Kazu Kibuishi

11/24/20 • 63 min

Author and Illustrator, Kazu Kibuishi, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the personal hardships and challenges he faced in becoming a graphic novelist; where comics and graphic novels stand, and where they should go; why doctors gave Kazu a 99% chance of dying in 2012, and how his near-death experience effects him now; what advice he has for comic book and graphic novel creators; and more.

At the end of the episode, Giuseppe’s 13 year-old cohost asks Kazu about the future of Amulet.

To learn more about Kazu, visit boltcityproductions.com.

Kazu mentions Disney animator, Ubbe Iwerks, and Iwerks’s use of “xerography”. Here’s more on Iwerks and Xerography.

If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

At the end of the episode, Giuseppe’s 13 year-old cohost asks Kazu about the future of Amulet.

To learn more about Kazu, visit boltcityproductions.com.

Kazu mentions Disney animator, Ubbe Iwerks, and Iwerks’s use of “xerography”. Here’s more on Iwerks and Xerography.

Previous Episode

John Cuneo

Award-winning cartoonist, John Cuneo, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about John’s career before and after his “artistic crisis”. They discuss how insecurity and anxiety drive wedges between an artist and their work; why John “goes there” with his “NSFW” illustrations; what role depression plays in John’s, and Giuseppe’s, lives; and much more.

Before you listen to this episode, you should know:
Sex, trauma, and self-harm are discussed.

To learn more about John, visit johncuneo.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Steve Brodner, Thomas Nast, David Levine, Joe Ciardiello, James McMullan, Ed Sorel, Roz Chast, Steve Guarnaccia, and Egon Schiele

While speaking about depression, John cited this line from poet, Rainer Maria Rilke: “If my devils are to leave me, I am afraid my angels will take flight as well.”

He also quotes, Irvin D. Yalom, in saying that, “Sooner or later [you] have to relinquish the goal of having a better past.”

Next Episode

Jane O’Connor

Jane O’Connor, children’s book author, and editor-at-large at Penguin Young Readers Group, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her 50-year career.

She shares her thoughts on mergers in Publishing; writing Fancy Nancy; creating the trend-setting, non-fiction series, Who Was?; working with Giuseppe as her art director; working with Gyo Fujikawa, Tomie dePaola and Peggy Rathmann; and so much more.

To learn more about Jane, visit fancynancyworld.com

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Mort Drucker, Al Jaffee, Kevin McVeigh, Nancy Harrison, Hilary Knight, Gyo Fujikawa, Tomie dePaola, and Peggy Rathmann.