December 01, 2014 at 12:03PM

Talking about the special communicative power of the cartoon on Comics Are Great!

Anthropomorphic comics characters have enjoyed a wide appeal almost since the invention of the comic. Who doesn't love Snoopy? Characters like Garfield have inspired an entire generation of professional cartoonists. Even the critically-acclaimed Maus featured talking animal characters.

So what is it about "animals doing people things" that's so compelling? Why are we so willing to invest in a character whose design is so defiantly absurd and unrealistic?

On the next +Comics Are Great! show I'll be joined by +John Green , co-creator of the Teen Boat! graphic novels and creator of the upcoming Hippopotamister, published by First Second Books (http://ift.tt/10QUKTS). Together we'll unlock the secret powers held within "funny animal characters."

You can participate in the discussion via commenting on the G+ event page.

Recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library (http://comics.aadl.org)

#comics   #graphicnovels   #animals   #firstsecondbooks  

Animals Doing People Things – CAG 107

Talking about the special communicative power of the cartoon on Comics Are Great!

Anthropomorphic comics characters have enjoyed a wide appeal almost since the invention of the comic. Who doesn’t love Snoopy? Characters like Garfield have inspired an entire generation of professional cartoonists. Even the critically-acclaimed _Maus_ featured talking animal characters.

So what is it about “animals doing people things” that’s so compelling? Why are we so willing to invest in a character whose design is so defiantly absurd and unrealistic?

On the next @111237521512731594998 show I’ll be joined by @101552670799623530193 , co-creator of the _Teen Boat!_ graphic novels and creator of the upcoming _Hippopotamister_, published by First Second Books (http://ift.tt/10QUKTS). Together we’ll unlock the secret powers held within “funny animal characters.”

You can participate in the discussion via commenting on the G+ event page.

Recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library (http://comics.aadl.org)

#comics   #graphicnovels   #animals   #firstsecondbooks