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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

Rankings We Never Wrote, Ranked

By The Dot and Line

As the Dot and Line says goodbye, we present to you one final and very important ranking.

shrek

An Oral History of the Phrase “Get Shrek’d”

By Dan Powell

The secret story of one of the greatest, dumbest animation-referencing jokes of all time.

family guy griffins

20 Years Later, ‘Family Guy’ Feels Largely Forgettable

By Jack McKean

What may have felt freeing in 1999 feels lazy and unhinged now.

bugs bunny nimrod etymology

The Secret Origin of One of Bugs Bunny’s Best Insults

By Alex Costello

The cultural icon redefined the meaning of the word ‘nimrod,’ and no one even knew he was doing it.

Scooby Dooby Doo and Shaggy Too Review ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!’ for 4/20, Dude

By The Dot and Line

“What the Hex Going On?” Scoob, could you, like, pass the bong?

tito makani hawaiian sayings

Uncle Tito’s Ancient Hawaiian Sayings™ Illustrated With GIFs

By Ari Weinberger

Let's see what sound advice they could offer today.

Conroy v Balefleckman: Jawn of Grimdark

By John Maher

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

The End of the Universe

By The Dot and Line

'Steven Universe,' its feature-length musical film, and 'Steven Universe Future' are now in the rearview. Let's talk about it.

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GREATEST HITS

“What a Twist!” Puts UA in a Very Difficult Position on ‘My Hero Academia’

By Sarra Sedghi

Beware: Spoilers herein.

pokemon iris

The Brown Girl Pokémon Trainer I Needed—Finally

By Amanda Ramsaran

Has the Pokémon anime at long last figured out that girls of color might want to be the very best too?

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.