Anime Through the Looking Glass Treasures of Japanese Animation by Nathalie Bittinger

The magic and mastery of anime come to life in this stunning celebration of the genre.

A uniquely powerful form of artistic expression, anime has embraced complex and thought-provoking ideas since its inception in the mid-20th century.

This dynamic and wide-ranging book explores eighty key themes, from war and natural disasters to ecology, childhood, magic, dystopias, and fables. Featuring over one hundred masterpieces of Japanese animation—including Akira, Ghost in the Shell, One Piece, Princess Mononoke, Grave of the Fireflies, and Howl’s Moving Castle—it reveals how anime consistently balances tradition with modernity. It also highlights the genre’s influence on other media, from video games and comic books to live-action films.

Covering an extraordinary range of talent—from Isao Takahata, Katsuhiro Ōtomo, and Makoto Shinkai to Studio Ghibli and Mamoru Oshii—this book showcases anime’s boundless creativity. Unfettered by the constraints of nature’s laws, these visionary artists bring our deepest emotions and wildest dreams to life.

Hardcover
175 colour illustrations