The secret story of one of the greatest, dumbest animation-referencing jokes of all time.
Movies
That Time Akira Kurosawa Left Hayao Miyazaki Speechless
This is what two legends meeting looks like.
If You Love ‘The Last Jedi’ Here’s the Anime to Watch Right Now
Sequels that mine the dark corners of the soul, fix the flaws of their predecessors, and are filled with gorgeous imagery always go down in history as the best of their lot.
The Dot and Line’s Best Writing of 2017
A look back at a year of hits.
The Best American Animation Writing 2017
A roundup of our 15 favorite stories about cartoons published during the past year by outlets not called The Dot and Line.
‘A Country Doctor’ Is an Anime Handshake Between Franz Kafka and Kobo Abe
Even Kafka can always get weirder.
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.
For the Last Time, Anastasia Is Not a Disney Film
I’ve defended the Don Bluth classic’s spot outside of the House of Mouse for 20 years—and I’m still doing it.
Why Stop Motion is Perfect for Halloween
A survey of some of the spookiest entries in the animation canon.
Three Words That Keep Me Sane in the Age of Trump
Thanks, Mickey. And Kubrick, I guess.