Starz Inside: Anime: Drawing A Revolution (2007)

This Starz documentary is impressive in its range of introductory coverage of the anime phenomenon. You would have to be a huge anime nerd to not learn something new here. First, definitions are provided for anime (highly stylized Japanese animation, often feature-length with adult themes) and manga (Japanese graphic novels) before the contributions of Osamu Tezuka (the Disney-influenced father of manga) are discussed. The program then packs the remaining 50 minutes with insightful interview excerpts from 50 or so animation artists and movie producers as they describe the seminal influence of about 50 animated productions (for example, Astro Boy, Speed Racer, 300, The Matrix, Sin City, Transformers, Afro Samurai, Witchblade, Cowboy Bebop, and many more). The Matrix is described as basically the Wachowski brothers doing a live-action version of Ghost in the Shell. See this program to learn about Japanese anime's inseparable influence on present-day American animation but also about America's key influence on Japan through Bambi and The Matrix. 3.5 stars.