Application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as field emitters for large-area field emission display (FED) panels is described. In 1998, we presented the first experimental devices: light-source tubes for outdoor large area displays and a diode-type flat panel display, both with screen-printed CNT cathodes. The first practical high-luminance color CNT-FED panel was built in 1999. It employed a new triode-structure panel that was x-y addressable. The CNT-FED structure was further optimized for large-area display panels by improving the luminous uniformity. The CNT-FED will be a valuable high-luminance and low-power-consumption technology in light-source tube and large-screen-sized display applications.