Letters from the New York Otaku  | アニメ!アニメ!

Letters from the New York Otaku 

Hands off My Nakama, Dweebenheimer-kun: Approaches to Translation 画像
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Hands off My Nakama, Dweebenheimer-kun: Approaches to Translation

This image, created in the Comipo 3D software (likely as part of an anonymous argument on 4chan), is a half-parodic, half-serious look at the way people translate typical anime dialogues.

Necomimi Pop Cultural Invasion: Well, Maybe 画像
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Necomimi Pop Cultural Invasion: Well, Maybe

So a week or two ago I saw this picture of famous American news anchor Anderson Cooper wearing a pair of robotic cat ears.

It's an Endurance Vacation: Otaku Vs. The Schedule 画像
ニュース

It's an Endurance Vacation: Otaku Vs. The Schedule

I'm taking my recent trip to Otakon as an excuse to talk generally and specifically about the American anime convention, as I spent a lot of time doing when this column first started.

The Kickstarter Returns: Masaki Yuasa, Production IG, and Kick-Heart 画像
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The Kickstarter Returns: Masaki Yuasa, Production IG, and Kick-Heart

Kickstarter just keeps coming up in our otaku corner. Last time it was with Digital Manga Publishing and their Tezuka line. This time it's Production IG and famous animator Masaki Yuasa.

Masao Maruyama (Animation Production Project Association) Q&A at Otakon 画像
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Masao Maruyama (Animation Production Project Association) Q&A at Otakon

Masao Maruyama (former Madhouse producer, now with Mappa) is actually called honorary staff at Otakon, because he makes the trip out nearly every year. He's built up a reputation.

Transforming Children and Dancing Valkyries: Satelight Q&A at Otakon 画像
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Transforming Children and Dancing Valkyries: Satelight Q&A at Otakon

I wasn't going to drop by this panel, but at the end of the Q&A with Hidetaka Tenjin he told us that they'd be playing Macross Frontier footage that's never been shown to the public before.

Traveling Missionaries of Mahjong at Otakon 画像
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Traveling Missionaries of Mahjong at Otakon

For my buddy Carl and I, one of our ongoing missions at Otakon was to spread the good word of Japanese mahjong. It's a job we've taken upon ourselves.

So I'll Get To See Jam Project Again: Otakon Music Fest 画像
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So I'll Get To See Jam Project Again: Otakon Music Fest

The best news of my weekend came when we were already in the car driving back home. On Sunday, as the convention shuts down, a lot of people sneak out of Baltimore before the con is properly finished up with closing ceremonies around 3 PM.

American Otaku Want To Go To The Movies Too 画像
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American Otaku Want To Go To The Movies Too

When I started writing this article it was going to be about what a great idea it would be to run the upcoming Madoka movies in the States... and then it came out that this was actually going to happen.

Love, War, Pop, and Creative Editing: Robotech and Macross 画像
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Love, War, Pop, and Creative Editing: Robotech and Macross

There had been a collective awkward silence at the Satelight panel back at Otakon when the representative mentioned that the crowd cheered for Macross Frontier footage...

Somebody's Got To Fund Ninja Scroll 2 画像
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Somebody's Got To Fund Ninja Scroll 2

A while back, podcaster (http://bit.ly/cBRB9M) and buddy Daryl Surat talked about his trip to Sakuracon in Seattle, Washington. Present was Madhouse director Yoshiaki Kawajiri: he's responsible for Ninja Scroll

Surviving the American Anime Convention: Panel Preparation 画像
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Surviving the American Anime Convention: Panel Preparation

A couple of days ago, I went over to see my good buddy Carl; on business, of course. After a little small talk, we sat down and got to work.

I Really Miss Raijin Comics 画像
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I Really Miss Raijin Comics

as we've talked about in this very column, JManga is by no means the first bold, direct entry Japanese publishers have tried to make into the English-speaking market.

Jmanga.com: Even In The Future I Can't Throw Away My Books 画像
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Jmanga.com: Even In The Future I Can't Throw Away My Books

I often mention here that I, and all of my geek friends, are moving away from owning physical goods and towards having all of our entertainment

My Suspicions on Viz's Neon Alley 画像
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My Suspicions on Viz's Neon Alley

I'm suspicious. Forgive me for saying that straight out of the gate on a new US anime effort, but I'm suspicious. I am suspicious of Viz's new streaming anime channel, Neon Alley.

Are You Sure You Can't Afford To Release Tezuka? - DMP And Kickstarter 画像
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Are You Sure You Can't Afford To Release Tezuka? - DMP And Kickstarter

We talked about Kickstarter at this column recently with the Tentacle Bento story. The website is in the business of helping all sorts of commercial projects get direct funding

“Demand Your Anime!” - The Anime Network 画像
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“Demand Your Anime!” - The Anime Network

Let's follow up on the Neon Alley news. A live channel, in this day and age of DVRs and on-demand TV and the Internet?

Crunchyroll and Streaming – Where Watching Anime is Going 画像
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Crunchyroll and Streaming – Where Watching Anime is Going

I don't know how it is in Japan, but here in the States, the whole idea of packaged video appears on the way out.

The Other Kind Of Fanwork: Tokyo Crystal Mew and MS Paint “Fanime” 画像
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The Other Kind Of Fanwork: Tokyo Crystal Mew and MS Paint “Fanime”

My friends and I often say to each other that it's a wonderful thing we weren't born ten years later, in the age of Youtube, because kids like us would have shared a million awful videos

“Japanimation ROCKS!” And How It Fell Out Of Use 画像
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“Japanimation ROCKS!” And How It Fell Out Of Use

In the old days, when people were trying to figure out just what to call the stuff these tapes they got from Japan,

I Do Understand Burning Friendship! I Will Fight Evil People With You! - Animetal USA 画像
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I Do Understand Burning Friendship! I Will Fight Evil People With You! - Animetal USA

Have you guys heard the Animetal USA album? (http://animetalusa.com/) It's been a while since it came out, but it's really impressive!

Anime Fanworks Based on The American Version – The “Abridged” Genre 画像
ニュース

Anime Fanworks Based on The American Version – The “Abridged” Genre

I've talked before about how Japanese anime-- especially the kids' stuff-- is often cut, changed and censored before it's brought before American kids. Cultural differences and all that. Millions of kids

Anime Convention Black History: The Yaoi Paddle 画像
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Anime Convention Black History: The Yaoi Paddle

In the previous article on the word “Glomp” I painted the open floor of the anime convention as a place where one runs the risk-- however small-- of being tackled to the ground

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