Michael Barrier

Michael J. Barrier (born June 15, 1940) is an American animation historian, author, and critic, best known for his extensive research on the history of American animation and comic art. He is the author of Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age (1999) and The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney (2007). Barrier was also the founding editor of Funnyworld, one of the first serious publications dedicated to comics and animation history.

His work focuses on the artistic and industrial development of animation, with in-depth studies of studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and Fleischer Studios. Through interviews with key figures in the industry, Barrier has contributed significantly to the documentation and analysis of animation history.