LO Magazine December 2004

LO Magazine
anime & manga for South Africa
Vol. 7
Dec. 2004
Free Issue
Devilman
Ikki Tousen
Hell on Earth
The Way of the
Scantily Clad,
Busty Warrior
Chrono Crusade
Ghost in the Shell 2nd Ed
We preview Dark
Horse’s 2nd printing
of Masamune Shirow’s
masterpiece
Comix Bru 2004
Local artists displaying
their talents in
Stellenbosch
Kicking Demon Ass
with Wit and Holy
Power
WIN
Japanese:
How to walk
and talk
like a native
speaker
The perfect tool.
Express yourself!
Adobe Indesign cs
Image © 2004 Adobe Inc.
W
elcome to LO
Magazine’s
seventh issue.
It’s crazy time of the year
with deadlines close to
each other, because of
the up coming summer
holidays.
Firstly I would like to
apologise for not having a
Digital Section this month.
Our featured artist is busy
with two movies at the
moment and will only be
on time for our next issue.
Guess, you guys don’t
mind him finishing work
on movies like Star Wars
first. :)
Hope you enjoy this
month’s issue. Next month
will have some awesome
surprises, so keep your
eyes on the 29th of
November.
Enjoy.
Ed.
3
© LO Magazine 2004
LO
CONTENT
06
ANIME FEATURE
Ikki Tousen: The Way of the Scantily Clad,
Busty Warrior.
08
INDUSTRY NEWS
Find out who is doing what, where and
when.
10
MANGA FEATURE
The Holy and Wacky Chrono Crusade.
LO Magazine is a product
of © 2004 Manga SA Anime
12
SBP COMPETITION
Stone Bridge Press presents Japanese
Beyond Words in our “Lekka Manga”.
Cover: Devilman © Toei
Animation / Go Nagai /
Dynamic Planning Inc.
13
AD COMPETITION
Anime Direct “Most Wanted” presents
the Ah! My Goddess Hild Figure.
Page 3 Image: Kaze,
Ghost Warrior © Timothy
Albee Animation.
14
EDITOR’S PAGE
The Anime Fan.
LO recognises all copyrights
16
KIDS/TEENS
Saikano (aka She, the Ultimate Weapon)
18
LETTERS
Ed. vs the Readers
Editorial
Editor - AJ Kock
[email protected]
Website:
www.lomagazine.co.za
For contact spesifics please
see inside of back page.
Guest Writer: Sydney
Butler
in this issue. Where possible,
we have acknowledged the
copyright holders. Contact
us if we have failed to credit
your copyright.
Unless indicated otherwise,
all content are © LO
Magazine.
© LO Magazine 2004
4
Note: To make life easier we indicate
anime with blue and manga with green.
Words in Bold, Italic means that it
includes a term definition.
06
20
THE LOCAL SCENE
Comix Bru 2004 held in Stellenbosch
22
LIVE-ACTION
Devilman heats up for the big screen.
24
NEO-MANGA
eigoMANGA - Pioneering Neo-Manga
27
MANGA PREVIEW
Ghost in the Shell, the 2nd Edition.
36
LO RECOMMENDS
This month’s anime and manga
recommendations if you don’t know what
to watch.
38
SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY
Ecological messages.
39
SUBMISSIONS
Do you want to submit your artwork or
articles to us?
Software used in the making of LO Magazine:
Artwork: Adobe Photoshop
Layout & Design: Adobe Indesign
PDF Creation: Adobe PDF Writer
5
10
20
38
© LO Magazine 2004
ANIME FEATURE
IKKI TOUSEN
THE WAY OF THE SCANTILY
CLAD, BUSTY WARRIOR!
Never before have we come across an ecchi
title (sexual* in nature) with so much story.
It is actually quite refreshing. Based on the
famous novel The Three Kingdoms, different
schools fight for supremacy in modern times.
Ikki Toussen is filled with characters with their
own unique fighting styles, skimpy outfits and
devilish plots. Scheming characters will leave
you guessing until the end as the schools fight
for the control of all the regions. If a person can
choose between reading a historical book on the
Three Kingdoms or watching Ikki Tousen, you will
definitely prefer to watch Ikki Tousen.
* similar to the English words “dirty”
or “naughty”, carrying slightly negative
connotations, but not necessarily
“perverted” like hentai.
Ancient warriors from the time of the ThreeKingdom era in China have been reincarnated into
the students of the seven top schools. It is their
destiny to fight the same battles from the past.
Hakufu from Nanyo High School, is a 17-year-old
girl who might be the inheritor of the legendary
Sho Haou’s fate and soul. The only problem is
that she is a bit of an idiot. Unlike popular belief,
this can actually have an effect on a person’s
destiny.
USA Distributer: Geneon Entertainment
Website: www.geneon-ent.com
Ikkitousen Website: www.ikkitousendvd.com
.LO
Recommend: If you like this type of
anime, then you should try Manga Ent.’s
Streetfighter Alpha.
All images © Geneon Entertainment
7
© LO Magazine 2004
INDUSTRY NEWS
ADV, FUNIMATION &
GENEON JOINT VENTURE
The three largest producers
and distributors of anime
in America (ADV Films Inc.,
Funimation Prods. and Geneon
Ent. (USA) Inc.) announced
plans to form a joint venture for
the development and marketing
of anime.
They will focus on developing
high quality entertainment series
primarily targeted to children
and young adults. The synergy
of these companies is impressive
as together they reach 70% of
the anime homevideo market in
the U.S.
Logos © ADV, Geneon,
Funimation. Source: AWN.com
KAZE, GHOST WARRIOR
One man, two computers,
six months and a dream. That
was all that was needed to
create this animation, which
received standing ovation in
Germany, Texas, Tacoma, at the
SIGGRAPH 2004 booth and the
Anthrocon 2004 screening.
Ex-Disney animator, Timothy
Albee was said to be tired of
working with bloated & large
studios and wanted to show
people what can be done by one
man and his artistic talent.
Driven by honor, a masterless
warrior tracks the murders of
the Royal family, the same men
responsible for his own death.
Image © Timothy Albee Animation.
TOKYOPOP’S SAMURAI GIRL
Tokyopop Inc. has linked
actress Melissa Joan Hart
(Sabrina, The Teenage Witch)
and screenwriter Dan Gordon
(The Hurricane) for a live-action
feature film development project
inspired by Samurai Girl: Real
Bout High School.
It’s the story of an ancient
Samurai warrior reincarnated as
a 20-something-year-old sushi
bar hostess. Ryoko discovers
she is mankind’s only hope in
destroying a coven of murderous
wolverines who are hatched
every 5,000 years and -- if left
unchecked -- will destroy all
humanity.
Image © Tokyopop Inc.
SABC2 BUYS DONNER &
DRAGON’S ROCK
TV-Loonland sold the
productions Donner, the
Reindeer & Dragon’s Rock to
SABC2 in South Africa.
Produced in a distinctive
blend of hand drawn images
brought to life in computer
generated 3D animation, Donner
is a non-traditional Christmas
special about one reindeer’s
badly-timed identity crisis.
Meet the Hoppers: a regular,
scaly-skinned, fire-breathing family
of five just trying to make ends
meet and cope with the chaos of
daily life. They live in Dragon’s
Rock.
Image © TV-Loonland.
ROCKFISH
Blur Studio’s computergenerated short film about a
worker on a distant planet, is
currently enjoying a successful
run on the international film
festival circuit. (See June Issue of
NAG Magazine for Quicktime clip.)
Rockfish won for Best
Animation at the Malibu Film
Festival, Best Animation at
the Melbourne Independent
Filmmakers Festival, finalist
for Best Animated Short at the
Raindance Film Festival (result not
in time for print) and numerous
other awards and nominations.
Website: w3.blur.com
Image © Blur Studio
MANGA FOR IRAQ
Finally somebody is doing
some good in Iraq. eigoMANGA
is sending care packages
containing anime and manga
gifts for U.S. Army troops
stationed at Colorado Springs,
Colorado, expected to be
departing soon to Iraq.
The media and publishing
company is answering the call of
the Army troops that formed an
anime club on the base called,
“A.N.I.M.E. Club.”
[Maybe Studio Ghibli should
send them Grave of the Fireflies
Ed.]
Source: w3.awn.com
Image © eigoMANGA
© LO Magazine 2004
8
MANGA FEATURE
CHRONO CRUSADE
The United States of America is under threat
and this happened before Bush’s time.
Imagine New York during the 1920’s. Add
a trigger-happy nun and some supernatural
evil. Now you have some idea of Chrono
Crusade.
The original title in Japan was Chrno Crusade,
instead of Chrono Crusade, but the US Distributor
(ADV Films) decided to change it to a more
palatable name.
The year is 1928, and the setting is New
York. Not long after the end of the Great
War, America experienced an unprecedented
economic prosperity. However, this era of rapid
development also brought in uninvited visitors; a
devious entity one cannot see, a non human force
lingering in the darkness.
Sister Rosette of the Magdalene Order and her
assistant Chrono are professional exorcists who
try to counter this dark force. We are taken on
© LO Magazine 2004
10
wild rides of adventure when evil spirits possesses
things and attempts to enter into the United States.
Both are very good at what they do but every time
an incident occurs they seem to cause a lot more
problems for the people around them.
Rosette is looking for her brother who went missing
when they were little. It is that incident, in fact,
that caused her to enter the convent and train as
an exorcist. Even more important, she and Chrono
share a secret: the real truth about Chrono is that
he is really an evil spirit connected to Rosette
through a Pocket Watch Agreement.
During an emergency, a seal is released by Rosette
and Chrono’s mighty power is unleashed. However,
there is a price to be paid. Rosette’s soul is
consumed everytime she releases Chrono’s power,
thereby shortening her life.
Even though one is a human and the other a demon,
they are connected to each other through an
unbreakable bond. Will she live long enough to be
reunited with her missing brother Joshua?
The original graphic novel series was created by
Daisuke Moriyama and appeared in the monthly
magazine Dragon Age by Fujimi Shobo.
If you liked Adam Warren’s Dirty Pair (neo-manga
made of Haruka Takachiho’s Dirty Pair), then this
manga is a definite for you. It contains loads of
action, structural damage and wacky humour.
.LO
Official Japanese Website:
http://chrno.com/
ADV Films (anime) Website:
www.advfilms.com/CATALOGFilms.asp?Cat=ListChro
noCrusonoCrusade
ADV Manga Website:
www.advfilms.com/catalogM/MANGAMCC001.asp
Recommend: If you like this type of
manga, then you should try Dark Horse’s
Dirty Pair neo-manga.
11
© LO Magazine 2004
SBP COMPETITION
See p.15 for
more details
WIN
WIN
ENTER
ENTER
NOW
NOW
STONE BRIDGE PRESS
PRESENTS
“Lekka Manga”
We are happy to present the Japanese Beyond Words: How to walk and talk like a native speaker book for
this issue’s “Lekka Manga” prize. We are very grateful for Stone Bridge Press for their interest in providing
our readers with a great prize. How do you win? Simply send us an email ([email protected]) with
the subject: “Lekka Manga 07” and with your answers to the following two questions:
1. Who is the author of Japanese Beyond Words?
2. Name any three other titles from Stone Bridge Press.
Closing Date: 31 Dec. 2004. This competition is only open to South African residents.
Stone Bridge Press | Berkeley | California | www.stonebridge.com | Email: [email protected]
Note: More than one entry into the same competition will automatically disqualify you.
© LO Magazine 2004
12
AD COMPETITION
WIN
ENTER
NOW
WIN
ENTER
NOW
ANIME DIRECT PRESENTS
“Most Wanted”
We are happy to present the wonderful Ah! My Goddess Hild Figure as this issue’s “Most Wanted” prize.
We are very grateful for Anime Direct in Johannesburg for their interest in providing our readers with
some sought-after goodies. How do you win? Simply send us an email ([email protected]) with
the subject: “Most Wanted 07” with your answers to the following two questions:
1. Who is the publisher of this Ah! My Goddess figure?
2. What is the url (address) of Anime Direct’s Website?
Closing Date: 31 Dec. 2004. This competition is only open to South African residents.
Anime Direct | www.animedirect.co.za
Note: More than one entry into the same competition will automatically disqualify you.
13
© LO Magazine 2004
EDITOR’S PAGE
THE FAN
What defines an anime or manga fan and
where on the scale of 1-10 do you find
yourself? Take our test and reflect on your
fandom?
Question 7:
Do you go to anime showings just to laugh at
cosplayers?
(A) Yes
(B) No
Question 1:
How many hours a month do you watch anime or
read manga?
Question 8:
If you meet someone who thinks that anime and
manga are only for kids, do you...
(A) 0-1 hour
(B) 2-5 hours
(C) 6-12 hours
(D) 24 hours per day
(E) What is anime or manga?
(A) Beat them up and say it’s not
(B) Hide your dolls & tell them that there is
nothing wrong with a grown person watching
animation
(C) Get revenge by showing them Grave of the
Fireflies
(D) Point out to them that comments like that
from someone that reads the YOU magazine are
very funny
Question 2:
How many Japanese words do you use on average
in your conversations with non-Japanese people?
(A) None
(B) 1-3
(C) 4 or more
(D) Boku wa Nihonjinda, baka.
Question 9:
Do you have a Japanese girlfriend or wish you
did?
Question 3:
Do you think it is ok to quote phrases from your
favorite anime in public?
(A) Yes
(B) No
(A) Yes
(B) No
(C) Sometimes
Question 10:
What does the term hentai mean?
(A) The art of tying up chickens
(B) The “art” of perversion
(C) The art of crossing the road, as a chicken
Question 4:
Do you dress up as your favorite character, when
you are not at a Cosplay convention?
Scores:
-100-1: Social delinquent: You need to swap
places with the person in your closet.
01-20: The Innocent: Did your geeky brother
make you read this magazine?
21-40: Scary Cat: You still need to work on that
inner child of yours
41-60: Normal: You have a life. Congratulations!
61-80: Ronin: A culture rebel
81-100: Golden Boy: You need to consider
therapy. Any obsession (even a good one), can be
bad for you.
Question 5:
Do you constantly fight at school and loudly
announce your next move?
(A) Yes
(B) No
Question 6:
Have you try to convince the class bully that
you should fight it out with a packet of Yu-Gi-Oh
cards?
6. (A)10(B)0
7. (A)-100(B)0
8. (A)5(B)10(C)2(D)0
9. (A)10(B)0
10. (A)5(B)10(C)0
(A) Yes
(B) No
© LO Magazine 2004
.LO
14
Points:
1. (A)1(B)2(C)5(D)10(E)0
2. (A)0(B)2(C)5(D)10
3. (A)10(B)0(C)5
4. (A)10(B)0(C)5
5. (A)10(B)0
(A) Yes
(B) No
(C) Does my DBZ pyjamas count?
A new approach to the Japanese
language: entertaining, opinionated,
educational
Japanese
Beyond
Words
How to Walk and Talk
Like a Native Speaker
Andrew Horvat
176 pp, 6 x 9”, paper
ISBN 1-880656-42-6
“Andrew Horvat has written a witty,
intelligent, and practical guide to one of the
world’s less practical languages and the
culture behind it.”
Edward Seidensticker, Professor Emeritus of
Japanese, Columbia University
place on academic reading lists next to
Ruth Benedict’s The Chrysanthemum and
the Sword, and Takeo Doi’s The Anatomy of
Dependence.”?
Sara K. Ellis, The Independent Publisher
Learning Japanese is a challenge. And, as many
students find out, memorizing sentence patterns,
vocabulary, and lists of kanji doesn’t necessarily
make it easy to communicate with Japanese
people. Barriers of culture and social etiquette
can be just as difficult to overcome as problems
of grammar. And until now, these aspects of
learning to communicate with a new culture could
only be learned first hand by trial and error.
“Brings alive the concept of ‘language in
culture,’ producing a remarkably insightful
and accessible tool for Japanese-language
learners and all students of culture.“
Richard D. Brecht, Director, National Foreign
Language Center, Washington, D. C.
“Courteously but firmly, Horvat ... leads us
through the intricacies of communicating
in Japan. There is much more in this
information-packed book. It is, as Edward
Seidensticker has said, ‘a witty, intelligent,
and practical guide to one of the world’s less
practical languages.’”
Donald Richie, The Japan Times
Long-time Japan resident Andrew Horvat presents
these and many, many more topics through a
wealth of experience, research, and anecdote.
Entertaining, opinionated, as well as educational,
Japanese Beyond Words will help you to walk,
talk, slurp, and bow your way to cultural (as well
as linguistic) fluency in Japanese.
“Andrew Horvat has written a superb rundown of the difficulties met in the study
of both the language and the culture of
Japan... Expatriates, future long-term
visitors to Japan, and students of the
language would be doing themselves
a favor and saving themselves some
exasperation by reading this book. Clearly
written and easily understood, this book is
a shortcut to problem solving for students
of Japanese. Andrew Horvat deserves his
A Tokyo-based writer and broadcaster for
many years, Andrew Horvat has been a fellow
at the National Foreign Language Center in
Washington DC (1997), at Stanford University’s
Center for East Asian Studies (1994/95), and
at Simon Fraser University’s David Lam Centre
for International Communication (1990). He is
a member of the Japan Foundation’s advisory
committee on the teaching of Japanese as a
second language.
15
© LO Magazine 2004
KIDS / TEENS
SAIKANO
[AKA)
SHE THE
ULTIMATE
WEAPON
WRITTEN BY JERICHO
The title is a bit of a giveaway really. I
guess you could consider this to be a typical
romance. Boy and girl go to school together,
ditzy girl likes boy, boy likes girl, war breaks
out, girl is most powerful weapon conceived
by the military and lots of people die. And
they say romance is dead.
She the Ultimate Weapon, based on a manga
of the same name would like you to know that
war sucks, don’t do it OK? It will make you so
depressed that you’ll start wearing black clothes
(unless you already do, in which case, err, good
for you). Make no mistake kiddies, this is heavy
stuff dished in a cutely animated way.
The show proved very popular with it’s Japanese
audience, understandable since most mecha
anime (and lots of other genres) have a very
strong anti-war sentiment.
Chise is the “Ultimate Weapon Girlfriend” and
Shuji is her boyfriend. Their country is at war
and since she is so good at kicking enemy butt,
Chise has to run off from time to time mopping up
“Pockets of resistance” to quote some politician
we all know. Since only she, Shuji and the
Japanese military know the truth about her, it
becomes quite a heavy cross to bear for Shuji.
All images © Shin Takahashi/SHO • TOV • TFC • CBC
Viz Entertainment
When the war finally starts reaching their own city
(which up to then had been uncannily peaceful,
© LO Magazine 2004
16
thanks mostly to Chise), Shuji has to wrestle with
some particularly mean demons, when people he
knows and loves start to die before his very eyes.
What is love worth? What will one sacrifice for
it? Why not use a full grown man as an ultimate
weapon? What do girls REALLY want? Will he find
the answers to his questions?
Plenty of devastating cyborg induced explosive action,
mixed up with a touching heartfelt romance and
rounded off with a depressing pinch of despair that
will rip your very same touched love-pump and tread
it into the pavement.
Watching with a box of tissues is highly
recommended.
USA Anime Distributer:
Website: www.viz.com
Saikano Website: www.saikano-usa.com
.LO
Recommend: If you like this type
of anime, then you should try Serial
Experiment Lain (16) or NGE (13).
17
© LO Magazine 2004
LETTERS
THE DOCTOR IS IN THE HOUSE
Konnichiwa to all Otakus out
there in the sunny S.A.
I have been a loyal anime fan
in S.A. for the past 3years. I
love every aspect of anime; the
beautiful girls with big dreamy
puppy eyes, the great stories,
the morals behind the stories
& big giant robots kicking butt
in space, the drama, suspense,
making the impossible possible
and just plain silly things in
anime!!
I have a suggestion!!! Why don’t
you start a Japanese section
where people can be helped
in learning Nihongo and some
basic kanji?
[This might come as a
surprise to you, but I don’t
know Japanese. Which mean
that I cannot teach it to
anyone Ed.]
The fact that animedirect &
readersden gets a mention in
this magazine is great, hope
they get more support from the
fans out there!!!
I rely greatly on fan-subbed
anime because of import costs
& customs and most of the
local retailers don’t have a lot
of anime. I don’t already own
either from buying from them or
imports!
[Here is how you solved that
problem. It has worked for
many Otaku out there. 1.
Give up drinking. 2. Give up
smoking. 3. Give up women.
You will now have enough
money to buy anime. Ed.]
The point I am trying to make is
why do the “baka’s” [Japanese
for idiots. Ed.] in the US think
they can purchase a license
long before and then release
the DVD’s nearly a year later???
© LO Magazine 2004
They should just leave it so fansubs can be made and the fans
can enjoy a series while they
have their hands full with other
projects!
[So you expect the “baka’s”
to translate the series first,
spend millions of dollars in
creating a package and only
then ask if they can buy the
license? Ed.]
I know this is a touchy subject
to most of us!! But I just had to
get it out of my system!!
As for people who want to how
to pronounce the following
words:
1. anime = an-ee-may
2. manga = mahn-gah
[Thanks! Ed.]
P.S. GITS2 : Innocence preview
in 1st issue was really cool!!! I’m
a big GITS fan!!
Arigato & keep it up!!!
Nucleous
Hi LO
Just wanted to say thanks for
such a great anime mag that is
in SA. Keep up the good work :)
White_Brain
[Finally! We have converted
a white brain. Ed.]
At Rage this previous weekend
I watch a few episodes of a
series called: Those Who Hunt
Elves, and really enjoyed it. I
recommend it to people who
enjoy shows like dragonball Z
and Pokemon. A review on the
series would be really nice :)
Jason
[I will file the request. Maybe
when we do a fantasy/
comedy feature sometime in
future Ed.]
18
Right off the bat, let me say that
I think LO Mag is AWESOME! I
can’t believe that you haven’t
been SWAMPED with mail. I
guess such is the fate of the
subculture. I get LO Mag from
the NAG CD every month, and
I love every bit of it :) Please
keep the mag in electronic
format, and if you do decide to
go to print, at least release the
electronic format a short while
later. I’ve been there since the
beginning (I make it sound like
it’s been years!) and I’d hate
to see anything happen to my
beloved LO magazine.
Such a remarkable accomplishment
for an SA-based anime mag
- even overseas stuff is pretty
lame. Again, I can’t believe
there haven’t been millions of
entries into your competitions.
I’m definately gonna enter from
now on, and not stop too :-D
Thanks for the brilliant work!
What, if anything, does LO stand
for? [Will maybe tell when we
at least one year old. Ed.]
Catch you later
Morgue[FLB]
Do you think there is a small
chance that the Lo mag will be
publiched as a printed format??
That would be really great!
Just one question the section at
the end where you recommend
anime & manga, you have the
one called Read or Dream??
According to me it is supposed
to be Read or Die and which
one do you mean the TV Series
or the OVA. I have both and
they are pretty amazing!! Just
wanted to ask that, thanks.
[Sorry, we made a mistake.
We recommend both, but
Read or Dream is actually
Read or Die TV. Ed.]
Artwork by
Roland du Preez
THE LOCAL SCENE
And you thought there was no local talent here in South
Africa! Comics Brew (formerly known as Comics Galore,
Festival of International Comic Art: September 2002 - March
2003) is an initiative to showcase, develop and establish
comic strip drawing (also known as sequential or narrative
art) in Southern Africa.
Comix, Bru! is a local riposte to the international Comics Brew
exhibition, showcasing the new comic art talent that has blossomed
in South Africa since 1994. None of the artists in the show was
published before that date. Comix, Bru! features about 25 artists
from Durban, Stellenbosch, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The images were taken at the Stellenbosch Art Museum, where
the Comix Bru
2004 exhibition was
recently held. In
future issues we will
talk to some of the
artists behind these
amazing works and
maybe you can be
inspired to be a comic
artist one day.
For more info on
Comix Brew and
related initiative,
visit their website:
www.comix-brew.com
All images are ©
of the artists or
companies.
.LO
© LO Magazine 2004
20
21
© LO Magazine 2004
LIVE-ACTION
GO NAGAI’S DEVILMAN
Go Nagai (Mazinger Z) did not just stand out
among his peers, because he drew extremely
violent manga. He was noticed for what he
was: a pioneer.
The manga was published in 1972 (total of five
volumes) and quite surprisingly, the anime also
appeared in 1972, produced by Toei Animation
Company (Sailormoon, Galaxy Express 999,
Dragonball, Saint Seiya, Mazinger Z, Cutey Honey,
Captain Harlock, Fist of the North Star & Crying
Freeman).
After publishing his first short story in 1967, Nagai
exploded onto the scene and by 1968, already
had twenty-three different titles published (Read
Watching Anime, Reading Manga by Fred Patten).
The Live Action was given to first-time movie
director Hiroyuki Nasu and also produced by
Toei Animation. The cast includes Hisato Izaki
(Devilman), Ayana Sakai (Devilman’s girlfriend
[Battle Royale II, Boogiepop Phantom]), Yusuke
Izaki (Ryo Asuka), Ai Tominaga (Selene the
Devilbird) & Pride FC / K1 Superstar Bob Sapp as
a television announcer.
In Devilman, a shy teenage boy named Akira
Fudi is lured into the world of the occult by his
friend Ryo Asuka. Ryo tells him about the demon
threat to humankind and that he needs his help.
Demons are possessing humans, but a person
with a pure soul can control the demon that
possess him. Akira therefor has to allow himself
to be possessed by a demon, so that he can fight
other demons.
Action Coordinator is Akihiro Noguchi has worked
on movies like The League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen & Mimic 2). Watching two demons
fiercely fight above a city skyline like two mechs,
is a sight to behold. .LO
What follows is a blood orgy of limb tearing
and screaming, as Akira (now possessed by the
Demon Amon, Lord of War) fights off demon after
demon.
© LO Magazine 2004
22
Website: www.devilmanthemovie.jp (Japanese) | Producer Website: www.toei-anim.co.jp (Japanese)
Images © Toei Animation / Go Nagai / Dynamic Planning Inc.
23
© LO Magazine 2004
LO RECOMMENDS
NEO-MANGA
PIONEERING NEO-MANGA
eigoMANGA is an independent comic book
publishing company, developing, producing
and marketing original manga (Japaneseinfluenced comic books). eigoMANGA is also
expanding into an integrated media company
engaging in video/television programming,
brand/anime-themed live events and the
licensing and sale of branded consumer
products featuring the eigoMANGA brand.
eigoMANGA.com was formed by Austin Osueke
(CEO) in August of 2000 in Houston, Texas. Austin
Osueke’s company gained industry acclaim and
distribution for being the first online publisher of
comic and manga webcomics, inspiring the entire
comic book industry to utilize the internet as a
medium to promote and showcase comics to a
world wide audience.
Images © eigoMANGA.com
Japanese Animation”.
“eigoMANGA.com is the harbinger of the Internet
comic industry” - Wizard Magazine
eigoMANGA and quite a few other American
manga publications aim to create manga work
that is competitive to Japanese manga and at the
same time develop a distinctive American identity.
They hope to collectively carve a new trend
within the US manga/anime industry to produce
compelling work done by American artists.
eigoMANGA currently published RUMBLE PAKK, a
shojo anthology series called SAKURA PAKK. They
also publish comics featured in RUMBLE PAKK and
put them in their own title. Among these comics is
“The Monkey Tale”.
You can also keep you eyes on your favorite
bookstores, for eigoMANGA will publish a book
written by the acclaimed anime icon Mr. Yasuo
Yamaguchi entitled “The Complete History of
© LO Magazine 2004
eigoMANGA website:
www.eigomanga.com
.LO
24
25
LO RECOMMENDS
CLASSICS
Title
Type
Media
Co/Publisher
Genre
Akira
M
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Action/Political
CR Age Content
8
13
N,V,L
Appleseed
-
Manga
Dark Horse
Sci-fi
7
13
V
Battle of the Planets
S
Anime
Rhino Home Vid Action
5
13
V
Ghost in the Shell
M
Anime
Manga Ent.
Sci-fi
7
16
N,V,L
Heidi of the Alps
S
Anime
Adventure
1
ALL
Macross Plus
M
Anime
Manga Ent.
Mech/Action
4
13
V,L
Neon Genesis Evangelion
S
Anime
ADV Films
Mech/Action/Drama
10
13
N,V
Ninja Scroll
M
Anime
Manga Ent.
Action/Fighting
5
18
V,N,S,L
Streetfighter 2: The Movie
M
Anime
Columbia Tristar Fighting
5
13
V,N
Title
Type
Media
Co/Publisher
Genre
Akira
-
Manga
Dark Horse
Sci-fi
7
13
N,V,L,D
Cowboy Bebop The Movie
M
Anime
Ster Kinekor**
Sci-fi/Adventure
6
10
V
Ghost in the Shell 2
-
Manga
Dark Horse
Sci-fi
8
13
N,V
Witch Hunter Robin
S
Anime
Bandai Ent.
Action/Drama
6
13
V
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
M
Anime
Buena V/Ghibli
Adventure
3
PG
V
Metropolis
M
Anime
Ster Kinekor**
Sci-fi
7
ALL V
Perfect Blue
M
Anime
Manga Ent.
Thriller
8
18
N,S,V,L
Samurai X
S
Anime
ADV Films
Swords/History
7
16
N,V,L
Serial Experiment Lain
S
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Sci-fi/Drama
9
16
V, Sa
Spriggan
M
Anime
ADV Films
Action
5
16
V
Voices of a Distant Star
M
Anime
ADV Films
Sci-fi/Romance
4
13
V
Type
Media
Co/Publisher
Genre
Dead Leaves
M
Anime
Manga Ent.
Fighting/Comedy
*
13
V,L,N,S
Azamanga Daioh
S
Anime
ADV Films
Sit. Comedy
4
13
V,S
Mezzo TV
S
Anime
ADV Films
Action/Comedy
6
16
V,N,L,S
Saikano
S
Anime
Viz Ent.
Action/Romance
5
16
V,S
Millennium Actress
S
Anime
Dreamworks
Drama
8
PG
V,L
Ghost in the Shell SAC
S
Anime
Bandai Ent.
Sci-fi/Action/Drama
8
13
V,L,N
Last Exile
S
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Sci-fi/Adventure
7
13
V
Texhnolyze
S
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Sci-fi/Adventure
UR
16
V,L
Read or Die: TV
S
Anime
Manga Ent.
Spy/Action
6
13
V,L
Type
Media
Co/Publisher
Genre
Paranoia Agent
S
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Thriller
Appleseed
M
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Sci-fi
Samurai Champloo
S
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Samurai/Action
Ikki Tousen
S
Anime
Geneon Ent.
Fighting
Ghost in the Shell 2nd Ed.
-
Manga
Dark Horse
Sci-fi/Action/Drama
RECENT
CR Age Content
CURRENT
Title
FUTURE HITS
Title
© LO Magazine 2004
36
CR Age Content
AGE RESTRICTIONS
ALL - For everyone
PG - Parental Guidance needed
13, 16, 18 - No one under the
specified age allowed.
Content
V - Violence
S - Sex
N - Nudity
D - Racial Discrimination
L - Foul Language
Sa - Substance abuse
Note:
These restrictions are just a
recommendation. Most of these
anime and manga do not have a
rating given by the South African
Publication Board, because it
hasn’t been release in South
Africa. All items are Region 1
(USA) or published in the USA.
We provide this information so
that you can make an informed
choice on what you and your
family members watch.
CATEGORIES
Action - Comedy - Drama
Documentary - Fantasy
Fighting - Historical - Horror
Mech - Political - Romance
Sci-fi - Spy - Superhero
Thriller - Vampire
Type:[Movie - M][Series - S]
Manhwa - Korean manga
Complexity Rating: (CR)
1 - Very Easy
2 - Easy
3 - A man’s mind
4 - Soapy plots
5 - Average
6 - Monkey Puzzles
7 - Challenging
8 - A woman’s mind
9 - Really deep
10 - Even the creators are
confused
UR - Unrated
* Either 1 or 10 CR (you decide)
** South African release
Disclaimer: LO doesn’t take
responsibility for the acuracy of
the content ratings.
SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY
ECOLOGICAL DISASTERS
The destruction of nature and the
consequences bothers us every now and
then, when we watch a good movie or
read a good book. Two days later, we have
forgotten about our apocalyptic fears and
continued with our destruction of our planet
Earth.
Why are we humans so careless and have to wait
until we all stare at the last natural apple, before
we start to do something? Is everything only
determined by a profit margin?
Watching movies with an ecological theme,
therefore seem to have little value, except if they
actually show alternative possibilities and means
of getting out and solving natural disasters.
Over the past few decades there has been
numerous anime and manga which had a direct or
indirect message about the importance of nature.
Manga like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
and anime like Princess Mononoke, My Neighbour
Totoro, Green Legend Ran, Blue Submarine No
6, Devil Hunter Yoko, Tenchi Muyo, Please Save
My Earth and Jungle Emperor [Anime Explosion
by Patrick Drazen P.183-191] had elements of
nature, which played an important role in the
existence of mankind.
Wonderful Days © TinHouse
A regular theme in ecological anime and manga
is the belief in the existence of Gaia (The Gaia
Hypothesis proposes that our planet functions
as a single organism that maintains conditions
necessary for its survival) and that the world will
heal itself. (See Final Fantasy: The Movie)
The Korean animation Wonderful Days had a very
strong pollution theme and it showed how people
will let others endure suffering just for the sake of
power and control.
The questions is, will there be still humans left by
the time Gaia has healed the Earth?
In Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, the world
lies destroyed and it’s only hope for recovery lies
in the hands of a young girl.
Maybe you should sit up next time you watch or
read an ecological anime or manga. You might
just be expendable in dear Mother Earth’s big plan
for the nearby future.
In Princess Mononoke, animals and humans are
once again in conflict over resources, as humans
destroy forest after forest in their search for
resources.
.LO
My Neighbor, Totoro © Studio Ghibli
Blue Submarine No 6 © Gonzo
© LO Magazine 2004
38
Princess Mononoke © Studio Ghibli
SUBMISSIONS
Fan Artwork:
Send us a scan of your work (300 dpi) and we will consider it for placement in LO.
Manga or Anime Reviews:
We don’t do reviews, we only do features. We don’t like to take reviews, because of the inherent bias
in fan reviews. Rather, tell us more about the anime or manga and let people judge it for themselves.
Email us for feature specifications.
Feature Comments:
If you have any comments regarding our features or Social Philosophy topics, please enter the specific
topic in the subject field of your email. For example: Anime Feature Ghost in the Shell 2.
Requests:
If you have any requests for topics, features, new sections, etc., please write “request” in the subject
field of your email.
Copyright:
If you feel that we haven’t honoured your copyright, please do not hesitate in contacting us, so that we
can rectify it as soon as possible. Put Copyright in your email subject field.
General:
We welcome any other comments, whatever they might be. Just think twice before you do send an
email. Email: [email protected]
Remember:
If you don’t tell one new person once a day about anime and manga, you aren’t doing your job right.
Spread the word, it is FREE!
D
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NEXT ISSUE
NEXT ISSUE
Would you like to be in our next issue? Send us your fan
art or feedback on our articles and you might be lucky to W
be selected for inclusion.
W
Definitely:
• Naruto meets Samurai X in Peacekeeper
Kurogane
• Doug Chiang, Art Director of Star Wars
• Local artist Brendon Hayes
Maybe:
• Preview manga
• Exclusive articles from Fred Patten
• and lots more...
Robota © Doug Chiang
39
© LO Magazine 2004
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the
following companies, their
software and certain
people for making this
magazine possible.
Adobe Inc.
Adobe Indesign
Adobe Photoshop
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© LO Magazine 2004