The Cartoonist
The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE and the Changing Face of Comics
With a subject sure to appeal to family members of all ages, this new documentary was released as a DVD and television special.
| Filmed in high definition, the program tells the inspiring story of Jeff Smith and the creation of his epic comic book, Bone, which has been hailed by critics as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. The documentary discusses Smith’s early years, influences and philosophies, and provides a look at a unique business and industry that continues to change and evolve. |
First drawing his Bone characters at the age of five, Jeff Smith left behind a successful animation business in 1991 to focus on creating his small, black-and-white, self-published comic book, telling a story that he describes as “Bugs Bunny meets The Lord of the Rings.” Today, the story has found an ever-growing audience, especially since it began being published by Scholastic, the highly acclaimed publisher behind the successful Harry Potter series. With a huge following both here and abroad (the book is published in 25 countries), Bone is currently in development at Warner Brothers as an animated feature film.
In addition to Jeff Smith, the documentary features such noted comic book creators and authorities as Harvey Pekar (American Splendor); Paul Pope (Batman: Year 100, Battling Boy, THB); Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics, Zot, Reinventing Comics); Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil); Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo); Steve Hamaker (Bone colorist); Lucy Caswell (Curator of the Ohio State University Cartoon Library and Museum); and others who share their insights on the creation of this comic book epic, as well as their thoughts on the comics industry, which has changed dramatically since the Senate hearings of the 1950s when comic books were considered a leading cause of juvenile delinquency.
To view the film’s trailer and learn how to purchase the DVD, check out the official website: www.thecartoonistmovie.com.
Bone ® and © Jeff Smith. All Rights Reserved.
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