AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Question:
I aspire to work in the animation field. I’m still really young and naive and therefore have no idea where to start especially since I’m Canadian and in no way directly connected to Japan and their companies. So I was wondering, in the animation business, who has the most say in the plot and characters of the anime, the director or screenplay writer? I would like to write my own anime and would still like some say in other areas other then just the plot. If I were to start writing my own anime series, should I attempt to do so in novel form or like a script? I’m not really sure how to go about it. I know it is a very collaborative profession but would like to begin as soon as possible even if that means I’ll be doing most of the development myself. Any advice on how I should begin properly?

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Question:
Spoilers Within!
While there have been several anime and manga where a major protagonist has gone over to the villain’s side (often for altruistic motives such as protecting a loved one or to act as a double agent). There doesn’t seem to be many anime or manga where a major protagonist has become one of the main villains. One notable example of this are the recent events unfolding in Naruto, where Sasuke Uchiha, once a major protagonist has become over the course of the second part of the series, a main villain. While there have been instances when a major protagonist has become a villain, it is mostly short lived. An example is Vegeta in the final saga of DBZ where he allowed himself to be taken over in hopes of regaining his former power before joining Goku’s party. Only for few chapters later he sacrifice himself to try and destroy Majin Buu to atone for his mistake in helping to resurrect him. In Fullmetal Alchemist Ling Yao in his search for immortality becomes the new Greed and allows him to take over his body. Later on though he rejoins the hero’s side but becomes something of an anti-hero by wanting to become the ruler of the world by killing his original creator. I was wondering if there has been other anime or manga where a major protagonist ended becoming a major villain.
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Question:
There have been numerous reports recently about the Chinese media copying -nearly panel for panel- Japanese anime series and passing them off as their own series. What do Japanese fans and the industry feel about this? And why are copyright laws so completely unenforced in China (which is now the 2nd/3rd largest economy on the planet, and doesn’t need to be cheap about stealing anime)? If an American company were to produce and rip off Naruto with a series “Nharuto” that looked 99% identical, then there’s no way they’d be able to get away with it without having their pants sued off.

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Question:
How has One Piece fared as a series spanning over 400 episodes so far, in your opinion? In other words, what I’d like to know is how well the story has progressed, how consistent the animation has been, if there are pacing issues, things like that. I’ve gotten several adamant recommendations, but I’m unsure if it’s worth it to make the necessary investment in such a long show that, from what I’ve heard, is still nowhere near a conclusion.

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Question:
I was reading and laughing at the “Laws of Anime Physics,” but they brought up an interesting point – that Spike Spiegel was the first main character to die in an anime, and that a bunch of shows copied that story arc for a number of years. So I wanted to know, do you know any anime before Cowboy Bebop where the main character dies in the last episode?

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Question:
Outside of the Gokusen, which to me seems more like a GTO clone, are there any animes that are yakuza centered?

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Question:
A collector just paid over a million dollars for a copy of Detective Comics #27. So then, the question remains… what anime hobby-related item would you be willing to pay $1.08 million dollars for?

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Question:
I had the fortune of meeting you on the very first “Pop Japan” tour in 2003, where you were kind enough to allow me and a few others to tag along on outings to some places the tour could never have accommodated. I now live in Ikebukuro and have a son – adopted – age 11. After watching my son fall into a disappointing cycle of Conan, Keroro and Combat Butler, I would like to ask for your help. I’m trying to find a show that doesn’t go on for years and years, something we might both enjoy (me: sci-fi, guyish action) that’s new enough he won’t feel its age in the artwork.

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Question:
Why is black cat so similar to Cowboy Bebop? It’s bounty hunters with pasts. Train & Spike are both ex-members of a gang. Sven & Jet are both ex-police officers who lost body parts in the line of duty. Rinslet & Faye are both attractive women who sometimes use their looks to get what they want. Eve & Ed are both children with special abilities. Saya & Julia are both dead love interests for the leads. Creed & Vicious are both villains who worked for a gang then overthrew the leader or tried to. Granted, there are differences in the story, but I was wondering are the same writers on both shows or what?

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Question:
I see a pattern among mecha shows. Godannar, Gravion, Giant Robo, Gao Gai Gar, GoLion, Getter Robo. The list goes on. Is there a reason that robots (and thus the series) often starts with “G” something? Some Japanese custom I’m missing? Or does it just sound so much cooler that way?

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Question:
I recently saw the series Ghost Hunt and was really pleased with it. My usual viewing habits are of harem/comedy shows, so I am quite unfamiliar with other types of shows. Is there any other shows similar to Ghost Hunt that involve ghosts, paranormal stuff, and mysteries and such that you could recommend? Preferably, though, none that are too overly serious or graphic. I have seen Boogiepop Phantom, Ghost Stories, Phantom Quest Corp, and Haunted Junction. Boogiepop Phantom is a bit closer to the serious side that I’m not quite interested in, if that helps in making a recommendation. Currently unlicensed shows are fine to recommend too, if you know of some that aren’t available in the US right now.

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Question:
Where did OVAs disappear in the 00’s? In the 80’s and 90’s there was lots of gorgeous and peculiars one shot stories and just thinking what we got in 00’s is that most of them are different TV series sequels. Did those animation productions died just before the millennium or what?

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Question:
Should I keep buying anime on DVD, or should I start buying Blue-ray format?

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Question:
Does “third time the charm” finally apply to Fist of the North Star? While the movie has had a cult following here, the show and the manga have had problems catching on in the U.S. Changed opening aside, Manga’s DVDs had higher episode counts than the norm for singles back then, and the series still bombed for the company! And yet, Discotek has pressed on with the goal of releasing the series in four chunks. While sales might be helped by Fist finally getting “mass” exposure in the U.S. via Crunchyroll, Zac at Anime News Network might have a point about how viewers might be more reluctant to pay for what they can currently get for free.

Nonetheless, the optimist in me thinks Fist TV is actually getting re-released at the right time. Not just because there’s a potential newer fan-base for the franchise, but because there’s a sort of zeitgeist appeal to his character which might not have existed 8-12 years ago. I’m hoping Discotek exploits it; outside of “Taken,” there’s definitely been a serious lack of a well-received “Death Wish”-like archetype consumers can embrace. And given the anger over the bank bail-outs and tepid economic recovery, Kenshiro satiates that public need for vindication which did not exist until now. Does that argument sound plausible?

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Question:
I was wondering if you know which anime are only available on VHS? I need a list.

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