Documentaries about Comics & Cartoonists

The history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle franchise.

The comic book culture in Poland, shown through the prism of an iconic store in Warsaw which brings together graphic novel enthusiasts. Kuba and his father run the oldest comic shop in Poland - "Centrum Komiksu" - that has long been recognized as a legendary address. Through their eyes, we invite you to experience stories about loyal customers, hardships of independent publishing and problems faced by comic book creators themselves.

Documentary about Japanese comic books (Manga) and the Anime films inspired by them.

In 1950, America was in a state of panic. Juvenile delinquency was destroying the very fabric of society. Ninety percent of all children were reading comic books. In 1954, psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham wrote a scathing indictment of comics called Seduction of the Innocent. Its central premise: Comic books were the leading contributing factor to juvenile delinquency. That same year, Dr. Wertham testified at special hearings on comic books at the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency in the United States. Comics were on trial. Diagram for Delinquents captures the zeitgeist of late 1940s and early 1950s America and investigates how the funny books found themselves on the fire. Using expert and comic book insider interviews, never seen before historical photographs and films, and animation, DIAGRAM goes further than any previous comic book documentary to explore and understand the controversial figure at the center of this American tale: Fredric Wertham.

Novaro, the Mexican Colosus traces the unknown story of one of the greatest comic book publishers in the world, which reigned for more than 30 years before disappearing without saying goodbye in 1985. Their fans never understood what happened. Novaro only disappeared without leaving a trace. Only the comics remained.

René Goscinny is the father of Asterix, Lucky Luke, Iznogood and Petit Nicolas. A genius comedian with memorable gags, Goscinny has left his mark on several generations of comic book lovers. His portrait also allows us to discover who the man behind the author is and how his eventful life inspired his work.

Documentary on the evolution of Popeye the Sailor Man.

Writer and magazine editor Forrest J. Ackerman is a well-known science fiction and horror movie fan who has a large collection of books, objects, film and publicity stills, posters, paintings and props. In this documentary he discusses his obsession in details.

The life and work of Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins.

An intimate portrait of controversial cartoonist Robert Crumb and his traumatized family.

A survey of the artistic history of the comic book medium and some of the major talents associated with it.

Bruguera publishing company was an unparalleled phenomenon in Spanish popular culture. Its humorous or adventure comics or its paperback books marked different generations of readers. More than a quarter of a century after its closure, Bruguera continues to maintain a very vivid presence in popular memory. Several members of the Bruguera family participate in this documentary, as well as authors and former workers of this true dream factory.

French artist and author Jean Giraud is one of the most famous and influential comic strip illustrators and authors of all time. He achieved his greatest fame as Moebius - not so much a pseudonym as an alter ego. With his triple-split personality - Jean Giraud, Moebius, Gir - he succeeded in making his work accessible in popular comic strip series like Blueberry, in metaphysical fantasies like John Difool and, not least, to a broad public, with set designs for films such as The Fifth Element. As a co-founder of the comic magazine Métal Hurlant he shook up the world of bourgeois French comics and American super-heroes in 1975, creating a whole new 'grown up' way of looking at the comic strip art form. How could a man invent all those strange places and stories, collaborate with some of the world's maddest artists and even go so far to seriously prepare himself to be picked up by aliens - and then go live a quiet and secure life back in Paris? Was he ever in danger of losing his mind? Or was it necessary for his art to live a life like that, and out of self-protection to split into in different personalities? In Moebius Redux - A Life in Pictures an exceptional artist tells his life's and work's story. Artists he met and left on his way, join in: Longtime collaborators like Alejandro Jodorowsky and Philippe Druillet, Swiss artist H.R. Giger and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, admirers like Jim Lee and Mike Mignola. Their narration not only gives an insight in how they experienced working with Giraud, but also presents the fascinatingly woven network around one of the most important comic book artists ever. Inspired by Giraud's visual power Moebius Redux - Ein Leben in Bildern animates the diversity and dynamic of his work. Extraordinary views on Paris, Los Angeles and the Mexican desert build a visual link between his life and his artistic universe, accompanied by the electronic soundtrack composed by "Kraftwerk" legend Karl Bartos.

Grant Morrison is one of the most popular writers in comics, and one of the most controversial. He is the Rock Star of Comics, a philosopher and chaos magician, who has used his comics to change both himself and his audience.

Ralf König, one of the most successful German cartoonists, became famous with his comic book "The Most Desired Man," which was made into a film in starring Til Schweiger back in 1994. Wittily playing with queer clichés, he also reaches a wide heterosexual audience. In King of Comics, busy filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim (The Einstein of Sex, I Am My Own Woman, Rent Boys) portrays an unpretentious and modest man whom, with brilliant observational skills, has left his outlandish, yet intelligent, incredibly fun and delightfully graphic mark on an entire generation.

This documentary is about the women and their important role in the comic book industry. It includes numerous interviews with icons like Kelly Sue DeConnick, Karen Berger and Jenette Kahn.

Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist and author Art Spiegelman discusses his graphic novel "Maus," which chronicles how his father survived the Holocaust. Also included a journey to Auschwitz, with his wife and art director Francoise Mouly-Spiegelman.

Interviews with icons in the comic book world.