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 Neon
Genesis Evangelion (DVD)
Anime.com recommends this pick, which is the first of a series (established
Evangelion fans should note that a
complete boxed set of the series has just come out). And what
a series it is! Neon Genesis Evangelion may be one of the most dramatic,
thought-provoking, intelligent, emotionally charged TV series ever
made, animated or otherwise.
 The
tale centers around Shinji, who is unwillingly selected
to pilot Evangelion Unit 01 (by his father, to whom he
has no love), to defend the Earth against mysterious
aliens known only as "Angels". Don't mistake
this series for "just another robot show",
the robot isn't the center of the story or even the action.
It's the characters and their three-dimensionality that
bring this to life. So much so that fans of the series
hotly debate the justifications and motivations behind
the characters of the story.
All this combines with Anno Hideaki's super-skillful direction, which
breaks the mold for anime, presenting an unusual assortment of film
noir, experimental cinema, hints of Sergei
Eisenstein, and emotional allegorical sequences similar to what
you'd see in something like Ingmar Bergman's "Wild
Strawberries". This is anime for fans of film, and this
is anime for fans of anime. Once you get absorbed into the story
and the characters, you'll wonder why all anime, or even all TV shows
and Movies aren't like this.
 DragonBall
Z -History of Trunks (DVD)
If you've watched DBZ on Cartoon Network, you know that Trunks is
the son of Vegeta and Bulma (and what an unlikely couple they are!).
Trunks competed against Go-Ten at the World Martial Arts Championship,
and not only won, he landed a pretty good punch onto Hercule as well.
 Now
if you think back a series or two, there was another
Trunks, who came from the future and promptly destroyed
Freiza without even breaking a sweat. This Trunks is
from an alternate future. Trunks warned Goku about a
virus that would kill him and the two androids that would
destroy the world in three years. Because of this warning,
Goku beat the virus, and was alive to take on the androids,
which of course, leads into the Cell Games.
But now see the future that never was! If Trunks had not come into
the past to warn Goku, he'd be dead (along with all the other Z-Fighters!)
and it would be Gohan and Trunks alone to challenge the two destructive
androids. Can Gohan train Trunks in time, or will Gohan have to face
them alone? Every day that they delay stopping these androids means
thousands of innocent deaths in what remains of the cities of Earth.
Even as Super Saiyans, do they have the strength to take on Number
17 and sexy Number 18?
 Ghost
in the Shell (DVD)
Don't worry about the plot, just look at this film. Every dollar spent is on
the screen. Even six years after it's release, Ghost in the Shell remains the
best-looking anime film ever made. Some of the sequences are just so jaw-droppingly
amazing you won't believe that the majority of the film is hand drawn animation.
Incredibly choreographed actions sequences, fantastic music (the eerie, haunting
title track will stay with you forever), and the dead-on film direction of Mamaru
Oshii make this one of the greatest anime films of all time. To say this is a "must
have" is an understatement. It's one of the ultimate cyberpunk films, and
it's visuals were definitely an inspiration to the Wachowski brothers when they
created the blockbuster "The
Matrix" -- just the opening sequence alone is a dead giveaway of that
fact.
 This
is one of those movies that requires multiple viewings to take it
all in. There's so much on screen that your first two viewings will
probably leave you not even caring about the story. Then, on your
third of fourth viewing, you'll start to understand the complex plot,
and understand what a "ghost" is -- and why it's so critical
to the action at hand. For the uber-geek, this film is filled with
cool-looking high-tech gadgets including some cleverly designed big
guns, a six-legged tank, camouflage like "The Predator",
and just some amazing art-direction that just won't quit making your
eyes fall out of your head. Ghost in the Shell presents a dark and
realistic view of the future, where mankind as we know it will soon
be replaced by his own creations.
 Akira
Special Edition (DVD)
What really needs to be said here? Akira simply is the most popular anime film
ever made, having had several theatrical runs even here in the US. Directed by
writer Katsuhiro 'tomo, the manga he produced became the
most-read manga ever. When the film came out in 1988 it represented over
two years of painstaking labor to create the stunning visuals in the film. Remember
that in 1988 there was no computer animation to speak of at the time -- this
was all done by hand.
 This
DVD represents a new cleaned-up version of the film, digitally remastered,
redubbed, and in widescreen format, it's simply awesome to behold.
Otomo's richly detailed world of NeoTokyo, which is designed from
huge buildings down to the smallest details of passing vehicles or
police uniforms is combined with nonstop action that doesn't pause
for even a moment to allow you to catch your breath. Plus there's
a gruesome and yet thoughtful ending (which was parodied in a South
Park Episode), that will leave you gasping for more. Akira deserves
its rating as the most well-known, most popular anime film ever created.
You can't even call yourself an anime fan if you've never seen it.
 Bambi
Meets Godzilla (VHS)
Everyone knows the joke, but have you actually ever seen the film?
It's quite possibly the funniest one-joke film ever made, although,
I guarantee you'll be in hysterics just reading the credits. Where
would we be without Marv Newland? This videotape offers more off
beat animation classics including Betty
Boop in "Crazy Town" and Max Fleisher's "Small
Fry," so this is not an entire tape of crudely animated films
by amateur animation fans. Like the title animated short, every film
included on this tape is a guaranteed classic -- you're not likely
to be the same after you've viewed them all.
 If
you are a student of animation or just a fan, the films
included on this tape showcase just how far you can go
with a limited budget, lots of creativity and an extremely
bizarre sense of humor. It inspires me to go out and
make my own films. Perhaps you'll feel that way as well
after you view Bambi Meets Godzilla.
I mean, just think of the possible sequels, what with
Barney and those darn Teletubbies running around perverting
our youth.
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 Final
Fantasy X
First of all, we'd like to state here and now that Final
Fantasy IX was the best game we ever played on the
Playstation. When someone asked us what it was about,
we replied through tear-filled eyes "it's about
... friendship." You just won't understand unless
you've experienced it yourself. At anime.com we’ve
never been so moved by a videogame.
 Leave
it Squaresoft to improve upon perfection. Final Fantasy
X may be the best game ever made, with an amazing story
and utilizing the full power of the PS2 to allow game
sequences that look as good as the cinematic scenes.
Overall gameplay has been improved, as has the battle
system (one cool feature worth mentioning -- you can
now switch the battling "team" during a battle).
And ah, oh, how good it looks. Next to Pixar,
Square may be the strongest 3D house on the planet, with
innovative and majestic design, rendered to the point
that it feels as though you're playing a Hollywood feature
film.
 Of
course, like every version of Final Fantasy, this game
has an amazing amount of depth (you'll never see it all),
extremely strong characterization and lots and lots of
hidden "stuff" for you to find as you go through
the adventure. There's also the usual assortment of puzzles
to solve, strategies to form, resource management, skills
to acquire, experience points, boss monsters, and all
the other niceties of a solidly-constructed, skillfully-executed
RPG. And we’re not going to tell you what it's about.
You just won't understand unless you experience it yourself.
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 Robots
and Spaceships,
Edited by by Teruhisa Kitahar
This book covers two of our favorite subjects, robots and spaceships! Taschen
publishes some great art books, and this is one of them. This book is from
the “Icon” series which focuses on topics ranging from Tattoos to Pin
Up photos. The quality of the photography and printing is always very
high, so these little books tend to make great gifts. This title will be
of special interest to anyone fascinated by early space travel and technology,
those who simply want to wax nostalgic about a bygone era of their youth,
and of course to collectors and fans of 50s and 60s tin toys.
 The attempt here is to give a reflective taste of some of the best of what
was the golden age of space toys. Between the retro red covers you'll find
your 1950s Smoking Robot, Thunder Robot with box, your Mr. Robot, and a
couple of "The Gang of Five". The 191 pages, mostly with full
single page shots of the toys, is enough to give the uninitiated a real
appreciation for the talent that went into their creation. The roots of
today's toys can be seen in these precursors, notably in the early transformer
robots. Taken from collector Teruhisa Kitahara's vast collection, which
is on display in many museums in Japan, the robots and spaceships featured
here are quite rare and give a wonderful overview of this era in the history
of toys.
 The
Insider's
Guide to Sake
On a cold rainy day there is nothing nicer than enjoying a warm soothing
cup of sake at your favorite sushi establishment. An encounter with Japan's
favorite libation is bound to be memorable, yet despite its growing popularity
worldwide, information on this eminently drinkable beverage remains scarce.
The Insider's Guide to Sake is the consummate introductory handbook. It
unravels the history and intricacies of this exotic drink, and provides
an extensive list of restaurants and retail outlets in Japan, the United
States, and Europe where the beverage in all its variety can be found.
In the book you will discover over 100 sakes for all tastes and pocketbooks,
tips for beginners and connoisseurs alike, and a knowledgeable explanation
of the brew-master's skills. Labels and specs for each selected sake are
displayed in a concise, easy-to-follow format.
 Iron
Chef:
The Official Book
While not a cartoon character Gourmet Academy chairman Takeshi Kaga and
his Iron Chefs hold a special place in the heart, no make that the stomach
of anime fans. Translated by Kaoru Hoketsu this book will introduce readers
to "exclusive stories and recipes behind meals never before attempted,
meals filled with lobster, foie gras, truffles, and other delicacies."
This
book reveals the show's apparatuses with the breathtaking hype familiar
to its television audience, via "The Rules of the Game," Iron
Chef interviews and profiles, "Testimony of the Cast and Staff" and
various "Prestige Menus."
Fans of the Food Network's series will revel in chronologies and
other tidbits about this hour-long video extravaganza that mixes
cooking shows,
sports, game shows, and plenty of showbiz pyrotechnics. The book documents
the show's genesis from an idea of Takeshi Kaga, the spectacularly coifed
chairman of the Gourmet Academy. Diehard fans who follow the art and the
antics of these gifted chefs will create plenty of demand for this exhaustively
detailed guide to the show. Recipes are for experts only, but those who
want to eat the Iron Chefs' creations may use the book's inventory of the
worldwide restaurants where iron chefs cook for the public.
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 Gorillaz
We admit it -- we originally got into this band
because I saw the video for "Clint Eastwood",
and every other word out of my mouth was "cool...
awesome..." But after experiencing the entire CD,
we gotta say, it's a pretty good mix of stuff and has
a unique sound. This group mixes everything from rap,
funk, and rock to produce a strange, funkadelic sound
that really is unlike anything else I've ever heard.
 A
motley crew of mismatched misfits, the group
consists of pretty-boy singer "2D",
metalhead bassist "Murdoc", hip-hop
drummer "Russel" and 10-year-old
wunderkind guitarist "Noodle".
All of these characters are alter-egos for
the talent behind the music. While some bands
are content to simply sound cartoon-ish,
Gorillaz are animated ideas brought to life
by comic-book creator Jamie Hewlett (who's
famous for "Tank Girl") and Blur frontman
Damon Albarn, who lends his vocals to most
of the songs on the group's self-titled debut
album. Other "real-life" musicians
who assisted the group in the studio include
former Talking
Heads bassist Tina Weymouth, Cibo
Matto's Miho Hatori and Dan "The
Automator" Nakamura, who produced the
album.
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Anime
News Service
One of the better anime news websites run by veteran anime
fan Jonah Morgan.
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