Michael Barrier | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael J. Barrier (1940-06-15)June 15, 1940 (age 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Animation historian Comics historian |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (2016)[1] |
Michael J. Barrier (born June 15, 1940) is an Americananimation historian, author, and critic, best known for his extensive research on the history of American animation and comic art. He is the author ofHollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age (1999) andThe Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney (2007). Barrier was also the founding editor ofFunnyworld, one of the first serious publications dedicated to comics and animation history.
His work focuses on the artistic and industrial development of animation, with in-depth studies of studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and Fleischer Studios. Through interviews with key figures in the industry, Barrier has contributed significantly to the documentation and analysis of animation history.
Barrier was the founder and editor ofFunnyworld (October 1966 – Spring 1983), the first magazine exclusively devoted to comics and animation. It began as a contribution to the CAPA-Alphaamateur press association.[2] Beginning in 1970 it expanded to being a magazine of general circulation that eventually had a print run of several thousand before ceasing publication in the early 1980s.
Barrier was also an early champion of the work of comic book artistCarl Barks and serialized a bibliography of Barks' work inFunnyworld as in 1968 he contributed an essay analyzing Barks' work to the seventh issue of the Don andMaggie Thompsons' fanzineComic Art. The essay and bibliography installments were the genesis for Barrier's 1982 bookCarl Barks and the Art of the Comic Book.[3]
In 1973, Barrier signed a contract withOxford University Press to write a history of Hollywood animation.[4] The research and writing of that book extended over twenty-four years. With the aid of associate (and animator) Milt Gray, Barrier undertook research and interviews of all the key figures who played a role in the creation of classic American theatrical animation, mainly that ofDisney (Silly Symphonies andMickey Mouse),Warner Bros. (Looney Tunes andMerrie Melodies),MGM (Tom and Jerry) and theFleischer/Famous studios (Popeye the Sailor). That research provided the basis of his 700-page history of classic animation,Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age (published in hardcover in 1999 and reissued and revised as a trade paperback in October 2003).[4]
With writerMartin Williams, Barrier co-editedA Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics (1982).
In 2003–2007, Barrier provided severalaudio commentaries for the first fiveLooney Tunes Golden CollectionDVD box sets, his largest audio contributions being for the first volume. He has also appeared in documentaries about animation.
In 2004, Barrier engaged in a lengthy discussion on animation topics withJohn Kricfalusi that he was allowed to post on his website.[5]
Barrier's next book was a 2007 biography ofWalt Disney,The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney.[4] A review of the book by Jeff Ayers described it as "More of a critical slam of Disney's cartoons and films than a useful biography, this book will disappoint, bore, or anger fans of the man."[2] Disney historian Wade Sampson, in a contrary view, stated "If you are a fan of Walt Disney and want information that you know you can trust, then I definitely recommend you add this book to your collection."[6]
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