For nearly a century, the National Film Board of Canada has been a celebrated source of experimental and educational filmmaking, most notably animation. NFB directors have won hundreds of awards, including multiple Oscars, and become legendary for their versatility, artistic talent, and humor.
Charles Solomon is an animation historian who’s published twenty-two books, including The Disney That Never Was, Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation, and Animation for the People: An Illustrated History of the National Film Board of Canada. He's written essays for museum exhibitions, as well as for the New York Times, Variety, and National Public Radio.
S.W. Conser sits down with Charles to discuss Canadian history, European painting, Japanese animation, generative AI, and the inspirations for The Simpsons.