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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.
Movies

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

January 31, 2018December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on When Anime Met Bashō: ‘Winter Days’ Brings a Warm Beauty to a Cold Season

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

oprah the boondocks
TV

The Boondocks Predicted the Oprah 2020 Thing and People Are Losing Their Minds

January 9, 2018December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on The Boondocks Predicted the Oprah 2020 Thing and People Are Losing Their Minds

What does It take for mainstream media to pretend to care about cartoons? Oprah. The answer is Oprah. And politics. And clickbait.

TV

WTF Is Felix Colgrave Smoking?

January 8, 2018December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on WTF Is Felix Colgrave Smoking?

And can we have some before we watch any more cartoons?

gurren lagann
TV

The Only Good Thing About ‘Gurren Lagann’

January 1, 2018December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on The Only Good Thing About ‘Gurren Lagann’

A choice New Year’s Resolution provided by a super dumb anime.

TV

Why Katara’s Feelings Are Her Greatest Strength and Greatest Pain

December 22, 2017April 4, 2020 John MaherComments Off on Why Katara’s Feelings Are Her Greatest Strength and Greatest Pain

Maternal, idealistic, insecure, stubborn, short-tempered. Katara is emotion—her trauma, her power. Just like me.

TV

Could a Northern Water Tribe Capital City Exist In Real Life?

December 18, 2017December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Could a Northern Water Tribe Capital City Exist In Real Life?

Today’s important question is brought to you by a very dumb study. Also: Welcome to Waterbending Week!

Movies

‘A Country Doctor’ Is an Anime Handshake Between Franz Kafka and Kobo Abe

December 8, 2017December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on ‘A Country Doctor’ Is an Anime Handshake Between Franz Kafka and Kobo Abe

Even Kafka can always get weirder.

tower gun violence mass shootings film
Movies

How an Animated Film Powerfully Documented Gun Violence in America

November 29, 2017December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on How an Animated Film Powerfully Documented Gun Violence in America

Director Keith Maitland and journalist Pamela Colloff discuss the historic University of Texas shooting and how the animated film ‘Tower’ captured it.

TV

Here’s ‘Xavier: Renegade Angel’ in a Nutshell

October 30, 2017December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Here’s ‘Xavier: Renegade Angel’ in a Nutshell

It’s been 10 years. Somehow.

TV

This Is How Morty Smith Is Smarter Than Rick Sanchez

September 27, 2017December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on This Is How Morty Smith Is Smarter Than Rick Sanchez

Actually, when you consider the theory of multiple intelligences, you’re the f*cking idiot, Rick! You f*cking moron! —Morty (attrib.)

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EDITORS PICKS

Steven Universe’s Love Makes a Lot of Sense If You Know Loss

By John Maher

A boy willing to love anyone he meets has become a compass guiding me toward the man I’ve always hoped to become. Steven Universe is my ideal me.

Director Juan Antín Brings a Peruvian Adventure to Netflix in ‘Pachamama’: Exclusive Interview

By Marley Crusch

"I was trying to give a message of hope," Antin tells The Dot and Line.

coco

Here’s Why You Should Watch ‘Coco,’ Which Is Finally on Netflix

By John Maher

The Pixar tearjerker—now on Netflix—should do more than make you cry with its reminders of what tethers us to family. Now go call your grandma.

Somehow, the DuckTales Reboot Did the Impossible

By John Maher

The new ‘DuckTales’ is ducking great and if you disagree I don’t even want to hear another ducking word about it.

waltz for venus cowboy bebop

Two Poems on “Waltz for Venus,” One of the Most Poignant Episodes of ‘Bebop’

By Trevor Ketner

Trevor Dane Ketner examines the tragic and the queer in a ‘Cowboy Bebop’ episode that aims right at the heart.

ghost in the shell

Just Pretend That Other ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Doesn’t Exist

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Ffs, just watch the original.

Tears for Toons, 2016-2020 (and a Long Time Before)

By John Maher

John Maher pens his final words on the Dot and Line.

“Big,” A Poem for Peridot of ‘Steven Universe’

By John Maher

A pantoum in which Peridot, one of the toughest gems on ‘Steven Universe,’ reflects on her new life on Earth.

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GREATEST HITS

rugrats

How Rugrats Taught a Shiksha Like Me to Love Passover

By Kate Drozynski

25 years ago this week, Nickelodeon debuted Rugrats, one of the first three Nicktoons. In honor of the anniversary, here’s a look back at a Very Special Episode…

Words That We Didn’t Write

By The Dot and Line

We wrote a lot of words on the Dot and Line. But it could have been so much worse. We could have written these.

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.