Anime Insider review

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Anime Insider review; Now with twice as much snark per year!
Topic Started: Jun 30 2005, 02:34 AM (391 Views)
Katrina	Jun 30 2005, 02:34 AM Post #1
Captain Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: June 15, 2005	With the July issue, Anime Insider moves to a monthly release schedule and I, for one, say "Huzzah." It's not as good as Newtype USA at covering what's currently airing in Japan, but I'd still give it the edge -- and not just because it's half the price. There are a few changes with the new format. They've rearranged a few of their regular sections and added a few new pages for J-pop and Japanese culture. As far as their little regular snarks, I think they've kept most everything -- and believe me, if they'd dropped "Last Man Standing" or "Death of the Month," I would have been very cranky -- and some new things, like the "Gratuitous Fanservice" on page 24. And yes, here I receive fanservice parity because they have Ban Mido from GetBackers right next to Maya from Tenjo Tenge. Huzzah! The two main feature stories this month are Naruto (a basic "getting to know you" intro to the series) and Kodocha (an interview with Akitaro Daichi that also touches on Fruits Basket.) There's also a blurb in the interview; although Daichi has no plans to do a Fruits Basket sequel, FUNimation is starting a fan campaign. Go to any convention where they have a booth and fold a paper crane. At the end of con season, they're going to send the cranes to Japan to try to sway the various parties involved. So if any of you are going to a con, learn how to fold cranes. Start practicing. That is an order. Thank you. Next there are short articles on Samurai Champloo and Genshiken (which lists the varieties of otaku -- hee.), and then comes one of the reasons I love this magazine. There's an article called "Death Wish: the 10 anime characters we'd love to see dead." I know some people are turned off by the magazine's snarky photo captions and letter replies, but I loves me a bitchy editorial staff. One example -- they say Shinji from Evangelion's crimes include "Causing the end of the world just because Daddy didn't hug him enough" and "Being the whiniest giant robot pilot in Japan - and that's really saying something." This month's ep guide is for Fafner, which I read because I fear no spoiler. Next there are the various review sections. Hellsing OVA. Mmmmm. And finally, as far as I'm concerned the whole magazine was worth it for the last page: a shot of Kitty de Milo. Yep, it's the Venus de Milo with Hello Kitty's head. You have no idea who I would kill to own that.
	katrina I live by the spiritual truth that 'No' is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act. --Anne Lamott


RommieSG	Jun 30 2005, 02:56 AM Post #2
Brigade Leader Posts: 1,017 Group: Brigade Leader Member #1 Joined: May 17, 2005	This is one that I never got into. I used to read Animerica, but ever since NewType started releasing here in the States, I've pretty much been a one magazine man. Your review does make Anime Insider sound enticing, though. Rommie



Katrina	Jun 30 2005, 03:13 AM Post #3
Captain Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: June 15, 2005	You might want to give it a try. It doesn't have nearly the in-depth coverage of Newtype and the photo spreads aren't as good. It appeals to me, though, because no matter how much the staff loves anime, they still have a sense of humor about it. I guess the difference is, Newtype is where I go for information; Anime Insider is where I go for entertainment.
	katrina I live by the spiritual truth that 'No' is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act. --Anne Lamott


Pipster	Jun 30 2005, 06:39 AM Post #4
Pervy VA Fancier Posts: 815 Group: Henchmen Member #8 Joined: May 21, 2005	Heck, I'd subscribe just for the Hello Kitty de Milo! LOL And the snark....cause snark is just....FUN.



Niko	Jun 30 2005, 11:34 PM Post #5
Traveller Posts: 418 Group: Henchmen Member #6 Joined: May 19, 2005	Oh, this sounds like fun! I may just switch my subscription for a while. I'm not getting around to actually READING my Newtypes very much any more, and that hefty subscription on top of $170/year for Zero Sum hurts quite a bit. And I'm a huge fan of snark. (Making note to check newstands for a copy to try it out.)



Tomocat	Jul 7 2005, 04:40 AM Post #6
Lt. Colonel Posts: 394 Group: Members Member #26 Joined: July 6, 2005	The only thing I currently subscribe to is shonen jump, which has gotten very dull of late, not to mention I am really more of a shojo fan. I thought about subscribing to Newtype but it is so bloody expensive! Perhaps I will check out this anime insider. How much does it cost monthly, Katrina?
	Keeper of Mulder's reading glasses, Trowa's circus mask, Dylan's love, and Lagato's real arm It is better to be pissed off then to be pissed on. "I was all alone in my room, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere......the smell of a fart that wasn't mine wafted into my nose." - Osaka (azumanga diaoh)


Katrina	Jul 8 2005, 01:47 AM Post #7
Captain Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: June 15, 2005	The per issue cost is $5.99, but a year's subscription is $36 for 12 issues.
	katrina I live by the spiritual truth that 'No' is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act. --Anne Lamott


Pipster	Jul 8 2005, 04:19 AM Post #8
Pervy VA Fancier Posts: 815 Group: Henchmen Member #8 Joined: May 21, 2005	Hmmm, I should look into subscribing too, perhaps. Sounds like a great mag.



Tomocat	Jul 9 2005, 06:21 AM Post #9
Lt. Colonel Posts: 394 Group: Members Member #26 Joined: July 6, 2005	Sounds reasonable. I am really tempted. I will look into it for sure.
	Keeper of Mulder's reading glasses, Trowa's circus mask, Dylan's love, and Lagato's real arm It is better to be pissed off then to be pissed on. "I was all alone in my room, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere......the smell of a fart that wasn't mine wafted into my nose." - Osaka (azumanga diaoh)


Katrina	Jul 20 2005, 01:55 AM Post #10
Captain Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: June 15, 2005	August 2005 issue It's not quite as good as last month's issue, but it's still worthwhile. It's got Edward Elric on the cover so heck, how bad can it be? The main features this time around are: a preview of the second half of Fullmetal Alchemist (with some itsy spoilers in the form of new character introductions); "Anime Classified Ads," which was good for a few chuckles but the joke got thin towards the end; a how-to cosplay for Naruto (with what seems to be really good instructions); and introductions to two series coming out on DVD, Samurai 7 and Mars Daybreak. The Samurai 7 article in particular was very interesting, but since this has been on my must-buy list since I saw a fansub of the first ep -- hell, since I first saw production sketches of the main character -- I might be biased. Other than that, there's a nice half-page comparison of the Cowboy Bebop anime vs. manga, and the usual reviews. And the letters column is always worth a look. I can't recommend it as strongly as last month's, but it's nothing to send you screaming into the night, either.
	katrina I live by the spiritual truth that 'No' is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act. --Anne Lamott


Niko	Jul 20 2005, 03:15 AM Post #11
Traveller Posts: 418 Group: Henchmen Member #6 Joined: May 19, 2005	^ROFL. Just what the world needs...MORE Naruto cosplayers. The last convention I was at, it seemed like there were more Naruto cosplayers than every other fandom put together. Shoot...I meant to look for this magazine when I was at the bookstore last night and forgot.



Pipster	Jul 20 2005, 07:14 AM Post #12
Pervy VA Fancier Posts: 815 Group: Henchmen Member #8 Joined: May 21, 2005	Depending on how much cashola I get in a couple days for my paycheck, I may just subscribe then. I dunno, I have Wizard World Convention the weekend after next and I have credit card payments to make and I still wanna get the second disc of Fruits Basket. I need more money.



Katrina	Aug 24 2005, 01:58 AM Post #13
Captain Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: June 15, 2005	September 2005 There's nothing quite like opening your mailbox and coming face to face with a charging mamodo. The cover story of this month's Anime Insider is Zatch Bell -- the article is called "Mamodo Raising for Dummies," and it's a mark of its success that I finally understand the series. The other main story is an introduction to IGPX (i.e., Immortal Grand Prix). It's a good profile of the various racing teams. Ordinarily this is the kind of series I'd never look twice at, but one of the teams has a cyber-suited kitty so I might give it a shot. Besides, it's got some primo VAs lined up -- Haley Joel Osment and Mark Hammill. There's also a big long article about Ah! My Goddess. There's a briefer one about the new Hellsing Ultimates OVAs, which had me drooling. The issue is rounded out with articles about the increasing popularity of shoujo, Petite Cossette and Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok. Another useful thing in this issue is a brief guide to all the major Japanese anime studios. There's not much in-depth information, but it's a good way to keep them all straight. Oh, and p.67 has a mini-interview with Steve Blum, but I don't know whether that matters to anyone. Hee.
	katrina I live by the spiritual truth that 'No' is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act. --Anne Lamott


hide	Aug 24 2005, 02:25 AM Post #14
Major Posts: 111 Group: Members Member #25 Joined: July 4, 2005	Katrina Aug 24 2005, 01:58 AM Steve Blum Steve Blum is my favorite voice actor so it does matter to me.



Pipster	Sep 22 2005, 11:19 PM Post #15
Pervy VA Fancier Posts: 815 Group: Henchmen Member #8 Joined: May 21, 2005	Damn. I knew I should have bought that when I was at Suncoast last week. sigh Steve Blum....



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