In this class, students will learn about the culture of Japanese animation, and how influence from other cultures, history, and media influenced the development of anime across the globe.

Week 1, Katsudo Shashin and the Origins of Anime: In our first week of class, we will discuss the beginnings of anime, starting with what is considered "the first anime," created in 1907. We will discuss anime as it existed prior to 1940 and how the art form developed from simple celluloid paper drawings to full-fledged animations.
Week 2, Osamu Tezuka and the First Anime Boom: Anime during World War II drew great inspiration from Western media, and at the forefront of this movement was Osamu Tezuka. In this week's lesson, we will talk about "The Father of Anime" and his work, particularly the influence of Astro Boy on the first true boom of anime production. 
Week 3, Serialization and American Influence: We will dive into the speed at which anime developed upon the dawn of serialization, television popularity, and anime's integration into pop culture. We will reference some early anime series that gained international popularity and what made them so successful, as well as discussing the affect of Disney on Japanese creators. 
Week 4, Studio Ghibli and "Progressive Anime": The "progressive anime" movement is defined by its highly character-driven stories and anime that rejects plots and stereotypes of past animations. This term, coined by Studio Ghibli exec Hayao Miyazaki, helped to bring complex stories and complicated narratives to younger audiences through anime. We'll talk about the dive into more serious, dramatic anime and the dawn of more mature stories. 
Week 5, Otaku Subculture and Anime Today: We will dive into the more cultural impact of anime, and otaku (anime fan) culture in the 21st century. By discussing things like cosplay, fandubs, and conventions, as well as learning about the dawn of anime streaming services, we will talk about the massive cultural boom that anime has created in non-Japanese nations and the growing accessibility of anime by Western audiences.