Studio Ghibli and Art History of Anime/Manga talks by Helen McCarthy lined up at Quay Arts

By John Freeman on October 2, 2025

Helen McCarthy, who wrote the first books in English on anime, is giving two talks, on The Art History of Studio Ghibli and The Art History of Anime/Manga at Quay Arts, Newport, on the Isle of Wight, over 10th and 11th October 2025.

The Manga Bible by Helen McCarthy (Ilex Press, 2026)

Helen McCarthy is a writer, presenter and independent scholar who was introduced to anime in 1981 and has been studying it ever since. She has spoken at universities, cultural institutions and of course anime conventions across America, Asia and Europe, from the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution to Akita International University and the Japan Foundation in London and Kuala Lumpur.

Her works include The Anime Encyclopedia with Jonathan Clements, widely recognised as a seminal text for the study of anime; Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation; The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga; and Leiji Matsumoto: Essays on the Manga and Anime Legend.

As we previously reported, her latest book, The Manga Bible, charting the history of Japanese comics, will be published Ilex Press next March.

*No-Face, from Spirited Away* ©️ *Studio Ghibli*

The Art History of Studio Ghibli, taking place Friday 10th October, will take you on a journey through the studio’s history and inspiration.

There can’t be many people with Internet access who haven’t heard the name of Studio Ghibli. It’s one of the most famous film studios on the planet, producing classics like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke. Both Princess Mononoke and the studio’s perennial favourite, My Neighbour Totoro, have been transformed into stage shows. Concerts of their magical film scores draw huge crowds.

But as Helen will reveal, there’s a lot more to Studio Ghibli than just movies. Its art is driven by inspiration from Japanese and Western art, by energies from the streets of Japan and by the mystical qualities of its traditions and its wild places…

While still evolving yet retaining its distinctive style of Japanese visuals and aesthetics, Anime has become one of the most popular genres of animation that continues to produce famous works such as One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Demon Slayer. It is a diverse medium with distinctive production methods that mesmerise viewers with its art style, character design, and cinematography. From TV shows to films, it has revolutionised a genre of art that even scholars, researchers, and writers pursue studying this art form and understand the history behind it and how it has evolved to this day.

On Saturday 11th October, learn more about The Art History of Anime with Helen as she delves into the ins and outs of this iconic medium of animation and appreciate the impact of anime on a global scale even more.

Helen will also be giving her talk on The Art History of Studio Ghibli at the Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham on Thursday 16th October – ticket details here.

A registered charity, The Quay Arts Centre is situated in a converted 19th-Century brewery warehouse complex at the head of the River Medina in the centre of Newport. Refurbished in 1997 by award winning architect Tony Fretton, its facilities include two galleries, a 134-seat theatre, a unique gift shop and a popular Café Bar which has a reputation for serving some of the best home-cooked food on the Island.

• The Art History of Studio Ghibli 7.30pm Friday 10th October 2025, The Anthony Minghella Theatre, Quay Arts, 15 Sea Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5BD | Full details and tickets available here (Combi Tickets Available)

• The Art History of Anime/Manga 7.30pm Saturday 11th October 2025, The Anthony Minghella Theatre, Quay Arts, 15 Sea Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5BD | Full details and tickets available here (Combi Tickets Available)

• Helen McCarthy is online at helenmccarthy.net | Follow Helen on BlueSky @helenmccarthy51.bsky.social

• Pre-order The Manga Bible from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Out 5th March 2026 | 320 Pages | ISBN: 978-1840918830

The Manga Bible is the definitive guide to manga, taking you from its earliest beginnings in 12th-century Japan right through to the 21st-century global phenomenon it has become.

Whether you’re already a manga superfan or new to this magical world, this is the ultimate guide to the art form. Expert manga historian Helen McCarthy covers all the iconic genres, stories and artists, as well as introducing you to a host of lesser-known creators and characters, telling the fascinating story of this international sensation.

– Explores the key genres, types and styles of manga from romance to sci-fi to horror and beyond
– Evaluates the cultural contexts and transformation of manga in relation to war, politics, gender and technology
– Features over 70 profiles including Akira Toriyama, Baron Yoshimoto, Hideko Mizuno, and the ‘God of Manga’ Osama Tezuka

About the Author
Latest Posts

John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.