Animation for the People: An Illustrated History of the National Film Board of Canada

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.

Charles Solomon is an internationally respected critic, animation historian, and lecturer at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. He is the author of more than a dozen books on the art and making of animated films and television specials, and his recent credits include The Man Who Leapt Through Film: The Art of Mamoru Hosoda, The Art of Frozen, The Art of WolfWalkers, and the Song of the Sea Artbook, which he wrote in collaboration with Cartoon Saloon cofounder Tomm Moore. He lives in Los Angeles.