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Author: John Maher

John Maher is news and digital editor at Publishers Weekly and editor in chief at The Dot and Line, which he co-founded. His work has been published by New York magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and Esquire, among others.
timmy turner fairly oddparents
TV

Fairly Oddparents and the Terror of “Tiimmy Turner”

August 2, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Fairly Oddparents and the Terror of “Tiimmy Turner”

Or, how a Nickelodeon reference can depress the crap out of you while still being couched in an experimental-ish club banger.

Movies

Wrestling With the Animated ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

July 27, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Wrestling With the Animated ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation had every opportunity to make this film better — and they didn’t take any of them.

Movies

Notes on ‘Belladonna of Sadness’

June 20, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Notes on ‘Belladonna of Sadness’

Viewer discretion HELLA advised.

Movies

Conroy v Balefleckman: Jawn of Grimdark

April 5, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Conroy v Balefleckman: Jawn of Grimdark

The best Batflick is animated and you’ve probably never seen it. This one might be better. And darker.

wide whale venture bros
Interviews TV

Hal Lublin Breaks Down ‘Venture Bros.’ and Playing Up His Asthma: Exclusive

March 17, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Hal Lublin Breaks Down ‘Venture Bros.’ and Playing Up His Asthma: Exclusive

We chatted with the comedian and voice actor on his craft, his health, playing to rooms filled with judgment, and how he came to voice Wide Wale — the soggiest archvillain of 2016.

TV

If Fandom Has Killed the Cliffhanger, Sign ‘Young Justice’ Up

March 5, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on If Fandom Has Killed the Cliffhanger, Sign ‘Young Justice’ Up

This year, three cartoons make unexpected returns. Justice demands a fourth.

batman the animated series eyes gif
Movies TV

Anatomy of an Animated Badass

February 17, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Anatomy of an Animated Badass

Nine core qualities that make a cartoon cool.

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EDITORS PICKS

The Dot and Line’s Editors on the Legacy of ‘BoJack Horseman’

By The Dot and Line

After the series finale, "Nice While It Lasted," we needed to talk about what it all means. So we did.

greg baldwin aku

Samurai Jack’s New Aku Greg Baldwin Discusses Taking on Mako’s Role: Exclusive

By Eric Vilas-Boas

"I'm not Mako." The new voice actor responsible for Aku on ‘Samurai Jack’ talks about what it’s like to take over for Mako Iwamatsu.

neon genesis evangelion

The Best (and Worst) Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme Song Covers

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Yes, there are too many.

borrowed time short film

‘Borrowed Time’ Will Leave You Inconsolable

By John Maher

Borrow six minutes of dusty sadness from this tremendous short.

John Wouldn’t Recognize a Good Walk-and-Talk if He Walked Right Into It

By Cara McKeown

Part of #JohnWithTheWind — a week-long editorial event.

tuca and bertie

Here’s Your Chance to Talk With the ‘Tuca & Bertie’ Team About Mental Health

By Sammy Nickalls

The delightful, surreal, quirky animated show is hosting a Twitter chat with one of The Dot and Line’s own.

catra and shera

What ‘She-Ra’ Gets Right About Angsty Queerness

By Maya Gittelman

Catra is one complex (cat)woman.

Looney Tunes

How the New ‘Looney Tunes’ Can Be Great

By Eric Vilas-Boas

I’m not pessimistic about this. Here are three things I want to see happen.

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GREATEST HITS

Everything Is Terrible, But at Least Mark Hamill Is Still the Joker

By John Maher

Everything is terrible, and everyone’s favorite laughing Batman villain is here to, err, help?

When Anime Met Bashō: ‘Winter Days’ Brings a Warm Beauty to a Cold Season

By John Maher

Some of the greatest animators on our planet paying a tribute to a haiku master? That’s a match made in meditative melancholy.

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.