Description
Book SynopsisBroadening the field of star studies to include animation, this pioneering book makes the case that iconic cartoon characters, such as Mickey Mouse, are legitimate cinematic stars, just as popular human actors are.
Trade Review[A] never less than fascinating analysis of the lives of animated actors, separate from their performances…this book excels as a fascinating history of who these celluloid celebrities were. * Austin Chronicle *
[
Animated Personalities] is impressive for its lucid historical structure and exceptionally enjoyable content...McGowan breathes life into celluloid figures, giving readers a backstory for some of the most enduring iconic characters of screen history. This is a truly gratifying book. * CHOICE *
[A] meticulous study…McGowan's project stands out as an extensively researched and timely intervention that simultaneously underscores the need to systematically examine the intersections between animation and live-action stardom and provides a useful model for conducting this type of analysis in an engaging, provocative manner. * Celebrity Studies *
McGowan delivers an in-depth, concise and convincing line of reasoning as to why animated characters should be considered star quality, whilst providing exceptional discourse on various aspects of cinematic history...This is a bold and powerful exposé on a subject matter that has had an enormous impact on our society extending way beyond the bounds of entertainment. * Leonardo *
Combining historical, formal, and theoretical modes of analysis,
Animated Personalities represents a vital contribution to both star studies and the study of animation in classical Hollywood and beyond. By embracing a key problematic of the study of stardom—the inability to take any element of its construction as authentic—McGowan does not undermine the validity of this approach so much as craft a more honest and complete understanding of it. * Synoptique *
More than simply adding animation to the existing scholarship in star studies, McGowan raises important questions and contributes a significant work to the field in the twenty-first-century era of CGI artificiality in modern filmmaking...McGowan’s work is an important breakthrough in examinations of stardom. * Journal of Popular Culture *
[McGowan offers] alternative approaches to star studies that reveal insights into how the field can and should develop. * Screen *
[A] tralblazing book...McGowan draws detailed and insightful comparisons between the processes involved in custom building star personas for live-action and animated films. * Studies in American Humor *
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Section I. Stages of Theatrical Stardom
- Chapter 1. Silent Animation and the Development of the Star System
- Chapter 2. Stars and Scandal in the 1930s
- Chapter 3. The Second World War
- Section II. Conceptualizing Theatrical Animated Stardom
- Chapter 4. The Comedian Comedy
- Chapter 5. Authorship
- Chapter 6. The Studio System
- Section III. Post-Theatrical Stardom
- Chapter 7. The Animated Television Star
- Chapter 8. The Death of the Animated Star?
- Notes
- Works Cited
- Index
