The Animated Film Encyclopedia is, as stated in the volume's introduction, “an alphabetical listing of every American theatrical cartoon released from 1900 through 1999” (1). While the first edition of this title concluded at 1979, this new edition has been updated to include theatrical cartoons released throughout the entirety of the twentieth century. Thanks to the expanded time range, the encyclopedia now includes cartoons and live-action features which utilize computer generated imagery, such as Jurassic Park.

The entries are arranged by cartoon title and range from the early and obscure to the modern and well-known. Here readers will find information on little known cartoons (some of which no longer exist) such as 1925’s Air Cooled, in which “The animals join forces to help farmer Al Falfa's dirigible take flight” (9), alongside more recent features which have become part of contemporary popular culture, such as Toy Story and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

In addition to feature presentations, the volume also includes entries on individual shorts for the many animated series which were an integral part of the movie going experience earlier in the twentieth century. Entries are included for all episodes of long-running series such as Felix the Cat, Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Mickey Mouse, Mighty Mouse, Popeye the Sailor, Superman, Tom and Jerry, Woody Woodpecker, and many others.

Each entry in The Animated Film Encyclopedia includes the cartoon's release date, studio of origin, credits, running time, and a brief synopsis of its plot. Although no biographical information is given, the encyclopedia includes an index of contributors which will allow readers to locate individuals within the credits of specific cartoons. A helpful feature is the appendix, which lists twentieth century American theatrical cartoon series and provides lists of all individual shorts for each series.

The Animated Film Encyclopedia may inevitably be compared to Jeff Lenburg's The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, third edition (Checkmark Books, 2009). Lenburg's volume covers cartoons created for television as well as theatrical releases and is therefore broader in scope; however, it is not as thorough in its coverage of theatrical cartoons. Unlike The Animated Film Encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, third edition does not provide synopses of individual episodes of animated shorts. Lenburg's volume does, however, provide historical overviews of each series. It is recommended that libraries purchase both titles for the best coverage of this subject.

The Animated Film Encyclopedia is recommended for both academic and public libraries.