The Dot and Line

The Dot and Line published its first piece on February 17, 2016, on Medium. The site took its name from the 1965 short of the same name, The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, directed by American animated filmmaker and cartoonist Chuck Jones, with Maurice Noble, for the MGM Animation/Visual Arts studio, and adapted from the book of the same name by Norton Juster. It began as a weekly blog run solely by Maher and Vilas-Boas with a mission of “covering the animated arts with journalism as serious, attentive, and engrossing as the best writing on works in other creative forms.”

Over the course of the next two years, the site expanded, publishing the work of dozens of volunteer contributors and ramping up its publication schedule to multiple times a week. In December 2017, Belle joined the publication as social media strategist and a contributing writer. In September 2018, Nickalls and Crusch joined the site as web editor and director of special projects, respectively; both were prior contributors, and Nickalls had previously guest-edited an editorial package for the site that July.

In April 2019, Belle was named newsletter editor, and The Dot and Line launched its newsletter. As of May 2020, according to its founders, the site had garnered roughly 1 million unique page views and 1.5 million total page views.{{Cite web|last=The Dot and Line|date=2020-04-27|title=The Dot and Line to Cease Publication May 1|url=https://dotandline.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/dot-and-line-ending-press-release.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-27|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US}}

The Dot and Line published a variety of pieces including analyses, essays, interviews, humor, retrospectives, reviews, and works of creative writing, including fiction and poetry. The site was also responsible for the creation of two podcasts, four print zines, and a handful of editorial series. Notable editorial packages included "Space Cowboy Serenade,"{{Cite web|last=The Dot and Line|date=2018-04-02|title=Our 'Space Cowboy Serenade' Celebrates 20 Years of Cowboy Bebop|url=https://dotandline.net/cowboy-bebop-month-dd010010116c/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-30|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US}} a month-long retrospective for the 20th anniversary of Cowboy Bebop in 2018; "A Horse with a Name,"{{Cite web|last=The Dot and Line|date=2017-09-08|title=The Dot and Line Presents a Week Dedicated to 'BoJack Horseman'|url=https://dotandline.net/bojack-horseman-week-ec27e9f96fa5/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-30|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US}} a week dedicated to BoJack Horseman in 2017; and the site's finale, "That's All, Folks!,"{{Cite web|last=The Dot and Line|date=2020-04-27|title=That's All, Folks!|url=https://dotandline.net/thats-all-folks/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-30|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US}} in 2020. The site covered both current and historical animation, and published exclusive interviews with animators, voice actors, directors, producers, writers, historians, and others.

Examples:

• Charlie Adler, voice actor and director known for his work on Cow and Chicken and Tiny Toon Adventures{{Cite web|title=How Charlie Adler Became a Cow, a Chicken, a Baboon, and a Devil (Featuring Michael Dorn as a Weasel)|url=https://dotandline.net/cow-and-chicken-charlie-adler/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2020-02-21|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Juan Antín, director of Pachamama{{Cite web|title=Director Juan Antín Brings a Peruvian Adventure to Netflix in 'Pachamama': Exclusive Interview|url=https://dotandline.net/pachamama-juan-antin-interview/|last=Crusch|first=Marley|date=2019-06-06|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Greg Baldwin, voice of Aku in Samurai Jack{{Cite web|title=Samurai Jack's New Aku Greg Baldwin Discusses Taking on Mako's Role: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/samurai-jack-greg-baldwin-new-aku-interview-mako-21ee0139bd34/|last=Vilas-Boas|first=Eric|date=2017-03-19|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Steve Blum, voice of Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop{{Cite web|title=Steve Blum Revisits Spike Spiegel 20 Years After 'Cowboy Bebop': Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/cowboy-bebop-steven-blum-interview-f5e00310397b/|last1=Dot|first1=The|last2=Line|date=2018-04-27|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Johnny Yong Bosch, voice of Vash the Stampede in Trigun{{Cite web|title=Johnny Yong Bosch Reflects on Vash the Stampede 20 Years Later: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/johnny-yong-bosch-trigun-interview/|last=Erchak|first=Wyatt|date=2018-05-30|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Steve Conte, singer on multiple Yoko Kanno soundtracks{{Cite web|title=Steve Conte Looks Back on 'Bebop' and Working With Yoko Kanno: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/cowboy-bebop-steve-conte-interview-878447420d43/|last=Vilas-Boas|first=Eric|date=2018-05-02|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Jason DeMarco, co-creator of Toonami{{Cite web|title=How 'Cowboy Bebop' Came to the States: An Exclusive Interview for Its 20th Anniversary|url=https://dotandline.net/cowboy-bebop-asteroid-blues-jason-demarco-interview-c20bf6a9f291/|last1=Dot|first1=The|last2=Line|date=2018-04-02|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Dorothy Elias-Fahn, voice of Meryl Stryfe in Trigun{{Cite web|title=Dorothy Elias-Fahn Looks Back at Meryl Stryfe 20 Years Later: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/dorothy-elias-fahn-trigun-interview/|last=Erchak|first=Wyatt|date=2018-05-31|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Stephen Fossati, the "last protégé" of Chuck Jones, who spoke about the legendary animator's work on the short What's Opera, Doc?Vilas-Boas, Eric (2017). [https://dotandline.net/chuck-jones-whats-opera-doc-bugs-bunny-elmer-fudd-584d9ccfdd30/ "Here's How Chuck Jones Really Felt About 'What's Opera, Doc?'"], August 10, 2017, online American animation journal The Dot and Line (which ceased publication in May 2020). Last retrieved August 21, 2023.
• Wendee Lee, voice of Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop{{Cite web|title="Faye Is a Feminist": Wendee Lee Revisits 'Bebop' 20 Years After Its Debut|url=https://dotandline.net/cowboy-bebop-wendee-lee-faye-valentine-interview-a5688237e528/|last=Vilas-Boas|first=Eric|date=2018-05-03|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Hal Lublin, voice of Wide Wade in The Venture Bros{{Cite web|title=Hal Lublin Breaks Down 'Venture Bros.' and Playing Up His Asthma: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/exclusive-interview-hal-lublin-breaks-down-venture-bros-and-playing-up-his-asthma-eaf28ecb7b89/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2016-03-17|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Patrick McHale, animator on Adventure Time and Over the Garden Wall{{Cite web|title=Patrick McHale on the Haunting Magic of 'Over the Garden Wall': Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/patrick-mchale-over-the-garden-wall-interview-292f5661cc23/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2016-10-25|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Adam Muto, Adventure Time showrunner{{Cite web|title=Adam Muto on Why an 'Adventure Time' Reboot Is Inevitable|url=https://dotandline.net/adam-muto-adventure-time-interview/|last=Sedghi|first=Sarra|date=2018-08-30|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Natalie Palamides, voice of Buttercup in The Powerpuff Girls{{Cite web|title=Natalie Palamides on Buttercup and 'Powerpuff Girls' Season 2: Exclusive Interview|url=https://dotandline.net/exclusive-interview-natalie-palamides-on-buttercup-and-powerpuff-girls-season-2-8caab6293971/|last=Vilas-Boas|first=Eric|date=2016-05-26|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Rob Paulsen, voice of Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Yakko from Animaniacs, among others{{Cite web|title=Rob Paulsen Just Can't Get Enough|url=https://dotandline.net/rob-paulsen-just-cant-get-enough/|last=Crusch|first=Marley|date=2019-11-15|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Chris Prynoski, founder of Titmouse, Inc.{{Cite web|title=Inside Netflix's New Nick Kroll and John Mulaney Cartoon, 'Big Mouth': Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/big-mouth-chris-prynoski-a85201867a5f/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2017-08-28|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Benjamin Renner, animator on Big Bad Fox{{Cite web|title=The Creators of 'The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales' Talk Craft and Cuteness|url=https://dotandline.net/big-bad-fox-and-other-tales-interview-63511e4287ac/|last=Reynolds|first=Sam|date=2017-11-30|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Fred Seibert, founder of Frederator Studios{{Cite web|title=Exclusive Interview: Fred Seibert on How Creativity Flourished at Nickelodeon|url=https://dotandline.net/fred-seibert-creativity-nicktoons-interview-nickelodeon-a1fb320a7414/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2016-08-25|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Ali Soozandeh, animator of Tehran Taboo
• Genndy Tartakovsky, animator and director known for Dexter's Laboratory and Primal{{Cite web|title=Genndy Tartakovsky Gets 'Primal': "I'm Doing Things Differently Than I Ever Have Done"|url=https://dotandline.net/genndy-tartakovsky-primal-interview/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2019-10-10|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Nora Twomey, director of The Breadwinner{{Cite web|title='The Breadwinner' Director On How Her Film Came Together|url=https://dotandline.net/the-breadwinner-director-on-how-her-film-came-together/|last=Galwey|first=Isabel|date=2019-07-08|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Neil deGrasse Tyson, voice of Waddles in Gravity Falls{{Cite web|title=We Asked Neil deGrasse Tyson Why He Voiced a Pig on 'Gravity Falls'|url=https://dotandline.net/neil-degrasse-gravity-falls-interview/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2018-03-05|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Alberto Vásquez, director of Birdboy: The Forgotten Children{{Cite web|title=The Directors of 'Birdboy: The Forgotten Children' Strike a Grim Balance|url=https://dotandline.net/birdboy-directors-talk-darkness-420c245049e3/|last=Reynolds|first=Sam|date=2017-11-10|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}
• Brandon Vietti, director of Young Justice and Scooby Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon{{Cite web|title=15 Things Brandon Vietti Learned Directing Batman, Young Justice, and Scooby-Doo: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/brandon-vietti-scooby-doo-wwe-curse-speed-demon-comic-con-2016-young-justice-c37dc5b71847/|last=Vilas-Boas|first=Eric|date=2016-07-21|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}

The site also occasionally broke industry news, including the retirements of voice director Andrea Romano in 2017,{{Cite web|title=Andrea Romano on Retiring and 30 Years' Hard Work: Exclusive|url=https://dotandline.net/andrea-romano-interview-retirement-batman-animaniacs-8342d8a6442/|last=Vilas-Boas|first=Eric|date=2016-12-06|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}} and Adult Swim executive Mike Lazzo, in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Mike Lazzo Leaves Adult Swim|url=https://dotandline.net/mike-lazzo-leaves-adult-swim/|last=Maher|first=John|date=2020-01-09|website=The Dot and Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}}

The Dot and Line, which was an all-volunteer operation, became an incubator for work by amateur and emerging journalists covering animation and cartoons. A number of its contributors went on to publish work for outlets including Bitch,{{Cite web|title=Elly Belle {{!}} Bitch Media|url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/profile/ellybellewritesgmailcom|website=www.bitchmedia.org|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}} Esquire,{{Cite web|title=Sammy Nickalls|url=https://www.esquire.com/author/16599/sammy-nickalls/|website=Esquire|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}} /Film,{{Cite web|title=Eric Vilas-Boas, Author at /Film|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/author/eric-vilas-boas/|website=Slashfilm|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01}} Polygon,{{Cite web|title=johnhmaher Profile and Activity - Polygon|url=https://www.polygon.com/users/johnhmaher|website=www.polygon.com|access-date=2020-06-01}} Thrillist,{{Cite web|title=Thrillist - Find the Best and Most Under-Appreciated Places to Eat, Drink and Travel|url=https://www.thrillist.com/authors/sarra-sedghi|website=Thrillist|access-date=2020-06-01}} Vice Media,{{Cite web|title=Talia Jane|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/contributor/talia-jane|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}} The New York Times{{Cite news|last=Barbaro|first=Michael|others=Audio engineer Dan Powell contributed to The Dot and Line.|date=2020-03-13|title=Making the Show Without a Studio|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/podcasts/coronavirus-elizabeth-warren.html|access-date=2020-06-12|issn=0362-4331}} and others.

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Category:Online magazines published in the United States

Category:Animation magazines