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Hellsing - Complete Collection
Hellsing is one of the very best in the horror genre, and another absolute gem from Gonzo. One of the reasons for the zeal of the fanbase is that the violence is absolutely off the chart, characters are sliced and diced throughout, and the screen runs red with blood. The English dubbing, featuring British-accented voice actors is far superior to the average anime dub (as this is supposed to take place in the U.K.).
Loaded with exotic weapons, gorgeous gothic backdrops, heaps of attitude, slick soundtrack, and featuring the ultimate "cool" lead character, Hellsing is stylish, violent, and always a turn-on, one any vampire or goth fan could enjoy. You'll literally be giggling with excitement and cheering over the death and destruction.
The Daichis - Earth's Defense Family
Dysfunction has a name and a face. It's the Daichis. They consist of plump, meek husband Mamoru, raging, dictatorial wife Seiko, their anxiety-ridden teen daughter Nozomi, and their hyperactive, hormone-driven prepubescent son Dai. The family is being driven apart by internal strife. An alien race chooses them to be defenders of the Earth - and total chaos ensues.
The hilarity comes from their hapless plight - the Daichis must battle aliens, meet their employers' strict demands and remain a functioning family unit. It's a combination that oftentimes drives them to the very edge of sanity - and sometimes past it. It makes for hysterical entertainment that is guaranteed to make you watch their misadventures again and again.
Wolf's Rain - Leader of the Pack (Vol. 1)
Wolf's Rain is kind of like Mad Max with werewolves. But, oh, it is so much more than that. With a staggering plethora of subplots and surprising twists of character, this series is easily one of the tops of all anime. And it is literally dripping with style. The fantastic design of the world they inhabit and the war machines used (including an odd mish-mosh of technology), reeks of a back-story that may be more interesting than the actual plot.
Featured as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up, this series has garnered a serious fan-base, and it's easy to see why. Unquestionably, once you view volume 1, you'll want to have all the other volumes of this outstanding series.
Burn-Up Scramble - Angels Attack
The Warrior Strike Team Girls are back in all their, err, bouncy goodness -- Rio and her exploding temper, Maya and her high tech weaponry and now Lilica the psychic wonder. And we still don't know how Rio lost her virginity. This adult-oriented anime (16 and over) is funny and full of action. It's good to have them old girls back. Wait, Rio, I didn't mean old, ahhhh!
The first 4 episodes are filled with fighting (mostly Rio and her temper) with explosive action. Maya is pretty smooth and calm but deadly with eagle eye accuracy. Lilica comes in on the last episode and then the humor really roars. Right off the bat, Rio is kicking her boyfriends, um, ex-boyfriends' butt all over. Rio goes up against a biker gang, a Mobile ATM robbing machine, a mad bomber and a peeping tom thief.
Kill Bill (Volume 1)
Kill Bill (Volume 2)
We can't think of film that pays homage to Asian Cinema more than Kill Bill. There's even an anime-segment! Like a live-action cartoon the action is fast and furious, with kicks, swords, thrown knives and everything else being a weapon. DragonBallZ never had it this chaotic and that includes the big pink guy.
Quentin Tarantino, a Hong-Kong film fan, has created a wild & wacky movie maelstrom that Jackie Chan would be proud of -- and much of the team responsible for shooting this film also worked on Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and the more recently released Hero.
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Akira: Movie-Reprint Poster
We believe it is a requirement to own an Akira poster at some point in your life. This classic image has been reproduced on everything from denim jackets to computer cases, and no wall seems to be complete without it.
You can bet that any tv show with an anime fan in it will have this as part of his abode to "show" he's an anime fan. So look the part yourself and key-in to the culture. Living and breathing every nuance of this golden-age anime is part of what being a fan is all about!
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Let's Draw Manga - All About Fighting
Although the artwork is kind of stiff-looking, what make this particular book worth having is that it covers a huge amount of ground in the area of setting up a scene and playing through combat with the most dramatic poses and camera angles.
Of particular interest were the sections on weapons use and the different types of genres that fight scenes take place in. while not so much of a "how to draw" book, it's a fabulous reference for the times your characters need to get heavily into the action.
Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews
Fred Patten has been a fixture in anime fandom for more than a quarter of a century. During this period, he has assembled a wealth of information on anime and the culture that grew around it, compiling all of this into a highly entertaining and fascinating book that covers all aspects of this phenomena we call anime.
From the TV shows and movies themselves, to the fandom that arose from them; from the artists behind the creations, to the aggressive marketing that has brought anime to the forefront of American consciousness - Fred covers it all in depth.
Batman Animated
Most anime fans reading this site are probably too young to remember what a Roman Album is, but here's it's closest American equivalent. Batman Animated takes you behind-the-scenes of the series' production, with never-before-seen sketches, concept art, storyboards, character designs and a ton of glossy stills from the most influential animated series ever produced.
To say this is a 'must have' is an understatement. No one interested in the animation arts should be without this spectacular volume of quality craftsmanship. This simply *is* the Batman.
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Anime Toonz 1 & 2
Anime Toonz are remixes of popular anime theme songs. Ranging from pop to techno to electronica to funky to just downright weird, the eclectic mix offers something for everyone. Kikuko Inoue (on disc one) has a very pretty voice and that helps, although it would be better for you if you know the theme songs she's doing.
The second disc by Maria Kawamura offers some great remixes such as the Macross "Do You Remember Love", Bitshifter's remix of the Love Hina theme song (an awesome video-game sounding mix), and Prozac's remix of Popolocrois, as well as some delicious soundbytes.
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