Animation Obsessive
Jules and John — Animation researchers and writers
Exploring the best in animation from all around the world — part investigation, part treasure hunt.
animationobsessive.substack.comIn place of slop, craft. In place of cruelty and cynicism, hope and meaning.
A biweekly newsletter that treats animation as a global art form worth taking seriously. Jules and John dig into Soviet stop-motion, the film chemistry behind 1980s anime glow effects, Miyazaki's watercolor technique, and hundreds of other stories you won't find anywhere else — sourced from rare books, film archives, and international festivals. The research is deep but the writing is warm and accessible, like a knowledgeable friend who keeps finding extraordinary things.
Written by Jules and John since 2021.
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The Music of 'Samurai Champloo'
A still from Samurai Champloo (2004–2005)Welcome! This is another Sunday edition of the Animation Obsessive newsletter. Here’s the plan:1. Creating the sound of Samurai Champloo. 2. Animation news.With that, let’s go!1. TensionHip hop and old Japan have a link. It goes back decades and decades.There’s a reason Wu-Tang Clan members rapped about “swinging swords like shinobi” in the ‘90s, and Liquid Swords opened with the words, “When I was little, m...
When Yuri Norstein Appeared
A still from The 25th – The First Day (1968)Welcome! The Animation Obsessive newsletter is back with another Thursday issue. This one is all about Yuri Norstein, the animation genius.It’s a cool story this year: Deaf Crocodile brought Norstein’s films to Blu-ray. (We have an essay in the limited edition.) For America, the last big release of Norstein’s work was a DVD two decades ago. The new one makes his films more accessible than ever, pairing famous shorts like Hedgeho...
'Sand and a Source of Light'
A still from The Metamorphosis of Mr. Samsa (1977)Welcome! Glad you could join us. This is another Sunday edition of the Animation Obsessive newsletter — and here’s the plan:1. Why animation is for anyone.2. Newsbits.With that, let’s go!1. Problem solversIt’s no secret that animation is tough work. Anyone who’s tried it can tell you as much. And certain styles and studios are especially taxing: more than once, Walt Disney ordered a dozen-plus retakes of individual s...
Why Continue After Five Years?
Hello! Hope you’re holding up okay. This is Jules and John, co-runners.It’s a special day for us. On February 14, five years ago, the first issue of the Animation Obsessive newsletter shipped out. Today marks our fifth anniversary.In early 2021, we were running a Twitter account about animation. The idea was to attach a publication on the side — the pub… Read more
Dangerous Light
A still from Spirit Jumper (2026)Welcome! Glad you could join us for another Thursday edition of the Animation Obsessive newsletter. This one’s all about light.In January, we received an email from musician Josh Fagin (spktra is his stage name). He was about to drop an animated music video, Spirit Jumper, on which he’d spent five years. His goal: to create digital animation that looks authentically like the cel animation of three or four decades ago.Fagin and his team (which included...
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If you love animation — or just love good storytelling about craft and obsession — this newsletter will consistently show you something you've never seen before.