Anime & Manga in America: Rise of censorship and sanitation

The first week of October is Banned Books Week. This presentation is part of the series by Billington Library.

Come join a presentation that talks about the history of what brought Japanese anime to the forefront of American pop culture. Discover how 90's classics like "Dragon Ball Z," "Sailor Moon," and "Pokémon" among others, sparked a wildfire of enthusiasm, introducing audiences to captivating stories, vibrant characters, and an entire artistic style genre and... controversy.

The rise in Manga (Japanese Comic Book) popularity & readership has added more to shelves in schools and libraries around the country, which has led to a rise of complaints, challenges, and complications.

This presentation is open to all, whether you're intricately familiar with Japanese manga or anime or someone new to the genre. Librarian, Andrea Thimesch, will showcase some of the history and challenges faced by studios and translators as they navigated the delicate balance between preserving the essence of the original content, adapting for a Western audience, adhering to cultural sensitivities, and more.

 Q&A will follow--time permitting. The presenter will stay after 1 pm time to answer questions. The main body of the presentation will conclude earlier to allow students to get to class, if needed. 

**Snacks & refreshments will be provided**