Interesting. I guess all the closet anime fans from V13 joined here to post.
Well, then, welcome.
I can almost consider myself as a Sempai in the otaku world even if the term is often misused by people who don't understand anything other than their own backyard.
I've been reading, watching, playing, drawing, designing anime(and all animation/cartoon/art) for almost 20yrs. I was born in Asia, and been able to read in 2-1/2 languages does get me a leg up from everybody here, and yes, the things are cheaper over there(and far more diverse).
I started from Doremao, Dragon Balls(the original), The black surgeon:Jack, Ranma1/2, Saint Seiya, Cityhunter, Video Girl AI, and many others before I had to relocate to the US which almost suffocate me in terms of real anime. If it weren't for a local importer from Asia, and a video library with a owner who is a fan, I would sure have gone over the edge.
My current favorite is Cowboy Bebob(quite nice, considering it's from Bandai, it had carried over better than some of the others), Patlabor:The Movie 1&2(simply brilliant, the budget on this thing must have been huge, the animation itself is breathtaking), Macross Plus(it's great, and I am a very critical fan of the original), The Pet Shop of Horrors(mesmerising, I watched both of them 4 times in one week, I like the second one better), Sanctuary(manga, you must understand some aspect of asian culture to get it, it's a excellent series, Extremely Well translated, which is surprising), Crying Freeman*(manga/anime, this is more of a fetish, because I know how it is), Ghost in the Shell(I am a fan and a sucker of anything this man draws because I like the way he draws his gear, gadgets, and guns. This one is a bit rushed for mass market production.), Bastard(the manga, the anime isn't up there quite yet), and Jo Jo's adventures(manga, no idea if it made in English).
I have to mention some of my all time favorite - Red Pig, The Sky Castle, Totoro, ki ki's delivery service, The Wind Valley, Video Girl AI, Cityhunter, Robotech, The black surgeon:Jack, Saint Seiya, The Black Panther Series, The Wind & Cloud series, Kimagure Orange Road, Slam Dunk, Ah! My Goddess, 3*3 Eyes, and many other that will probably never see the light of day in North America because it won't appeal to mass market(as they call it).
I am sad to see the trend of sanitizing, dumbing down, watered down, cut out, degredation anime has suffered while going through the major translation/publishing house in the north america. You can not believe how much stuff they cut out, or watered/dumbing down due to the sensor board or the mass marketing department(not meaning to insult anyone or being racist here), because the stupid ass north american white trash from middle class isn't going to get it(so they say).
Any questions, comments, and anime discussions welcome here. Since I have been around this stuff for so long, I became a smartass know-it-all for most of my North American friends.
P.S: I like American cartoons, too, but they are not the topic here, is it? :p
Starseeker, signing off.
"The final price of freedom, is the willingness to face the most frightening being of all, one's own self."
