Evidence #23: The ANIMAG Saga (Issue #11)

HAPPY BELATED 4TH ANNIVERSARY GUYS!!

So, this site has existed for 4 years and... 8 days. Yea, so I'm a little late to the party, I apologize for that. So, what could I be putting up for this late special occasion for this year? Well, I realized its been almost 2 years since I posted anything related to ANIMAG, and it's high time she had another debut once more. 

If you can't tell based on the image of the cover, or the red text next on the bottom right, this is an issue focused on famed character designer Haruhiiko Mikimoto. I had a chance to shake the hand of Mikimoto at Animazement 2013, and even had him sign a copy of Macross: Clash of the Bionoids (aka, the only "legit" copy of Macross DYRL we ever got in the states). I told this story of my experience meeting Mikimoto in the podcast I did about that Animazement 2 years ago, so give that a listen when you can. In short, he didn't have a clue that a version existed in the states, and happily signed it for me, BREAKING the DREADED "One Autograph Per Person" rule Animazement seems to tack onto con-goers when a line is past a certain point for them. So, let's see what's inside this issue:

I want to say this was autographed at either Animazement 2013 or 2014 (might be the former), and here we have Trish synopsis of a rundown of what happened at the first A-Kon for her. If you wanna know who this "...unairconditioned Ford Mustang" owner really is, then you are in luck. Robert Gibson was on an episode of the Anime World Order podcast not to long ago, and also did a blogspot about his past in anime fandom and what he did to contribute to it, which all of it is really interesting to read and hear. It's also interesting to point out that even at the earliest times of anime information on print, you still had rumors of "anti-ANIMAG" people. I guess in anime journalism, you still have your die-hard critics.

Here we have some info about anime at the time, ranging from City Hunter to Yotoden (aka Wrath of the Ninja in the states). What's interesting is the fact that there is a written piece on OVA's coming out that include some obscure ones that you might find online like the racing OVA Goddamn!, Riki-Oh and Iczer-3. The others besides Gall Force and Wild 7, I'm not too familiar with on these titles. There is also the releases of Viz Media "manga-to-comics" style printing that is being released during this time. 

Here we got the highlight of this issue, and thats a good write up on works by Mikimoto at this time. It's interesting that they have a timeline period on how Macross and Robotech came to be, and even all the history behind Robotech earliest failures that Harmony Gold just seems to still be tripping over 30 some years later. I highly doubt the people working on this magazine 25 years ago would've predicted that Robotech would still be some huge thing in anime and that HG would find ways to keep screwing that up. If someone there did make that prediction in the middle of a poker game one night, they would be happy to know it's still true today.

It's also interesting they bring up the differences of the english dubs in the Macross part regarding the international dub of Megazone 23 Part 2 and Macross DYRL. The ending they mention about animation company Idol doing the bonus material to the Robotech: The Movie is up on youtube to see. And from what I have heard, it's some kinda of bonus on the laserdisc for the international dub for Megazone 23 Part 2. If I am hearing things wrong, then let me know in the comments.

Here is a nice write up about the classic Speed Racer, breaking down the Valkyrie for mecha heads, and a write up by Votoms/Yamato fanatic Tim Eldred. 

The Anime Ja Nai part is pretty much there to let you know what your favorite VA has been in other than the main roles. I did see Ikeda at Animazement 2014 for the big Gundam Reunion thing, but I didn't get a chance to interact with him sadly. I did have Furukawa sign my Bubblegum Crisis DVD set that same year Mikimoto was there, so that' in that same podcast episode where I talk about that. 

And now everyone's favorite, advertisements for anime products. These ad's are such a time capsule to see many years later, and they still have their charm to them.

So I think that's gonna wrap it up for this segment of The Anime of Yesteryear. This is usually the part where I state what iv'e been doing since the last post, and its pretty much the same: school, the podcast, love life, social life, etc. I'll usually try and score some more Animag/Animerica issues when I go to Raleigh for this years Animazement, even though the backlog of material I have will last for a good while. So, thanks for sticking around, and letting you know that this site and our love for you isn't a lie...

Evidence #22: (You can still) Rock in Animerica Segment (Vol.4 No 1, 1995)

It's been almost 2 years too long, but were back again...

Well it is time for the holiday season once more, and I won't end the year off without posting something up for you readers who still keep up with this site. This was an issue that I've been wanting to post for a while now, especially since I got all of Space Adventure Cobra earlier this year from Nozomi Entertainment on DVD (which you can watch the show on their youtube channel for free if you care). Space Adventure Cobra is a show that after every episode, I kept saying to myself "This is the GREATEST ANIME EVER MADE!!!" I kid you not, I ended every episode saying just that sentence to myself over and over again. If you think I might be crazy, then see the show for yourself.

As for this particular issue, I believe I've had this issue for a couple of years by this point, and did buy it from the usual comic book shop in Raleigh NC as I do every year. This is another issue that was kindly autographed by Trish Ledoux and her husband Toshifumi Yoshida at either Animazement 2013 or 2014, since they were both present both years. So lets get things started by posting up a bunch of images of articles, interviews, reviews, fan art and advertisements that make up what Animerica truly is:

This time "From the Editor," Trish Ledoux writes about how it was to work with female booty aficionado Buichi Terasawa when she was employed for the marketing firm A-Girl. Interesting enough (or probably not), Trish defends Terasawa's art style of pure REAR-sploitation by stating that he can at least draw women a heck of a lot better than most contemporary anime/comic artist out there (here's looking at you Masami Obari / Rob Leifeld). To sum up, Terasawa has class, which speaking of...

... here is such an article with the classy manga author. I am not sure if Terasawa still comes to Comic Con in San Diego, or if he still dresses in black as his manga secret agent persona out in the public. Regardless. this is still a good interview, which Terasawa talks about his beginnings as a manga artist, and even covering his other works. There is even a small write up about how the Cobra: The Psychogun project was shelved at this time, only to be revived a decade later to an OVA. There is also a write up by a Betsy Sherman, who seems to state that the movie is way to anti-feminist for her taste. Well it wouldn't be for her taste, because Cobra is for real men... and women who who like the idea of having leather outfits with guns attached to them.

Here we have the other articles about anime that is current in Japan as of 1995, as well as reviews and articles about the recently releases that came stateside during this time. You can find a really good article from Carl Horn about his view on the Manga Ent. release of the Patlabor 2 movie, the opinions about Evangelion from the staff (who complain that the robots look too thin, and need to be bigger. Ah, Anime Journalism circa. 1995...), the kind words from everyone's "semi-hated-or-loved-but-is-now-dead" Carl Macek, the letters to the editor and good ol' fanart. Also, I am guessing this is the last part of that Fatal Fury "Make My Video" Challenge back in our last Animerica post, which just seems to be a fanfic story of sorts. I am sure I have issues before this one that when posted can complete this story, but well see about that.

And lastly, all the advertisements of what was hot then, but now long forgotten about now. Hey, at least you can get Hentai tapes for a couple of bucks off regular MSRP, and get excited for what is coming to the ADV library in 1996 with those hot new titles!!!

Well, I think that is all we have time for in this last segment of 2014. I cannot guarantee if I will post more or less in 2015, but chances are the next post will be for the 4th anniversary of this blog. What's that going to be... I don't know yet. If you want a life update, I am still enrolled at my university, changed my major to Communication, still going to anime conventions, still run our sister site podcast, and currently in a relationship. 2014 was a pretty good year, and an interesting one at that. I hope for the best for 2015, and hope you guys are there to follow along with what will be coming out next time. So until then, I plan on giving the new year peace and love...

Evidence #21: Space Dandy Official Fan Book (2014)

Guys, I am so ready to make this a hell of a fun club... IN SPAAAAAACE!!

I am actually surprised that I want to release something in less than the 4 month time gaps I have been doing for a while now, and I figured this would be a great opportunity to bring today's entry to the internet table. So, as of September 28th 2014, on the 12:30 am timeslot for Toonami on Adult Swim, we say goodbye to a unique and awesomely weird-as-hell-and-fun-as-hell show called Space Dandy. I don't believe something like Space Dandy will be around anytime soon, for many many years. This was a show that so many people who have been working in the industry threw in their hats and talent into it to make really, whatever they wanted too (if you wanna lowdown on who worked on who, Ben from Anipages has been doing episode by episode synopsis of the series since day one). But, being the fan of the show that I have been by watching it every week in the states, I wont leave you guys high and dry.

I know in my last post, I mentioned how one of the unique buys I got when I went to Japan was the Go Nagai book. I also failed to mention (for a good cause, because I wanted it to be a surprise), that I went to an anime store a few blocks from that bookstore and they had hardly any Space Dandy merch on the table. But, much to my dismay, they did have the Space Dandy Official Fan Book for sale, and in limited quantities. So I snagged up one for me and my podcast co-host Jonn as a nice little gift, before some ultra otaku that would knock a gaijin like me to the floor using some Hatsume Miku figure as a blunt object in order to get a copy before I could lay a hand on it. Well, lets be honest, that last part would probably never happen.

So, I have been waiting to post up this book for the fans of Space Dandy for a while, because I am really not sure how many are out there in the world. I think you guys know how this works, as I have the book all on a .rar file for you to download and view on whatever devices you have at your leisure. This all contains line art, storyboards, interviews with the staff and a whole lot more. So, just hit the Download .rar file here link below and your all set. I think the next post will come out around Christmas... yea, thats a good assumption. Until then, keep being dandy in your space baby!

Download .rar file here!

(Total size: 179mb)

Evidence #20: Exhibition Go Nagai Book (Circa. 1998)

Sorry about the long wait guys, didn't mean to make this place so lonely...

So I could give a huge excuse as to why its been over 4 months since I've posted something on this site; which would only include reasons like "...its that college thing i'm at" and "...well i'm working a lot" followed by "...I went to some places and did my thing you know what i'm saying" and so on and so forth. But regardless of whatever I could say, I do have something for you guys that might be of interest. So here's the deal:

Last month I was able to go to Kanazawa Japan on a University overseas trip to teach Japanese students English for 10 days. If you wanna know more about that trip, I did a whole podcast about it at our sister site here. My goal there of course was to get as much as I could when I could, which I did come back with some unique items. One in particular I found at a used bookstore near the Samurai district right next too the heart of Kanazawa (I don't know the name off hand so pardon me there), I was looking through the store to find some Anime V mags, if I could get a hold of them. That was when in the manga section, I stumbled upon this little charm that I knew I had to get. So far, as of this dated post, it seems that no one on the internet has bothered to scan this book, and it seems no one on the internet seems to sell it. If you want to physically hold it in your hands, the Library of Congress seems to have a copy last I checked. But with no Anime V mags in my hands, I'd figure I can show this baby off on the internet to whoever it may interest too, which should be a lot of people.

So what I am going to do is have a download link for the .rar file so you people can download it and see it for yourselves. I apologize for some of the quality of the scans because I only have one scanner on hand that I can use, and its a much thicker book than how I scan magazines. Also a NSFW warning is added to this because of nudity and some violent content, because I don't want kids to see it and let alone your bosses, unless there cool with Devil Lady boobs on the company computers. So guys until next time, have a happy late 4th of July...

Download .rar file here

(Total size: 218 mb)