Okita

Actually to the best of my knowledge, Nausicaa was never release state wise, (or at least it wasn't a year or so back) because I had to purchase my version as a Japanese import, I usually purchase the R1 US import but the dealer told me there wasn't one for Nausicaa, bear in mind that this was a few month after Princess Mononoke was released (i think) so it might have been release during that time... Anyways, I still think Nausicaa is Miyazaki's best work, the artwork for its time was spetacular, and the story was wonderfully captivating... The butchered 'warrior of the wind' was the sole reason that Miyazaki withdraw from western audience for such a long time, which is really a shame, the lack of understanding of 'Anime' by western media during that time didn't help and Ghibli was doing fine at home with success after success. IF it does get release in the state, it might even get release is Australia!!! (gasp!) If that's the case I'd get it again in a snap.

You should also talk to someone that can do art (if you haven't already) I know a good pair of girls who created a nice web comic, one does the plot while the other create the art, this would be a nice compliment if you can someone that works well with you. (They they kinda lived in the same city so it makes co-oping easier). If you really want to go ahead, that's the next step you should do... who knows? you could be the next mega tokyo....

This concept of your manga is your standard and typically cliche adventure story base, which is to say: it has a good chance of becoming a popular shounen series if it ever gets commercialised and promoted, the party theme and characteristic background of the story's protagonist (ie: the legendary warrior's great great great somesuch descendent -add or remove generation as applicable-) as well as the typical romantic entanglement are genre staples and you really can't go wrong. However as anime goes, it's not very original or inspiring. Now if this were to ever be made into a game, THEN it would have potential to rival the likes of FF and Dragon Quest, the cliche setting are stock genre standard that have huge potential to be magnified by graphical delight, and the storyline typically tends to have an episodic nature by default, making the adventure set scenario the best suited to compliment game narrative. The world would be fantasy base, and since the protagnoist comes from the 'real' world has the potential to cross into techno-wizardry (technology vs magic is on!) and your genre-fied character are REQUIRED to filled standard role in the game's adventure set. Make some decent background story for each side character, make the world more immersive by adding history, tradition and unique culture, and you have a stockstandard FF sellout that will have millions of fans around the world (myself included) drooling in happiness and suffering from sleep depredation. Copyright your story concept and see if you can sell it to squaresoft or namco et al, and when you've made your first million, remeber poor lil ol me and shout me a round at a pub ~_^

This is an odd little gem that nearly slipped by me without notice, by it's title alone I would have imagined a fantasy series or other such standard adventure pack, to my surprise, the series is something that completely blew me out of the water. The main character happens to be a weapon of mass destruction name Lucy (as per the standard law of anime: in the form of a cute little girl) who at the beginning of the show is in the process of escaping from the top secret lab where she is being held. Injured during the escape, she never-the-less managed to make her getaway (and in the process received a split personality via a head injury). From there she is rescued by Kouta and his cousin Yuka, who gave her the name of Nyou because (big surprise!!!) she can't speak save to repeat the monosyllabic phrase of 'nyou' (can you say 'chi' people?). As you can see, superficially, the beginning of the series has a lot of resemblance with Chobits, however (and this is a HUGE however) this anime is SO riddle with violence and angst that I must clearly warn away any faint of heart. (Because that faint heart will most likely be stressed beyond tolerance level by the first ten minute of the show.) Some scenes in this series are brutally violent, we are talking about graphical spine ripping, head decapitating, body crushing violence without any attempt at discreet censorship. It also contains partial nudity and disturbing psychological profiles that are obviously aimed at a more adult audience. The atmosphere permeated throughout the show is extremely nostalgic and melancholy, which reminds me of Saikano, the music score also helps enhance this atmosphere; fairly slow paced with an emphasis on string instrument, it fades quietly into the background yet still remains distinct and memorable. The intro song is a slow and melancholy solo of the series' theme song that reminds me of a Latin church hymns, and the surprisingly uplifting ending by Chieko Kawabe rounds up a very strong musical presence. The theme of the show has a tendency to make you feel melancholy, and as I mention earlier reminds me of Saikano. This gives me a dreadful premonition concerning its ending. Getting emotionally attached to character that could very well die (especially with the degree of callousness that life is treated with in this series) can be a seriously depressing thing. Despite this hesitancy, I am looking forward to more of this series; it shows great promise of being at least equal to the likes of Saikano, and the shocking violence factor gives this an almost Eva quality. I earnestly recommend fans of Saikano to give this a try, its a gem! edit: my god dagger! is there ANY series you haven't covered yet??? =P

Note that most anime and manga had their story board created in Japan, that ebing said, their are tones of anime and manga that are either influenced or based on classic japanese literature, their are even a plethora of anime based on world literature. (ludwig kakumei comes to mind as does Reign) the recently made Otogizoushi and Samurai 7 would be examples of reinvented classics as well...

This type of survay should really call for a poll, with particular cases being discussed, you gave five manga choices, of the five, I am incline towards kenshin, though even that is marginal (I only like the kyoto arc) bleach is semi decent as well but I've yet to see much of it so cannot make a better judgement...

Hmmm Dagger pretty much named all the significant graphic achievement that I'm inlcine to agree with, ghibli i think deserves an honourable mention, two of their work Nausicaa and Princess Mononoke, stand out as some of the most amazing graphical achievement of their time, Nausicaa was particularly breathtaking for its time. Another shiner would be evangelion, (yes yes we can argue about this till the sun goes down) the animation was truly an achievement for it's time, comparable to movie quality...

Firstly greenfield stated that fansub are being download off the net and copied to DVD and sold in Asia, this is suppose to be eliminating sales in Asia, yet not in other western country where piracy isn't as rampant. Just looking at the quality of their English subtitles is enough clue in that the process of Fansubbing isn't involved. Piracy and Fansubbing is two different matters, pirates will always have their source and I bet they're not neccessarily from the fansubbing community. Greenfield seems to imply that once fansubbing stops piracy will also follow. This is BS, piracy exist before fansubbing, it will exist through other avenues without being significantly effected if fansubbing ever dries up.

I don't get how the fansub community could effect the distribution of anime in Asia, almost all bootleg Asian anime are DVD ripped. Fansubbing rarely enters the equation in this scenario, most of these bootlegs are almost exact replicate of the Japanese release DVD with hastily put together subtitle in duel language. This is piracy and not fansubbing as Greenfield seems to imply. Going after the fansubbing community in this circumstance is like shooting the dog because the wolf stole the chicken...

It's a sad fact that 90% of female (when applicable) in this sort of show falls into the token female categories, they rarely if ever have anything important to add to the plot other than being a semi transparant moral officer or the occasional damsel in distress. Personally I'm ambivilant towards her, I don't find her annoying because she doesn't touch any of my personal pet peeve,(such is the case for characters like Relena from Gundam) but neither is she in any way captivating... she's like Keiko in Yu Yu Hakusha, I simply can't picture her as anything other than a background character no matter how much they try to integrate her into the show. I was going to try and draw a comparison with any character from shows simliar to this that has more of a role than being a 'token love interest' but am drawing a complete blank... can you think of ONE example of unique and outstanding females character fulfilling the same role as her in a sports anime?

I agree with Dagger on this, most mainstream channels will never show a wide variety of anime simply because unique and sophisticated anime don't neccessarily have a wide audience base to support it. Anime has a very restrictive audience base, it does not appeal to the majoritive of adult due to it being a 'cartoon' and the younger audience will often not appreaciate the depth of the slower paced, plot centric or unique styled and executed show. As there is no audience, no one will activily braodcaste it. There are some exception to this rule, but the majoritive of anime is action/adventure centric aimed at a selective teenage audience, the day I see mainstream Gravitation with a raving fan base will be the day I eat a box of lemon... ~_~ Anime has a long way to go before it ever goes fully mainstream. As a side note, who here likes Astroboy? I still think that it's one of the most important anime to ever be release outside of Japan...

You've pretty much mentioned most of the recent landmark achievement, though I'm a bit miffed that you left out some of the earlier great anime such as Astro Boy. (hello? it's anime dammit!!!) And you should also mention Princess Mononoke which had stars like Gillian Anderson as voice actor and was the first to be given the 'full star treatment' by hollywood. (Incidently, it was voted best film -and not just anime- in a German film festival)

I've never been a great fan of these shounen sports anime, I didn't get into slam dunk and neither did I like this show initially. I've since found myself reluctantly giving it a second chance after a local club marathon... the show IS addictive, and I find it's oddly unimaginative plot and character to be appealing on a simplistic but enjoyable level. Series that are extremely long have the potential to drag itself to death (like Inu Yasha) though most sports show tends to have a definite ending that is actually fulifilling and well planned. (There are exception of course, but a case example would be Captain Tsubasa or Touch)

I have cosplayed before, though the occassion for it is far less frequent than in the State where there are cons that are held frquently. I've done a couple of cosplay, one is a group cosplay as the crazy 88 and the other (which is far more better) isn't really that hard to figure out.... (hint: look at my nickname ^_^) I've grew my hair long to look like Soujiro, It's halfway down my back right now... the only authentic piece I'm missing is a real katana, the one i have is a cheap imitation set that couldn't chop firewood more than twice... (that and 3 shinai and 2 bokuto) I'm even taking kendo to make my roleplaying more authentic! I'm currently saving cash to try and get a real set from my sensei, though I'm uncertain if a need a licence to acquire the daisho set...

There have been many manga that made me lift my eyebrow in incredulity, series that has core theme that seems truly out of it or just plain pointless. A couple of years ago, if anyone had ask me if I would enjoy reading a manga about Go, I would have laughed my head off at the absurdity, Hikaru no Go changed that and shut my cynical view point like a sledghammer closing an air-tight coffin. Since then I've taking more interest in series that I would have initially ignore due to the core theme or concept sounding incredibly lamn on paper, series like Yukikate Japan sounds laughable or at least incredoubly stupid on paper. I mean cooking as an anime show isl worth considering, but restricting yourself ONLY to baking bread??? But guess what? I read the series and am now an avid fan, it doesn't have anything ground breaking, but the storyline tends to be addictive like drugs tends to be addictive. ~_^ So what other bizarre concept for manga have you expirience and enjoyed? What other series had a totally absurd or lamn souding premise that turned out far more than anyone might bargain for? Please share your thoughts...

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1]Plenty of shoujo anime and manga lack a female lead, and some have casts which are almost entirely dominated by males. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] Sorry for the misunderstanding, It would have been better worded to say that shoujo will likely have a strong female lead (and this is the case for the vast majoritive of shoujo) also the female lead doesn't neccessarily means the supporting caste is majoritively female, many shoujo have the reverse of the 'harem' syndrome such as the case with series like fruit basket or fushigi yuugi etc. Anyways, I have trouble liking series like Gravitation, the amount of Yaoi warded me from fully enjoying it, though I admit that it is also it's defining point, and the story has great merit (judging from purely a critical perspective...)

Firstly Tenchi isn't a shoujo, though the amount of female character might make it seem like it, a key to recognising shoujo would be the protagonist, which is almost certainly female. Fushigi Yuugi has it's share of humour, though in true Watase fashion, it's primary focus is the fantasitical heartache of the manga's heroine, the humour is certainly present but I rarely find myself openly laughing at theme, the funniest shoujo i've seen to date is actually karekano, thoroughly enjoyable and with comedy to spare.

There are series that are considered shoujo (oh boy are they considered shoujo) and still have swordsplay, death and other such. Take Legend of Basara, RG Veda, or most of Yu Watase's manga, all of them of actions along with romance and most have elements of fantasy that might be conisder 'shounen'. However, they are shoujo, their very nature screams this and no matter how much hack & slash or magical puff you throw into the mix, they'll still be shoujo. So yeah you're right, there are cases where the story will mingle with other genre, but they are still distinctively shoujo. (And yes I enjoy them too, Basara happens to be one of my favourite actually!)

OMG!!! I am totally hooked! This series is the most addictive manga I've seen for ages! I've just gotten my hand on the latest Orange Tangerine translation and was so desperate for more that I downloaded the raw up to page 33 and am now going through it slowly with the help of a dictionary and a Japanese speaking friend! This series' protagonist is possibly my favourite male character ever in a manga, his quality and flaw both humanize and diefy him, his presence is awes inspiring and his capability and intellect simply astounding. I have never fealt myself cheering for a protagonist as I've done with this series, every chapter is like a powerful hammer blow that reveal so much yet leaves so much more in need of further revelation. I find myself really REALLY wishing that Raito succeeds, because while his method might be horrific, I find his idealism, his surreal yet cynical concept of reality and application of justice simply mind blowing. Like Anne Freak, I can't help but cheer the main character despite him being a villain and can't help but like his desposition despite the immorality behind it. Any fans of mystery and thriller should given this series i shot! It's nothing short of stupendous.

Personally I never buy shrink wrapped books, comic or magazine, why? because I've found out the hard way that covers and blurb are misleading and inprecise. I will usually sit down to read the first few page of a book before I pass judgement, and even then I may not be overly impressed, It took two volume before I decided Hana Yori Dango, and I've avidly collecting the series now. Bookshop owners recognise this somewhat, because while 9 out of 10 freeloading only freeload, there will always be someone that like the manga so much that they will purchase it. I read the GTO manga up to it's seventh volume at my local bookshop and was totally engrossed, I purchase the from eight onward straight away to the final volume they had at store (16 at the time) and went back a week later and bought the earlier series. If you had shrink-wrapped the product I would have most likely passed it on....

Firstly the presence of a bar is to serve alcohol, if the owner decides to put a age prerequiste above and beyond the law it is their choice, I have nothing to say about, I was merely pointing out that this is STILL a restaurant, which you have never mentioned in your own post. What if a young couple with a child came into the restuarant? Would the child qualify as underage? certainly it would be unlikely that he would consume alcohol or heaven forbid: become drunk! Without detail I cannot say for sure, but it would certainly annoy me if I was the one being turned away. Many poeple come to a restaurant to dine, to enjoy the serivce and the food: not for the express purpose of drinking large quantity of alcohol, many of them might even be underage! Secondly, I have already stated in my post that the above scenario is not an age discrimination issue, merely aggravating. Restuarant has the right as with pub and nightclub to refuse it's service to any individual based on reasonable circumstance as do any other legitimate bussiness. Youth, especially male youth pays a higher insurance rate on cars, this is not consider age discrimation, merely a response base on statistic, there is nothing legaly wrong with this or the above scenario. Personally I am indifferent about such a policy, however if every single restuarant meeting the prerequisite of the above scenario decides to do bussiness only to 25 years and older individuals then I would certainty find it a tad annoying. As it is I would simply shrugg this as an isolated incident that doesn't concern me. I work in a restaurant with a bar, I work IN the bar and service poeple both old and young. I am 20 years old with an alcohol license (the servicing of), I understand the owners perspective, but that does not mean I approve of his bussiness ethos. If the situation was truely terrible and I've witness to it, I might just change my mind, as it is I simply pointed out a few things that I disagree with in you're comments.

While you might have some valid point Mr. Bean, ChibiHorsewoman's issue is with the restuarant not merely the bar/nightclub you keep refering to. The excuse of the restuarant owner was the legal age of drinking and the presence of the bar, thus expulsion becomes neccessary to anyone under the age of 25 to even dine in the area due to the presence of the bar. At a younger age, I've visited many restaurant/w bar simply to dine, noboby has told me to leave and go elsewhere simply becuase I'm underage. This may not be age discrmination in your book but it certainly is an agrivationg situation. Say you and a bunch of friend went to this restaurant to eat, one of you is young (perhaps 21?) and thus you where force to go elsewhere by the manager's insistence that one of you didn't meet the age requirement to eat here, not nice is it? ChibiHorsewoman has valid points, your rebuttle should also address the fact that they are banning people from eating in a restuarant. This isn't a pub or nightclub we're talking about but a restaurant!

Um.. the dialogue flow between the fourth and fifth page is a bit akward, took me while to realise who was speaking, it would be nice to actually have the speech bubble point to someone... Way too early to comment on the plot (but don't put romance down! they're great!) and finally the animation is good (though not my favourite style)... good luck on your first work! I'll cheer you on!

Why does everyone think Rahxephon is an EVA clone? I just don't see much similarity with the exception of the confusion last few episode when compare to EVA's movie ending, both had me rewatching again and again and to this day I am uncertain I got the whole message. Rahxephon is 'in' genre as far as monster of the week mecha series goes, despite it's depth it follows the age old route establish in the mecha bible just like eva did, if you really want to call it a clone compare it with gekiganger... ~_~

I think she falls too much into the loud and obnoxious category to really fit the bill here, true she is strong and if you actually familiarise yourself with her and her past becomes very sympathetic, and she's also very likable despite the quirks she exibit (or is it beacuse of them?). But if you build on a character like her, then every voilent but slightly likable character would have a chance at this. I think Lina is close (VERY CLOSE) to the criteria recommend here, and she's a step ahead of the violent brigade with her attitude and strength of character...