Stripped

Stripped is a 2014 documentary film produced and directed by Dave Kellett and Fred Schroeder. The film centers around the profound love of comics, tracing the history of comic strips and exploring their changing future in our digital age. Stripped features a well-selected ensemble of cartoonists, including Lalo Alcaraz, Gene Ambaum, and Bill Amend, among others, who are all renowned for their influential work in the realm of comic creation.

Lalo Alcaraz, known for being a Mexican-American editorial cartoonist, is particularly famous for creating the syndicated daily comic strip, La Cucaracha. Gene Ambaum is another established cartoonist known for his work on "Unshelved," the library comic, while Bill Amend is noted for his popular comic strip, Foxtrot. Their diverse backgrounds, contributions, and insights into the world of comic strip making provide an intriguing and deeply immersive experience for the viewers.

The film commences with a nostalgic journey, tracing the golden era of comic strips when they were considered the king of mass media. Stripped takes you back to the time when comics were the universal language, with millions rushing to purchase newspapers just to enjoy these enticing pictorial narratives. The film successfully captures the intriguing evolution of this unique art form over time and its significant cultural impact.

Stripped then brings you into the present, exploring how the Internet and digital technology have transformed the way comic strips are created and consumed. Hand-drawn images and hand-written words have now been replaced with precisely designed digital art. Besides, comic creators no longer need to rely on newspaper syndication for their work to reach the audience. Thanks to the Internet, they can now directly share their creations with the world, opening up a platform for infinite possibilities for sharing and connecting with readers.

One outstanding feature of Stripped is that it gives a voice to the artists behind these comic strips, allowing viewers to understand their perspectives. The featured abundant interviews with cartoonists from all walks of life, offering a multitude of unique viewpoints. Each artist brings individual insights about their creative process, inspirations, struggles, and triumphs. This personalized touch truly brings the documentary to life by humanizing the often invisible creators behind the strips.

Throughout the movie, the viewer is engaged into a deep exploration of the dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of originality and humor that define the artwork of these talented cartoonists. In addition to focusing on the artists, the film also highlights the viewers' and fans' perspectives, thereby revealing the profound, transformative impact that comic strips can have on individuals and society at large.

More than just an homage to the traditional comic strip, Stripped also investigates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The digital age, with its potential for widespread distribution and social networks, has drastically changed the comic strip landscape. Critics and experts discuss the business models at play, the artistic considerations involved, and the ways in which the creators have had to adapt to maintain their relevance in this rapidly evolving world.

Stripped is, therefore, not just a documentary film for comic strip fanatics, but it is a film that deals with how creativity survives, flourishes, and adapts in the face of ongoing technological, cultural, and economic shifts. The striking balance between the past, present, and future makes Stripped an all-encompassing view of comic strip history, along with its evolved and continually evolving forms.

Visually intriguing, emotionally arresting, and intellectually stimulating, Stripped is a one-of-a-kind journey into the heart and soul of a universally adored art form. It is a work of reverence and respect, a work of affection and admiration, a work of analysis and anticipation. Stripped is a nostalgic ode to an iconic part of mass media, a thoughtful examination of its transformative journey in the digital age, and a promising forecast of its future potential.

So buckle up and take a fascinating trip through a century of comic strip history with Stripped, as it passionately celebrates the medium while thoughtfully contemplating its future.