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Welcome to another great issue of Protoculture Addicts! Once again the accumulated delay and lots of little problems (advertising received late, last minute corrections, water leaking in the basement, etc.) made it impossible to release this issue on schedule. As usual in the end of Winter, I got the flu, but fortunately I was the only one to get sick (Martin, who always get sick at this time of the year, didn't -- yet -- and Miyako never catches the flu anyway). However, it was a serious case and it lasted almost a month during which I could not work much. But... I am doing much better now! Even if it is raining, we have seen lots of sun lately and the temperature was quite over the seasonal average -- which is very good for the morale. Spring, at last! It also helps to know that we have just released another great issue. This time we introduce a new collaborator, Martin Verge-Ostiguy, who wrote the excellent Fushigi Yuugi article. I only wish we could get more like this one. It would be easier to keep on schedule if we were twelve working on the magazine instead of two (well, three when Miyako is in town).
Now I would like to talk about those infamous "pirated" products (I am sure: I will get a lot of flame-mail for this). I have been researching the subject for nearly five years, which I think is enough to make my own opinion. I don't say I am absolutely right (This is only my opinion and it could change with new evidences. But if you don't share my opinion, don't just say that I am wrong: prove it to me). And I don't say it is the same for all so-called pirated products. 1) I think that part of the problem is that many fans are so nippophile that they will hate (sometimes hysterically) any anime products that are not "made in Japan." Many dealers will encourage this, because they work hard to import the "original" product and they don't want you to buy another one cheaper. 2) I admit that in the past most Asian countries (including Japan) were strong in piracy and had not much respect for the International laws, but times have changed. Those governments now need the economic partnership of the West and they do all they can to enforce those laws. Big companies would not blatantly defy them. Real pirates are small and discreet. They don't put their name and address on the product like Son May (SM) or Elfin does (and sometimes with the copyright!). 3) It is most likely that companies like SM or Elfin have licenses to produce and release their products IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. They ARE legit. However, it is still illegal to sell those products outside the licensed territory. For example: I recently bought a VCD that had the copyright and everything, but also had the warning (in red): "Not for sale outside Hong Kong and Macau." The real culprit are the third parties who buy those products and export them. However, it is false to say that buying a SM CD instead of an original will deprive the Japanese company of the money. When it is sold to the third party, the sale is legal and accounted for. Nobody is hurt. 4) I don't say that we must buy those products above all. On the contrary, 98% of my CDs collection is original. But when I cannot find the original, I will buy a SM without a second thought. I would not buy any SM if only I could easily find originals here. Why order them from Japan or California at twice the cost if I can just walk downtown and buy a SM, knowing that they are NOT pirated? And I am NOT promoting piracy. I am only making people aware of the existing alternatives to help them enjoy their hobby better. If you are SURE that a products is pirated: DON'T BUY IT! If you're not: indulge yourself (and ask questions later).
This issue could be called our special "hard to pronounce titles." It features spotlights on two very popular Japanese animation TV series: YU YU HAKUSHO and FUSHIGI YUUGI. In both case it offers overview, character guide and synopses (Note that for Fushigi Yuugi the character guide is placed at the end of the article to take advantage of the color section). You will also find a report on FanimeCon '98, the part 6 of "Anime Under Fire", and three Anime Stories: Evangelion Death & Rebirth, Rurouni Kenshin (sometime called Samurai X) and Those Who Hunt Elves (this one is a mini-feature with synopses and character guide). Finally, there is the usual load of news and reviews (Fusion's Heavy Gear Kodiak model kit, a selection of manga, four live-action movies, plus the latest anime titles). Enjoy!
Claude J. Pelletier