First off, in case you don’t know me, this is GrapplerJMo of the GrapplerJMo Anime Review Show (which includes J-Dramas, movies, games, and coming soon, manga). Anyway, I would like to say thank you to Douglas and Otakucrave for allowing me to have this column/blog to express myself to my fellow distinguished colleagues, as well as anime fans/otakus or whatever you want to call them.

For my first post, I want to get into a controversial subject of fansubs/scanlations, which was a Magus Panel I participated in along with Douglas, Magus himself, and some others a few weeks ago. The reason why I make this blog is because of a recent letter sent to Wizard’s Anime Insider in which a person sent a letter stating that anime that is non-licensed are legal to fansub, and AI’s reply was that fansubs under ALL circumstances are still illegal. Even though I have always conflicted whether or not to take their live action casting calls seriously and thought their top 50 anime was crap, I couldn’t help but agree with their reply. I myself am aware that fansubs and scanlations are illegal regardless of licensing issues, but this is part of my point.

Yes, usual fansubber ethic is to only distribute non-licensed anime for THE PURPOSE OF GETTING IT LICENSED, and once the deed is done, that fansub copy no longer needs to circulate (but thanks to the magic of the internet, that is not always the case). I would also like to acknowledge that I do buy my anime if I like it. I have bought all of Hajime no Ippo (which was retitled Fighting Spirit), Sailor Moon, Golion, Wedding Peach, Voltron, Gundam Wing, Akira, and many others. I do have a pretty big anime collection I am proud of, but I believe my collection would be one hundred times bigger if some of the animes I did were OFFICIALLY LICENSED. So my main problem is that yes, fansubs is hurting the industry but my main point (finally) is that I feel that in my case, I can’t support the anime industry if it’s not supporting me, and in semi-reply to that letter in anime insider, I just sent this e-mail to address my personal feelings on the issue.

Hopefully, this will be in an upcoming issue of Anime Insider.

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To whom it may concern,

I read the last issue’s letter on the legality of fansubs (and I would like to include scanlations in this letter). However, the purpose of this mail is to ask if there are alternative solutions around getting non-licensed anime and manga legally in English that have yet or may NEVER reach outside of Japan. Even though I admit fansubs and scanlations are against the law, as far as I know, I have no other resources to watching anime or reading manga that have yet to come to the US, or many never come at all, so people like me result to fansubs and scanlations for my exposure. So this creates a huge moral dillema.

When and how do I get to watch Macross 7, Devilman, Sailor Stars, Akazukin
Cha Cha, Angel’s Egg, Nodame Cantabile, Wangan Midnight, Transformers Victory, Kinnikuman (the first series), Gundam X, Turn A Gundam, and an accurate dub or subtitled copy of Windaria without “stealing” so I can actually pay for an English translation by ADV, VIZ, FUNimation or someone? For manga, when and how do I legitimately purchase an English copy of the 80+ volume manga of Hajime no Ippo/Fighting Spirit, Kochikome, Azumi, Ichi the Killer, Bari Bari Densetsu, Wangan Midnight, Ganbare Genki, Ring ni Kakero, or the classic Ashita no Joe, or the first two story arcs of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure just walking distance from my Barnes and Noble?

I feel that the licensing of these titles are long over due, and it’s a high possibility they may never be available to Americans as I said before. What’s your solution for these scenarios to prevent people from resulting to piracy? What’s one letter from me pleading a license company going to do? Has petition online ever solved or jump started anything for the anime industry? To sum it up, how do you support the industry when you feel they aren’t supporting you by not supplying you the titles you truly wish to purchase, and mostly release titles you don’t care about or wish to purchase?

I felt if they somehow made these title readily available in English to begin with on an official level, then maybe it would probably limit fansubs and scanlations more effientley. I’ll also admit it doesn’t guarantee successful sales like the uncut releases of Yu-Gi-Oh which bombed despite the high demand, nor does it make them the money that piracy is robbing  from them. I am a proud anime fan, and I do my best to contribute to the creators, but I feel that at the same time, the creators need to contribute to their international audience(s) who enjoy their work rather than the Japanese.

I feel Jyoji Morikawa has a right to know that there are people outside of Asia who enjoy Hajime no Ippo, I feel that Shoji Kawamori knows he has supporters for the other Macross titles, and the great Yoshiyuki Tomino also knows there are those who consider Turn A Gundam the best, and that they are willing to dish out their wallets and support them. And because some of their tremendous masterpieces aren’t officially available yet, or may never be licensed, they cannot receive the support they deserve and the fanbase that is already established, and resorts to only getting pirated copies. But I do understand though the fanbase is very dedicated, they are still very small and that their support alone may not do the trick, nor does it justify getting it licensed unfortunately (and I don’t want to get into an argument of justifying piracy regardless of licensing status). It is situations like these where I wish anime was as big as the Hollywood and video game industries so we wouldn’t have to face these parodoxes.

Thank you for taking the time for reading my concerns and for sharing them with your loyal readers.

Sincerely yours,
An angry, confused, and disgruntled anime and manga fan who feels he can’t support an industry if they’re not supporting him

Popularity: 49% [?]

This is episode 10 of Otaku Crave TV and is our season finale. Enjoy and please comment.

Popularity: 50% [?]

Review of the Manga “Tomorrow” by Douglas. Enjoy.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Creator: Yuji Iwahara
Publisher: TokyoPop
Age Rating: Older Teen
Genre: Action
RRP: $9.99
Review by: Kristen
Date of review: 10/31/08

Kasumi and her sister, Shizuku, were infected with the Medusa virus, which slowly turns their victim to stone-and there is no cure! Hope for salvation rests in Kasumi and a select few who are put into a cryogenically frozen state until a cure is found. But Shizuku is left behind, and in the not too distant future, Kasumi awakens to find herself in an unfamiliar world with terrifying beings roaming the terrain.
Resolving to unlock the mysteries of the disease and the fate of her twin sister, Kasumi struggles to survive in this treacherous world!

Based upon the plot above, I expected an average manga thriller, perhaps with moe vibes based on the cover image. What I got was a pleasant surprise.
Kasumi wakes up after an untold amount of time in the cryo-lab, which is now covered in leafy vegetation. Almost immediately the pace is set-they are immediately attacked by several monstrosities. Others wake with her, including a suspicious tattooed man and a man who claims to be a senator. Those who escape the initial attack crawl through the remains of the building, looking for a way to survive.

The art style is very heavy-the lines are thick, and a lot of black ink is used when drawing in mountain sides and dark backgrounds. It really adds to the atmosphere of this work. The character designs are not meant to be attractive, but rather, realistic, and the main cast of survivors has a nice balance to it. The best pieces of art are the myriad of creatures the survivors must deal with, though they may not be the most imaginative. Dinosaurs have been done before.

The story and pacing are where this manga really excels. It builds up a nice sense of suspense, and the story moves at a pace that feels real, though this is agonizingly slow for those of you who are used to manga that shock you with a plot twist every few pages. Any information is revealed slowly, and in a way that does not over dramatize it, which is a nice change. The journey and trials the characters go through are relentless, and even as a reader it is easy to feel breathless and worn down along with the characters.

The characters themselves are somewhat less developed than the world they inhabit, however. The only ones that are truly memorable are Kasumi and the tattooed man, whose name is revealed near the end of the book. This makes it easy for a reader to empathize with the situation, to some degree, but you also care less about what happens to underdeveloped characters, as well. This manga is not emotional, or at least not yet. It relies more on action and thrills than weepy lamentation, though that could change with the next book.

I hope the quality keeps up with the next installment, and that something gets revealed. This book toes the line between realism and annoying slowness, and shows signs of succumbing to the “multi page action scene with no text” syndrome. However, as of now, it’s definitely a series starter to pick up, especially if you enjoy thriller manga.

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Final Score

B

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Popularity: 17% [?]

Creator: Reiko Momochi
Publisher: TokyoPop
Age Rating: Older Teen
Genre: Drama
RRP: $9.99
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 11/19/07

Too often, we overlook the problems other people have because we want to avoid getting involved. But there are times when getting involved is the only choice you have and when all is said and done, it is those who have the courage to do what is right who will make the difference. Deciding to make a stand against bullies, abusive teachers and social constraints makes for a difficult struggle but at what price will you sacrifice your dignity?

Confidential Confessions is somewhat of a rarity in manga today. Not only does it touch upon serious issues such teenage identity, peer pressure, false love, bullying, suicide, drug abuse, and teenage prostitution—all which are real-life themes—but it’s through these themes that the characters display themselves as dynamic individuals who make realistic decisions that ultimately affect their direction in life. Even though one might consider the manga shoujo in nature, it’s the effective portrayal of teenage angst that speaks universally to any reader.

Volume one is delivered through two stories; each separate from one another but dealing with complex societal issues. The first story explores the life of Manatsu—a young girl who literally hates everything about her life—from her family and even her friends, it’s quite apparent she’s highly depressed. This depression leads to her unfortunate plan to commit suicide, which after a botched attempt, soon discovers another classmate who is into “cutting” and they eventually discuss a possible double-suicide together…

Our second story revolves around Yoshioka; a young teenage prostitute who has runaway from home. Yoshioka doesn’t believe in “love”…that is until she runs into a street performer named Ryo who loves for what she truly is. When she decides to leave the prostitution realm for good after one last trick to pay the bills, she risks losing everything she gained, including her newfound relationship with Ryo.

And while these two stories round out the first book, they speak volumes to me as a reader. With me being a male, I was thoroughly enthralled at the absolute realistic depictions that these female characters brought forth. I have never experience these situations things first-hand but I’ve known individuals who have faced similar situations and it’s heart-breaking. For a manga it’s surprisingly “wordy”, but this is a good thing! There are a lot of introverted moments that the characters are given to reflect and it reinforces the character depth immensely. And the art at times is very suitable to the situation at hand, given the circumstances, a well needed visual to accurately display the chaos and confusion the female protagonist are going through.

The first volume of Confidential Confessions was a fantastic read, and I hope it continues this trend. I highly recommend to all readers, either male or female, to take a chance and read Confidential Confessions, a manga that tackles such serious issues, not only relevant in the country the manga takes place, Japan, but throughout the world. These are issues that need to be examined, and having a manga about is a good place to start.

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Final Score

A+

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Popularity: 19% [?]

Creator: Haruhiko Mikimoto
Publisher: TokyoPop
Age Rating: Teen
Genre: Action
RRP: $9.99
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 11/19/07

“Ecole du Ciel” is where aspiring pilots train to become Top Gundam! Year is 0085 of the Universal Century. Daughter of a brilliant professor, Asuna is a below-average student at Ecole du Ciel. But with the world spiraling toward war, Asuna is headed for a crash course in danger, battle, and most of all, love… Set in the original Gundam universe, renowned artist Haruhiko Mikimoto has created the perfect series for anyone who hasn’t yet been introduced to the wonderful world of mobile suits!

Gundam…the word alone sends shivers down the spines of mecha, manga, and anime fans alike. Perhaps it’s the series portrayal of epic confrontations, or maybe it’s the memorable character designs; there are countless reasons. Whatever the case maybe, the first volume of “Mobile Suit Gundam Ecole du Ciel” is yet another fine testament to the series’ overall widespread appeal that has captivated fans since its creation.

From the very first page, I was deeply immersed into its visual style. With character designs and illustrations stemming from creative genius Haruhiko Mikimoto, also known for his direct illustrative contributions to the “The Super Dimension Fortress Macross” series, I knew I was in store for something magical. His visual flair adds the much-needed emotional depth that the Gundam series is known for. His illustrative perspective on fierce battles, introspective disputes, and youthful innocence are all effectively on display in this volume.

Speaking of youthful innocence, this is probably the plot’s strongest enticement. Young Asuna is a direct reflection of adolescence; inexperienced, uncertain, and scared, she embodies what a majority of teenagers would feel when confronted with serious circumstances. Even though this is the first volume, it accurately displays the emotional depth that youth carry when engaged in a life-or-death situation, which is always intriguing to see.

With this being only the first volume, I expect “Mobile Suit Gundam Ecole du Ciel” to continue the trend of combining fantastic art with an enthralling story. Hopefully this volume is the start of many great volumes to come.

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Final Score

A+

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Popularity: 18% [?]