An Introduction to the American Underground Film
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Initially I was thinking about “10 References That Shaped Japanese Animation Studies,” but I revised this list to references from early animation studies through the early 1980s. I’ve grouped the list into five parts: (1) Works in the early 1960s including translations that were the “classics” of their time; (2) Works in line with the legendary F&FF circle that are as a fundamental references for animation proper; (3) Experimental cinema, experimental animation, and original works; (4) Film history and animation history, and (5) Film and visual studies, which are fundamental to this area of research (+x are listed as titles only).
- 1-1. Taihei Imamura, Manga eigaron (Manga Film Theory), First published by Daiichi Geibunsha, 1941; reissued by Shinzenbisha, 1948; Otowashobo, 1965; Yumanishobo, 1992; Iwanami Shoten, 1992; Tokuma Shoten, 2005
- 1-2. Roger Manvell, John Halas, Technique of Film Animation, Focal Press, 1959
- 1+x. Semen Sergeevich Ginzburg, Douga eigaron: Eiga geijutsu no houhou to ninshiki (Cinema Theory: The Method and Recognition of Cinema Art), translated by Shinichiro Kawagishi, Rironsha, 1960
- 2-1. Takuya Mori, Animeeshon nyuumon (Introduction to Animation), Bijutsu Shuppansha, 1966
- 2-2. Katsunori Yamaguchi, Yasushi Watanabe, Nihon animeeshon eigashi (Japanese Animation Film History), Edited by Planet, Yubunsha, 1978
- 2+x. Chikuji kankoubutsu (Sequential Publication), FILM 1/24, Anidou, May 1978 (New edition Vol. 8) – July 1984 (New edition Vol. 32)
- 3-1. Sheldon Renan, An Introduction to the American Underground Film, Dutton, 1967 published in Japanese, Tetsuro Hatano translation, Sanichi Shobo, 1969
- 3-2. Robert Russett, Cecile Starr, Experimental Animation: an Illustrated Anthology, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1976 / Reprint edition: Experimental Animation: Origins of a New Art, Da Capo Press, 1988
- 3+x. Kit Laybourne, The Animation Book: a Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking from Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons, Crown Publishers, 1979 / Rev Sub ed.,; The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking -- From Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons to 3- D Animation, Three Rivers Press, 1998
- 4-1. Georges Sadoul, Histoire du cinéma mondial, des origines à nos jours 9e éd., Flammarion, 1972, published in Japanese as Sekai eigashi, translated by Sadamu Marusho, Misuzu Shobo, 1964 and Sekai eigashi 1, 1980
- 4-2. Takashi Tomono and Nobuo Mochizuki, Sekai animeeshon eigashi (History of World Animation), supervised by Takuya Mori, edited by Takashi Namiki, Parupu, 1986
- 4+x. C. W. Ceram, Eine Archäologie des Kinos, Rowohlt, 1965, published in Japanese, translated by Yoshio Tsukio, Film Art Sha, 1977
- 5-1. Keiji Asanuma, Eigagaku Sono kihonteki na mondaiten (Film Studies: Fundamental Issues) Kinokuniya Shinsho A-17, 1965, republished: Kinokuniya Shoten, 1981; Seisen Fukkoku Kinokuniya Shoten, 1994
- 5-2. Shin eiga jiten (New Film Dictionary), edited by Keiji Asanuma, Bijutsu Shuppansha, 1980.
- 5+x. Eiga riron shuusei (Film Theory Compilation), edited by Kenji Iwamoto and Tetsuro Hatano, Film Art Sha, 1982
It is necessary to expand one’s viewpoint to include experimental film in regards to the relationship with cinema and short films, auteurism, and the issue of commercial vs. non-commercial works, and this was the first authentic book on experimental film. It is weak in terms of theory, but it is valuable as a reference work and though provoking in terms of establishing the concept of animation.