Anime and Animation References and Resources


dkikemi.www9.50megs.com/anime_ref.html


Calendar of Asian American events in LA, Excel format

One of my pet peeves is procuring anime merchandise and books. To get stuff at reasonable prices, try the bookstores and toy stores that cater to the expatriate Japanese community. The stuff at conventions is sometimes incredibly marked up, although there are some bargains. Some of the local (LA) places I've had luck at are listed below. Also listed are some reference books:

Here are some recommended books and periodicals:


  • The Anime Encyclopedia by Jonathan Clemenets and Helen McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 2001, $24.95. 545 pages of 2000 representative titles. A quick look at the book indicates that it is riddled with plot inaccuracies. However, it does give a general idea of what's going on. It does include some titles that never made it to the US, or are long forgotten. I like it.

  • The Anime! Movie Guide by Helen McCarthy, The Overlook Press, 1997, $17.95. An English view of Anime, from the former editor of the now defunct Anime FX. Not exhaustive, but includes a lot of stuff not normally available in the US.

  • The Complete Anime Guide, 2nd ed., by Trish Ledoux and Doug Ranney, Tiger Mountain Press, 1997, $19.95. Only lists stuff available commercially in the US.

  • The Anime Companion by Gilles Poitras, Stone Bridge Press, 1999. An encyclopedia of all those strange things you see in anime.

  • The Erotic Anime Movie Guide by Helen McCarthy and Jonathan Clements, Titan Books, 1998. Includes a lot of info on NON-erotic anime, so I include it here. Includes a listing for Little Witch Sally, which was still playing on Italian TV when I visited Ravenna.

  • Hayao Miyazaki, Master of Japanese Animation, by Helen McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 1999. Doesn't cover all of the works of Ghibli, just the ones Miyazaki worked on.

  • Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke, Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation by Susan J. Napier, Palgrave, 2001, ISBN 0-312-23863. I haven't read this since I just bought it, but it looks interesting.

  • Anime Explosion, The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation by Patrick Drazen, Stone Bridge Press, 2003, ISBN I-880656-72-8.

  • Adult Manga by Sharon Kinsella, University of Hawaii Press, 2000.ISBN 0-8248-2318-4

  • Dreamland Japan, Writings on Modern Manga, by Frederick Schodt, Stone Bridge Press, 1996. This book is of course a follow on to:

  • Manga! Manga!, The World of Japanese Comics, by Frederick Schodt, Kodansha, 1983.

  • Takarazuka, Sexual Politics and Popular Culture in Modern Japan, by Jennifer Robinson, Univ. of California Press, 1998. You can find this at a place such as Kinokuniya or order from Amazon.

  • Office Ladies and Salaried Men, Power, Gender, and Work in Japanese Companies by Yuko Ogasawara, publ. by University of Calif. Press, 1998. Available from the Univ. of Calif. Press website.

  • Survival in the Office, the Evolution of Japanese Working Women by Risu Akisuki, publ. By Kodansha, 1999. I've seen five volumes. Bilingual manga can be ordered from Kinokuniya and Asahiyas now seem to stock all volumes. There are 14 or more volumes in the original Japanese. These little books are really cute and funny.

  • Reflections on the Way to the Gallows, Rebel Women in Prewar Japan ed. by Mikiso Hane, University of California Press, 1988, ISBN 0-520-08421-7. Those aggressive anime heroines have a foundation in recent Japanese history. Women in Japan demonstrated, were tortured, imprisoned, and executed for their beliefs, remaining defiant to the very end.

  • AnimeFantastique was a quarterly publication from the same people who bring you CineFantastique. Started Spring 1999 issue which was out at the end of 1998. Included non-Japanese animation such as Prince of Egypt. Long articles on Captain Tylor. Unfortunately, this periodical folded after only four issues, but they were good issues.

  • Manga Max started in Dec. 1998, but issue one is actually issue 47 of the former Manga Mania, an English publication. In spite of the title, contained anime and Hong Kong film info. Nothings seems to bother the English, perverted sex or blasphemy, but don't you dare say anything positive about Nazis! Unfortunately, this one is out of production as of issue 20. Back issues are worth finding. Back issues of Anime UK (which became Anime FX) are also worth it, but difficult to locate and very expensive. The English have always had the best hobby publications.

  • Old periodicals to looke for include Animenominous, Animag, and VMax. Anime UK (later Anime FX) was a classic and back issues on ebay are worth getting. (12-7-2003)

  • Animerica is an old standby, but I stopped buying it for a while since it got fairly boring. Articles lack the depth or interest of other periodicals, but it has been improving. Sort of the "Time" magazine of the anime world. More Viz stuff online at www.viz.com.

  • Protoculture Addicts is a wonderful French Canadian publication . The release schedule seems to random, but this is a must buy. Probably the best English language anime periodical. (11-02-2002)

  • The American version of Newtype seems to be surviving. Issue zero, produced by ADV, was being given away during cons in 2002. Starting with issue 1 an independent company is supposed to be producing it. Comes with a DVD and it is not cheap! Even an annual subscription is nearly $100. However, it does seem to have plenty of content. My experience with the subscription service has been terrible, and I probably won't renew. I'll have to buy it through a comic book store or Tower Records.(12/7/2003)

  • Wizard Anime Invasion is surprisingly good and worth a look. Started off as a quarterly and is now bi-monthly.


    Diversity in Anime Some of these links may be dead now, but they give you an idea of how anime appeals to very diverse viewpoints.