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Appleseed
Geneon's release of the groundbreaking anime mega-hit from last summer is armed and dangerous. A stunning film to look at, it is also amazing that they managed to condense Shirow's awesome manga series down to 90 minutes without losing the impact and overall message of the story.
Fully 3-D animated, it still manages to maintain a cel-animated look and feel - the film is a marvel from the technical standpoint and marks new high ground in the art of anime film-making. Loaded with a decent voice-cast, plenty of kick-ass action, and a visual punch that is sure to please, Appleseed is a blast!
Porco Rosso
We admit it's almost a cop-out at this point to list a Miyazaki film. It's like cheating, because you KNOW we're going say it's fantastic, incredible and an anime classic that you cannot live without. However, this is the master's most bizarre film, concerning a 1930's era pilot who has been transformed into a pig. On the surface, it's just weird.
 But of course, being Miyazaki, there's more. Way more. It's a charming, bittersweet light adventure film that will bring a smile to the face of anyone with a pulse. There's an elegant magic to it that cannot be easily defined because everyone who watches it finds something differently 'deep' about the film. It's as if our own personal demons allow us to relate to the characters and situations in our own way. Thus, Porco Rosso is also one of Miyazaki's strongest films, and his most personal.
Rumiko Takahashi Anthology - Primal Needs
Stress and duress can elicit strong reactions and push the average man or woman into extraordinary situations. From the brilliant mind of anime master Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Inu Yasha, comes a series of "short stories" that are solid entertainment, as she examines the bizarre absurdities of the human experience with subtly and humor.
Comedic misunderstandings, hilarious coincidences, quiet romantic times, and bittersweet moments all combine seamlessly with the usual flair and panache that is the signature style of one of Japan's most celebrated story-tellers. The journey is the reward.
New Getter Robo
In 1974, the original Getter Robo was the very first "transformer", in that 3 different robots could be formed by linking the 3 vehicles that form it in 3 different ways. The original series came to the US as Starvengers in 1980 (part of Force Five). Now comes a 'reimagined' series born of one of the most successful giant robot franchises of all time.
If you enjoyed Getter Robo Armageddon and Mazinkaiser-Turbo Smashing Sensation, then you'll also get a kick from watching the blood-soaked, graphic violence of this little-plot-but-tons-'o-action slugfest as Getter Robo tears up various alien demons from another dimension. 1970's mecha, retro-robo, rock-'em-sock-'em action abound!
The Boy Who Wanted to be a Bear
It's Boy Goes Bear in the tradition of Tarzan and The Jungle Book. Produced by the team behind The Triplets of Belleville, a boy raised by polar bears must choose between his animal nurture and his human nature. He braves the forces of the tundra in his quest for identity and purpose.
Danish animator Jannik Hastrup directs this movie with a stylish minimalism augmented occasionally by a CGI flourish. The film benefits from a playful musical score by Bruno Coulais (Winged Migration). The cartoon has its share of violent moments (but they are as violent as Ice Age).
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Cruising the Anime City: An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo
Regardless of whether you are planning a trip to Japan or not, every anime fan should have a copy of this guide. Within it's pages, you'll discover a modern metropolis whose soul has been rewired into a pulsing monster machine of pure pop culture. Where on every corner you may see a cosplay gal, a Bishojo gamer, a Gachapon collector, a Morning Musume idol worshipper, a dojinshi artist, or just an older otaku enslaved by that gooey Japanese sentiment known as moe.
Confused? Intrigued? Learn to navigate Neo Tokyo right here, with this, the Anime City's first street-smart guide in English. Plus detailed finder maps of shops at Nakano Broadway (home of manga mecca Mandarake) and Akihabara's "Electric Town," with transportation tips and a survey of the colossal Comiket anime/manga/dojinshi convention.
Gunslinger Girl Volume 1
In Italy, select teenage girls have been transformed into cyborgs and subjected to a brainwashing process known as "Conditioning." These girls are then paired with fully human supervisors, called Handlers, and are made to carry out assassinations on behalf of a shadowy government agency.
It's kind of bizarre cross of Noir and Cyborg 009, and perhaps Kite as well, if only for the immensely disturbing imagery. This is not a comedy, this is grim, dark, intelligent, gripping work with detailed art and fantastic action sequences. Basically, if you bash Chobits together with La Femme Nikita, this is what you'd get.
How to Draw and Sell Digital Cartoons
No doubt about it. Computers have revolutionized everything and even comic books are being put together with digital technology. Leo Hartas gives you an idea how it's all done while also pointing out that you still need to have the skills of the artist in order to make it all work.
The book makes a good intro to the field for up-and-coming anime talent. Examples from different graphic novels are used to lavishly illustrate this colorful tome.
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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Yoko Kanno's amazing soundtrack to the awesome TV series that continues the characters and events from Maramoru Oshii's groundbreaking film, based on the Masamune Shirow's manga. Whew!, that's quite the family tree, containing a who's who of anime.
Kanno's fresh take on the cyberpunk genre is dark, textured, gothic techno fused with the blues, jazz and rock influences that so defined her work on Cowboy Bebop, it becomes easy to feel that there's something for everyone on this album, and each track contains some series of notes that compel you to concentrate more intently the next time around. Good listening.
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