"Princess Mononoke," "Akira," and "Cowboy Bebop" may not be household names. But in the world of anime, or Japanese animation, they are among the top 10 films ever made. With its complex plots and moral messages, anime is as intelligent as some of the best feature films. From the epic fantasy "Ninja Scroll"…

What is the appeal of anime? For one thing, the graphic storytelling is uniquely compelling and spans multiple genres. It tends to be targeted to different audiences: young children and families, males or females aged 10-18, or strictly adults for the mature genre called hentai. In America, almost all animation is produced for and watched by…

Designed for media specialists and educators, this issue includes three articles which provide practical information for those who want to try making films with adolescents and children. The first article discusses cel animation techniques and explores applications of this type of filmmaking to the regular curriculum. The article touches on the…

Describes a project in which students are involved in producing an animated videotape recording and discusses the advantages of modern videotape equipment over other film media. An outline of the process covers materials used, storyboard and artwork production, videotaping procedures, and audio dubbing. (CLB)

Presents a simplified technique for students to use in producing an animated film using cutouts, including the equipment needed, planning steps, and procedures. The production of such a film for a social studies project combining map skills with facts about the United States is described, and additional resources are suggested. (EM)