McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland The division of worlds between what's "for kids" and what's "for adults" is generally clear. But with comics, there's a vast gray area. I have a distinct memory of sitting with my dad and reading the candy-colored Sunday newspaper comics. I asked him, "What does @#$%& mean?" I can't print his answer, but it was the beginning of my understanding that there were things in the comics that were for me, and things that weren't. Comics exist on a continuum, with child-friendly cartoons like "Garfield" at one end and editorial cartoons at the other. It's a rare artist whose work spans this spectrum, but at the nascence of the art form, Winsor McCay (whose 127th birthday we celebrate today) was such an illustrator. He is fondly remembered for his pioneering contributions to cartooning, thanks to his 1914 film, "Gertie the Dinosaur," as well as for his comic strips, including "Little Nemo in Slumberland" (for kids) and "Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend" (for the grown-ups). Thanks to technology, animation and comics have made leaps and bounds since the 1910s, but if McCay were alive today, I believe that many modern comic strips, with their classic lines in ink, would be pleasantly familiar to him. Many creators, from Maurice Sendak, with his "In the Night Kitchen," to Neil Gaiman and his "Sandman" comics, openly cite McCay as an influence, as his subject matter is timeless. He delved into the subconscious, mapping out dreams that were (as dreams are) a little creepy and surreal (as opposed to saccharine). Gaiman plays on this theme, as does Jesse Reklaw -- quite literally, as he draws people's dreams into his strip, "Slow Wave." With the arrival of the First World War, McCay's popularity lessened, but his work was as detailed and stylish as ever. His greatest legacy may be that he followed his own vision and, regardless of circumstance, kept his pen moving. Suggested Sites... Meeting McCay - blog devoted to informing the world about McCay and his home town of Spring Lake, Michigan. History of Animation - 1824-2005 timeline of animation history from Amazing Gallery. An Eclectic Repository - read examples of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" and "Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend." Annie Awards: Winsor McCay Award - find out who has received this honor from the International Animated Film Society.

Directory categories: Winsor McCay, Animation, Comic Strips, Maurice Sendak, Neil Gaiman

Archived under: Animation, Artists, Arts, Cartoonists, Cartoons, Comics, Creativity, Dreams, Winsor McCay

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting