About the Journal
Animation Studies is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal that publishes original English-language essays of between 5,000 and 10,000 words (including endnotes and bibliography) on the history, theory, aesthetics and practice of animated media.
Aim and scope of the journal
Animation Studies provides an open-access online platform for scholarship and debate on the history, theory, aesthetics, technology and practice of global animated media. The journal publishes original research on topics including (but not limited to) animation theory; animation style, form, and technique; global histories of animation; animation and documentary; animation industries and animation labor; animation pedagogy and archives; expanded animation and mixed media; and intersections between animation and related media. Animation Studies welcomes politically engaged approaches to issues of gender, sexuality, race, and class in animated media. Early career and underrepresented researchers are especially encouraged to send in their work.
Peer Review
After being assessed for suitability by the editors, all essays will be double-blind peer-reviewed by anonymous expert referees.
Submission Policy
The journal accepts submissions throughout the year. However, authors should be aware that papers sent by March 1st of a given year will be considered for publication in November of that same year, while those sent between March 2nd and October 30 will be considered for publication in May of the following year.
Animation Studies accepts only unpublished original work. Contributors should feel free to use US or UK spelling, as long as it remains consistent throughout the document. Submissions should follow the MLA referencing style.
Images are welcome but for each essay, no more than 4 can be submitted and authors must seek permission to reproduce them in the journal. If images do not qualify for Fair Use, authors should email editors Cristina Formenti and Mihaela Mihailova at journal@animationstudies.org to request a permission form that they will then have to send back signed by the rights owner of the image(s). Rights owners must also be identified in the image caption.
Articles are published under Creative Commons regulations, which allows the author to retain copyright but allows free distribution of the work for educational purposes. Creative Commons is in line with progressive online publishing practices.
There are no submission or publication fees to publish with Animation Studies.
Formatting Guidelines:
- Send in Word (.doc, .docx, or .rtf) format. Please do not send PDFs.
- MLA referencing style is employed.
- Ensure all footnotes have been converted to endnotes, via Word’s referencing function. Please do not generate endnotes manually.
- Please do not embed images in your essay; indicate in parentheses where they should appear.
- Please note that a maximum of 4 images can be submitted to illustrate an essay.
- Submit images as separate JPG files, with the naming convention “Lastname, Firstname – Figure #.JPG”.