognised as a 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.