PA #94: Letter From The Editor

Publishing an anime magazine like Protoculture Addicts always requires a delicate balance.The anime industry and fandomÑand consequently our readershipÑis very diverse and our choice of content and how we chose to present that content can be seen as the proverbial double-edged sword: What pleases one individual can very well displease another. The success and survival of the magazine depends on a perpetual balancing act in order to find the perfect concoction that will be interesting to most readersÑ and we must also constantly adjust to the changes in the industry and in the fansÕ taste.

First and foremost, PA has a dual commitment to both the anime industry and fandom. On one hand we must offer to the anime companies the opportunity to promote their products while informing the fans of what the industry is doing. On the other hand, we must help fans to find the best titles for them by providing a critical analysis of the available titles while also providing them with the opportunity to voice their own opinions and expectations. I see PA as a neutral and objective intermediary which sole purpose is to inform both parties and facilitate their mutual understanding. Since none of our staff members (both in PA and ANN) are total otaku or involved in the industry (we are totally independent and not owned by any corporation, nor anime & manga producers or distributors), it is easy to remain objective (although we all have opinions, but isnÕt it what people want from us, our opinion?). However, it seems that it is much more difficult to convince people of our true objectivity. In this age of paranoia, conspiracy theories and forgotten trust, some idealists sometimes accuse us of being the industryÕs minion simply because we publish paid advertising! The real world works with money and I am proud to say that PA is equally financed by both the industry (through advertising) and the fans (through sales). Furthermore, our track record over the last twenty years should say enough about our professionalism, credibility and dedication. Sure, industry people sometimes try to pressure us in their favor, but we remain firm. Several years ago, an anime distributor who didnÕt like our reviews of its titles cancelled its advertising contract and never sent screeners again. The guy gave me a load of crap over the phone and told me that with what he was paying for advertising he was expecting better reviews. IÕd rather lose a big advertising contract than compromise my ethics as a journalist by abandoning my objectivity and risk losing the respect of the readers.

To cater to the diversity of our readership we must also achieve a balance in our content. Therefore, we cover not only newly released titles, but also some old classic series. We cover not only titles that have been acquired for North American distribution, but also shows that we know will most likely never cross the Pacific. Everybody has different tastes, so we are trying to introduce our readers to the greatest variety of titles possible. Of course, we first select titles that we know the readers will want to learn about, but we tend to cover popular series differently, using interviews and more thematic articles instead of the usual Òanime stories.Ó I admit that I have often avoided talking about the Sailor Moons, Dragonballs, Pokemons, Narutos and Full Metal Alchemists of the world. If we try to please the fans too much by feeding them only whatÕs popular in order to sell more copies, then we reduce our content to the lowest common denominator and PA loses what makes it special. I am much more inclined to introduce our readers with little known, but very interesting titles. Of course, some readers might roll their eyes saying Òoh no, not that stupid show,Ó but IÕve discovered that some kidsÕ shows can not only be entertaining, but can also be rich in opportunities to learn about culture and human behavior. Often people thank us for having made them discover series that they never thought they would like.

A successful magazine must maintain the right balance between the textual and the graphical elements, and between the various types of articles: in-depth coverage of one or two particular titles, a few Òanime storiesÓ to introduce new titles, interviews & thematic studies for the variety, not too much news and a good dose of reviews to help readers decide what titles they want to buy (but not too many reviews because, after all, PA is not only about reviews). The reviews themselves must be well balanced: be respectful of both the creators & readers, highlight both the good & the bad, and be as detailed & informative as possible.

It is not easy to make a good magazine. With all the balancing, I sometimes feel like an acrobat. Each new generation of readers has different tastes and we must adjust to the new while still being interesting to the older generation. Keeping it up for twenty years was quite a challenge, but I am sure it is just the beginning. Happy 20th anniversary PA and a huge Òthank youÓ to the readers and the industry people who have supported our efforts for all these years!

Claude J Pelletier

You can give your comments on this issue either on the magazine's forum or via e-mail at comments@protoculture.ca