Escape!: How Animation Broke into the Mainstream in the 1990s

by G. Michael Dobbs

It doesn't seem so odd nowadays that people in their 20s through 60s quote Bugs Bunny or collect animation art or look forward to a new animated DVD chock full of extras. Growing up in the 1950s and '60s, cartoons were definitely kid's stuff. Oh sure, adults watched The Flintstones, which was shown during prime time. And Rocky and Bullwinkle had jokes I didn't get but my parents did. Generally, though cartoons were thought of as the programs children watched on Saturday morning or feature films that were deemed suitable entertainment. By the late 1980s the status of animation had begun to change. The fact is if you were 25 years old in 1965 and loved cartoons, many people would have thought you had some sort of arrested development. Today, there's nothing wrong with adults decorating their cubicle at work with Loony Tune action figures or a Betty Boop toy. This book is more than just a collection of updated articles, interviews and reviews I wrote for my two animation magazines, Animato and Animation Planet. It is also a look at how animation went from being perceived as a throwaway medium aimed at kids to a commercial art form for both adults and children. How did this change take place? How did an adult fan base for animation emerge? Several key factors made this shift take place. This book, chock full of interviews and photos, examines the change in the animation industry. Have fun, kids

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2007

About the author

Mike Dobss is a writer, film historian, college instructor, and former radio talk show host with now 30 years experience in mass communications. He is managing editor for Reminder Publications in western Massachusetts and edits four weekly newspapers read by about 120,000 to 130,000 people every week. His specialty in film history is animation. He was at one time a nationally recognized animation authority through his position as editor of Animato! and Animation Planet, two magazines for animation fans. He is working to complete his book on the Fleischer Studios.

Reviews

[Mark Masztal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true must read for any animation fan. Loved every page of this book.