A gorgeous celebration of the influential and Academy Award–winning animators of the National Film Board of Canada
For over eight decades, the National Film Board of Canada has been a global leader in animated storytelling, pushing boundaries with its visionary artists and groundbreaking techniques. In Animation for the People, acclaimed animation historian Charles Solomon offers a richly illustrated journey through the NFB’s legacy, from its earliest experiments to its most celebrated works.
Featuring interviews with filmmakers and animators, behind-the-scenes insights, and original artwork from iconic shorts like The Sweater and Neighbours, this book reveals how the NFB became a hub of innovation, collaboration, and artistic freedom. With 78 Academy Award nominations and 12 wins, the NFB’s influence spans generations and genres, inspiring creators around the world.
This is not just a history—it’s a celebration of animation as a public good, a cultural force, and a medium of limitless possibility.
Praise
Solomon’s meticulously researched book spotlights the artists and films, revealing the NFB as a bold creative powerhouse that pushed the limits of animation. It’s a reminder of the medium’s limitless potential, and of the unexpected magic that happens when artists are given the freedom to dream, innovate, and defy conventions.
--From the Foreword by Pete Docter
—Foreword, Pete Docter
