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NEWS

News update of 2-18-01
News update of 01-15-01
News update of 10-11-00
News update of 7-6-00
News update of 5-28-00
News update of 2-29-00
News update of 12-15-99
News update of 10-4-99
News update of 8-20-99
News update of 7-15-99 & 7-21-99
News update of 6-3-99
News update of 3-26-99 & 3-28-99
News update of 2-14-99
News update of 11-17-98
News update of 10-25-98 & 10-27-98
News update of 10-8-98
News update of 7-22-98 and 4-25-98
News update of 4-21-98
News update of 2-17-98 and 1-28-98
News update of 12-12-97, 01-01-98, 01-15-98
News update of 11-19-97
News update of 9-16-97
News update of 5-27-97
News update of 4-9-97
News update of 3-27-97
News update of 3-23-97
News update of 1-13-97

Just a few words to say that PA#64 has now shipped to everyone. As usual, you can have a look on its table of contents, presentation and web links. We have also introduced a new front page for PA #64. Eventually, each issue will have a similar front page, which should make things clearer for everybody by concentrating all the information at the same place.

I have also made quite an update on the web page. First, all the information for PA#63 have been put online (see the table of contents, presentation and web links). I have also re-structured the Protoculture Addicts index: a main index (and its illustrated version) replaces the old "latest" and "previous" issues sections. The same has been done for Mecha Press' index. It shows well the progression of each magazine...

I have also updated the catalog section with new products and added some manga in English. More products will be added soon when we get our latest shipment of French manga... However, this section will get a MAJOR revision when we will upgrade the online catalog with the possibility of direct online purchasing with credit cards in a couple of months. But that will happens only when we will have moved to our new internet host in early March. Then, the web page will start getting faster and bigger. Stay tuned!

The next update will soon include a new "Suggested Web Pages" section and the opening of the new, updated, Anime Guide section -- BTW, the book is NOW AVAILABLE! You should check it out...

I would have tons of other things to say, but I must go back to work, doing more web site updates and starting the layout for PA#65!

Take care and keep watching anime!

Claude J. Pelletier
02-18-01

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Anyway, Anime: A Guide To Japanese Animation (1958-1988) is now available. I'm quite happy with it and mostly relieved that it is finally done. Please, check it out (click here)! We will try to update the web site in the following weeks, after we finish the layout of Protoculture Addicts #64.

Claude J. Pelletier
15-01-01

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As usual, you can have a look on the latest PA's table of contents, presentation and web links.

Enjoy! I'm going back to work right away...

Claude J. Pelletier
10-11-00

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I feel that the coming summer will be totally hellish! So many things to do! Martin will be in vacation for a little more than a week, and, during that period, I (and my adorable wife) will have to take care of our booths at ComicFest (July 9th at the Delta Montreal, 475 President Kennedy, Montreal, from 10:00 to 17:00), the shipping of PA#61 (which is expected back from the printer around July 14th and should ship to distributors, stores and subscribers not later than July 17th) and cover the Fantasia Film Festival! Of course, that's only the beginning, since I also have to take care of tons of administrative tasks (accounting, running after advertisers, etc.), give the final touch to our great book Anime: A Guide To Japanese Animation (because I REALLY want it released for CNanime -- for which we also have to prepare...)! And we must not forget to work, at the same time, on the layout of PA#62 (mostly about Turn A Gundam, Detective Conan (which will play on Fox in Fall) and the summer conventions & festivals -- that issue would have theorically been released for CNanime, but, realistically, it will probably be release around mid-September)... Arrgh!

Anyway, for now you can have a look on PA#61's table of contents, presentation and web links. I am not totally satisfied with the cover, but it was a change of last minute because ADV (who was experiencing some staff changes) couldn't provide us with an interesting cover art and our (very busy) artist did his best on such a short notice. I also made some little changes (and, hopefully, improvements) in the layout. However, content-wise, this issue is very strong and I think you should like it (in any case, please give us some feedback)! That issue is a little late (as usual, tons of little problems caused delays -- and on top of that the printing was delayed by a combination of several holidays where the printer was closed!); it was supposed to be released for Anime North, but we had to finish it after the convention. However, this is not totally bad, since we were able to gather some news at Anime North, and also to incorporate some last minute news from Anime Expo!

One last comment: if you live at a reasonable distance from Montreal, you must not miss Fantasia: The Montreal's International Festival Of Fantasy, Action and Genre Cinema. It is held again at the Imperial Cinema (1430 de Bleury, near Metro Place-Des-Arts) from July 13 to July 31. Individual tickets are $6, the Festival Pass are $75 and booklets of 10 tickets are $40. This year the festival is showing just a few but the best anime movies: A.LI.CE (a cute 3D anime), Blood: The Last Vampire (a full-digital feature film directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo (who will be present at the festival), on an original concept by Mamoru Oshii, released by Production I.G.), Vampire Hunter D (a remake of the 1985 movie recently re-released by Urban Vision, based on designs by Yoshitaka Amano and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri) and Albator Le Film (Captain Harlock). They are also showing lots of great Japanese movies: The Audition (Takashi Miike), The Black House, Chaos (Hideo Nakata), Dead Or Alive (Takashi Miike), Experimental Film, Freeze Me (Takashi Ishii), Gemini (Shinya Tsukamoto), Godzilla vs Monster Zero, I.K.U. (a sci-fi porno), Mothra 3, Ring 0, Son Of Godzilla, Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey, and Uzumaki. They are also showing movies from Hong Kong (2000 AD, Bullet Over Summer, Juliet In Love, The Mission (Johnnie To), Running Out Of Time (Johnnie To), The Victim (Ringo Lam)), Korea (Attack The Gaz Station, Lies), Taiwan (Legend Of The Sacred Stone -- a kong-fu muppet movie), Thailand (Nang Nak) and even India (Muthu)! Many guests will be present! It will be a great festival so, where ever you are, come see those movies! For more information check www.fantasiafest.com.

Claude J. Pelletier
07-06-00

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Anyway, PA#60 shipped around May 8th. It has been in stores for a while now and subscribers should have received their copies... If you want to have an idea of what it talks about check its table of contents, its presentation and web links.

PA#61 is going well and should ship by the end of June (if there's no major problem). I will be at Anime North, in Toronto, from June 16 to 18. See you there if you can make it!

Claude J. Pelletier
05-28-00

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Gee! I am so exhausted! That last few months have been even busier, with lots of events, many problems (computer bugs -- well, a new OS, return of my kidney problems, etc.), a depressing winter, which have been all mentally and physically tiring... Anyway, so what's new lately... I am now equiped to play Japanese DVDs, so now we will be able to review even more new stuff from Japan! I've check the live-action AND anime version of GTO and it is really great! We'll talk about it, probably in PA#61. Our book, Anime: A Guide To Japanese Animation, has been much more work than expected and is quite late. It has been resolicited for distribution and should now be available in June 2000. We are about to change our internet provider for a faster and more reliable service. We have recently received a new shipment of French manga. Check our catalog for details.

Finally, PA#59 (a HUGE issue about Gundam, particularly Gundam W) is at the printer and should ship next week (around March 6^th). As usual, you can have a look on its table of contents, its presentation and web links. Enjoy!

Claude J. Pelletier
02-29-00

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PA#58 shipped between December 2nd and 6th. It should be in stores by now and subscribers should received it soon (mail, you know, it's slow). As usual, you can have a look on its table of contents, its presentation and web links. Some other little extra will be added soon on the web page.

I also did a major update on the catalog. We received a bunch of new toys & models as well as another shipment of French manga. Including the GOLDORAK manga (for those who were impatiently awaiting for it). Hopefully, we'll get more soon.

Now, you will excuse me, I have tons of administrative paperwork to finish, the PA#59 to start, some clean-up to do before Christmas, a few computer problems to solve, and the layout for the Anime Guide is late... Ciao and have an Happy Holidays!

Claude J. Pelletier
12-15-99

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PA#57 is now at the printer and will start shipping by the middle of next week and should be in stores or in your mailboxes by mid-October. Please have a look on its table of contents, its presentation and web links.

For the local people, we will be at ComicFest (Montreal's Delta Hotel) next weekend (Oct. 9) to showcase the newest issue and the Tonkam manga.

Claude J. Pelletier
10-04-99

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Check our catalog! We just received some manga in French from Tonkam (Bouddha, Cyber Weapon Z, DNA², Fushigi Yuugi, Tokyo Babylon and Video Girl Ai) !!! We will start selling them at CNanime in Toronto on August 27^th and they will be available for order (with more stock) in September.

If you can, come see us at CNanime! We will also attend the Montreal's ComicFest (held probably on October 10).

Claude J. Pelletier
08-20-99

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I just did a minor update to the catalog, mainly adding PA#56 and closing the Animeland, Models and Miscellaneous sections -- since most of those products are on the road for the summer conventions. They will be back in September, probably with more interesting stuff!

Our first convention of the summer, Anime North, was a real nightmare! The convention itself was great and I enjoyed a lot seeing again all those people from the Canadian anime fandom (although I would have been happier without learning -- and sometime being cought in-between -- about convention's machination & politics, and quarels between certain individuals). However, the convention was for us a commercial disaster. We shipped all our products earlier to the hotel where the convention was held (Ramada Hotel) and they lost everything!!! I arrived there Friday at 16h00 and, after hours of supposedly looking everywhere, the Ramada personel sweared they had received nothing. I went downtown Toronto (a nearly one hour drive in traffic) to check at Greyhound. After a while, they provide me the proof that the packages were indeed delivered at the Ramada Hotel. I came back to the Hotel with the proof. After a very quick check in the storage room, our stuff is easily found (and they said they had look everywhere for it!). At 21h00, we are starting setting up our tables in the dealers' room, which closed at 22h00. We missed the sales on the entire first day, and that made the difference between making some money and barely breaking even. Damn!

I have noticed a couple of mistakes in the last issues. In PA#55, page 60, we say that Blue Submarine No 6 is released by A.D. Vision. That's a stupid mistake (I was probably VERY tired when I wrote that) since everybody knows that it is released by AnimeVillage.com (Bandai). Sorry about that. Also, in PA#56, page 5, we say that Fant-Asia festival will show Princess Mononoke. When I heard about it, it was not confirmed yet and, unfortunately, I just learned that Princess Mononoke will not be an official presentation of the festival... ;)

By the way, I have created yesterday a section offering the list of movies that will be shown at Fant-Asia '99, as well as the schedule. Check it out! It also gives a link to the Official web page of the festival (which should be available next week). In the meantime, our little section offers an easy way to check the schedule. If you are near the Montreal area, you MUST come to the festival! That's where I'll be in the next few weeks...

PA#56 is arriving tomorrow and will ship next week. Be patient, it is a very nice issue with lots of good stuff. And don't forget to give us some feedback. I am not getting much mail lately...

Claude J. Pelletier
07-15-99 (20h30)

Wow! When I told myself that summer will be hell, I was thinking about the enormous load of work we had before us: keep our schedule for the magazine, work on our book Anime: A Guide To Japanese Animation, and prepare ourselves for the summer conventions. I was right about that (and it is far form finished!), but it was also totally true in another way: the summer is so HOT and humid that it is sometimes unbearable if you don't have air conditioning. I wish we had one...

Anyway, PA#56 is expected from the printer friday and should ship next week. It should be in your hands before the end of the month. In the meantime, as usual, you can have a preview through its table of contents and its presentation. More news later... Now, back to work.

Claude J. Pelletier
07-15-99 (1h20)

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As preview, check its contents and presentation. Now, which is quite incredible, PA#56 is very advanced and should go to the printer before the end of June, so you will probably get it around mid-July. That's fast. However, the next one after that won't be before September, because of the summer conventions and the fact that we must work on the book Anime; A Guide to Japanese Animation that should ship in Fall (probably October). Don't forget to check our catalog (it should be updated in a couple of days) and give us some feedback!

Claude J. Pelletier
06-03-99

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I just did a first set of updates on the catalog. More to come soon...

Claude J. Pelletier
03-28-99

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Just a few words to tell you that PA#54 has finally shipped out and should be in stores by the end of March. Subscribers might get it a little later (early April) since the postal service is sometimes quite slow...

We've been delayed by the usual problems (lots of computer glitches and tons of other projects to oversee), but it is still relatively on time. I've just updated the webpage with all the information related to this new issue: table of contents, presentation, etc. Please have a look. The webpage will be updated with more stuff (particularly the catalog) in the following days...

Claude J. Pelletier
03-26-99

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The end of 1998 was quite busy (hey! we produced 3 issues in 4 months!). It was necessary for us to catch up on our late schedule. On that we were rather successful. For the beginning of 1999, I was hoping to rest a little, but it has been even more buzy because we had lots of projects to work at the same time (like producing the issue #54, which should go to press this week and be available by mid-March or working on the layout of our next big project: the English translation of the Italian book Anime. Guida Al Cinema d'Animazione Giapponese, an incledible reference book of about 300 pages listing the anime produced in the first 30 years of its history). Of course, we have been plagued by the usual cycle of health problems (hard case of flu), depression (the import market for French anime & manga is sooo slooow to develop and the manga are so hard to get from the French publishers -- my humble apologies for all those who have order some manga and are still waiting for them; we are still waiting for them too!) and I had many personal matter to take care of (you would be surprised of the amount of paperwork needed for a marriage!), so I couldn't update the web page for a while.

Now it is done. Sorry for the delay. Here you can now find all the information on issue #53 that shipped around Christmas to the distributors and in early January for the subscribers (along with the various product's orders): its table of contents and presentation.

The next update will be for the Catalog, the Anime Guide and PA#54.

Take care and Happy Valentine Day!

Claude J. Pelletier
02-14-99

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Protoculture Addicts #52 is coming back from the printer this week and will ship around November 23. Here, you can peek at its Contents. I have updated only the sections related to this new issue. We are already hard at work on PA#53. We hope to catch up a little of our delays and PA#53 should be relatively on time (at least it will be released much closer to the previously announced date). It will go to the printer in the first week of December in order to ship before Christmas and it should be available before the end of December.

All the rush and overnight work of the last weeks seems to have awaken my back pain (and my kidney's problem) that had kept quiet for a while. This is pissing me off, because I thought I was getting over it. Now I feel quite tired (it's really not the time since I am so busy this week: shipping of PA#52, layout of PA#53, etc.) Anyway, I have an appointment with the kidney specialist later this week for more test. We'll see.

On the other hand, I am quite happy, because my ladyfriend is coming back from California for Christmas! We will have a great announcement to make very soon.

I have received the masters for the French subtitled video of Escaflowne Vol. 2 and Vampire Hunter Vol. 2. I will put them in duplication as soon as we have a reasonable amount of orders for those titles. Neither the Goldorak (Grendizer) video or manga has arrived yet, but it should not be long. We should also receive very shortly the AnimeLand #40 to 46. As soon as all those products are in stock, we will announce them in the online catalog.

I have a pretty busy week before me, so I keep it short and stop here for now.

11-17-98

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10-27-98 => more update on the catalog [we have received AnimeLand HS#1 and Kenshin manga Vol. 1 should arrive Friday] -- PA#52 is going well and should go to the printer by the end of next week.

10-25-98 => update online catalog

Not much news. I just added a banner/link to Wasabi Brothers page (Mangajin) and we are working hard on Protoculture Addicts #52. We're back to 64 pages (and only 12 pages color) to save some cost (hey! 68 pages with 16 in color was for the SPECIAL issues only). Sorry about that. We will keep you informed. Thanks for your support!

Claude J. Pelletier
10-21-98

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The Protoculture Addicts #51, the long-awaited mecha special, shipped to distributors, stores and subscribers between September 24th and October 5th. It should be in stores by the end of this week, but some subscribers might not get their copy before a couple of weeks since we are using a slower mail service for the subscription copies.

This issue is another fine specimen of the magazine and we are again quite proud of it. As usual, you can find here a preview of what it has to offer: Table of Contents, Presentation and Suggested Web Sites. If you want to see more, don't forget that you can always order your own copy directly from us (see our ordering information) and, please, give us some feedback (you can always E-mail us right away).

Once again (I am getting tired of this) we must apologies for the great lateness of this issue. As usual, it is due to a combination of several factors: accumulation of delays (the previous issues having been late, we must constantly push further our release schedule) and new production delays (unexpected problems of all kinds, computer problems (virus and troyan horses, nothing less), constant interruptions of administrative nature (answering e-mail, paying bills, etc), the fact that we had to attend several summer conventions (Otakon, Anime North, ComicFest), the fact that this issue (hey! it's a mecha special after all, bigger, with more color!) was demanding more work and more time, our limited staff, health problems, etc. etc.). We are trying our best to reduce our production delays by trying to guess and solve in advance the unexpected problems, by adding more staff (please welcome Sylvain Durand our new assistant-editor), by working a little harder to catch up on the delays, and by pushing back to February the release of PA#54, previously announced for January. This should allow us the reset the release schedule and hopefully stay on time for 1999. However, there will always be new problems (that's Murphy's Law), some that cannot be foreseen or against which we are powerless. For example, a limited staff leave us rather vulnerable in case of health problems. That's exactly what happened to me lately, and this time it was not a benign case of flu, but a very scary and extremely painful kidney problem that sent me several times to the hospital (I had to go to the emergency right in the middle of Anime North, in Toronto). [On the picture opposite, we can see my blocked and swollen right kidney -- unfortunatelly the scan of the x-ray is not precise enough to show the stone stuck in the ureter] It all began when I came back from Otakon (in Washington DC) with back pain. I had to visit the doctor several times, endure numerous test, end up at the emergency a couple of times, to finally be hospitalize for a procedure that seems to have been unsuccessful. So it seems that everything has to be redone: visit to the specialist, tests, and new procedure. Hopefully, this problem will be solved before Christmas...

All those delays and worrysome health problems are somewhat affecting my moral. It should not, since we just released a real good issue of the magazine. But, with the fall coming, the world seems so dark and complicated (I should stop watching the news). I've just spent lots of time answering e-mail of people complaining (not always politely) about the lateness of the magazine and of the shipping of various other products. I terribly miss my ladyfriends (who lives most of the time in California). UPS just lost the latest advertisement from Urban Vision. Custom Canada just seized the screener of Nightmare Campus sent by CPM (since this adult animation is not that torrid, I suppose that's because the custom officer is a moron and he thought that adult animation should equal child pornography and be banned). There is constant delays and problem with our French anime and manga imports. Many U.S. distributors still won't consider carrying us because we are a "Canadian" magazine (even if 85% of our sales are to the USA) and many Canadian distributors don't carry us because... we're Canadian! (They must think "if it's not American, it's probably not good"). I'm doing this magazine mostly for my pleasure, but it is quite masochistic because, contrary to what most people think, it is not always pleasant and fun to work 6 to 7 days a week, including most evening, until we get sick, and earn just enough to pay the rent and the food (anyway, there is no time to go out). Anyway, I should not complain: it's an interesting job, we get great satisfaction with the final result (even if it comes out late), and there are many people in the world with situation much worse than ours. I am just tired and a little depressed. I should take some vacation, but there is no time. PA#52 (with our coverage of Rurouni Kenshin and Borgman) is already late! At least, I'll spent a couple of evenings watching TV and I'll sleep late. It should help. As soon as I'll get going with the layout everything should be fine (I won't have time to worry anymore).

It's always a pleasure to receive some encouragements. Thanks to all our readers for your support and your great patience!

Claude J. Pelletier
10-8-98

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The Protoculture Addicts #50, our tenth anniversary issue (!), shipped to distributors on July 8th and to subscribers on July 9th. It should be available everywhere by now.

This time the magazine was almost one month late, because of the strange and usual weird reasons: we got rid of the annoying co-tenant and replaced him with one of our friends (he will give us some help with the magazine, but we had to help him move and some renovations had to be done on the appartment), we got the flu again, we had to take care of the manga & video imports, we had to prepare stuff for some conventions or festivals (ComicFest, CNanime, Fant-Asia), the weather was at some time so hot & sticky that it was almost impossible to work, etc. etc. However, the main reasons for the delays was the fact that the issue before was already late and that there was much more work to do for this special issue than usual (more pages, more color, more illustrations, etc.). Sorry for the delay. We did our best, but it was really an exhausting issue.

However, it is also a SUPERB issue and we hope that you will like it. Please, give us some feedback about it. You can find here the usual preview of this latest issue with its Table of Contents, Presentation and Suggested Web Sites. Please, have a look.

Coming back from the Canadian National Anime Expo, I was rather depressed (first, as always in convention, by the complaints of fans [but we did rather well at the convention]; second, because I came back with the flu [getting the flu in summer IS depressing]; and finally because the huge amount of work before us was discouraging). So, we decided not to go to Toronto Trek and to take some time to recover (from the fatigue and the flu). That's why the shipping of PA#50 dragged a little. Then Martin started to work on PA#51 and the weather got even hotter and stickier. I did some administrative work (make some orders, updating the web page, gathering our articles for Bandai's web page, www.AnimeVillage.com) and attended the Fant-Asia Festival (check our coverage and reviews in PA#52). Soon, it will be time to go to Otakon. So, considering all this and the fact that our production schedule has been shifted due to the lateness of previous issues, that the production delays will be again longer than expected (it's another HUGE special issue) and that our printer is closed for three weeks during July, it is quite obvious that PA #51 will also be late. We expect (hope) to ship it around August 20 (just before going to Anime North). So many things to do and so little time...

Despite all this, we did some fun things lately, like watching almost completely the Rurouni Kenshin TV series (watch for our article in PA#52), Mononoke Hime (reviewed in PA#50; what a beautiful animation! I am glad I have the LD because I fear that Disney might never release it. Apparently, they requested permission from Ghibli to edit the movie because it was too violent; it was categorically denied to them, but what will they do now? Drop the project? Disobey? Stay tuned!), Giant Robo Last Episode (disppointing), Gekiganger 3 OVA (fun, but average) and we should receive soon several episodes of many new series from Japan. Now, at Fant-Asia, I am watching lots of Japanese, but mostly Hong Kong live-action movies (22 in less than two weeks!). Also, we had the pleasure to finally receive and put into production the video titles that we are distributing: Escaflowne, Vol. 1, and Vampire Hunter, Vol. 1, both subtitled in French. It is really great!

The latest BIG news is the announcement by Bandai at Anime Expo that they will eventually release the entire GUNDAM series subtitled in English. They will start in September with the MS movies, and the 0080 & 0083 OVA series. They will also release Vision of Escaflowne, Saber Marionette J and Clamp School all subtitled. More titles will be announced later. Apparently those video will be sold ONLY through their web page, www.AnimeVillage.com. Hopefully, they will consider releasing their titles also on LD or DVD and will eventually sell them through the normal distribution chanels (because not everyone has internet access and a credit card to order from a web page; people usually prefer walking in their favorite comic shop and buy from there). For more details, check their web page or their first official press release.

Now, it is time for our progress report. About the French manga: we already made a big order from Manga Player, and it was completely sold out at CNanime. We are about to make a new one. So, the Manga Player titles will be restocked soon and will also be available in some stores of Montreal (Cosmix, Empire, Marché Clandestin, etc.). Still no new from Tonkam. We have been contacted by them over a month ago and they were suppose to come back to us with some news, but they didn't. I am currently trying to contact them. I expect (hope) to be able to order the Tonkam titles before the end of July... Check our French manga listing in our on-line catalog. The ANIMELAND magazines have not been ordered yet, but it should be done soon. About the French-subtitled anime video: as I said before, we have received the masters and are ready to start producing them as soon as the titles are registered to the Régie du Cinéma du Québec and that we begin to receive orders from re-distributors, stores and fans. Check our video listing on our on-line catalog. About models & Toys: We sold out most of our stock in CNanime, but had just re-ordered more nice stuff that we will be selling at Anime North...

So, that's all for now. Enjoy PA#50! For me, I can finally go back to work on the texts & layout of PA#51 (with a break once in a while to watch a movie at Fant-Asia!). See you at Otakon or at Anime North!

Claude J. Pelletier
7-22-98

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4-25-98

All the shipping for PA#49 (subscribers and distributors) is now done. Most stores should then have it on their shelves for next week-end and everybody should have its copy before the end of the month.

I felt that this issue took a long time because we had lots a little problems that took our mind away of work (small production delay, weather problems, health problems, even an annoying co-tenant), but it was nothing like the delays of PA#48. In fact, if we are looking at the calendar, we see that the previous issue shipped two months and a half ago. After all, even if the issue was first announced for January, this issue is, production-wise, only two weeks late. Obviously, we are much more late in term of schedule, but that kind of delay cannot be catch up in one issue.

This issue in mainly about YU YU HAKUSHO and FUSHIGI YUUGI. In joke, we are calling it our "hard-to-pronounce-titles" issue. It is useless to talk more about it. As usual, if you want a peek at this issue, just check its table of contents and its presentation. We have also added a special Suggested Web Sites section including all the links related to this particular issue.

The work on PA#50 already started a few weeks ago and it is going well. Though both Martin and I have catch the flu (I know, I know, AGAIN -- it seems that people who don't go out a lot and work hard are pretty vulnerable to it...). It don't think it will cause much delay and PA#50 should be in your hands by the end of May.

I just updated several section of the web page. First, all the information related to PA#49 (latest issues, table of contents, presentation, Suggested Web Pages) have been added. Also, the FAQ, the Products & Distribution information, the upcoming issues have been updated, as well as a part of the links in the Suggested Web Pages section. I have started to build the new Catalog, but it will be longer than I thought to finish (and some information I need are still missing). However, I am planning to have that section fully updated before the end of June.

Now, a bit of news. About the French manga: we are about to make (at last!) our first order to Manga Player Collection. Our order to Tonkam should follow in a couple of weeks, so most of the French manga will probably be in stock around the end of May or mid-June. We are planning to order some ANIMELAND magazine as well. The thoughest part is to start the machine; after that everything should run pretty well.About the anime video translated in French: the first titles to be distributed in French-Canada will be THE VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE Vol. 1 and VAMPIRE HUNTER vol. 1. Both are from Dynamic Vision. They will be subtitled in French and available around the end of May.

About models & Toys: we still have most of the Evangelion LM HG Bandai kits ($60 Can), most of the NADESICO model kits ($25 Can, Artillery BF: $30 Can; OG Battle Unit: $60 Can), the red and blue VIRTUAL-ON Temjin from Wave (respectively $13 & $15 Can, both for $25 Can), the series of NAUSICAA model kits ($15-$17 Can) and various Gumballs for Evangelion (set #3), Gundam, Nadesico, Sakura Wars, and Cutey Honey ($5 Can ea.). We also carry most of Otaku Publishing "Digital Manga" (Venus Select, Ring Out, Timestripper, Bishojo Fighter '98 -- respectively $30, $40, $45 and $70 Can) and most of the Jast-USA games (Three Sisters Story, Season of the Sakura and Runaway City). We have recently received the set #4 of the EVANGELION gumballs, the GAMERA gumballs ($6 Can ea.), some POCKET MONSTER gumballs ($3 Can ea.) and some superb 6" Giant Robot Series action figures kits (Mazinger Z, Cybaster, Daiturn, Combattler V and Gunbuster -- $18 Can ea.). None of those products have been put in our catalog yet (no time and we have only small quantity of each for now), but you can always inquire by e-mail about price and availability.

Finally, we are planning to attend the following conventions this summer:

June 26-28.....Canadian Anime Expo.....Toronto..........Martin & I
July 3-5.........Anime Expo................Los Angeles.....Miyako
July 10-12.....Toronto Trek................Toronto..........Martin & I
August 7-9.....Otakon.......................Washington.....all of us
August 22-23...Anime North...............Toronto..........all of us

Jane ne!

Claude J. Pelletier
4-21-08

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Now, everything seems back to normal in Montreal following this infamous "ice storm". Many people on South Shore (south east of Montreal) are still without electrical power, but here our life has return to its daily routine...

PA#48 is (again) late due to the accumulated delay (PA#47 was so late!) and the fact that severe weather conditions kept our printer without electrical power for nearly two weeks. Our offices were also closed for a week because of the power outage and instability (flickers were so bad sometime that it would have been really risky to turn the computers on). At least, the magazine is at the printer. It should be back in a couple of days and ship to the distributors and subscribers around February 2nd. People should have it in hands by mid-February (unless the mail delivery plays more tricks on us).

This issue is VERY nice. It is entirely devoted to silly anime like Fiddler of Hamelin or Akazukin Cha Cha. If you want to know more about it, you just have to check its contents and read its presentation. That's all.

I did some minor updates on the web page (mainly all the information related to the new issue, general updates, some new links). I don't have, yet, the time to update the Catalog or the Links (the MAJOR update that is needed there). Hopefully, it will be done later this month. For now, I have to go back to work on #49!

Claude J. Pelletier
01-28-98

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Many people complained that they still have not received their copy of the magazine or the back issues they have ordered. Be assured that all copies were sent on December 8th.

However, you must understand that we have had a two-week postal service strike just before, which has probably created a back-log at the postal service. This, multiply by the fact that this is the busiest time for the postal service (Christmas), certainly make the mail service very slow.

Also, the postal workers were forced to go back to work by a special law, which they didn't like at all, so they promise that the service would be "disturbed" (understand "slow" and "with many mistake").

Because of this, we have no mean to know how long it will take for your copies to reach you. We can only tell you to be patient. Contact us if you still haven't receive them by mid-January.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Happy New Year everybody!

Claude J. Pelletier
01-01-98

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PA#47 is now shipped to everybody. If it is not yet on the shelves of your local store or in your mail box, it should arrive very soon. Sorry for the delays and thanks for your patience. Thanks also to the Canadian postal workers who agreed to go back to work! ;)

PA#48 is almost finished, but won't go to print before January because the printer is closed for the Holidays. It should ship around January 19th.

Claude J. Pelletier
12-12-97

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Well, after various adventures and troubles (see the presentation of the issue for the details -- but let me tell you that the damn color section, which changed configuration several time, has tested my nerves and delayed the printing), Protoculture Addicts #47 is at the printer at last! Before it is finally released you can peek at its contents here. It should ship to some distributors around December 1st, but, since it was very late, we had to request an order adjustment with our main distributor, Diamond. So, the bulk of the copies, once this order is updated, should ship on December 12 and be in stores before Christmas.

However, the troubles doesn't stop there: There is an imminent Canada Post strike that might jeopardize the shipping of the subscribers copies and of some small distributors. If the strike occurs, we will solve the problem of the U.S. subscriptions by simply driving to the borders and mail them using the U.S. Postal Service (hopefully the extra cost will not kill us). The small distributors will be offered the choice to be shipped by UPS (at their cost) or to simply wait the end of the strike. And the Canadian subscribers will have no other choice than to wait. Sorry, there is nothing else we can do. If you live in the Montreal's area, you can always e-mail us to take an appointment and simply pick up your copy (if you really can't wait). We will also try to deliver local stores directly. If we are all lucky,there will be no strike at all...

Today, I have updated all the information related to PA#47 (Contents, Presentation, Products listing). I have also updated the FAQ and the upcoming issues listing with new information. I made also some minor cosmetical improvement on the main page and the "What's PA" page. I have not yet updated the catalog and the links sections. Sorry about that, but time is a commodity that is rather rare lately. We are still quite late on our production schedule (though work on PA#48 is already started. Issues 48 and 49 will probably be released late too (mid-January for 48 and early February for 49). After that, if there not too much problems that come up, we should be more or less back on schedule. PA#50 will be our 10th anniversary special (yes, PA#1 was published in November 1987) and it will be dedicated to our first anime love: ROBOTECH (and related original series (Macross et al.) and sequels (Macross 7). To strike two birds with the same stone (low orders of special issues and schedule problems), I have made the PAX#2 into a regular issue. PA#51 will be a mecha special! Clever isn't it?

About the French-translated anime: Since Amuse Video goofed and sold the Street Fighter II V French rights to both Dynamic Vision and Manga Entertainment, it seems that Protoculture will not be able to distribute this title in French-Canada (Quebec) after all (or at least everything is on hold while Amuse is deciding which company keeps the rights). Also, we were hoping to be able to distribute Dynamic's French-subtitled version of Neon Genesis Evangelion in French-Canada, but now it seems that A.D. Vision (who owns the rights for the North American territory) will take care of it. At least, it will be available (but no release date have been decided yet). We were a little disappointed not to be able to distributed those two titles, but c'est la vie and there is many more stuff to take care of anyway. I just been told that the translation of Vampire Hunter and Vision of Escalfowne is going well and the first volumes should be available around December or January. We can also announced that Dynamic Vision will release the six Grandizer (Goldorak) movies starting in March or April (on three volumes of two movies each, cinemascope and remastered). Of course, Protoculture will distribute them in French-Canada. Nothing has been said about when the TV series would be released, but it is an eventuality under consideration. We will keep you posted. When the titles will be available, they will be listed on our catalog section (not yet updated, unfortunately).

About the French-translated manga: There is still not much development on this side. First, I've been far too busy working on PA and, second, we still have not been able to have a better deal with Tonkam that would allow us to lower the prices. Those who have already place an order with us (or are about to) should not worry. Those are merely delays and we should place our first big order before Christmas and all the imported titled will start being available in French-Canada in January. Just be patient and you will be very pleased with the results. For those interested, Tonkam's new releases includes Tezuka's Bouddha, Hojo's Sous un rayon de soleil and Katsura's Shadow Lady. Also, in addition to the Tonkam manga titles, we will soon carry the Manga Player Collection (MSE) French titles: 3x3 Eyes (2 Vol.), Ah! My Goddess (2 Vol.), Belle Starr, Magic Knight Rayearth (3 vol.), Seraphic Feather (2 vol.), Possession Tracer, Rampou (3 Vol.), Ryu Se•ki and Wing Man (3 Vol.). All volumes should retail around $14.95. Finally, we will also carry Dynamic Vision's titles (they have already released two volumes of Terasawa's Takeru). They just announced the release of Terasawa's manga Cobra (16 volumes, starting in March/April). They have also announced the release of Go Nagai's Devilman.

Finally, some anime news of importance: US Manga Corps has acquired the rights to Ayane Sidekick and Silent Service. Also, AnimEigo announced that the Kimagure Orange Road TV Series project is go! The pre-orders will be shipped in two box sets in July and December '98, but in September everybody will be able to buy a copy for $40 US per volume. Great!

So, be patient, PA#47 is on the way. Me, I just have to go back work on PA#48.

Ja ne!

Claude J. Pelletier
11-19-97

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Well, PA #46 is out at last! This one was a lot of trouble to produce (not because of the issue itself -- althought the NADESICO article was much longer than first planned -- but because of all the little things that kept slowing us in our work and caused the delays in the release; for details check the issue's presentation), but this issue is really (really) our best ever. I am quite satisfied with the layout and the contents is diversified and of great interest.

This issue offers a spotlight on MOBILE BATTLESHIP NADESICO (a.k.a. Martian Successor Nadesico) and it is much bigger than initially announced: it has 20 pages and covers all aspects of the series! NADESICO is a very recent series (it ended on Japanese TV less than six months ago) and it offers all the elements that make anime popular: it shows the epic voyage of a ship like in YAMATO; it has mecha designs and action similar to GUNDAM; it is also story-driven (like PATLABOR) with lots of character development (like EVANGELION), but is totally hilarious (like IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR). The show was rather popular in Japan, generating lots of merchandizing (cool models), and we hope that it will eventually be picked up for domestic release. This issue also offers an "Anime Story" on SHIN KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD, several "Anime World" articles (Anime Under Fire Part 3, Report from the Manga Culture panel discussion at the Center for the Arts Museum in San Francisco, Anecdotes from Ms. Colleen Doran's trip to Japan), and our usual load of reviews and news.

Besides that there is not much news. I am rather busy preparing our stuff for a big convention in two weeks (Concept, Montreal's big sci-fi convention), setting up our mail-order catalog (manga in French, etc.), getting ready to distribute in Canada some anime video translated in French (the latest title announced by Dynamic Vision is: VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE, subtitled in French, first volume probably available before the end of the year -- and we will distribute it with great pleasure!) and, of course, trying to work on PA#47. I just hope that this issue won't have too much delay!

Since juggling with all those activities don't leave me much time, I will not be able to update some sections of the web page (or at least not right away). For now, I have added all the information for PA#46 and I will gradually update the products list, mail-order catalog, upcoming issues, and web links sections. Sorry about that, but my priority goes to keep the company working (those damn administrative tasks) and to the production of the magazine.

Anyway, enjoy PA#46!

Claude J. Pelletier
9-16-97

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PA#45 is now at the printer and should ship around June 5th. Expected it at your door or in your local comics stores around mid-June. For the stores getting their copies from Diamond Distributors, the magazine will not be received before the end of June. Diamond, judging the magazine had too much delay, decided to ask their retailers to update their orders. We should get those updated orders by mid-June, hence the extra delay. Sorry about that folks.

For some reasons, this issue was a pain to produce (maybe we were to sick and tired), but now its done and we are quite satisfied with the result. It offers an interesting article on an "oldie" animation, THE ROSE OF VERSAILLES, as well as a king of special on fighting game animation: TOSHINDEN and STREET FIGHTER II V. It also offers our first Video Game reviews. It should become a regular feature in the magazine. We will also start talking a little more about the production of the English version of those anime that we love so much, with articles on dubbing studios and voice actors. In this issue, we begins with a portrait of voice actor David Kaye. This issue also features an anime story an X: THE MOVIE (but don't worry, we will have a full feature article in PA#47). Anyway, if you want to know more about this new issue, check the table of contents and its presentation.

The only other news for the moment, is that our new internet addresses are now effective. So, use them! You have also probably noticed that the web page has been updated and moved to the new location. It should now work much better.

Ja ne!

Claude J. Pelletier
5-27-97

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Well, the shipping and mailing are all finished. PA #44 is on its way either to your local store or to your mailbox. We hope you will like it. Now, it's time for us to go back to the computer to PRODUCE! Let's rock 'n' roll on PA #45. There is still lot of work to be done.

PA's web page will have a new home in a couple of weeks. We were not satisfied with the service of our provider and we wanted our own domain name (unfortunately, some guy in New York has already registered "protoculture.com"). Nothing is definitive yet, but our new address will probably be http://www.protoculture.qc.ca/ ("qc" is for Quebec and "ca" for Canada, in case you were wondering -- it's a satisfying alternative to the "dot-com" for us up-here in Quebec/Canada). Don't worry: the old address will still be active for a couple of months. There will be a foward note on the web page and I will still check my e-mail there for a while. As soon as the new address is effective, I will notify everybody anyway.

Finally, we can officially announced one of the special project that I mentioned earlier: Protoculture is now distributing a line of manga in French along with a couple of other products (mostly models and some video for now). See our new Protoculture Catalog. Yes, I said "Manga in French", as in "manga translated and published in France". "What's the use" could you say. Well, there is a lot of us here in Quebec who are speaking French. Some don't even speak English. With this, not only we are bringing manga to a new crowd, but we are making available titles that were not even published in English. The art is the same than in Japanese, but you have much more chance to be able to read it, even if you don't really speak French (after all, French is much more easier to learn and to read than Japanese or Chinese!).

Why are we importing those French manga? Well, there are already a lot of them available here in Quebec (those titles from Casterman (Blade of the Immortal, Chronowar), Dargaud (Detective Conan, Saint Seiya, Yu Yu Hakusho), Glenat (Akira, Riot, Appleseed, Orion, Ghost in the Shell, Crying Freeman, Roujin Z, Striker, Sanctuary, Ikkyu, Version, Street Fighter, Dragonball, Dr. Slump, Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, Gunnm, Noritaka, Bastard!!, Gunsmith Cats, Kimba, Astro Boy, Black Jack), J'ai Lu (City Hunter, Dragon Quest), and Echo des Savannes (Countdown, Exodus Creators, Genocyber, Ogenki Clinic)), but many titles from smaller publishers (often the best) don't cross the Atlantic. We have decided to fill that gap.

What do you think about titles like ANGEL by U-Jin, DNA2 and VIDEO GIRL AI by Masakazu Katsura, many of Clamp's manga, TAKERU by Buichi Terasawa? We are also offering some "manga" from Hong Kong (CYBER WEAPON Z) and Korea (RED HAWK, SHOMA). Ok, it might be a little more expansive than the original Japanese version (hey, it's imports after all), but it's much more accessible. Interested? Just click here to check our list:

Claude J. Pelletier
4-9-97

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PA #44 has just arrived and it is gorgeous! The cover (Rayearth) is quite nice, the color section came out just as I wanted (could still be better, but we must keep stuff to improve in next issue!) and the printing quality of the graphics have been really improved. We increased the resolution output of the graphics. It is expensive, but it give more detailed and precised pictures. Anyway, I'll let you judge by yourselves. We're taking the week-end off (hey, it's Easter and we deserve it), but we'll be back on the shipping Monday and this issue will head off your way on Tuesday... I hope you'll like it! (In any case, give us some feedback).

Claude J. Pelletier
3-27-97

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Once again, nothing really new. PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS #44 is presently at the printer. It should ship around April 1st and reach your local store and/or mailbox around mid-April.

Of course, it is late (again), but what can we do when all the staff (which mean both of us) is sick at the same time? We work anyway (but more slowly)! I am sure you understand and will not complain too much as long as you get your PA more or less every two months. All I can say is that, as always, this issue is worth the wait.

It contains two good features on MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH and DRAGON BALL Z (check the special introduction, available only on the web page), as well as TONS of news and reviews. It also contains a POSTER. Anyway, read all the details in the presentation and have a look on its table of contents.

We have several new projects cooking and I wish I could talk more about them. Everything will come in due time. Check regularly the web page for updates or wait for PA #45 for a future announcement.

Among the news: GUNDAM X was cancelled, X THE MOVIE is now available on LD (it will surely be covered in PA #45 or 46), Far East Expo had been pushed back to Spring '98, ActiVision will release an awsome video game of HEAVY GEAR, Pioneer is releasing some Manga Entertainment titles on LD, there is already some anime in DVD format, there is an incredible quantity of domestic CD soundtracks available recently, Channel A is a new web-zine about Asia, there is some anime on DirecTV, GURPS Mecha is coming, Mamoru Oshii is working on the animated version of HELLHOUNDS, Sega and Bandai will merged, the ROBOTECH manga is back (this time at Antarctic Press), Pioneer is releasing manga-like comics, CPM Comics is releasing translated manga, WHAT'S MICHAEL is back, MixxZine anthology will publish Sailor Moon and Magic Knight Rayearth manga, etc. etc. Check the news section in PA #44 for the details!

Finally, Spring is here! Let's hope that it will bring warmth to melt the snow and make that damn flu go away!

So, don't miss PA #44 (it's really an incredible issue) and give us some feedback!

Claude J. Pelletier
03-23-97

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Well, if fact, there is NOTHING new. I am still rushing, we are still late, the web page was not updated since a long time, etc. I don't know how it is in your your home, but here it is very cold (-10' C) and there is a severe epidemy of flu! Please, let me sleep!

PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS #43 is late and will know further delays because of the closing of the printer during the Holidays. We are sorry for this exceptional delay. The magazine is now at the printer and will ship around January 20th. It should reach your local store or your mail-box by the end of January.

I think that PA #43 is an awsome issue and I cannot wait to have your comments on it. It offers a huge feature on ESCAFLOWNE, a respectable reports on ANIME EXPO '96, many news & reviews and 8 COLOR PAGES. Read its Presentation and check out its table of contents and let us know what you think.

The Special Issue #1 has been available for a while now and we did not received much comments. Come on guys/gals, what do you think about it? Please, give us some feedback (talking of which, it is still time to answer our poll and to win some Manga Entertainment goodies!).

Protoculture has just announced that, from now on, it will pay for the contribution to the magazine! For more details check our Contributors' Guidelines or our latest Press Release.

We have heard that GUNDAM X was cancelled due to its bad rating. Strange... It looked good to me. Well, we'll probably know more later.

For more news, well, read PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS #43!

Take care and HAPPY NEW YEAR 1997!

Claude J. Pelletier
01-13-97

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