PA #96: Letter From The Editors

In order to write for Protoculture Addicts, I have seen many anime shows over the years, and I can really say that the health of the Japanese anime industry is not that bad. I donÕt think we have to worry as long as they can still produce some really great shows. A good example is Dennou Coil, which is without hesitation the best anime TV series I saw in 2007. This unusual science fiction story was directed by the emerging star Mitsuo Iso, who really succeeded in gathering together all the elements that make a great series: cute characters (a bunch of twelve year-old kids), the right mix of comedy and drama, and intriguing mysteries that make sure you watch the next episode! IÕve enjoyed immensely both the fictitious world created by Director Iso, and the storytelling that emphasizes realistic human relationships. Although this juvenile cyberpunk story takes place in the future, in 2026, its world has a very old, nostalgic look similar to Japan in the 60s and 70sÑthe characters are not wearing silly futuristic costumes and they act like ordinary kids. It was certainly delightful and refreshing to discover such a true gem and I hope it will soon be picked up for distribution in North America, so the fans here can also enjoy it!

Miyako Matsuda

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We always do our best here at Protoculture to introduce our readers to anime titles that are out of the ordinary. They might not be popular, they might not necessarily be recent or they might never be translated in English, but they always have something that makes them interesting in our eyes and something that we want to share. In this issue, we bring you seven of those Òanime storiesÓ: Angel Heart is an Òalternate sequelÓ to Tsukasa HojoÕs classic City Hunter; Cluster Edge is a nicely designed Gundam-esque tale of adolescent boys discovering the harsh reality of the adult world; Dennou Coil is an intriguing juvenile cyberpunk tale; iDOLmaster Xenoglossia is the typical giant mecha series, but with a feminine twist; Moyashimon is a tale of agriculture that educates us about the life of germs; Ookiku Furikabutte is a baseball anime filled with teenage angst; and REC offers an amusing insight into the voice-acting business!

Besides Dennou Coil, two of those titles particularly stand out for their excellence. Moyashimon is a funny and educative mini-series that tells the college adventures of Tadayasu SawakiÑ-who has the unique ability to see and communicate with germsÑ-as he meets Professor Itsuki and the people hanging around his lab at the Agricultural University. Ookiku Furikabutte is an intriguing sports anime characterized by its unusual designs. It is set around the Nishiura High School baseball team and, as we follow their climb to success, the series explores friendship and teenage emotions (the aforementioned angst!).

Of course, this issue offers much more-Ñin fact, all you need to have a better understanding of anime and manga. We briefly shine the spotlight on two popular series that are finally getting their DVD releases: Blood+ and xxxHOLiC. We also introduce you to the latest studio 4ûC production, Genius Party, a compilation of short experimental animation showcasing the creative power of their studio.

And thereÕs more! This issue treats you with the manga preview of a classic manga, Osamu TezukaÕs Dororo, which is the heroic tale of a samurai and his young thief companion on a quest of self-discovery. We also offer an article that discusses some of the problems that have plagued anime conventions lately, giving a few advices on ÒHow NOT to run an anime convention.Ó And finally, as usual, we distill for you the essential news and provide plenty of reviews (of CDs, live-action movies, books, manga and anime DVDs) to guide you in your purchasing indulgence.

Please enjoy!

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