Helen McCarthy, one of the key figures in the introduction of anime culture into the English-reading world back in the age of VHS and basement viewing parties, looks at how the medium has changed over the years and become a profit center for big streaming corporations while at the same time (mostly) hanging on to its creative vitality.

In this podcast Helen discusses anime and anime culture and history from a number of different perspectives and speculates on some future directions with host and Stone Bridge publisher Peter Goodman. Helen also talks about her love of haiku and how it helps refresh her view of the world around her. Topics include:

• How anime has changed from the medium's beginnings to today.
• The cast who brought anime to the world.
• What has made anime appealing to an international audience.
• How modern anime has changed for its international audience.
• Who is pushing the boundaries in modern anime and manga.
• The impact of AI on anime.
• Copyright protection

Helen's upcoming lecture

• The Art History of Studio Ghibli

Helen's anime recommendations:

• My Neighbor Totoro (absolute must see!)
  Slam Dunk
  Urusei Yatsura

Helen McCarthy is an award-winning author, lecturer, and reviewer who since 1981 has been a key figure in introducing anime to audiences outside Japan, especially in the UK and the USA. Her books include Anime! A Beginners Guide To Japanese Animation, The Anime Movie Guide: Japanese Animation since 1983, The Erotic Anime Movie Guide, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation (Stone Bridge Press), The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 with Jonathan Clements, The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga, and Manga Cross-Stitch: Make Your Own Graphic Art Needlework. She is currently active on Bluesky and Facebook.

Peter Goodman is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California, which for over thirty years has specialized in books on Asia, especially Japan and China. For a complete list of Stone Bridge Press books, visit www.stonebridge.com.

For a complete list of Stone Bridge Press books, visit www.stonebridge.com.