Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by a new cathodic vacuum arc method, in which the anode itself was the vacuum chamber and was inert. The cathodic vacuum arc discharge was performed at 0.5 Pa of He and H₂ gas atmospheres using a dc arc current of 100 A. The cathode materials were pure graphite and various metal-containing graphite electrodes. Microscopic observation revealed that MWCNTs were produced at the cathode crater generated by the cathode spot and on the surface of macrodroplets emitted from the cathode spot. A diamond-like carbon film that embedded the macrodroplets with MWCNTs was also deposited.