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Fred Patten
Fred Patten
Fred Patten
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Frederick Walter Patten (December 11, 1940 – November 12, 2018) was an American writer and historian known for his work in the science fiction, fantasy,[1] anime, manga, and furry fandoms, where he gained great distinction through a substantial contribution to both print and online books, magazines, and other media.

Key Information

Background

[edit]

Patten was born in Los Angeles on December 11, 1940, to Shirley Marie (Jones) Patten and Beverly Walter Patten. He had two younger sisters: Loel Anne Patten (born 1943) and Sherrill Clare Patten (born 1947). He learned to read at a young age, starting with comic strips in both the Los Angeles Times and Examiner, and later was introduced to Walt Disney's Comics and Stories around 1945. Much of his early reading also came from magazines and books, and he showed an interest in superhero comic books as well.

Science fiction became a key interest around age 9, and Patten began to collect books from Ace Books, Ballantine Books, and other publishers, as well as major science fiction magazines including Astounding, F&SF, and Galaxy Science Fiction. In the late 1950s, he became involved in science-fiction fandom.

Patten entered the University of California at Los Angeles in 1958, and its graduate School of Library Science in 1962. He became active in fandom after discovering the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society in 1960. By the time he graduated with a master's degree in Library Science in 1963, Patten had been writing for science fiction fanzines and publishing his own stories for three years. His Master's thesis was on the books of Andre Norton.

Work in anime, fantasy, and science fiction fandoms

[edit]

In 1972, Patten partnered with Richard Kyle to create Graphic Story Bookshop in Long Beach, California. In an interview posted on the now defunct website of Pulp, Patten said he had discovered manga at Westercon, one of the largest science fiction conventions on the West Coast, in 1970. At the time, he had been aware of television shows like Astro Boy, but had no idea then that they were Japanese.

Through his bookshop, Patten wrote to Japanese publishers, asking to import their manga, achieving some success and in the process becoming a pioneer in the anime and manga fandom. He was one of the founders of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization, the first American anime fan club, in 1977.[2]

During this time, Patten worked in numerous library positions, notably that of technical catalogue librarian at Hughes Aircraft Company's Company Technical Document Center (CTDC), in El Segundo, Calif., from 1969 to 1990. After leaving that position, he served from 1991 to 2002 as the first employee of Streamline Pictures, one of America's pioneering anime specialty production companies, founded by Carl Macek and Jerry Beck in 1988. He has been a presenter at major conventions and guest lecturer at universities in the U.S. and Australia.

Patten wrote numerous monthly columns and individual articles for Animation World Magazine, Newtype U.S.A., the Comics Buyer's Guide, and other magazines, including serving as the Official Editor for the Rowrbrazzle Amateur Press Association, until March 2005, when he suffered a stroke.

No longer able to keep his collection, which had grown over more than 40 years, Patten donated everything – almost 900 boxes (~220,000 items) of comic books, records, tapes, anime, manga, programs from science-fiction conventions dating back to the 1930s, convention T-shirts, paperbacks, and an array of sci-fi fanzines back to the 1930s – to the J. Lloyd Eaton Collection at the University of California, Riverside, which houses the world's largest collection of science fiction, fantasy and horror.[3]

Death

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Patten died on November 12, 2018, at the age of 77.[4]

Bibliography

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

Anime staff

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Tekkaman: The Space Knight, (1984, TV) – Writer/adapter
Robot Carnival (1991) – Publicity
Fist of the North Star (1991) – Publicity
Vampire Hunter D (1992) – Marketing and Promotion
The Castle of Cagliostro (1992) – Translation
Nadia (1992–1993, TV) – Story Editor
Neo-Tokyo 2099 (1993, featurette) – Unit Publicist
Silent Mobius (1993, featurette) – Unit Publicist
Golgo 13: The Professional(1993, featurette) – Unit Publicist
Wicked City (1993) – Unit Publicist
Lupin III: Tales of the Wolf (1993–1994, TV) – Story Editor
Crying Freeman (1993–1995, featurette) – Publicity
Doomed Megalopolis (1993–1994, featurettes) – Story Editor
Dirty Pair: Project Eden (1994) – Story Editor
Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy (1994) – Story Editor
8 Man After (1994, featurettes) – Script Editor
Lily-C.A.T. (1994) – Publicity
8 Man (1995, live-action) – Script Editor
Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo (1995) – Story Editor
Crimson Wolf (1995) – Story Editor
Babel II (1995, featurette) – Story Editor
Casshan, Robot Hunter (1995, featurettes) – Story Editor
Barefoot Gen (feature, 1995) – Story Editor
Megazone 23, Part 1 (1995) – Story Editor

Accolades

[edit]
  • Evans-Freehafer Award, 1965 – presented annually by the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, Inc., for service to the Society.
  • Sampo Award, 1971 – presented annually at the West Coast Science Fantasy Conference (Westercon) for "unsung" services to s-f fandom
  • Inkpot Award, 1980 – presented annually at San Diego Comic-Con in various categories; "For Outstanding Achievement in Fandom Services/Projects".[5]
  • Ursa Major Awards, 2003 ("The Annual Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Awards") – presented annually at an anthropomorphic convention in various categories; to Best in Show: Fifteen Years of Outstanding Furry Fiction, edited by Fred Patten (Sofawolf Press, July 2003); for "Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work of 2003".
  • Life Achievement Award, 64th World Science Fiction Convention (LA Con IV; 2006) – awarded in recognition of a lifetime of service to the fandom.[6]
  • Forry Award, 2009 – presented annually at the Los Angeles Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention (LosCon) "for lifetime achievement in the field of science fiction".
  • Furry Hall of Fame, 2012 – inducted annually at the MiDFur convention in Melbourne, Australia, for a lifetime of service to the Furry fandom.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fred Patten

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from Grokipedia
Frederick Walter Patten (December 11, 1940 – November 12, 2018) was an American writer, historian, librarian, and pioneer renowned for his efforts in importing and popularizing Japanese in the United States, as well as co-founding the and documenting its history. Born in , , Patten developed an early passion for and , learning to read through comic books and discovering the genre at age nine via Robert A. Heinlein's . He earned a master's degree in library science from UCLA in 1963 and worked as a professional librarian from 1963 to 1990, including a long tenure as an industrial librarian at starting in 1969. As a partner in the Graphic Story Bookshop (later Wonderworld Books), he became one of the first to import and sell Japanese to English-speaking audiences, laying the groundwork for the American fandom. From 1991 to 2002, Patten served at , a trailblazing company that licensed Japanese for U.S. theatrical release and home video, further advancing the medium's accessibility. Transitioning to freelance writing in 2003, he authored the influential nonfiction book Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews in 2004, compiling his extensive critiques and analyses of the genres. A lifelong enthusiast, he joined the Society in 1960 and remained active in comic-book fandom from 1963 onward. Patten's impact on the was profound; he became involved in 1980 and served as a charter member and Official Editor (1989–2005) of the Rowrbrazzle APA, the first amateur publishing alliance dedicated to anthropomorphic fiction. In 2001, he co-founded the Ursa Major Awards, an annual recognition for the best works in furry literature and art, which he continued administering until his death. He edited Best in Show: Great Moments in Furry History (2003), the genre's inaugural short story anthology, and contributed numerous reviews to publications like Yarf! (1990–2003) while documenting furry publishing history. A devoted collector, Patten donated nearly 900 boxes of , , and memorabilia—totaling around 82,000 items—to UC Riverside's J. Lloyd Eaton Collection in 2005, one of the largest single gifts to the university library. Despite suffering a major in 2005 that left him semi-paralyzed and , Patten remained productive, writing articles for outlets like Anthro and Flayrah, and publishing his first original furry in 2014. His contributions earned him a special award at the 64th World Science Fiction Convention in 2006 and the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society's Forry Award in 2009.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family

Frederick Walter Patten was born on December 11, 1940, in , . He was the eldest child of his parents and had two younger sisters, Loel Anne and Sherrill Clare. From a very young age, Patten displayed a voracious appetite for reading, which his parents actively encouraged by reading comic strips from the and Herald-Examiner to him when he was three or four years old. By the time he entered , he was reading the strips independently, and soon subscribed to Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories, enjoying tales featuring and that often touched on wartime themes like victory gardens during the final years of . His first comic-book hero was Amster the Hamster, a character he admired starting at age five or six, reflecting his early fascination with funny-animal comics and European imports like those from Spirou, , and Tintin. Patten's exposure to animation began in childhood through Disney films, with his mother taking him to see the 1945 re-release of Pinocchio when he was about five years old. This sparked a lifelong passion, as he later viewed numerous Disney features during their original releases or re-releases, including Make Mine Music, Song of the South, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, So Dear to My Heart, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Treasure Island, and Alice in Wonderland. A particularly memorable experience came at age thirteen during the 1954 re-release of Pinocchio, when his grandmother took him and his younger sisters to the Mesa Theater near their home; Patten was so enthralled that he stayed to watch the film a second time and walked home alone afterward. By age nine, Patten had discovered through magazines, building on his earlier reading habits and laying the foundation for his interests in speculative literature and media. These formative experiences shaped his enduring enthusiasm for , , and imaginative storytelling before transitioning into formal education.

Academic Background

Fred Patten attended local schools in during his early education, including Audubon Junior High School, from which he graduated in June 1955 at the age of 14. He completed his high school education in the Los Angeles area before entering . In 1958, Patten enrolled at the (UCLA), where he pursued undergraduate studies and earned a degree in in 1962. His family maintained a stable home environment in , allowing him to focus on his studies. Following his bachelor's degree, Patten entered UCLA's Graduate School of Library Service in 1962 and received a Master of Library Science degree in 1963. This program equipped him with foundational knowledge in information organization and archival practices, laying the groundwork for his later career in and research roles while fostering his interest in media and fandom documentation. During his time at UCLA, Patten's exposure to diverse intellectual resources influenced his early engagement with and studies, bridging academic training with his emerging scholarly interests.

Fandom Engagement

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fandom

Fred Patten entered fandom in 1960, discovering the community through fanzines and local fan clubs while a at the . His initial involvement centered on engaging with amateur publications and correspondence among fans, which provided an entry point into the broader ecosystem of science fiction enthusiasts during the genre's post-pulp magazine era. Patten's longstanding commitment to the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) began upon joining in 1960, where he served as a dedicated member and later as the society's official historian, contributing to the documentation and preservation of its activities over decades. As a volunteer, he participated in organizational efforts, including archival work to maintain records of fandom history, such as compiling timelines and supporting the society's institutional memory amid its growth as a key West Coast hub for science fiction activities. From the onward, Patten actively engaged with conventions, attending dozens as a panelist and organizer, including chairing Westercon 27 in , in 1974, where he oversaw programming and operations for the annual West Coast gathering. His roles extended to facilitating discussions on literature and media, helping to bridge fan communities during an era when conventions were evolving into major social and intellectual events for the genre. Patten contributed to fanzine culture through writing and editing, producing reviews and historical essays on literature and media that appeared in publications like Riverside Quarterly. Notable examples include his 1968 essay "The Future of Fandom," which explored the trajectory of fan activities, and a 1969 review of Ursula K. Le Guin's , analyzing its thematic innovations in the genre. These pieces exemplified his focus on critical analysis and historical context, influencing discussions within amateur press associations and circles. In the 1970s, his fandom interests began overlapping with emerging appreciation through convention screenings.

Anime and Manga Fandom

Fred Patten's interest in emerged in the 1960s when he encountered imported Japanese animated television series such as , though he initially did not realize their Japanese origins. By the mid-1970s, as a member of the Science Fantasy Society (LASFS), Patten began actively engaging with through private screenings, co-organizing one of the earliest public showings of uncut television for a non-Japanese American audience in July 1975 alongside Wendell Washer. These informal events at LASFS meetings introduced fans to raw Japanese animation, fostering initial discussions on its cultural and stylistic differences from Western cartoons. In 1977, Patten co-founded the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization (C/FO) in , recognized as the first dedicated in the United States. The C/FO quickly became a hub for enthusiasts, hosting monthly meetings with screenings, discussions, and distributions that cataloged available Japanese titles and import sources. Patten served as a key organizer, handling programming and outreach, which helped expand the club's influence by connecting with scattered fans across the country through mailings and cross-promotions at events. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Patten played a pivotal role in promoting anime at American conventions and film festivals, often coordinating screenings of imported features to test audience interest for Japanese studios like Toei Doga and Tokyo Movie Shinsha. His efforts included programming anime blocks at science fiction gatherings such as the 1977 SunCon Worldcon, where he facilitated guest appearances and showings that bridged anime with broader fandom communities. By the 1990s, these activities had evolved into more structured events, with Patten guest-coordinating at early anime-specific conventions like Anime America 1993, emphasizing educational panels on Japanese animation history. Patten contributed significantly to anime discourse through fan writing, producing articles for fanzines and magazines starting in the late 1970s that documented the medium's evolution and advocated for accessible subtitled releases to preserve original narratives over localized dubs. His pieces, such as those in magazine in 1986, analyzed themes in and encouraged fans to seek out uncut imports, influencing early advocacy for authentic viewing experiences. These writings, often based on his , helped establish a historical framework for in America, predating his later professional involvement in localization.

Furry Fandom

Fred Patten became involved in the nascent during its formative years within circles, attending the 1980 World in , where he participated in discussions around anthropomorphic animal characters and Steve Gallacci's Albedo Anthropomics table, an event widely regarded as a key prototype for organized furry activities. He is recognized by historians as one of the co-founders of the organized furry subculture, serving as a reporter and documenter of its early gatherings rather than a primary organizer at that stage. This involvement stemmed briefly from his broader experiences in , where anthropomorphic themes in and art provided a natural bridge to the emerging community. In the early 1980s, Patten contributed to the development of furry publications as a charter member of the Rowrbrazzle (APA) in 1984, a collaborative fanzine-style outlet for fan writings and artwork that helped solidify the fandom's creative output. He later served as its Official Editor from 1989 to 2005, overseeing distributions that included serialized furry fiction and historical articles, which played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating early fan works amid the fandom's growth following the debut of dedicated fanzines like FurVersion in 1987. These efforts marked some of the earliest structured publishing initiatives, fostering a distinct identity for furry content separate from general zines. Patten played a pivotal role in organizing furry programming at conventions, particularly as a regular attendee and contributor to ConFURence, the first dedicated , which began in 1989 in . He helped coordinate panels, art shows, and events that highlighted anthropomorphic themes, contributing to the event's evolution from small gatherings of around 200 attendees to larger celebrations of the subculture. Additionally, Patten amassed an extensive personal archive of furry art, , and ephemera, which he donated in hundreds of boxes to the , Riverside's special collections in 2017, providing a foundational resource for future researchers. Throughout his later involvement, Patten authored comprehensive historical overviews that chronicled the 's development, emphasizing its roots in science fiction conventions while underscoring its unique focus on anthropomorphic characters and communities. Notable works include Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015 (2017), which details the global rise of furry events with timelines, attendance figures, and thematic analyses, and "An Illustrated Chronology of , 1966–1996," which traces key milestones through photos and narratives. These publications established Patten as the preeminent historian of the fandom, highlighting its progression from informal sci-fi offshoots to a self-sustaining cultural movement.

Professional Career

Library and Archival Roles

Fred Patten earned a in library science from the in 1963. Following his graduation, he pursued a career in librarianship, working in various positions in before securing a long-term role in the industrial sector. From 1969 to 1990, Patten served as a technical catalog librarian at in , where he managed and organized extensive technical documentation and media resources. His professional duties involved cataloging diverse materials, with a particular emphasis on , comic books, and emerging imports, reflecting his deep personal interests in these genres. This specialization allowed him to develop expertise in special collections that bridged technical librarianship with cultural artifacts, supporting early documentation of materials in professional settings. Parallel to his library work, Patten built extensive personal archives that complemented his professional role and advanced . He amassed a vast private collection of fanzines, cels, volumes, and related ephemera, which he used to and preserve the , fantasy, , and furry fandoms. These collections, numbering nearly 900 boxes by the time of his donation, included rare Japanese materials from the 1960s and European comics, providing invaluable resources for historians and fans. In 2007, Patten donated this archive to the J. Lloyd Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy at the , where it is housed as The Fred Patten Collection and continues to aid academic . Patten's library career concluded in 1990 when he was laid off from Hughes Aircraft due to post-Cold War downsizing, prompting his shift to full-time engagement in activities and the industry in the early 1990s.

Anime Localization Work

Fred Patten's deep involvement in fandom during the 1970s and 1980s positioned him as a key figure in bridging fan enthusiasm with professional production, culminating in his entry into the industry. In 1991, Patten joined as its first employee, serving until the company's closure in 2002, where he worked as a manager and script adapter on numerous English-language localizations of Japanese . In this capacity, he verified the accuracy of translations and adapted scripts to preserve cultural nuances and original intent while making content accessible to American audiences, often drawing from his earlier fan scripts that informed dubs. Notable projects under his involvement included (1979), for which he provided translation services in the 1992 Streamline dub; and (1987), where he served as publicity coordinator. These roles emphasized cultural adaptation over heavy censorship, influencing Streamline's reputation for relatively accurate localizations during the early 1990s boom in the U.S. Following Streamline's dissolution, Patten transitioned to freelance consulting and writing on anime from 2003 to 2005, contributing to discussions on localization practices through reviews and essays that highlighted the importance of translation fidelity. He advocated for balanced approaches in the ongoing dubbing versus subtitling debates, arguing in his writings for dubs that retained narrative integrity without excessive Americanization, as seen in his analyses of Streamline's output and broader industry trends during the 1990s. For instance, in essays compiled in Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews (2004), Patten critiqued localization choices in titles like Robotech and Streamline productions, promoting methods that respected Japanese originals to foster authentic fan appreciation. His influence extended to specific script decisions, such as in Tekkaman: The Space Knight (1984), where he acted as writer and adapter to align English versions closely with the source material's themes of heroism and technology.

Literary Contributions

Books and Bibliographies

Fred Patten was a prolific author of works focused on , , , and , producing reference guides, essay collections, and historical bibliographies that documented the evolution and cultural impact of these genres in the United States. His writings often drew from his extensive personal archives and decades of involvement in fan communities, providing detailed analyses of importation trends, critical reviews, and bibliographic compilations. These publications, primarily issued by small presses and academic publishers, served as key resources for enthusiasts and scholars seeking to understand the importation and localization of Japanese and anthropomorphic literature. One of Patten's most influential books is Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews, published in 2004 by Stone Bridge Press. This 383-page volume compiles his critical essays and reviews spanning from the to the early , offering insights into the of distribution, the growth of American , and the societal influences of Japanese and . The book includes a by , a prominent figure in localization, and covers topics such as early importation efforts to the U.S., artist profiles, and cultural adaptations, making it a seminal reference for the history of 's entry into Western markets. Patten also compiled several bibliographies centered on anthropomorphic and furry-themed works, beginning with An Anthropomorphic Bibliography, first published in 1995 by Yarf!, a journal dedicated to . This 38-page guide listed key and fantasy titles featuring anthropomorphic animals, serving as the earliest comprehensive compilation for the emerging furry subculture. Subsequent editions expanded the scope: the second in 1996 (60 pages) and the third around 2000, incorporating additional entries on , , and related media to track the genre's development. These self-published or small-press efforts were distributed through fan networks and provided foundational documentation for researchers. In 2017, Patten released Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015 through , a 240-page chronicling the history, organization, and cultural significance of furry conventions in the U.S. and internationally. The book details over 100 events, including attendance figures, programming highlights, and influential figures, while contextualizing the conventions within broader evolution. It received positive reception for its archival depth, with reviewers noting its role as an essential historical record for understanding furry subculture's organizational growth. Earlier, in 2014, Patten published Funny Animals and More: From to Zoomorphics, a collection of his weekly columns originally appearing on Cartoon Research, which explored the intersections of , history, and anthropomorphic across decades. This work highlighted U.S. importation milestones, such as early 1970s screenings and 1980s video releases, through essays on specific titles and industry pioneers.

Comic Books and Anthologies

Fred Patten contributed original stories to several anthropomorphic comic anthologies during the 1980s and 1990s, focusing on speculative and furry-themed narratives. His work appeared in publications such as , a pioneering furry comic series that debuted in 1984 and emphasized animal protagonists in science fiction settings, where Patten provided scripts for short features exploring anthropomorphic adventures. Similarly, he wrote for Furrlough, another key furry comic anthology launched in 1987 by Radio Comix, contributing tales that blended humor and speculative elements within the emerging furry subculture. These contributions helped establish narrative styles in independent furry press, often collaborating with artists to visualize anthropomorphic characters in one-shot stories or serialized segments. Patten's editorial role in furry anthologies became prominent in the early 2000s, where he curated collections of short emphasizing anthropomorphic animals in science fiction and fantasy genres. His first major , Best in Show: Fifteen Years of Outstanding Furry (Sofawolf Press, 2003), compiled 26 stories from furry fanzines dating back to the late , selected based on thematic diversity, narrative quality, and representation of sentient animal protagonists; contributors included established authors like Lawrence Watt-Evans and Jefferson P. Swycaffer. This was followed by Furry!: The Best Anthropomorphic (iBooks, 2006), a mainstream-oriented edition retitled from Best in Show, highlighting Patten's criteria for stories that balanced accessibility with speculative depth. Over the next decade, in collaboration with FurPlanet Productions, he edited themed volumes such as Dogs of War (2011), featuring anthropomorphic military tales; Gods with (2016), exploring divine animal figures in 23 original stories by writers like Kyell Gold and Mary E. Lowd; and The Furry Future (2015), presenting 19 prognostications of anthropomorphic societies. Other notable edits include The Awards (2012), collecting award-winning pieces, and posthumously released Exploring New Places (2018), with 19 stories of furries in unfamiliar environments. Patten's selection process prioritized original works or reprints that advanced furry literature's conceptual range, often drawing from open calls to foster community talent. In addition to editing, Patten authored original short stories published in fanzines and collections, marking his transition to creative furry fiction later in his career. He began original furry short stories in 2014, with pieces in outlets like Yarf! and other anthropomorphic periodicals, often featuring speculative themes of animal societies. These stories, such as those integrated into his edited anthologies, emphasized character-driven explorations of , contributing to the genre's growth within .

Animation Involvement

Staff Credits

Fred Patten contributed to numerous localization projects primarily through , where he served in roles such as story editor, script editor, and publicity coordinator from 1991 until the company's closure in 2002. His work focused on ensuring cultural accuracy and narrative fidelity in English adaptations of Japanese titles. Key credits include:
  • Barefoot Gen (1983 film): Story Editor ().
  • : Flight 005 Conspiracy (1990 OVA): Story Editor ().
  • : Project Eden (1986 film): Story Editor.
  • Doomed Megalopolis (1991 OVA series): Story Editor.
  • Lupin III: (1979 film): Additional Crew (translation for 1992 English dub).
  • Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo (1978 film): Story Editor ( dub); Additional Crew (1995 Streamline English dub).
  • Lupin III: Part II (1977 TV series): Story Editor (episodes 145, 155; Tales of the Wolf).
  • (1985 OVA): Story Editor ( dub).
  • Part II (1986 OVA): Story Editor (international dub).
  • Tekkaman: The Knight (1975 TV series, 1984 adaptation): Script Writer/Adapter.
  • Vampire Hunter D (1985 film): Additional Crew.
  • Wicked City (1987 film): Unit Publicist.
Patten's publicity efforts extended to several high-profile Streamline releases, including Fist of the North Star (1986 film, 1991 U.S. release) and Robot Carnival (1987 OVA anthology, 1991 U.S. release), where he promoted titles at conventions to build American audience interest. No verified credits for voice acting or on-screen roles in anime dubs were identified in his professional portfolio.

Historical Documentation

Fred Patten made significant contributions to the documentation of animation history through essays, articles, and books that chronicled the development of Japanese anime and its introduction to Western audiences. His 1996 article, "A Capsule History of Anime," published in Animation World Magazine, provides a comprehensive timeline of Japanese animation from its origins in 1917 with short hobbyist films to the 1990s, emphasizing key milestones such as the 1930s shift to propaganda works like Momotaro's Gods-Blessed Sea Warriors (1943) and the postwar boom in feature films. Patten detailed early U.S. imports, noting Toei Animation's Panda and the Magic Serpent (1958) and Magic Boy (1959) as the first theatrical releases, followed by television series like Astro Boy in 1963, which marked the beginning of broader American exposure to anime. In his 2004 book Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews, Patten compiled decades of writings that explore the evolution of U.S. fandom, including essays on historical themes such as "Anime: Subliminal Lessons in Japanese History" (2001) and "Refighting " (2003), which analyze how reflects cultural and societal shifts in . These works draw on his observations of 's growth from niche screenings in the to mainstream acceptance, with representative examples like the 1974-1975 U.S. broadcast of (originally ), which he credits with sparking widespread interest among American viewers. Patten's essays often prioritize conceptual insights into 's narrative influences over exhaustive listings, highlighting its role in adapting Western genres like giant-robot stories from the series . Patten's archival efforts preserved primary materials essential for scholarship, leveraging his background in library science to organize and donate vast collections. In 2007, he gifted approximately 900 boxes containing over 82,000 items— including comic books, fanzines, ephemera, and -related artifacts—to the , Riverside's J. Lloyd Eaton Collection of and Fantasy, forming one of the 's largest single donations and enabling researchers to study early artifacts. Additional donations in 2005, 2006, 2017, and 2018 to the Online Archive of included 87.5 linear feet of and materials, such as posters, programs, press clippings, and audio/video recordings of screenings, which document the intersection of Japanese with American fan culture from the 1960s onward. Through targeted documentation projects, Patten cataloged pivotal moments in anime's American dissemination, focusing on the 1960s-1980s era of limited imports and fan-driven viewings. His writings, including contributions to Animation Magazine such as "Japan's Anime" (1995), outline timelines of early theatrical imports like Alakazam the Great (1960) and the first non-Japanese public TV anime screening at the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society in 1975, providing a foundational record of how raw VHS tapes and convention showings laid the groundwork for organized fandom. Patten also conducted interviews with key figures in anime publishing, such as those featured in his monthly column for Comics Buyer's Guide, where he queried editors on the history of magazines like Protoculture Addicts, preserving oral accounts of 1980s distribution challenges and fan importation efforts published in fanzines and specialty journals. These projects emphasize high-impact events, such as the 1980s surge in direct-to-video releases, without delving into every minor screening. Despite his 2005 stroke, Patten continued such work, including a 2015 multi-part series on Streamline Pictures' history in Cartoon Research, offering firsthand accounts of anime localization efforts.

Later Years and Legacy

Illness and Death

In the years following a major in 2005 that left him paralyzed and confined to a convalescent in the Los Angeles area, Fred Patten faced significant mobility challenges and chronic health issues, including periodic hospitalizations for conditions such as infected bedsores and chest congestion. Despite these limitations, he remained intellectually active, using a to write reviews and contribute to furry and publications well into the 2010s, though he retired from physically demanding activities like attending conventions. On November 1, 2018, Patten was found unresponsive at his convalescent facility in , , and was rushed to a , where he never regained consciousness. He died there on November 12, 2018, at the age of 77, from natural causes. Following his death, Patten's body was cremated with no formal service held, per his wishes; instead, his Sherry Patten organized a casual gathering for friends and family on December 9, 2018, at Big Jim’s Family Restaurant in . News of his passing spread quickly through fandom communities, first announced by Sherry on and then shared at the next meeting of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS), where memorials were posted on their official page. Among his final projects, Patten completed a for Tomori's Legacy in July 2018, just months before his death, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to literary analysis despite his declining health.

Accolades and Influence

Fred Patten received the in 1980 from Comic-Con International for outstanding achievement in fandom services and projects, recognizing his early efforts in introducing Japanese anime to American audiences. In 2006, he was honored with the Life Achievement Award at the 64th World Convention (LAcon IV), presented for his lifetime of service to science fiction fandom, including his organizational roles and historical contributions. The Science Fantasy Society awarded him the Forry Award in 2009, its highest honor for lifetime achievement in the field. Within the furry community, Patten was inducted into the Furry Hall of Fame in 2011 at the MiDFur convention in , , for his foundational role in establishing and documenting the fandom. He also earned recognition through the Ursa Major Awards, which he conceived and helped administer starting in 2001; his edited anthology Gods with Fur won Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work in 2016. Patten's influence on anime localization standards stemmed from his work as a consultant and writer for in the late 1980s and early , where he advocated for faithful adaptations that preserved cultural nuances, earning praise from peers for elevating translation accuracy in early U.S. releases like Akira and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. In furry and communities, his legacy endures through exhaustive histories such as Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015, which chronicled the subculture's growth and inspired ongoing archival efforts. Following his death in 2018, posthumous tributes highlighted his cross-fandom impact, including remembrances from the Science Fantasy Society calling him the "dean of " and essays in outlets like Cartoon Research crediting his pivotal role in anime's American popularization. Furry publications such as Flayrah and Dogpatch Press featured memorial articles and author testimonials, while conventions like continued to reference his foundational anthologies in panels on fandom history.

References

  1. https://furrywritersguild.com/writers/fred-patten/
  2. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/frederick-patten-obituary?id=9158904
  3. https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8rv0pgh/
  4. https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?Fred_Patten
  5. https://dogpatch.press/2018/11/21/fred-patten-1940-2018/
  6. https://www.animeherald.com/2018/11/13/industry-icon-fred-patten-passes-away/
  7. http://ijoca.blogspot.com/2018/12/pioneers-in-comic-art-scholarship-fred.html
  8. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/fred-patten-tezuka-and-atomcat/
  9. https://fancyclopedia.org/Fred_Patten
  10. https://www.awn.com/news/fred-patten-noted-anime-and-manga-historian-dies-77
  11. https://fanac.org/fanzines//Mistily_Meandering/mistily_meandering_1_patten_1962-07-15_saps_60.pdf
  12. https://www.flayrah.com/7487/memoriam-fred-patten-1940-2018
  13. https://www.newsfromme.com/2018/11/12/fred-patten-r-i-p/
  14. http://lasfs.org/history-of-the-lasfs/
  15. https://dublin2019.com/in-memoriam/index.html
  16. https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?27947
  17. https://ahorbinski.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/what-you-watch-is-what-you-are.pdf
  18. https://cosplayinamerica.com/a-brief-history-of-the-cartoon-fantasy-organization-americas-first-anime-fan-club/
  19. https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/v39ngf/anime_how_the_cartoonfantasy_organization/
  20. https://otakuusamagazine.com/2010-is-1980-fred-patten-and-osamu-tezuka/
  21. https://www.facebook.com/groups/970847522952602/posts/9669046539799280/
  22. https://animecons.com/events/info/333/anime-america-1993
  23. https://www.nigorimasen.com/2014/12/11/old-magazine-articles-fred-patten-on-anime-for-starlog-april-may-1986/
  24. https://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.5/articles/patten1.5.html
  25. https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-long-love-affair-between-furries-and-disney/
  26. https://furrytimes.net/2016/07/10/my-interview-with-fred-patten/
  27. https://dogpatch.press/2015/02/03/history-of-furry-publishing/
  28. https://www.flayrah.com/6852/review-furry-fandom-conventions-1989-2015-fred-patten
  29. https://www.flayrah.com/8575/working-archives-researching-fred-patten-furries-and-counter-culture-media-uc-riverside
  30. https://dogpatch.press/2015/09/29/fred-patten-presents/
  31. https://library.ucr.edu/collections/fred-patten-papers
  32. https://blog.alltheanime.com/fred-patten-1940-2018/
  33. https://escholarship.org/content/qt0n29d9kq/qt0n29d9kq_noSplash_878056f719cbc8587d869a0c5f53b409.pdf
  34. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/StreamlinePictures
  35. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1046405/
  36. https://www.animeherald.com/2024/01/20/actually-carl-macek-rocked-why-the-north-american-anime-fandom-owes-him-its-gratitude/
  37. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/how-home-video-created-anime-fandom/
  38. https://www.amazon.com/Watching-Anime-Reading-Manga-Reviews/dp/1880656922
  39. https://ultimatepopculture.fandom.com/wiki/Fred_Patten
  40. https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?68074
  41. https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/IGOTS/igotsnew14.html
  42. https://www.amazon.com/Furry-Fandom-Conventions-1989-2015/dp/1476663815
  43. https://www.amazon.com/Funny-Animals-More-Anime-Zoomorphics/dp/B0FG72LQNT
  44. https://www.amazon.com/Furry-Anthropomorphic-Fiction-Fred-Patten/dp/1596873191
  45. https://furplanet.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=202
  46. https://dogpatch.press/2016/06/28/coming-soon-gods-with-fur/
  47. https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?841254
  48. http://anthrozine.com/atcl/first.mainstream.antho.html
  49. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=12902
  50. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/my-top-ten-anime-features-part-2/
  51. https://www1.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/wgardne1/japanese_074/r_patten.html
  52. https://clodjee-blog.com/interview-on-protoculture-addicts-history/
  53. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/streamline-pictures-part-1/
  54. http://www.kayshapero.net/fredpatten/whatsnew2005-10.html
  55. https://dogpatch.press/2018/07/20/tomoris-legacy-review/
  56. http://www.kayshapero.net/fredpatten/fred.html
  57. https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot/
  58. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-13/anime-manga-essayist-fred-patten-passes-away-at-77/.139418
  59. https://lasfs.org/the-forry-awards/
  60. https://www.flayrah.com/3813/midfur-names-fred-patten-hall-fame-2011-honoree
  61. https://www.flayrah.com/7003/2016-ursa-major-award-winners
  62. https://ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2016.htm
  63. https://www.lasfsinc.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=150
  64. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/forgotten-anime-60-college-supergirls-1991/
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