Helen McCarthy and Dr. Darren Ashmore’s book, Leiji Matsumoto: Essays on the Manga and Anime Legend, was published this year by McFarland Publishing.
Expert of Japanese media, including anime, manga, and theatre, iCLA Japan Studies professor Dr. Darren Ashmore is also an expert on the legendary author, Leiji Matsumoto.
A household name for anime and manga fans, Leiji Matsumoto is the creator of influential works in the space opera genre, such as Galaxy Express 999 and Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Also the director of Space Battleship Yamato, the immensely popular anime that set the tone for subsequent works in the sci-fi genre. Other examples of anime classified under the space opera genre are Gundam and Cowboy Bebop, which are wildly popular today even on a global scale.
Leiji Matsumoto’s works span many decades, winning numerous awards and recognitions.
The book, Leiji Matsumoto: Essays on the Manga and Anime Legend edited by Helen McCarthy and Dr. Darren-Jon Ashmore, and published by McFarland, compiles essays from contributors that explore various aspects of the seven decades of Matsumoto’s eventful career.
With permission from Studio Leijisha, the corporation that oversees Leiji Matsumoto’s creative property, Dr. Ashmore has produced the first book about Leiji Matsumoto written in English.
Watch our interview with Dr. Darren Ashmore on the book:
Contributors to Leiji Matsumoto: Essays on the Manga and Anime Legend:
Helen McCarthy
Darren Ashmore
Tim Eldred
Jonathan Tarbox
Stefanie Thomas
Edmund W. Hoff
Ondine Montoya and Matthew Montoya
Zack Davisson
And: Leiji Matsumoto for providing an interview for the book.
