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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

The Director of ‘Tehran Taboo’ Breaks Down His Shocking Film

By Sam Reynolds

Ali Soozandeh's film is a striking portrait of sexual prohibition.

helga pataki hey arnold

The Hey Arnold Episode That Changed Everything

By Eric Vilas-Boas

“Helga on the Couch,” AKA The One Where Helga Sees a Therapist is an episode ‘Hey Arnold!’ fans love. I re-watched it to see if it holds up.

Cartoon Moms, Ranked

By The Dot and Line

With only the finest—the mères de la mères—of animation. Happy Mother’s Day!

“We Got 5,000 Pitches”: How ‘What a Cartoon!’ Was Born

By John Maher

Fred Seibert, the brain behind the anthology series that launched Cartoon Network's biggest 1990s cartoons, on how the magic was made.

borrowed time short film

‘Borrowed Time’ Will Leave You Inconsolable

By John Maher

Borrow six minutes of dusty sadness from this tremendous short.

The Best Animated TV Shows of the 2010s

By The Dot and Line

It’s been a long 10 years. These shows will get you through the next ones too.

cauldron

An Urgent Question About ‘The Black Cauldron’

By Rebecca Long

IS IT STILL GOOD!?

These ACLU Cartoons Offer Practical Advice for Those Targeted by ICE

By Eric Vilas-Boas

The “We Have Rights” series is as vital as anything these days.

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GREATEST HITS

tales from earthsea

What Studio Ghibli’s ‘Tales From Earthsea’ Gets Right

By Elly Belle

The late Ursula K. Le Guin didn’t love Goro Miyazaki’s take on her classic saga, but the film still understood its heart.

Here’s What Would Happen if Elsa From Frozen Played the Super Bowl

By The Dot and Line

If Elsa from ‘Frozen’ led a team of ice-themed football players to the Super Bowl, they'd freeze out the Pats.

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.