The essential anime guide 50 iconic films, standout series, and cult masterpieces

Anime has only grown in popularity in the West, so it is fitting that this reference suggests a canon of 50 seminal works, from Astro Boy to Demon Slayer. The two editors and the other seven contributors have written extensively about Japanese pop culture. After a brief introduction, the remainder of the book provides a chronological sequence of Japanese anime productions. Entries are generally four pages long and include the dates of the work, a "sound bite" summary, the reason for the work's significance, and a detailed description and analysis. Two-color anime images, pull quotes, and sidebar specifics about creators and studios dot the volume. An index concludes the book. The older choices are probably more well known, as they are time tested (e.g., Pokémon and Sailor Moon), but fans will recognize the newer choices, such as FLCL and Your Name. The writing is insightful and engaging, so this volume should appeal to a wide audience.