Book Description

On top of giving them room and board, Kakei is also giving jobs to Kudo and Himura to make some money on the side. During one of Tokyo's matsuri (festival), Kakei sends Kudo and Himura on a job to recover an old magical vase in one of the nearby shrines. It's not as easy as just walking in and out. The vase has the power to twist the spatial environment to mislead anyone looking for it. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Don't bother.
I agree with other reviewers, I bought this Manga and it's 2nd Volume for the hinted boyxboy moments and there were little to none in the first volume and was more Shoujo in the way of things. I don't think it was worth what I bought them for because I am a Shonen Ai and Yaoi collector. Get it if you have spare cash, but otherwise don't bother because what other ppl say, it's not really that great at the least the first volume isn't. I mean both boys keep refering to 'love' of girls. And that's not what any Yaoi Fan.

Not as great as expected, but still worth it.
If your thinking Legal Drug is packed with hot yaoi action, then your wrong. In fact, it seems to just tease you with hinted yaoi-references, and it might dissapoint some readers. However. If we look at the true quality of the manga, you'll find the usual CLAMP amazingness. (For lack of a better word.) The (mainly male) characters are definetely errr... drawn well. You know what I mean, chicks will enjoy it. The plot isn't too complicated, it mostly involves little missions within each volume. The missions are all quite strange and very interesting to follow... for example, flying fish. Back to the loose story... there is some *slight* suspense thrown in about the character's past- but I suppose you'd have to feel for the characters to be intrigued by the mystery...
Overall, I think most will agree this manga is average for CLAMP, and overall a "Good" manga.

Awesome, for a TOKYO POP product
Now, I dont really like and of the manga Tokyo Pop pulls through to the US mostly because of the translateing job they do. I must say though, Legal Drug is an impressive breakthrough. It's become one of my favriot manga that I have collected over the years and it's one of the best shonen ai products that have been imported to the US. It wasen't obvious in the first manga what was going on other than the speical abilitys the boys have. The hinting of Saiga and Kakei was pretty good too. Unlike Gravitation and other such titles, the hinting wasen't layed on too thick, I think. Untill this novel, I thought it was going to be normal and no more hinting would be thrown in. I was wrong! =) I love all the shonen ai titles and have become a collecter of them for about two years, and I have to say Legal Drug has just that right amount of everything thats hard to get in todays socity. Mystery and prophaganda were iminant by just reading the title of this manga, but I never thought it would be this good. It's deffinately worth the read.

Dangerous Liasons
This new manga from the Genius of Clamp is..well..strange.I can't decide if I love it or hate it.I have read both the first and second volume and have found no answers yet to any of the mysteries presented in the book. True it's still too early for the Clamp teamto be giving any answers...but I WANT TO KNOW!!! This IS what Clamp does best.
The series starts out slow. It'sabout two boys-Kazahya and Rikuo-who work in a drug store for a mysterious man named Kakei. Kakei sends the boys on side jobs of retreiving items. Sounds easy right?Wrong. The side jobs are never what they seem and often lead the boys to get into some pretty strange situations...But hey I'd do it too if I needed the money! *winks*There is also another character named Saiga. He works at the drug store too. Well I don't know if you would call sleeping all day really working...but he is more involved in this story than the good people at Clamp are letting on.. and he also seems to have a "special" relationship with Kakei*grins* I recommend it because it's classic Clamp but with a twist!

Typical Clamp
The closest you can get to the style of Legal Drug is Clover. There's the same minamalistic feel and implied but never truely approached past and reality. The first volume of Legal Drug was dissapointing only in that not much happened at all. In comparison, Clover knew where it was going right from the begining. This may have something to do with the brevity of Clover though, since Legal Drug is a more standard size, and I assume it's going to have more volumes to it as well.

The boy's love in this is really obvious too. Most CLAMP titles put the man on man romance in the back seat, but Legal Drug seems to be first and foremost a shounen-ai title. This is definitly good for fans of the group who've been having to make do with only breif moments, passing statements, and the like.

The plot of the manga is a little contorted. I understood everything, but it seemed like there was a lot of nothing and the volume never got to the point. Because of that, I have no idea about how Legal Drug will turn out. ... Read more

Book Description

Shoujo manga is one of the most popular styles of Japanese animation, featuring the most recognizable characters in manga-seen everywhere in comics, books, toys, television, film, and video. Since shoujo is based on stories that focus on peer pressure, romance, and friendship, it initially appealed to young females, but today more and more boys are attracted to this genre, which inevitably includes young male heroes. Best-selling author Christopher Hart once again reveals the secrets and techniques that go into building all the basics of the shoujo style-the big eyes, the miniscule noses, and the cute or angst-ridden expressions. Teen body language is explored. In addition, artists learn to draw teen clothing styles and also different character types, from school kids and cuddly creatures and cute pets to heartthrobs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

amazing!
i realli think this book is worth it. it teaches you how to draw man and female, how to draw the clothes when there sitting and sooo much more! i reccomend his book for anyone that wants a challenge on drawing.... it is sooo worth it considering that it takes up every topic. thats pretty much why i gave this book 5 stars!

The art of Shoujo
This book is great for those who want to learn to draw shoujo. It goes over how to draw the faces and bodies, gives examples of many types of hair for both males and females. goes over chibis, cute mascots, bishies and their eyes, different genres of shoujo, and much more! A must have!

Awesome
This book gos over everything you need to know when drawing manga. It goes over hands, facial features, female AND male characters, diffrent hair types, bodys, Chibi, design detail, and a whole lot more. If you dont want to get a million books going into great detail with just one subject, then i suggest you get this book. It really helps with trying to create your own unique manga characters as well. I suggest you go out and get this book as soon as possible. ... Read more

Book Description

Frustrated by Ryuichi's superior talent, Shuichi decides to get into his own groove in order to go head-to-head against his idol. And when Eiri makes an unexplained exodus to New York, Hiro convinces Tatsuho to dress up like Eiri and make some magic happen! But when Shuichi gets carried away and locks lips with the costumed Tatsuho, will the face-sucking scandal be too hot for everyone to handle? Or will Shuichi tell everyone to kiss off?! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not Murakami's fault
First of all, I just ADORE Gravitation. I love the story and the characters, especially Yuki ^_^. I didn't even really have a problem with the previous volumes' translations. However, the translating and editing in book 6 is horrible. The slang almost made me cringe (mainly Ukai's lines), the book repeatedly spelled cell phone, "cel phone", and there were times when the characters would refer to the wrong people (K would say Eiri, when it was Hiro doing the actions).

Despite all these problems, which were mainly in the first act, Gravi 6 is still a good volume. In the first act Bad Luck competes in a cooking competition in order to when a trip to Disneyland. This is one of Murakami-sensai's more crazy story lines, but it's still very funny. The second act is better, focusing on the outing of Yuki and Shuichi's relationship to the public (Yuki's so adorable in this act!) If you can get over the editing problems of the first act and already have the previous volumes, I'd definitly recommend Gravi 6 as well. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

...another astounding piece of work by CLAMP
wonderful story..its nice how CLAMP relates their work together somehow with other books. If you haven't read any of their previous works, I'd reccomend reading Card Captor Sakura, since Sakura is in this book, Magic Knight Rayearth may help a bit as well. It's not necessary to understand the storyline, but its a nice when you can compare how they changed some of the characters...the paper quality could be just a LITTLE better, but nevertheless its a great start off for Del Ray. The publishing price; 10.95 is a BIT expensive, since normal manga sells for 9.99 ea. But they do add on Japanese previews, and other notes at the end...so I guess that compensates in a way...

Couldn't put it down!
I was extremely happy to read this book, and see my favorite Clamp characters back in action. I have not read all of Clamp's previous works, except for Cardcaptor Sakura and Chobits. But it isn't necessary to be familiar with all of them, the story is entertaining nontheless. Sakura and Syaoran still seem to harbor feelings for each other, but they are much more grown up now. They are different Sakura and Syaoran than from CCS, but they have the same basic personalities as before.

Too bad Sakura couldn't get more lines in this first volume. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the next volume!

Kawaii desu!
This is very cute! Sakura and Syaoran are BACK in action! But this time, they're not the same as they were before. There idenities are TOTALLY different! Sakura is a princess and Syaoran is an arceologist! And also in this story here, Fujitaka is NOT Sakura's father but Syaoran's adoptive father (this part you'll have to wait till vol 5 or 6 I got mine in Japanese so it's faster) and in this series, Syaoran is a lot more friendlier and a lot more genki-ish like Sakura. But what I didn't like was the way too dramatic Tomoyo. But it was okay, and it's really sad how Sakura's life was turned into feathers in the snap of a finger.

1) Arts great
2) Dialoge- So, so
3) Plot interesting

So if you're still pondering why you should get this, you better just give in and get it anyways. It's really good! It's a must-have in teh CLAMP shoujo manga category!

AznPiez

Vintage CLAMP
The art's great, but the story's a little shallow, as, uh, CLAMP's stuff sometimes can be. I'm only familiar with this first volume, but it looks like CLAMP fans will get much more of a kick out of this than the average reader (the story crosses over a quivering horde of CLAMP characters from previous manga into a single, new universe). A big plus for me was that key characters from Cardcaptor Sakura are significant elements in *this* story, and I had always thought CCS could've been wrapped up in a better way; I have a vested interest in how CLAMP'll deal with Tsubasa.

Pick it up if you liked Li Syaoran from Cardcaptor Sakura (Sakura's there, too, but she's in a magical coma or something; I have a feeling she'll stay that way for a while), are already a CLAMP fan, or if you think the cover is really swell (same awesome art on the inside).

MY OPINION MOSTLY ( ONT READ IF U ONT WANT OPINION!)
i disdainfully read this manga when it first came out, which was in japanese. And my Japanese is just as rusty as my Filipino, which is pretty bad to start with. But other than that i just flipped throught the wonderful graphics of CLAMP's extremely detailed artwork and without even knowing the storyline I quickly followed the story through only with my eyes. I began to enjoy the storyline even if I did not get the whole point of the story. Which for me was an advantage and a disadvantage. But all in all this story is a true classic of CLAMP. Mixing many of their other manga characters in with this story and making new ones as well. CLAMP is one of my favorite manga temas and artists, besides from Yu Watase, Yukiru Sugisaki, Oh!Great, etc. But this manga is one of CLAMP's more confusing ones. Enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

In the 21st century, the glittering Neo-Tokyo has risen from the rubble of a Tokyo destroyed by an apocalyptic telekinetic blast from a young boy called Akira -- the subject of a covert government experiment gone wrong now imprisoned in frozen stasis. But Tetsuo, an angry young man with immense and rapidly growing psychic abilities, has done the unthinkable: he has released Akira and set into motion a chain of events that could once destroy the city and drag the world to the brink of Armageddon. Resistance agents and an armada of government forces race against the clock to find the child with godlike powers before his unthinkable destructive abilities are unleashed! One of the true international classics of graphic fiction and unavailable for nearly a decade in America, Akira has once again taken America by storm, its first Dark Horse volume selling out almost overnight in comic shops and bookstores across the country! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Still very good
They throw a lot of new characters at you in this one, and it can be hard to keep up. But hang in there and read it twice if you have to. I can't wait until I can get the next one, because the ending if (almost literally!) da bomb.

The Saga Continues
If you know of the Akira Anime this Manga should be of no surprise; however, there are some definite differences that will become evident upon reading. 1st off the anime is way way shorter and edited to such an extent that most casual watchers are left feelin confused. These books will clear up any problems you may have had with the movie and expand upon the foundation the movie laid out. Be aware these books not in color.

The Middle-Chapter Blues
Volume Three of Katsuhiro Otomo's epic sci-fi saga finds the newly awakened Akira being pursued by Kei and Kaneda, the Army, Nazu's militant faction, weirdly-powered flying children, strange Government robots, etc.

After being freed from his cryogenic sleep by Tetsuo in the last volume, Akira is still groggy, and so we really don't get any insight into his character, and he doesn't become an active participant in the story until the very end of the book. What an ending, though! After this, the series spins off into totally unexpected territory. This volume seemed like mostly filler, though. The story is basically just a lot of people playing "keepaway" with Akira; He's stolen from Kaneda by the flying kids, Nazu snatches him from the flying kids, etc. Like most long stories (In any medium), the middle lags.

Otomo's art continues to be mind-boggling. The amount of detail in every panel is incredible, and you could just linger over the art all day. Even at three stars, Akira 3 is better than most other comics....

Akira, A Masterpiece!
The third volume in the Akira series is just like all the other volumes, magnificent. Although this is the shortest installment of the Akira series, at 282 pages, it's still great. I highly recomend
this book to any anime, sci-fi, or manga fan. If you want a good read get this book.

A Masterpiece Continues to Unfold...
Why on earth are people so concerned with the number of pages? Who cares?!! This third installment of the series is by far the most emotionally and graphically charged part of the story to date. The characters and the complex web of fate that entwines them are explored in much greater depth. The political factions and their agendas are brought to light. Relationships develop between the characters and new characters shed a whole new light on understanding the world of Neo-Tokyo and its political climate. In general the story takes focus and burns a hole right through to the last page as Akira and his devastating power "awaken". Graphically stunning. An epic story that continues to grow in scope. Unbelievable. Otomo is an unrivaled master of the medium. ... Read more

Book Description

Gods and demons wage a never-ending battle with the mortal realm as their battlefield. As with most long-standing feuds, the reasons are no longer important--hatred is a way of life. But it is foretold that one will arise who can restore harmony between gods and demons. Enter Raenef,heir to a set of demon royalty, he is hardly courtly material. The demon king assigns Eclipse to be his tutor, to mold Raenef into proper demon shape. The two begin a journey of discovery, and are soon joined by a human knight and a god-blessed priest. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

How dare YOU admonish ME, vermin?!?!?!?
This manga is hilarious, and I recomend it to everyone in the world! The only real disapointing parts are that it reads like an American book instead of in Japanese format(This may be prefered if it's your first manga, but for those who read them non-stop, it's kind of a bummer) and that it ends so quickly and goes to other stories at the end. Demon Diary is the story of a young demon lord who doesn't know the first thing about being evil, and his teacher, a dreamy demon called Eclipse. Raenef basks in blissful ignorence while poor Eclipse is mentally tortured by the other demons who think Raenef is a joke. Raenef must learn never to appologize, but instead say something imposing, like, "How dare YOU admonish ME, vermin?!?!?" (Which he says in all the wrong places), use dark magic(DARK ARROW!!!), and just be generally dispicable("YOU WILL REIGN IN TERROR WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!!"). While all this is happening, a deeper relationship is hinted at between Raenef and Eclipse...and contrary to popular belief, Raenef is a guy, and yes, they are both guys, the ponytail means nothing!!!! A great additon to anyone's library, whether you're an expirienced manga reader, or a first timer.

Awesome relationship, great story
The cover art dragged me in, I'll admit it! I'd seen a few side stories from DD, but decided to purchase it and see how TokyoPop did.

Demon Diary is basically about a young innocent bishounen (yes, he's male ^_~) named Raenef who's being trained to be a demon lord by a higher class sophisticated and sexy demon named Eclipse. Seeing poor Eclipse struggle with his clueless tutor in the challenge of becoming the 'world's greatest demon lord' proves to be one of the most hilarious manga relationships I've enjoyed in a while. The first volume is admitted slow, but it's a great start to explain the challenges in Raenef's training and a confrontation with a knight at the end. A few of my friends were confused, but the stories 'Crystal Heart' and 'Terra' are stand-alone bonus stories. They're very dark, and Crystal Heart really depressed me. Nevertheless, the artwork of the entire volume was gorgeous. I'll read it over and over again; I definitely can't wait for volume 2.

In conclusion, fans of fantasy, comedy, shounen-ai, demon, and magic should have a kick out of Demon Diary. :)

"You will reign in terror whether you like it or not!" ~Eclipse

It reads from left to right because...
This is not a Japanese manga. This was drawn and written by Korean authors. That is why this book is read from left to right. (All Japanese books are read from right to left) TokyoPop imported several Korean cartoons ("Priest," "I.N.V.U," "Model," "Demon Diary," "Evil's Return," etc). I can't believe they are importing another country's artworks then call them Japanese manga. -_-;;;

need more
This book basically comes in three parts. The first is the beginning of the series Demon Diary, in which Raenef, a demon who seems very clueless about being a demon, becomes a demon lord. Eclipse is assigned to be his teacher. Raenef is just adorable, and even Eclipse isn't totally immune to his cuteness. Even as Eclipse tries to teach Raenef how to fight and be ruthless, like a good demon lord, the two begin to care for one another. Although there is no sex, and really no suggestion that the relationship has gotten that far (although it's definitely not inconcievable that it will), if you have a problem with even the suggestion of gayness, I would suggest you not touch this book. It will only upset you. The next part of the book is a short manga story called "Crystal Heart," which although not bad, was a bit confusing in the end. The third part of the book is another short manga story called "Terra," which is also good and less confusing. Although I thought both of the short stories at the end of the book were pretty good, I couldn't help but wish that I could've voted for them not to be there, if that would've allowed more of Raenef and Eclipse's story to be told. I really would rather have read more about them, and their part of the book felt VERY short. That's really the main reason why I'm giving this book a four instead of a five. I can't wait to read more in this series.

Poor poor Eclipse.......*Sigh*
Okay people, first basic thing that every reader should know about Demon Diary: it is manhwa, so Japanese format need not apply to it (since it's Korean made, not Jap). I mean, why do so many people think all manga has to be Japanese? News flash: they weren't the only ones who worked with these things. Alas... The second thing: Why does everyone mistake Eclipse and Raenef's relationship to be GAY?! You people drive me nuts!! Is it wrong for a student and teacher to share a bond? (How immature the Humans are.....) Oh, my poor Eclipse... Anyhoo, a note for the more MATURE audience...*Ahem* Demon Diary is an AWESOME series! I have all seven books in my possesion, and even though I wish it were longer, (I cried when I found out it stopped at seven books TT) it's worth every minute and second of your time. It's just too funny......If you like it, you should check out "Under the Glass Moon". It's darker and way more gothic, but tres cool, nonetheless. Happy reading! ... Read more

Book Description

The author explores various sexual fantasies in contemporary Japan through beautiful and erotic illustrated characters.This title is recommended for mature readers only.

This title is very similar in nature to the author`s other titles: Fair-Skinned Beauty, Pheromone on the Street Corner, and Bombshell Boobies. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best Yukimino collection I've read . . .
Black and white adult graphic novel.Collection of 10 stories.

The book has a couple of weak chapters and some that are very good.

The first story starts in an apartment after a party.A bunch of women are lying around along with one guy.The guy gets it on with some of the women while his girlfriend sleeps nearby.

The second story involves a woman that is very into her man, who dominates and controls her.She will do anything to herself to keep him from leaving.

The third story involves an alleyway and some holes in the wall.Signs next to the holes say "No Peeping" and "Don't stick it in."When a man walks by and sees the signs, he looks in and sees a cheerleader changing room, with one changing in front of him.

The fourth story involves a laundry.A man finds a pair of panties when he attempts to wash his clothes.A woman catches him staring at the panties, and oddly enough, she seduces him.

The fifth story involves a disgruntled fan, a swimming pool and a very high diving board.The fan has caught an actress and he takes out his annoyance of her ruining a favorite film of his.

The sixth story involves a "panty thief" and a woman that needs to get to work.After having her underwear stolen, a woman decides to go to work anyway, without them.Then her skirt gets stuck on a train door, she gets stuck in the express car without it . . .

The seventh story involves "The Banana Thief."A woman gets caught "stealing" bananas by two cooks.She likes inserting them into herself, they two cooks decide to give her the real thing.

The eighth story involves a woman who has lost her secret diary, and the man who found her identity card.She believes that he has found the diary, and has learned her secret. To keep him from revealing her secret, she basically becomes his slave.

The ninth story involves a missing pet snake that will come out of hiding if the scent of girl in the air.And a boy that helps the girl find it.

The tenth story involves a female dormitory and a very strict curfew policy.

Somewhat hindered by being black & white, and has some censoring.
Women are well-endowed (as are most of the men).Overall, good set of stories, and well-drawn.

Good artwork...
but that's all.The stories are not even close to realistic.In fact, some are not even stories, just short scenes.Some humor, group sex, a couple of cases of rape and a few people even seem to die.Oh, bananas, cheerleaders and panties.Think porn in manga form, with little or no plot.If you like that kind of thing, good for you, but I was looking for something more.Kind of costed a lot for something so thin.I would suggest Yuuki Ryoh's mangas.
But, still, good artwork.Maybe even GREAT artwork.And funny bonus comments at the end of the book.For adults ONLY.

Third Gateway into Yukio's World!
This volume deals with fantasies that are a litte bit darker and depraved than say...Fair-Skinned?Which is TAME compared to this collection and I do mean tame.If you like S/M stuff then this tough love volume was made with YOU in mind.

STory 1: We can't do it here - Guy ends up getting drunk and cheats on his girlfriend with each of her friends.While she's asleep in the same ROOM!
Story 2: Possession - Remember that S/M stuff we talked about?WEll...ya know...HERE IT IS!!!This one neat but...yeah.Just READ it and think what you will.
Story 3: No Peeping - Cute in it's own way.Those naughty cheerleaders!Always up to their lockerroom tricks!
Story 4: Seductive Lingerie - So boring I skip it everytime I read the book!About a finding a woman's underwear in the building laundry room...then she finds HIM!
Story 5: Fan - A young starlet is kidnapped and rapped by a fan of hers.I don't know...I really felt sorry for her in this story...but other people may LOVE it!
Story 6: Ah...What the heck! (...)
Story 7: Banana Thief:This one was cute.The restaurant owners daughter has been using a banana for self gratification until the two chefs catch and teach her a lesson...hentai style!

There are about 4 more stories, but I don't want to ruin them! If you like Yukio DESPITE the content of some stories, you'll want to buy them all.Believe me he has his own personal style that I really like, even though he sucks at drawing hot guys.Heck I read hentai FOR the guys.Hello Yukio!?Throw us girls a bone too okay? ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Cheaper than the dvd... But not better...
If you want an exciting story with great characterization and dark social satire then check out the novel or the movie. If you want to see students slaughtering each other interspersed with brief "Here's what I was like before I died!" vignettes then read the manga.

After seeing the hatchet job Keith Giffen did to this book (as well as Battle Vixens) I've come to the conclusion that he must really hate manga. The plot gets boiled down to it's "GOVERNMENT BAD! YOU KILL NOW!!!!" essentials. And the oddly cartoony artwork creates a jarring juxtaposition to the "money shot" moments of violence.

A good manga based on the Battle Royale novel
This is manga based on the original novel Battle Royale. Battle Royale was a novel about a class of Japanese junior high school students who are sent to a deserted island, given weapons and forced to kill each other off until one survivor remains, who is allowed to return to civilization. It's an intriguing premise that turns into a surprisingly gripping and potent story. This manga follows the original book much more closely than the movie Battle Royale, which was made later. It is worth noting that this manga book only covers the first part of the story. It ends with a "to be continued" and the remaining manga books have not been released in English at the time of this writing. So don't expect the complete story. Because the story is divided up over several manga books, it is able to follow the original story almost exactly. The movie, as good as it was, had to cut corners in order to cover the story in a two hour period. It is a well-made and fun to read story, especially for fans of the book or the movie.

Compeling, if not extremely violent.
First off, both the manga series and the movie are based on the novel by Koushun Takami (also available at amazon). The movie has been extremely condensed, clues being that the book is 624 pages and that tokyopop has 12 volumes of the manga planed.If you have read any of the other reviews then you should now wether or not you would like this movie/manga/novel.This franchise is not for the fainthearted or squemish. I personaly liked the manga, and I plan to buy the book and see the movie.every thing about it is interesting, from the diverse characters and how they each take on the 'program' to the general concept.

Be warned, the manga is rated Mature by tokyopop and is wraped in the store so it is only read if bought.

Reminds me of driving past a car wreck . . .you have to look
If you know anything about this series, you know it's not for the faint of heart. The story takes place in the not-too-distant future, in Tokyo, Japan. For reasons unexpalined in this volume, a "game show" has been introduced into society as a sick sort of entertainment. 42 teens, 21 girls and 21 boys, are pitted against one another, and the sole survivor (the one who isn't killed by his peers) is the winner.

In a world that is now besieged with numerous reality shows, this extreme game doesn't feel as far off as it should. The graphic content doesn not horrify me as much as the probability of this apocalyptic future.

The artwork is graphic and disturbing, yet the characters are still beautiful. The main character's, Shuuya's, childhood flashbacks add to the depressing overtones of the "program." We see Shuuya laughing and playing as a child, and we wonder if the next page will spell doom for that said friend.

The story is compelling and you read on as if you're passing by a highway accident; you just have to look. This volume is very gory and deptressing (but thought provoking.) Is it something we have to dread in our future?!?

As for the previous reviews, this is definitely NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. But then again, it's written for adults. It comes shrinkwrapped for a reason.

Oh, and typing in all caps doesn't validate your opinion. But then again, I'd like to say: THANKS TOKYOPOP!

extreamly violent manga...........
parents beware of this...... Battle royale tells the story bout 40 student raffeld to play death. there phycotic and perverted teacher enjoys watching them kill eachother......VERY GRAPHIC!!!! its more violent than the movie. There is even a rape scene between the teacher and a mother. AND BOOK3!!!! DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED. THEY TURNED A MOVIE MASTERPIECE IN TO A PIECE OF CRAP...THANX ALOT TOKYO POP!!!!1 THE PART WITH YOSHI GETTING SHOT IN THE MOUTH JUST MADE ME SICK! IF YOU HAVE KIDS UNDER 18 DONT LET THEM READ THIS DISGRACE! ... Read more

Book Description

Take a look at the wild popularity of such shows as Pokémon, Digimon, and Dragonball Z, and you'll see the Manga style of comic-book art in action. There's no doubt about it: Manga is hot. And Manga Mania is the only guide that details step by step, how young and veteran artists alike can draw fantasy robots, diabolical monsters, mythical animals, and the other exciting characters that are part of this dynamic genre.

Manga art has many styles: the young Manga style, à la Pokémon; and the more mature style popular with teens and adults. Manga Mania covers them both. Big, splashy chapters demonstrate how to draw martial arts, special effects, and much, much more. Since the Manga style stresses character rather than anatomy, Manga comics are easier to draw. So a beginning comic-book artist can easily learn the tricks of the trade.

Chris Hart, known for his very clear step-by-step illustrations and accompanying text, details how anyone can become a real Manga artist without having to reinvent the art of drawing. ... Read more

Reviews (78)

Not one of my favorites
I don't think I would buy "Manga Mania" again. While Christopher Hart has hired some talented artists to draw this book for him, most of them look like they have drawn in the style of american comics all their lives. It's like a book on basketball written by a rookie who has great potential, but has never really played as a pro. There's work from ten artists in this book, with Christopher Hart narrating. Only one of these artists (Svetlana Chmakova) seems to know what the manga art style is really like. As for the rest of the artists, it's like they said to themselves, "I think I'll draw manga today!" and applied for the job. Even if you have drawn american comics for years, you can't just jump into manga art and become a pro.
Topics in this book include an introduction(in which the pronunciation of the word, "anime" is written incorrectly), "manga basics", "action poses", "The bad boys of manga", "manga genres", "manga's fantasy realm", "drop-dead-gorgeous manga babes", "awesome robots and other cool stuff", "designing dynamic scenes", "common japanese terms"(why is this in here?), "So you wanna be a cartoonist?", "the inside view" (a nice interview with Viz man, Bill Flanagan), and an index.
Although the books by real manga-ka and manga-ka groups (like K's art, Hikaru Hayashi, the society for the study of manga techniques, and Kenkyukai Manga Gihou) are a little more expensive, I would definitley choose book by japanese pros over this.

good
very good, highly recommended. The pictures are pretty good and show the different spectrum of anime. The styles range from the more innocent manga forms in Metropolis, to the more serious look found in Ninja Scroll, to the fantasy and robotic style of Mega Man X. This book won't show you everything in order to draw flawless pictures, even though it does give good examples when provided. You'll probably like this book more if you know how to draw already, or something to that extent. If you wanna learn to draw first, I suggest Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. If you know how to draw somewhat, this book is a great way to SHOW you how to draw manga really well. It also gives tons of creative ideas that never would have crossed my mind unless i read them here. Its really good to spark creativity. Enjoy. I know I will.

Blech blech BLECH!
Okay, if there's one thing I can not stand it is when amateurs try to teach amateurs. Christopher Hart doesnt even know what manga is. I wouldnt be surprised if he's never read one in his life.
His artwork is pefectly hideous, and an insult to manga to say the least.
ANYONE who got any help from this book has my pity, and disgust.
If you want to learn to draw manga, this is the last book you should look at, or anything else by this pitiful artist for that matter. Get some real manga first, and study the artists technique, then get the japanese How to Draw books to study techniques further.
Using this book is akin to watching hideous anime dubs like YuGiOh and Pokemon and saying you're an anime fan.

Just western cartoons with big eyes
This book is ok for someone who just watches Yu-ge-ou and wants to doodle on his notebook but not for anyone who really wants to draw. Its flat coloring also takes away depth from the pictures and makes it look like a cheap cartoon. Not recomended for anyone who really wants to learn the true elements of anime/manga.

Good for the beginner
This was the first book on drawing manga that I ever bought. All I had seen before hand was watching anime on tv, so I already knew the basic look for eyes and such. I have to say that it was a huge help in my manga drawing journey. It teaches the basics like how to draw the eyes and different types of figures, as well as great backgrounds for your characters. I love it! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great book!
As a cartoonist and author myself ( of "Let's Toon Caricatures"), I have quite a collection of how to draw books that I've amasses over the years. This book is my all time favorite for drawing great, cartoony animals.

Wonderful!
I love the idea of putting cartoon animals into humorous situations, and this book shows exactly how to do that! Shows simple ways to draw some of the most seemingly complex cartoons! Highly recommended!

MUST HAVE!!!
Christopher Hart's how to draw books are all wonderful. I own this one and a couple others and I often go back to them when I just can't get my sketches perfect. When I first received them I couldn't tear myself away. I was drawing up a storm 24-7. I've drawn realistic pictures all my life, but until buying these books, I'd never been able to whip out anything cartoony. Unexpectedly, his instructions and tips on cartoon drawing also helped me out in my realistic drawing and creativity.

I can't say enough about this book! You won't be disappointed! It's well worth the price and more. One great thing about it is that not only does the author really know his stuff, he's managed to present it wonderfully. It's a fun & easy read!!!

A must for all potential cartoonists!
A well done book! This book shows you all you need to know about drawing animals. If there ever was a book that was intended for all potential animators and cartoonists, this has got to be it!

Simply the Best!
I have other how to draw comic books, but this ranks the best! I'ts great for those who are just starting out and experts! I rate it a 10+! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Submitted for Your Approval
How these ladies can keep cranking these books out like sausage without them feeling like they were cranked out like sausage is beyond me. Dont' struggle, just accept. This is another fabulous book.

This book is a collection of Twilight Zone style short stories, with our well-endowed witch Yuki and our petulant schoolboy Watanuki as our unifying characters.

For those of you new to CLAMP, let me take you through the CLAMP checklist: Beautiful artwork -- check. Beautiful costumes -- check. Interesting characters -- heh, an understatement. A moral lurking just at the edges of the plot -- check. A plot that takes at least two books to develop -- check (you were not in a hurry, I hope). A plot and/or characters that are ever so slightly...bent -- oh yeah.

Don't worry. If you read any of CLAMP's work fast enough and without any serious thought it won't ruffle your PG-13 sensibilities. It's just when you start to think about the issues that seemed like they were on the margins of the story that you realize what the story was *really* about.

Ant THAT, for me, is what makes CLAMP such a damn fine read.

Wonderful book!
CLAMP never, ever ceases to amaze me. How they can just crank out these amazing books is just...amazing! And trust me, this book is no exception.

xxxHOLiC is a masterpiece. As you've probably already read, it's about a boy, Watanuki Kimihiro, who is haunted by ghosts and spirits. The beautiful witch Yuko says she'll get rid of them-for a price. So he becomes her servant/worker, and gets to see all of Yuko's crazy customers.

This is not like Cardcaptor Sakura, in that you can't just read the book and understand it. You'll have to read some things twice, and really think about some of the things before you get them. It's not a chore though, it's fun.

The art is absolutely stunning. It has a slightly gothic twist, which just makes it more interesting.

When I first read the summary of this book, I was a little put off, because frankly, I am a fan of girly mangas, so it didn't sound all that appealing. But I was so wrong. This is a book not to be missed.

One of the other cool things, is that if you're familiar with CLAMP's work, you'll notice a lot of little things throughtout the book from things like Cardcaptor Sakura, etc. It's fun to look for :D And this book crosses over with Tsubasa:RESERvoir Chronicle, which is CCS in an alternate dimension :D

Plus, Del Rey publishing has included these cool extras in the back of the book! All in all, xxxHOLiC is NOT TO BE MISSED!

Xxxholic is a Nice Beginning
Love the art, love the story. The reason this gets four out of five instead of five/five, is because of all the references and crossovers within the CLAMP universe. Also distracting is the japanese pop-culture (there isn't enough of them to be too distracting though) jokes, which thankfully are explained in the back of the book.

However, this first installment of the manga is gripping and definately worth the buy.

If you want a summary, check out other reviews.

The best in clamp (besides chobits)
Im just gonna say this. YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO BUY THIS BOOK ITS SOOOOOO AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! its very funny, andd mysterious, plus the clothes the characters wear are fab! oh, i think the second book is coming out in july! Yay!

as confusing as ever clamp
As usual CLAMP proves to be the best in storytelling. XXXholic is about a boy who can see ghosts and other things humans cannot normally see. Some people would see that as a gift but to this boy it has been to him nothing but trouble. So he walks and stops right in front od this little house in the middle of the city. Suddenly he walks right in to the gate and into the house. The house owner quickly asks him his name and his date fo birth and puts him into contract to work for her and in return to make his wish come true. To get rid of his so called "gift". But other than that i am done we will see if the boy can survive his boss and get rid of his "gift." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

IT CAN'T BE
I have loved 'Love Hina' from the beginning. Most of the people that I've come in contact I try to get them to read it but they look at say it's just a simple comic it's for kids (which is just so wrong) or I try to explain about and they go. "oooh it's a porno comedy!" So, I had to stop! 'sigh' however, if your looking at this book do yourself a favor and get from the beginning! Trust me!!!

OH MY GAWD!!!
This Is the best of all the comics and it's so sad. A must have. So Funny. The Best i swear!!!

An awesome ending to an awesome series
PLOT SUMMARY (for those who may not have read this installment yet):
Keitaro, Naru, and the rest of the Hinata crew head home from Molmol to confront Grandma Hinata about the mysterious fax she sent for Keitaro. However, things don't go like they were supposed to (when do they ever with this bunch?) and Keitaro ends up losing his chance to finally find out the identity of his promise girl. Complicating things more are a surprise visit from a long-unseen friend with startling news for Keitaro, and Naru running headlong into her old insecurities about whether or not she's the promise girl, which cause her to break things off with Keitaro. Will the hapless couple ever reach a resolution? You'll just have to read and find out. ;-)

Wow. After all this time, it's finally over. This is an excellent final chapter to Love Hina, and although it leaves some minor character details unresolved, it wraps up all the major storylines beautifully and gives Keitaro and Naru time to really shine. The last few pages of the main story are a textbook example of a great ending, and the epilogue is both a hilarious re-working of Love Hina's beginning and a big step towards a new future for all of the characters.

Ken, wherever you are, my hat is off to you for a job VERY well done.

no its not over
for those of you who didnt know, love hina again is not over yet. the manga "love hina again" has already come out in japan.

*choke* must...hold back...tears...be a man....WAAAAAAAHH!!!
IT'S OVER! NOOOOOOO HOW CAN IT BE OVER!?! love hina was the best thing to ever happen to me....AND NOW IT'S GONE!!! GAAAAAHHHH!!!! *ahem* sorry. i just get overly emotional when these things die. i remember acting more or less the same way when sandman ended or kurt cobain commited suicide....anyways. the comic. in my eyes, things like this are proof that there is a god. we are truly blessed withh the likes of this comic. it's funny, cool, deep, and romantic. it will make you laugh, cry (okay, i didnt really cry. only on the inside), but most of all it will make you happy. whenever your faith in religion is shaken, just point to a love hina book and say, "well, that proves it." maybe i'm going a little overboard with describing how great this comic is. just buy the whole series, even if it means you must sell stuff. those back issues of nickelodeon magazine aren't doing you any good: sell em cheap at a garage sale. recycle bottles, check the change slots on payphones, even *gasp* work. just get these comics some way or another. also get some anti-depressants, because you'll be as sad as me when you realize it's over... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Keeps Getting Better
I'll have to admit that when I first started reading FAKE, I wasn't crazy about it. I liked it, bit I wasn't on my list of favorites. As I have progressed in the story, that has changed. I love watching how Ryo and Dee's relationship changes as time goes on. And let's not forget Bikky!! He's my favorite character in the series!!

Book 5 of FAKE is one of the darker books of the series. Ryo has to again deal with the mystery surrounding his parents death. His relationship with Dee is put under a lot of strain as Ryo becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. Also in Book 5 is a side story dealing with JJ and a friend from the Police Academy. JJ is forced to realize that not all officers share the same "protect and serve" ideals.

Overall, FAKE book 5 is full of angst, comedy and some very nice romantice scenes ^_^'.

Pretty pictures.
The non-working of the plot is worse then in the other volumes. The Guys behave like teenage girls. Pschychic characters from other comics show up in the Binki's storyline once again.

I am only reading this for pretty fictional boys kissing.

Don't listen to reviewer number 1!!
Fake 3 was just as good as the first two mangas. In this volume you do learn alot about Ryo and how hard his parents murders were makin g him feel. Dee as always was there for him when needed. Which in my opinion was very sweet! Buy the book! You most definately won't regret it. Ja-ne

A series that gets worse over time
I actually really liked FAKE when it first started out, but then just about at the third volume the story began to lack. The stories all seem like they have been used a million times and the characters arent really that believable anymore so thats why im giving it this rating. Thumbs Down-

Pretty good
I loved the story to this one. It explained a lot about Ryo's past and stuff. As always, Bikky was great and Dee was just hilariously funny. One new character in this book that I'd love to learn more about is Lai's brother. You'll see when you read it. I would definitely recommend this manga to anyone interested. ... Read more

Book Description

*As seen in Asuka Comics along side such popular titles as X/1999, D.N.Angel and Legal Drug*Kasane Katsumoto's work has been published in Asuka, Asuka Mystery DX, Shojo Teikoku, and shonen-ai magazine Ciel*Adapted by Lianne Sentar (Sailor Moon & Saiyuki)

Kotarou is totally stoked that basketball season has started and he can now fulfill his hoop dreams. Things look even brighter for Kotarou as he meets Mio, a beautiful upperclassman who's got the hots for Kotarou. Unfortunately he also meets Chiba, Mio's devious protector. With trouble afoot, Tatsuki and Yuuto must use their ESP to make sure there is no foul play! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hands Off!
First, Hands Off is definitely not straight yaoi... in fact, nothing happens between the boys in the first three volumes (I don't know about later because they haven't come out in English yet). But please, don't let that discourage you from buying it.

The main characters in Hands Off are Kotaru, Tatsuki, and Yuuto.

Kotaru is a small girly boy, who hates his feminine features and short height. He gave his cousin (Tatsuki) esp when they were little kids, and for that reason they stopped being friends. In the beginning of Volume 1, Kotaru transfers to Tatsuki's highschool, where he meets Yuuto, and the two become friends right away. Kotaru loves basketball.

Tatsuki is Kotaru's cousin. He hates his powers, and for that reason, he hates Kotaru because Kotaru was the one who gave them to him. He is quiet, and doesn't talk much, and is REALLY strong (like, scary strong!). All the girls love him, but he just ignores them. He is always mean to Kotaru, but yet, whenever something happens to Kotaru, he always rescues him. Actually, in the third volume, Tatsuki starts to freak out if even something little happens; like if Kotaru is late for school he gets really worried (aww...), and paces around until he finds him.

Yuuto... ah, Yuuto. He is always chasing after girls, and asking them for phone numbers (think Miroku from Inuyasha, cept Yuuto doesn't ask girls to bear his children). Yuuto also has a special power. He can see people's auras, and can tell what they're feeling.

Now, don't get turned off by the fact Kotaru and Tatsuki are cousins. It honestly doesn't seem like it, and I assure you, you will find yourself begging for them to get together! Tatsuki so obviously cares for Kotaru, but can't get close to him. Hands Off has its sad moments, suspenseful ones, and cuteness. One of my favortite things is that Yuuto and Tatsuki keep grabbing his hand, or touching him in some way, and he has no clue why. See, whenever either of them are touching Kotaru, their powers get better, clearer. So they often grab his hand. ^^ it is really cute.

Also, the artwork in Hands Off is amazing! Kasane Katsumoto has such a good style! Her characters are cute, yet sexy at the same time (and Tatsuki looks so hot with his hair un-gelled! ^^). The plot is good, and will keep you entertained and wanting the next book fast!

So like I said, even though it isn't in the yaoi category, you can definatly tell something will happen between Tatsuki and Kotaru soon. And even if it doesn't, Hands Off is simply too good to pass up! Trust me... you will be hooked.

Its for Shoujo Fans not Shonen Ai Fans.
To many friggin' chicks in this series, it is NOT anything like Eerie Queerie which at least had Shonen Ai. This Manga had 3 guys swooning over chicks - not something for ANY Yaoi fan.

If you liked Eerie Queerie, you'll love this one...
"Hands Off" is super good. There isn't anything up on the Tokyopop website about it yet, but it focuses on a high school boy who is a psychic-catalyst, his cousin who sees past events, and his womanizing best friend who sees emotion-based auras. Wheee!

All three boys are pretty, but the main character is the prettiest of the bunch and he's had some trouble being taken seriously because of his looks. In general, I enjoyed the art very much.

In some ways, this book reminds me of Eerie Queerie, but I find it ten times better because of the psychic stuff. ^_^ It's also written much better with more of a coherent storyline than EQ. For the most part, the story is light and funny; a feel-good read. I look forward to the future volumes.
... Read more

Book Description

It's time to learn the basics of inking and two indispensable stroke types: strokes with tapered and even ends. Combining tapered lines with blunt, even lines allows for the production of balanced artwork. Applying discretion in using tapered and even lines when drawing figures will help you establish whether a character is good or bad. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Not what you think...
The first thing I need to note is that the title of this book is misleading. It is definitely NOT a survey of recent anime history. It is also not explicitly aimed at an otaku audience, although every otaku out there should be interested. In fact, this is an academic work of film criticism, analyzing a variety of themes that appear in recent anime. Keep this in mind and you won't be disappointed.

I did find a couple of things to be annoying. For one, Napier uses a fair amount of academic Newspeak. It wasn't difficult, just distracting, and I don't think it adds anything to the text. Also, some of her analysis appears to be clouded by the need to bow to the sacred cows of PC. Check out her analysis of gender roles in "Wicked City", where she completely ignores the fact that it is the female lead who ends up being the most powerful character.

Don't let my gripes mislead you. This book's positive points far outweigh it's negatives. Most of Napier's analysis is quite insightful, and I've found myself watching a lot of these anime with her ideas in mind. The fact that she compares concepts between different anime was especially interesting; where else can you get a thorough comparison of the apocalyptic themes in "Akira" and "Evangelion"?

I'm sure plenty of people will be disappointed that their favorite anime didn't rate mention (what, no "Tenchi"?!?). Take this book for what it is, and enjoy it. Then pop in those beat up old "Bubblegum Crisis" tapes and see some old favorites in a new light.

One of the most interesting books on the medium I've read
Well, I found this book to be a blast of fresh air. While nearly all english-language books about Anime that I've encountered before have simply been descriptive/critical accounts of various anime (Such as the excellent Anime Encyclopedia) or collections of facts about an anime/author/anime in general (Hayao Miyazaki : Master of Japanese Animation, Anime Essentials: Every Thing a Fan Needs to Know), this is a book which gives an interesting insight into the possible reasons behind anime's development, and in particular the development behind certain landmark titles - for someone like me, who's as interested in the "why" as they are the "how" behind manga, this book really engages. While there are some slight mistakes in the book (as mentioned in at least one of the above critiques), the general ideas brought forward are thought-provoking, and often (to my mind at least) ring true.
I would, however, NOT recommend this to those who don't have a deep-seated interest in anime, or to those who haven't seen at least half of the anime discussed in the book - as (again) mentioned in one of the above critiques, there ARE some serious spoilers, plus you simply won't be engaged as many of the suggestions made unless you've seen the series/film yourself, and have been able to form your own opinions.
In short, an excellent book for those who are truly interested in anime and the influences behind it, but not really recommendable to anyone else.

An excellent account of the genre
This is a definite must read for all fans of anime. It is especially good to novice otaku like myself who only really know of the things I grew up watching as a kid and a few releases here (Force Five, Star Blazers, Battle of the Planets, Akira, Princess Mononoke). It explores central themes around many different types of anime and warns you (indirectly) about what things to avoid. For exaple, no parent after reading this book will allow their children to go anywhere near the Hentai sections of an anime video store, though I did see Legend of the Overfiend a few shelves away from Sailor Moon at one store. BAD IDEA, Newbury Comics!!!
If I have one criticism of this book, it would be that it is written in too scholarly a manner and the author's editor should have told the author to tone it down a bit. There was also to much of a repetition of certain phrases. As a reader, I got sick of the word "privelidge" by the end of the second chapter and there was lots more to come. Still, if it wasn't for this book, I never would have discovered such delights as Ranma 1/2, Nausicaa, or Ghost In The Shell; so I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in anime.

Brilliant book for those uninitiated into anime
I'll admit that among the first anime I focused on watching were the LA Blue Girl, Angel of Darkness, and Twin Doll series because of the graphic violence and violations committed against women. However, after reading Susan Napier's study on Anime, I was noticeably enlightened and focused on getting certain quality titles. Napier, who teaches Japanese literature and culture at UTex, Austin, argues that anime has historical roots, from woodcarvings by Hiroshige Ando in the 19th century, the Edo Period of the Tokugawa period, such as the erotic kibyoshi books, to Zen cartoons in the medieval era, and even the Kabuki traditions.

As to why has anime become so popular with the release of Akira in 1988, the answer lies in the genres diversity in themes, the fact that it's not as predictable or sanitized as the child-geared Disney cartoons, and of course there's that unique visual style of those big-eyed, small waists, long-legged miniskirted women. But the characters are more human and thus realistic, not straight black-and-white, but cases where heroes have some negative qualities and villains some positive ones. And depending on the genre, anime reaches out to all age groups. It's also an art form, and dramatic and intellectual in the same way independent films should be.

Females are more assertive and stand out as role models for young girls, whether it be San from Mononokehime, the klutzy but powerful Usagi of Sailor Moon, or Miko and Miyu, the demon fighting sisters in the graphically adult LA Blue Girl. Compare that to wimpy heroines in Disney movies, where ironically, the more assertive females are the villains (Medusa in the Rescuers, Ursula in Little Mermaid, and the Evil Queen in Snow White). But they are also seen as nurturing and supportive (q.v. Belldandy in Oh My Goddess).

However, anime also stands as a resistance against American-style globalization in pop culture. Apart from the reasons listed, I sometimes think Americans who like anime do so for the same reason, to find other outlets, for the same reason certain people want foreign films to get away from the usual Hollywood grind.

Napier examines certain sub-genres in anime: post-nuclear, elegy, the carnival, the graphic adult anime, and mecha, underlying that the first three are the most significant.

Akira is viewed as a study of the post-apocalyptic society as well as teenage alienation; the former is a reminder that Japan was the only nation to have an atomic bomb dropped on it.

The fantasy element is examined in the "magical girlfriend" subgenre in Oh My Goddess! and Video Girl Ai, which goes beyond the movie star onscreen stepping into real life in The Purple Rose of Cairo.

Neon Evangelion is examined by Napier in the examination of the mecha genre. There's clearly a technophobic dynamic explored in live-action movies like Terminator and Robocop, of the dangers of technology gone amuck. And video games like Robotron 2087, I'd like to add.

The elegiac mode harkens back to a nostalgic yearning for something long gone, which in Japan's case involves the traditional countryside life that has been abandoned due to post-war industrialization, such as Only Yesterday, discussed in length. However, it can also indicate loss or a search for something, exemplified by the cyborg agent Kusanagi's search for her human soul in Ghost In The Shell.

And yes, there is a section on Miyazaki Hayao, whose then-latest film, Mononokehime, broke Japanese box office records and won Best Picture at the Japanese film awards for 1997. The still must-be-reissued Nausicaa and the Valley Of The Winds, a post-nuclear tale that was a favourite of Aum Shinri Kyo leader Asahara Shoko, the cute Tonarino Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro), examining the assertiveness of the sisters Satsuki and Mei, and Mononokehime, studying the man versus nature (the wild gods), but also technology (iron) versus nature, and some more assertive females, the title character San, Moro, the she-wolf who raised her, and Lady Eboshi, leader of the iron-forging village who wants to clear the forests.

A good start in learning the what and whys of anime, with with college-level discourses by Ms. Napier.

Out of the mud-flinging comes a lotus.
The book is fraught with errors - to the purists out there - what can I say? Focusing on the point that she made some errors is just too bad because I honestly felt that Susan Napier did a really wonderful job. Framing the whole anime world into her own epistemic grid allowed me to follow her perspective. One can very easily intuit such things as the mechanical versus the shojo - but not very quickly picks does one pick up on Anime as the perfect medium to explore the elegiac mode. Moreover, there is something about the seamlessness of Anime that allows it to explore the real as well as the unreal all in the same space. Unlike live action film, Anime can get away without having to resort to special effects - it just simply moves into it. Napier helped me to understand that the subtle nature of Anime - and sometimes not so subtle - in that even if you try to define one movie, as under such-and-such a category you will find that it quickly moves. Anime is really the perfect place for postmodern analysis - it is a floating signifier - the meanings move with as many viewers as there are meanings. I was especially pleased by Napier's examination of Princess Mononoke - ascribing to the movie a sense of nostalgia to that elusive notion called progress. In "Princess Mononoke: Fantasy, the Feminine, and the Myth of "Progress"" Napier writes: "In another undermining of traditional conventions, Tatara is not governed by a man but by a woman, Lady Eboshi, who has constructed Tatara as a utopian refuge for outcast women and people with incurable illnesses like leprosy. Eboshi is pitted not only against the forest creature but also against another female human, a young girl names San who is the "mononokehime" or "possessed princess" of the title. Although "Mononoke" traditionally means possession by a human spirit, San is clearly possessed by the fearsome spirits of nature. Raised by a female wolf known as Moro, San detests all things human and lives only to destroy human civilization, represented by Tatara. Eboshi in turn is determined to take over the forest, a victory that would involve killing the shishigami" (Napier 179-80). It is in sections like this that Napier captures the essence of what she is examining - in this case it was Princess Mononoke. I will say this much... if a re-write is in the works, I will be the first to buy the new version. So to all her critics - your word did not go unheard. However, for the wealth of information and the vastness of the scope that Napier examines I give her 5 stars.

Miguel Llora ... Read more

Book Description

You know that couple that was obviously meant for each other, and everybody knew it, except them? That's Yukino and Soichiro, the two top students in school, who are capable of anything other than a normal relationship. ...