Anime Fans Online

A manga review should be coming up later today. My manga shopping was delayed, but I finally got to the store yesterday. I got a short stack of manga so I should be good for a week or so. A few of ‘em look pretty good, but you can never tell. Cross your fingers.

I’m not sure which review I’ll be posting later. I’ve got some manga version of anime I’ve reviewed, some others that looked pretty good, and a few that my g/f picked out. Guess which ones are which.

Manga List

• Air Gear Volume 1
• Black Cat Volume 1
• DramaCon Volume 1
• Ghost Hunt Volume 1
• Kurohime Volume 1
• Wild Ones Volume 2

I also bought a couple of non-manga books. You know the ones without all the pretty drawings.

I’d better get to work. See ya’ll later.

AnimeFansOnline has had a bit of trouble keeping up with the load lately, but it looks like that might be ending soon. Some work has been going on behind the scenes to improve the sites in the 451Press network.

It couldn’t happen at a better time. I’ve had a bit of trouble getting into AFO to post, but I’m sure that will be cleared up soon. To be honest the down time has given me a chance to work on FanaticSpace. I haven’t really had a chance to watch much anime the past few days anyway. I’ve been restructuring, and darn near rebuilding, my site.

Whew! That was close.

I tried to save this post and almost lost it due to the tech problems I was talking about. Guess there’s still some work to be done.

After I got a comment on the previous post I realized something. I talked about Highlander, but left out the TV show. I even posted a trailer for the first movie. So here’s the opening from the Highlander TV show to even things up. Plus I’ll take any excuse to post “Princes of the Universe” by Queen.

Highlander TV Opening

I suppose I should use the one with Joe Dawson, played by Jim Byrnes, doing the opening narration, but I like this one better.

Why should I use the other opening? Two reasons.

1. I know Amber is a huge Methos fan. (Seriously, it’s almost frightening.)

2. Jim Byrnes does some voice acting in the English dub of the Highlander anime.

He does a great job too. I wish he’d do more anime voice work.

I was going to watch the Highlander anime I rented and write up a review earlier today. I watched the movie, but I’m gonna have to give this one a bit more thought. I’ll probably wind up watching the movie again before I get that review written up.

Why is this anime so deserving of extra attention? It’s Highlander, that’s why. I’ve been a fan of the Highlander series since I saw the first movie back in the 80s. I can’t just treat it like any other anime. Highlander is special to me.

Highlander Trailer

That doesn’t mean it’s getting a good review though. I don’t automatically love everything that has the word Highlander slapped on it. The same goes for anime, I don’t love anime just because it’s anime.

I take this stuff seriously, maybe a bit too seriously.

Nah.

The Way I’ve Always Thought Of FanFic

I’ve never really liked fan fiction. It always seemed like a waste of time to me. Wasted writing time and wasted reading time both. If I want to read a Harry Potter story, I don’t turn to fanfic. I just read Harry Potter.

Oh, and speaking of Harry Potter fan fiction… there’s another good reason not to read it. A lot of fanfic writers tend to write the stories the way they believe they should be written. Not a big deal. I’m sure it’s a lot of fun. For them. For a lot of the readers it’s just painful.

I’ll admit that fanfic can make great writing practice. You’re able to focus on the plot without having to come up with new characters or settings. After a certain point, I believe you’re a lot better off writing original material.

Don’t use fan fiction as a crutch if you want to be a writer.

What’s Changing My Mind

I agreed to proofread a story for my girlfriend. It’s FanFic set in the Bleach universe. I just check for glaring grammatical errors and give her my opinion. I also try to let her know if I think one of the characters is doing something that doesn’t seem right.

Why would I agree to proof read fan fiction in the first place? Blackmail. She’s also working on some original fiction that I really want her to finish. I think that’s going to be a great story and I want to read it. So I agreed to help with the fanfic if she continues to write the other story.

What I Think Of FanFic Now

It’s not that bad. Some of it could be pretty good. The important thing is that it’s fun. It’s another way to interact with the stories and characters we love so much. It also gives us a chance to interact with other anime and manga fans. If you don’t mind letting other people read your work.

It is not a replacement for original fiction. I’d still rather read something new than the best fanfic.

General, Opinion, FanFic, Fan Fiction, Bleach, Harry Potter

Look at him. Mocking me. Enjoying that cigarette. Bastard! I won’t forgive you.

I hope your boat sinks.

I Quit Smoking

I’m trying to quit anyway. It’s been a couple of days now. I’m having some trouble with it though. The biggest problem I’m having is the reason I’m posting about it here at all. I’m having a lot of trouble focusing on anything. Part of my mind is always preoccupied by the thought “Where the hell are my cigarettes?”

This is about the 5th time I’ve tried to write this post. This time I’ve managed to get as far as writing a few paragraphs that are somewhat coherent. Don’t count on that continuing much longer.

I figure I’m in for at least a few more days like this before things start to get better. So the next week or two probably won’t be my best writing. I’m not even gonna try. A couple of larger posts I’ve been thinking about will have to wait. I’ll probably be posting a bit less as well. If I can’t manage to write something that meets even my low standards, I’m not going to bother posting it.

I will try to get posts up, I’m just doing my best not to let the quality suffer.

When I reviewed the Midori Days Volume 1 DVD I mentioned that the way I watch anime is changing. I think it’s because I’m writing anime reviews. When I watch an anime now I don’t just sit there and enjoy it. I’m actively looking for things to write about. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

Oh it has it’s good points. I notice more about what I’m watching now. I’m beginning to recognize some of the names in the credits, more than before anyway. I think I’m even beginning to like more types of anime. I’m just not sure if I’m enjoying it as much as I used to.

I still enjoy anime, I’m just wondering if I would have gotten more enjoyment out of some of the shows I’ve watched recently if I wasn’t sizing it up in my head. Would I be more forgiving of an anime’s faults if I wasn’t trying to decide if I should recommend it? Would you judge something more harshly if you knew you would be giving your opinion of it?

Perhaps it has nothing to do with the reviews or the blog. Maybe I’m just becoming more demanding as an anime viewer. It could just be the natural evolution of anime fandom. Could I be desensitizing myself to the simple joys of animation? That’s not a pleasant thought. I certainly hope that’s not it.

Have you noticed anything like this? Have you become more critical of anime the more you watch it? Should I be worried about this?

Fell free to leave a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Anime, Otaku, Evolution, Blogging, Critic

I’ve got some questions for you. Would you be interested in more giveaways on AnimeFansOnline? I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about contests and giveaways lately. Maybe it’s because I’m doing a book giveaway at Fanatic Space. Whatever got me thinking about it, I’ve come up with a couple of ideas.

Grab Bag

I’ve been buying a lot of manga since I started writing for Anime Fans Online. I kinda have to. I can’t review it otherwise. So far I’m not important enough to get review copies from the manga publishers. If that changes then this idea gets even better.

I’m thinking about starting a regular grab bag giveaway on Anime Fans Online. I’ll take the manga and stuff that I get for reviews and put it in a grab bag. Every so often I’ll write up a grab bag post, all comments on it would be entered to win some free manga. The prize is a random pick. I don’t know what your getting and neither do you, but… hey, free stuff!

Gift Certificates

The old standby, I’ve done it before. Enter and win $XX amount at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or some other online store. This is a no brainer. It’s easy for me to do, and you can buy what you want. If I decide to do this, don’t expect a huge amount. It’ll probably be in the $15 to $25 range. That’s enough to buy a couple manga or an anime DVD. Not bad.

What do you think?

I’d really appreciate your input on this. So I’ve got a couple of questions for you.

• Think the grab bag is a good idea or would you rather get a gift certificate?
• What about doing both on an alternating schedule?
• Do you have any other ideas for giveaways?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

General, Opinion, Anime, Manga, Giveaway, Contest, Free Stuff, Grab Bag

As of yesterday, January 8 2008, Anime Fans Online is 8 months old. I thought it was worth taking a look back.

May 2007

I was still new to the blog format when I started writing for AFO. I’m still learning, and I hope I’m still getting better at it. Looking at my first few post makes me realize how much I’ve learned. I’ll always be grateful to 451Press for helping me with that.

In my first review for AFO I covered the Japanese version of the Powerpuff Girls. It’s kind of an odd show if you watched the original on Cartoon Network.

I even tried my hand at writing an editorial type post. I wrote a post about the English dub of Ghost Stories. Well, it’s more of a rant really. I’m still kind of surprised that sort of thing still happens during the dubbing process.

June 2007

After writing for a while I changed things up. I introduced Otaku Lessons with an explanation of the difference between Hentai and Ecchi. I still get some search hits from that one. I guess hentai is a pretty popular search term.

I even started to post some Youtube videos.

Beck Opening Theme

Video by Youtube user kaoru1

I still love that song. The Beat Crusaders rock.

July 2007

I tried to get some feedback from all of you. I tried a not so subtle anime poll. Then I just came out and asked what you wanted.

I even tried to jump on the lolcat bandwagon. Didn’t really work out.

August 2007

I had fun putting together the post about Gigantor and Big O. I think that’s when I stopped agonizing over the posts and started to relax a little bit. I think that helped.

That’s also when I found the Genshiken manga. I love that manga.

September 2007

My first working trip to a con was Dragon*Con 2007. I met Vic Mignogna and quickly became a fan.

I also picked up some goodies for AFO readers. I held a contest and gave away 2 autographed copies of the Fullmetal Alchemist movie Conqueror of Shambala.

I had some problems getting those to the winners. I’m just grateful they were so understanding about it.

October 2007

I got my first request for a post. A friend of mine wanted some suggestions about anime she could watch with her daughter. I found a few family friendly anime for her.

Soon I got another request, so I started asking questions again. It’s a lot easier to write a blog when you know what your readers want. See how much I’ve learned? *L*

November 2007

In November I posted my thoughts on anime piracy. I’d been thinking about that for a while. I still believe it would work.

I also posted some Death Note wallpaper. It’s simple, but I like it. I’m still using it on my computer.

December 2007

I wrote a lot of reviews in December, but I did find some interesting news. I also found the very first manga that I really hate.

January 2008

Well, this month has just started. I’ve only written a few posts. I’m not sure what 2008 will bring. I’m just hoping to see some awesome anime.

Anime Fans Online, Opinion, 8 Months

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m running late, but I had to post this. The trailer for the live-action Speed Racer movie is online. It looks amazing. Go check it out.

Speed Racer Trailer

Merry Christmas!

Today I’m looking into one of the most talked about, argued about, cheered and maligned aspects of anime. Voice acting. While I’ll be talking about dubs, this is something that even die-hard sub only anime fans might relate to. The actors and languages may be different, but I bet we’ve all run into this before.

Recognize him?

The Black Ranger in that clip is Adam Park, played by Johnny Yong Bosch. Even if you’re not a Power Rangers fan, you might recognize some other characters he’s played.

• Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach
• Vash the Stampede, Trigun
• Kiba, Wolf’s Rain
• Renton Thurston, Eureka Seven

That’s just a few.

I’m pointing out some of his anime roles as an example. I’m sure we’ve all recognized someone’s voice and thought “Hey, that’s (character name)!”. When I hear Johnny Yong Bosch in an anime I think “Hey, that’s Ichigo!”. Even though I watched Mighty Morphin Power Rangers when he was on the show, and I never made the connection. Even though I’d seen all of Trigun long before I ever saw a single episode of Bleach. So why don’t I think “Hey, that’s the second Black Ranger!” or “Hey, that’s Vash!”? I think it’s about connections and association.

Who’s Who

For some reason Johnny Yong Bosch is Ichigo Kurosaki, at least to me. The same way that Steven Blum is Spike Spiegel. The same way that Vic Mignogna is Edward Elric. For one reason or another those characters just wouldn’t be the same without those voice actors. They nailed it. They were perfect.

What about you? Are there any voice actors who are, and always will be, a particular character to you? What characters cross your mind when you think “Hey, that’s (character name)!”?

Anime, Sub, Dub, Voice Actors, Johnny Yong Bosch, Steven Blum, Vic Mignogna, Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach, Vash the Stampede, Trigun, Kiba, Wolf’s Rain, Renton Thurston, Eureka Seven, Black Ranger, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Just wanted to let you know a couple things. I finally got the first 2 DVDs of Case Closed in the mail. So I can write up the review that Rechelle from Celebrity Fashion Watch requested. I’m going to try to write a thorough review. I’m thinking of using this to test out a different way to write up my reviews. We’ll see.

I also wanted to let you know that I’m trying to get the posts up despite the schedule problems I’m having. I know the posts aren’t going up at the normal time, I apologize for that. I’ll try to get things back to normal as soon as possible.

I’d also like to apologize if you’ve encountered pop ups on AnimeFansOnline recently. It seems that the folks in the office at 451Press were doing some server load tests. The method they chose to do this was to put a pop up on all the sites. That sort of thing is beyond my control, but I’m still sorry about it.

Anime Fans Online, General, Announcements, Case Closed, Schedule, Pop Ups, Apology

Well, it looks like the writer’s strike has started. Don’t worry, it’s not anime or manga writers going on strike. Shoot, they just got a union. That would be a bit too soon. Nope, this is a strike of American film and TV writers. So what are the American people gonna watch?

Anime

I thought I’d help out by pointing people towards some anime programs they might like based on the TV shows they might be missing soon. Now would be a good time to sign up for an anime rental plan. If you don’t already have one that is.

Medical Drama Like shows like House or ER? Then check this out. Yeah, this category is pretty thin. Unless you want hentai. Lot’s of naughty nurses in Japan apparently.
• Black Jack A doctor with a mysterious past who solves impossible cases. If the dude has a cane I think he might be House.

Crime and Suspense

• Case Closed Ok, the thing where he gets turned into a kid is a bit of a stretch, but no more than that freakin’ impossible hologram on Bones. Plus, the crimes in Case Closed are more believable.
• City Hunter This one is more action oriented. A classic with tons of shows and movies.

Sci-Fi

• Star Blazers Another classic. Since Battlestar Galactica has been pushed back you might want to check this one out. A lone ship in search of a mythical planet during an unwinnable galactic war. Sound familiar?
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Ghost in the shell is a great replacement for the Bionic Woman. Shoot, it’s better than the Bionic Woman, you should be watching it anyway. The second season, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG plays on Cartoon Network’s [adult swim] programming block.

The Office Yeah, this is a category of it’s own. There’s really no substitute for The Office. Even the original British show is very different.

• Salaryman Kintaro “…the strangest salaryman in all of Japan.“
• Hataraki Man Slice of life in an office.

If the strike goes on for a while, you won’t have anything better to watch anyway. So check out some anime.

Anime, TV, Writer’s Strike, Writers Strike, House, ER, The Office, Bionic Woman, Battlestar Galactica

After reading Bleach in the issues of Shonen Jump I found, I got to thinking. Did I read 2 issues of spoilers? Should I avoid reading the manga until I’ve finished the anime? What about the other way, stop watching the anime until I finish the manga? Would it really spoil anything for me if I read ahead? What about the handful of titles that are finished, but were in production for years and years? That doesn’t even take into account the many ongoing manga and anime that are being released at the same time.

Aaaargggh!

Those are some pretty tough questions for a poor otaku like me to answer. It’s even harder when I love the anime and the manga. If I liked one better than the other I wouldn’t have such a problem. I’d just skip the one I liked less and wait until the one I liked better was finished. Then I’d have something to look forward to once it was over.

This is the first time I’ve really had this problem. When it comes to books, even a series like Harry Potter, it’s not that big of a problem. Movies and books have a long gap between episodes. I can finish a book series before the next movie, or at least the next book. Anime and manga usually come out a bit quicker.

What do you think? Is it better to take it one at a time and decide between the manga or the anime? Am I just over thinking things? What do you do?

Ugh. I’m having trouble deciding and I haven’t even read the Naruto manga in those issues yet.

Anime, Manga, Otaku, Shonen Jump, Spoilers, Bleach, Naruto, Harry Potter

Wow, a lot of cool news on Anime News Network this week. Some pretty cool stuff going on. Let’s jump right in.

• Wired Manga

  The November issue of Wired magazine, on sale now, contains a guide to manga. The best part is the guide is a manga. It makes sense. A lot of Otaku are pretty tech savvy. I’m might have to pick up a copy. If I do I’ll be sure to let you know what I think about it.

• Witchblade Anime Has Best Opening Week of 2007, Kinda.

  Looks like FUNimation jumped the gun when they announced that the Witchblade anime’s first week sales were the best in 2007 so far. Turns out that the sales are the best so far, but not for the first week. Yeah, I can see Witchblade doing very well. There’s already a sizable fanbase for the comics. Add the anime fans that aren’t familiar with Witchblade picking up a copy and you have a hit. That’s a no brainer.

• More Live-Action Anime Magic

  Looks like Negi Springfield isn’t the only magical manga star to move into live action lately. Someday Dreamers is getting a Live-Action movie. It’ll be released in Japan next year. I really wish we had more imports of thing like this. I’d really like to be able to rent this on DVD. I’d love to be able to buy a DVD set of the Negima TV show too. I got my fingers crossed.

• Japan is Pissed at You

  If you watch anime online. Yep, all those anime download sites have finally done it. Japan has asked the US government to look into doing something about all the anime on Youtube and other user upload sites. US otaku that use file sharing sites to download anime might want to think about what they’re doing before the FBI knocks on their door. US relations with Japan are pretty good, if the Japanese government makes a request like that then you know the US government will look into it.

• Yahoo! Japan Now Includes Free manga

  Now if only they’d add the same thing to other versions of Yahoo! that would be even better. You know they could do that very easily. There’s tons of manga that haven’t been licensed in the US. Yahoo could obtain the online English rights to a few of those and make a killing. Will they? I doubt it.

• Trailer for Magikano is Online

  ADV has the Magikano trailer up. Looks pretty good. Don’t be surprised to see a review of it sometime in the future. It looks like something I’d like.

• Twins Jailed for Targeting Otaku

  The otaku in Akihabara are a little safer now. Twins who were targeting them for extortion have received jail time.

• Tokyopop Gets Jumps on the Live-Action Bandwagon

  Well, if the live-action manga won’t be imported from Japan, we’ll just make our own. Tokyopop already prints the American version of Ikki Tousen under the name Battle Vixens. Now they’re planning to make a live-action version. I really hope they get it right. If it does well this could open the doors for Negima, Someday Dreamers and others to come to America.

• Afro Samurai Gets Second Season and It’s Coming to America

  The hit anime gets a second season and SpikeTV already plans to air it in America. Boooya. Even more reason to love SpikeTV. Now if only they’d add some more anime to their lineup.

• Starz Edge Gets Weekly Anime

  Starz already provides the anime programs for SciFi Channels AniMonday programming block. Now that Starz has an anime block of their own, will it mean SciFi will cancel theirs? Will SciFi get the crappy stuff Starz doesn’t want to show themselves?

Anime, Manga, News, TV, Movies, Comics, Otaku News, Live-Action, Live Action