1-5-2001 -

-The Message Boards got an upgrade. One of the new features allows members to download their PM's to a .txt file, which should work in just about every word processor out there...

By saving your PM's to your computer will help out the load times on the site.

-Today's events: Events on the calendar will now display at the forum homepage, along with the usual birthday stuff. You can even click the event to go to a description of it as it appears on the calendar.

-Custom avatars as files: another mostly admin-function, this hack was updated since our last upgrade so it works with the board now. Basically it stores the avatars as actual files rather than as database entries. This saves on load time and space.

January Birthdays

Toji - one of the quiet mods, birthday is on the 6th

AnimeInfo.org - Turns 1 Year old on the 22nd. Hard to believe it has been that long already, a few things are in store for the birthday celebration.

ICV2 releases what they feel are the top 5 anime stories of the year

1. Anime spreads out. While the decline of Pokemon may mean that over-all sales of anime-related merchandise declined in North America in 2001, anime is reaching more deeply into America pop culture in a variety of ways, and seems stronger than ever. Among the few sources of numbers on this phenomenon was Diamond, which said in discussing its mid-year numbers that anime was up 35%, toys were up 25% with the Japanese import business an important reason, and graphic novels, where Dark Horse's retro manga repackagings were at the top of the charts all year, were up 39% vs. the first half of 2000 (see "Graphic Novels, Anime, Japanese Toys Up in 2001"). Among other observable indicators of the growth of anime were the number of anime and manga producers that increased production in 2001 and plan to do so again next year, the segmentation of anime and manga into ever narrower audiences (e.g., yaoi), the theatrical releases of anime movies (Akira, Metropolis, Blood: The Last Vampire, Vampire Hunter D, Jin Roh), and the increasing number of anime series on American television that represent powerful new merchandising engines (Yu Gi Oh, Medabots, Zoids).

2. Dragon Ball. With three quarters of Cartoon Network's Toonami block, the Dragon Ball/ DBZ property was a big beneficiary this year of the anime axiom that "Cartoon Network drives sales." While a lot of those sales were not in pop culture stores, the DBZ CCG was a consistent top game seller, and the comics, videos, and other products provided a steady, if not spectacular, source of revenue. Topping the Lycos 50 list of top searches is one indicator of this property's ubiquity and strength (see "Dragon Ball Tops Lycos Searches for 2001")

3. Akira Special Edition. It's amazing what a little tin box will do. When the decision was made to release a cleaned-up version of Akira first to theaters and then on DVD, a marketing genius at Pioneer figured out that three editions could be sold: A regular edition DVD; the special edition DVD, which had an extra disk with a bunch of DVD goodies; and the limited edition of the special edition, which would come in a tin and be limited to an edition of 100,000. Needless to say, the 100,000 limited editions sold out at wholesale almost immediately and all versions made a lot of best-seller lists (see "Akira Limited Edition Sold Out").

4. Hidden camera retailer stings. After a New York Times article on anime early in 2001, TV stations across the country did stories on anime in their local communities, some using hidden cameras and underage purchasers to "sting" unwary retailers (see "Another TV Station Takes on Anime"). The basic premise of these stories was that this animation was not for children, but was sometimes available to them. It reinforced the necessity (and difficulty) of effective practices of retailers when dealing with products that are unrated or rated according to a variety of proprietary systems (see comics).

5. Shojo grows in U.S. Shojo anime and manga (directed at girls) became increasingly important in the U.S. in 2001. An increasing number and variety of properties became available in the U.S., with increasing acceptance as retailers focused more attention on them (see "Shojo Rapidly Growing in North America"). In the bookstore market Sailor Moon books outsold Marvel's (see "Sailor Moon GNs Tops in Bookstore Sales").

In Japan:

Cowboy Bebop, Knockin' on Heaven's Door has an official street date of January 25th. The movie will contain a Dolby 2.0 and 5.1 audio track, a special ISSB booklet, and theatrical trailers. Price is $80.

Here At Home:

Hollywood, CA - Bandai Entertainment launches the official Escamovie.com website to help promote the upcoming theatrical release of Escaflowne in theaters January 25, 2002. A motion picture production based on one of the most popular anime titles of all time, Escaflowne is celebrated animator Shoji Kawamori's cutting-edge vision of a world where good and evil hinge on a girl's ability to find meaning for her own life. Escamovie.com features news and information on the upcoming theatrical release of Escaflowne in theaters, background information on the Escaflowne world, characters, story, filmmaker biographies, multimedia interviews with cast and creators, trailers, and future home video information.

Pioneer Goes DVD Only?

If you don't have a DVD player yet, it's definitely time to add it to your holiday wish list! Yesterday, Pioneer, one of the major players in the US Anime industry, surprised everyone by announcing that they would be discontinuing practically all of their older VHS titles as of 12/31/01. No news on whether the company will still go ahead with plans on future VHS titles. This really isn't such a shocker for anime fans who've watched the industry swiftly switching from VHS to DVD only releases on many new titles. Just which industry player will be next? Only time will tell...

1-8-02
Saber Marionette J Again Vols. 1-2
Vandread Vol. 1 "Enemy Engaged"

1-15-02
Cardcaptor Sakura Vol. 4 "Sakura Fight"

1-22-02
Gundam 0080 Vols. 1-2
Gundam 0083 Vol. 1
Gundam MS08 Vol. 4
Dragon Ball Z Movie 5: Cooler's Revenge 1-22

1-29-02
Ranma ½ Random Rhapsody Vol. 7 "Ukyo's Secret Sauce"
Sailor Moon SuperS - The Eclipse
Nadia, Secret Of The Blue Water Vol. 6 "The Deep Blue Sea"
Pokemon Vol. 49 "Squirtle Squad"
Pokemon Vol. 50 "Midnight Heros"

1-30-02
Urusei Yatsura Vol. 5

CONVENTIONS

OhayoCon 2002
Independence, Ohio
January 11-13
http://www.ohayocon.com

Thoughts and Thoughtfulness
By: Shouryu

Many thoughts and ideas had I pondered upon for my observations this month - there were certainly many experiences to choose from. However, I felt that perhaps it would be best if I contributed in some way to the festive, holiday feel that seemed to infect many of the staff members of AI.org. Of course, this would present a particularly distinct challenge: I am not a festive person.

For the first time since I was ... perhaps, three or four years of age, a Christmas tree is under my roof. I never had a problem with the lack of a tree, nor did I have qualms with those who did. In our house back home (actually, I write this from home-home, as I am at my parents for Christmas and each of its surrounding days), the presents were simply kind of piled near the fireplace, wrapped neatly but not excitingly or intriguingly. Perhaps a tree was too much trouble, fuss, and expense. Maybe it was a fire hazard, or just another mess to be assembled and then cleaned up. Same thing with decorations and lights. It's not that my family and I don't like Christmas; we just don't go out of our way with it. It's almost just another day of the year, except we do a little gift giving and refrain from going to work (one of my parents is a crazy-workaholic, but don't hold it against them; they mean well). And the tree I have? It's one and a half feet tall, synthetic, and it cost about four bucks from Wal Mart. It sits amongst a pile of papers in my living room, undecorated (I did buy some lights but, uh...), waiting for an actual place to go, but my living room is a disaster. Of course, this is at my apartment; here at home-home, as usual, there is no tree.

Same thing with cards, too - each year, I get cards from numerous friends. There are guaranteed cards: Crystal, Dave, Josh. Some people give out cards when they feel like it that year, and I never give or send them out at all. I often feel quite blessed to receive them, but I suppose there's the inherent fear of 'The Card Game' - I'm sure you know what I mean. Oh, I forgot this person, but they didn't forget me, and on and on and on...it's not that I don't want to show my care and blessings of the season; it's that I'd rather not forget anyone and end up not showing my care and blessings by the simple fact that my scattered-and-forgetful brain will lapse at any given moment, especially during hectic times such as the holidays.

(And yet oddly, my employers at NMSU tend to cherish my ability to stay calm and graceful under pressure. I can deal with drunk and irate fans trying to pick fights with tuba players and groping at our dancers, but Christmas lists??? Kind of ironic, no?)

I would, at this point, like to thank my fellow staff members at AI.org who did think of me. It was quite a surprise (even though it had been discussed, I'd barely given the thread any notice...).

So how does a person who treats the holidays like...well, anydays...go about making observations about the holidays? I decided to do some hands on research. It was time to go where the action was. It was time to go Christmas shopping.

In truth, the majority of my Christmas shopping had been done; a quick trip to the liquor store knocked off gifts for all my buddies sans the one underage one. I bought her a DVD instead. And a trip to the liquor store really didn't delve me into the depths of the Christmas shopping experience. (In previous years, I had not done gift shopping for my friends; I was too poor. I would just walk around the music building and hand candy canes out to EVERYONE. Even people I didn't know.)

(continued, top of adjacent column)

Who I had not purchased a gift for, however, was my new girlfriend. Melody and I have been dating for three weeks, and I wasn't quite certain what to get her, except that it could not be alcohol, since she doesn't drink. Damn. And this was particularly tricky, as one, we're still new to each other, and two, she's the first girlfriend I've had in a really long time. I'm still adjusting.

Knowing that I would be laughed at for attempting the Christmas shopping experience in the one-story-long-curvy-hallway we call a mall in Las Cruces, I drove to El Paso to drop in on a two-story-spidery-thing of a mall. Here I would see the excitement firsthand, and if I was lucky, experience it myself, if I could figure out what the heck to buy for Melody.

"Hey, I think he'll like this!"..."If he doesn't?"..."He can return it."
"I don't want to have to buy batteries."
"Oh, but you know she won't even spend half that much on me."

Forty-five minutes of observation, and the purchase of a Canadian Chicago double CD set and Phantom Quest on DVD, both for myself, and I was becoming discouraged. Where was the joy? Where was the selflessness? And why did my eyes keep drifting back to the Victoria's Secret and Fredrick's of Hollywood's whenever I thought of what I could possibly get for Melody?

(Just kidding - the thought did cross my mind but once. Oh, okay, twice.)

On the second level, near the food court, one young man was showing off what he had purchased to his friends.

"You bought her a deck of cards?"..."Well, yeah."...."Why?"..."She likes to play cards. She'll enjoy them, and use them. She'll probably wear them out before Valentine's Day."

This was what I had been looking for - except it was so much more simple. It was almost as if this guy had put hours of thought, and yet no thought whatsoever into his gift. Whether or not this gift would be appreciated remained to be seen, but it struck me as rather bizarre. I think I would have also reacted with puzzlement if Tom had told me he had bought a deck of cards for Maria. But it actually made remarkable sense.

It's not the thought that necessarily counts. Sometimes, it's the thoughtfulness. Not that the thought hurts, but the simplicity and care wrapped up in that tiny rectangle intrigued me. This was not something that might look nice on them (gee, thought's of VS and FoH again?!), or that would wow them with value, or stun them with a cuteness factor (although that really does it for some people...my roommate's girlfriend comes to mind...grrr...). "Here - I give you a few moments of enjoyment, amusement, distraction. Perhaps brief moments, and not even deep moments. Just a smile or two, something to make your day brighter."

And perhaps there is some of this in every gift purchased at that mall; perhaps not. Maybe for other gifts, it's not quite as visible, and maybe it's just a thought, which is better than nothing. But for at least some of them, I'm certain for one (hopefully two, if we include my own) of them, it was the thoughtfulness.

I applied my own simplicity, and I am certain that Melody will have used up my gift by Valentine's Day, and the moment passes. But if those moments are happy moments, then that's exactly what I wanted for her.

May you all have happy moments;
may you all give happy moments;
may you feel warmth in the happy moments that you might give to others, no matter how fleeting.

Watashi wa nihongo o hanashimasu!
(I speak Japanese!)
By: Korium9

Greetings! Ever wanted to learn Japanese? You can! Y' see, all you gotta do is whip out that college class listing and . . . *whack!* . . . or, you can look at the basic stuff I have below . . . and will make for future issues to come. (muhahahahahahaha! *ahem*)

There are 3 main alphabets in Japanese (4, if you count romaji). The 3 are hiragana, katakana, and kanji.

Hiragana is today used as the basis of the japanese language, and is as such used the most. It was actually created by the Ladies at the Imperial Court, around year 900. Hiragana is derived from Chinese characters (Kanji) ; the whole character is curved into a single line (or very few lines) and is used for it's pronunciation.

The men at about the same time had often to write those same Kanji in short hand, being scribes and often dedicated to poetry or religion. They
simplified characters too, but unlike the Ladies, they only wrote a small part of the character (instead of curving the whole). Thus their kana look
straighter and more blocky. They are called Katakana. Both Hiragana and Katakana have similar arrangements, however, katakana is used
mostly for new and more modern terms in the Japanese language, like "menyuu" (menu) or "chiizu" (cheese). Katakana can also be used to create sounds not normally found in hiragana.

Kanji are often highly complex looking characters, which are Chinese in origin. While the characters are the same, the Chinese and the Japanese
have different pronunciation for the same character.

Romaji is an attempt to translate Japanese using the Roman alphabet. There are several Romaji systems, one developed by japanese people, and
a few others developed by western philologues. The differences are overall minor, but lead to heated discussion among anime fans (ever
wondered why some people write Ryouga and other people Ryoga? ;))

Due to the different text fonts for each user and the fact that this cannot be heavily image based, the lessons will be in romaji (lucky . . .).

For more information on the written alphabets, please go here:

http://come.to/nihongo

The system below is based on the arrangement used in the Hiragana alphabet..

First, the 5 major vowels:
A ("ah" like in "auto" )
I ("ee" long E sound, like the 2nd "i" in "Iliad")
U ("oo" like in "boot")
E ("eh" like in "empty")
O ("oh" like in "ocean")

The rest of the alphabet is a consonant followed by the vowels. There are 41 of these basic syllables ("k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w)) Another 23 can be
made by adding 2 small dashes ("g, z, d, b"-marked by *) or by adding a small circle ("p" - marked by a **) just off of the upper right hand
corner of the character. 33 more syllables can also be created, but they will not be discussed for right now.

The "i" and the "u" are sometimes dropped in terms of pronunciation when in between voiceless consanants (k, s,t, p, h) or sometimes at the end
of the word. These shall be pointed out in the vocab where applicable.

K
Ka ("kah")
Ki ("kee")
Ku ("koo")
Ke ("keh")
Ko ("koh")

G (K+*)
Ga ("gah")
Gi ("gee")
Gu ("goo")
Ge ("geh")
Go ("goh")

S
Sa ("sah")
Shi ("shee") (si can be created using katakana, but it will ignored for now)
Su ("soo")
Se ("seh")
So ("soh")

Z (S+*)
Za ("zah")
Ji ("jee")
Zu ("zoo")
Ze ("zeh")
Zo ("zoh")

T
Ta ("tah")
Chi ("chee") (ti can be done with katakana, but will be ignored)
Tsu ("tsoo")
Te ("teh")
To ("toh")

D (T+*)
Da ("dah")
Ji ("jee") (almost never used)
Zu ("zoo") (almost never used)
De ("deh")
Do ("doh")

N
Na ("nah")
Ni ("nee")
Nu ("noo")
Ne ("neh")
No ("noh")

H
Ha ("hah")
Hi ("hee")
Fu ("foo") (according to my Japanese teacher, it's not exactly "hu" nor "fu," but "fu" will be fine)
He ("heh")
Ho ("hoh")

B (H+*)
Ba ("bah")
Bi ("bee")
Bu ("boo")
Be ("beh")
Bo ("boh")

P (no laughing, people . . .) (H+**)
Pa ("pah")
Pi ("pee")
Pu ("poo")
Pe ("peh")
Po ("poh")

M
Ma ("mah")
Mi ("mee")
Mu ("moo")
Me ("meh")
Mo ("moh")

R (the best I can do for the R sound in Japanese is an "rt" sound, the tongue touches the roof of the mouth)
Ra ("rtah")
Ri ("rtee")
Ru ("rtoo")
Re ("rteh")
Ro ("rtoh")

W
Wa ("wah")
Wo (! "oh" this one is generally only used for grammatical purposes, though you may find it in names; when used in sentences, is simply written as
"o")

Historically there were a Wi and a We, but they were dropped in the reform of the japanese language in 1946.

There also is a nasal syllable :

N
N ("nn" or "nhn") (this if just for saying the character)

That will do for the characters, for now.

Basically, each japanese syllable is pronunced separately, and only seldom has an influence over it's "neighbors". Those cases will be indicated as
we come across them.

Here are some extra pronunciation guidelines:
Double vowel:
The pronunciation of double vowels is very important. Not pronouncing them correctly can result in a different word entirely. For example,
obaasan = "grandmother," while obasan = "aunt"

This part is tricky : in double vowels, the pronunciations of the first vowel flows into the second one, but they are still considered two different
syllables. Exceptions are the elongating double vowels, aa, ii, uu, ee, ei, oo and ou.

Aa ("ahhh") (just elongate it or extend the sound)
Ai (long "I" sound) (for pronunciation, long I will be signified by "aI")
Ae ("ah-eh")
Ao ("ah-oh")
Au ("au" or like the word "ow")
Ii ("eeee") (elongated )
Ui ("ooee")
Uu ("oooo" (elongated)
Ee ("ehhh" (elongated) (rarely seen, "Ei" is more common)
Ei ("ehhh" (elongated) (sometimes seen written in romaji as "ee," but it's confusing that way)
Oi ("oi" like in "oil")
Ou ("ohhh") (elongated) (sometimes seen as oo, but like "ee," is confusing; in translation, it is sometimes dropped, but you don't _quite_ get the
right pronunciation that way)

(about ou : dropping the "u" in the transliteration is also a problem because basically, if you don't already know the word, you then can't pronunce
it correctly.)

Given the large amount of information given from the above alphabet, the vocab and sentences section for this lesson will be kept rather short. Try
sounding the words below out loud.

vocab:
watashi ("wah-tah-shee") = "I/me"

anou ("ah-nohhh") = "um . . ." (used to get someone's attention)

hai ("haI") = "yes" (can also be used for "here" -- like during role call)

ee ("ehhh") = "yes" (relaxed and conversational, typically used among friends) (note elongation, one of the few words that uses "ee" instead of "ei")

iie ("eeee-eh") = "no" (note elongation)

gakusei ("ga-ksei") = "student" (the u in ku is dropped)

desu ("dehs"; sometimes sounds like "dez") = "is/are/am" (the "u" in "su" is dropped)

wa ("wah") = it's a particle, indicates the subject
nihon ("nee-hohn") = "Japan"

amerika ("ah-meh-rti-kah") = "America"

oosutoraria ("Ohhh-sto-rta-rtee-ah) = "Australia" (note elongation and that the u in su is dropped)

_____-go ("_____-goh") = "_____ language"

nihongo ("nee-hohn-goh") = "Japanese (language)"

eigo" ("ehhh-goh") = "English (language)" (note elongation)

[country]-jin ("[country]-jeen") = "[country] person"

nihonjin ("nee-hon-jeen") = "Japanese (person)"

Amerikajin ("ah-meh-rti-kah-jeen") = "American (person)"
_____-san ("_____-sahn") = "Mr./Ms./Mrs. ______" (never use -san when referring to yourself)

Expressions:
Hajimemashite (hah-jee-meh-mah-shteh) = "How are you?" (used often in introductions; note the "i" in "shi" is dropped)

Arigatou ("ah-rtee-gah-tohhh") = "Thank you" (note elongation)

Sayounara ("sah-yohhh-na-rta") = "Good bye" (note elongation)

Sumimasen ("soo-mee-mah-sehn) = "Excuse me."

sentences:
desu is used most typically in the following format:
X wa Y desu = "X is/are/am Y"

watashi wa [name] desu.
("wah-tah-shee-wah-[name]-dehs") = "I am [name]." ex: Watashi wa Shinji desu.

watashi wa amerikajin desu = "I am an American."

watashi wa gakusei desu = "I am a student."

With the exception of the first sentence (for obvious reasons), "watashi" can be replaced with [name]-san, or any particular subject noun.

Ex: suu-san wa gakusei desu = "Sue is a student."

That's all for now.
Sayounara! -- Korium

Bibliography:
The Japan Times, "Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese," Feb 2001
My parents and my own observations.
Saffran, who also made corrections.

TURNING JAPANESE
A Beginner's Guide to Sushi
by VickyVerky

Interesting conversations at the Thanksgiving table this year. Okay, I lied. I was bored.

Some relatives I never see showed up, and, as customary, asked how my sister and I were doing i school. When I managed to get something in edgewise (the female of the couple never came up for air, if you get my drift), they learned I was not just in college, but art school! Well! A wealth of conversation springs up on that note alone. Just my luck.

"What are you doing with your art? Have you gone into any particular jobs involving it?"

"Oh yeah. I'm an assistant graphic designer for Animeinfo, a Chicago-based company. I also write for their magazine."

Everyone froze. Except my parents who knew this already, and my sister, who was too busy stuffing a piece of turkey the size of New Jersey down her throat. At that moment, I realized no one believed me. So I added: "...But it doesn't pay."

Of course. Back to reality.

Anyhow, I'd like to write about something uniquely Japanese. Sushi. No, not raw fish, but sushi.

Sushi is actually rice, a sweetened rice often served with cooked or uncooked fish. I'm sure that isn't a precise definition, but the title is "A Beginner's Guide to Sushi",... the beginner isn't necessarily the reader, but in this case, the writer.

During the first semester of my college career I got the chance to sample many different kinds of sushi from the cafeteria, which is actually the cafeteria of the school next-door, considering ours will be under construction until my graduation. The little rolls of rice and seafood come in convenient packs of eight which include a pack of soy sauce, a tube of wasabi, a tangy orange thing, and, for some reason, a bit of green plastic made to look like lawn clippings. This could only be Japana. (Japana is my term for things Japanese, as opposed to Americana.)

For those of you who worry about salmonella, let me tell you this tidbit I picked up in a health magazine: You are ten times more likely to get salmonella or any other affliction from cooked fish you prepare yourself than you are from professionally prepared sushi. So, don't worry.

I didn't know whether or not I should eat this stuff with my hands. The rice sticks together amazingly well, so it was no problem, but recently I found chopsticks, and they worked just as well. Using chopsticks with ramen, on the other hand, is an entirely different story.

Anyhow, here's my take on the different varieties of sushi I've consumed, in chronological order, for those who care:

COOKED COCKTAIL SHRIMP- Ok, I didn't jump right into gulping down raw fish, I started with some cooked shrimp. I'm known for my remarkable ability to decimate shrimp platters at family gatherings, so this was a natural move for me. Well, I loved it! It was better with wasabi, though, as almost all the sushi i've had is. I recommend this as a good springboard, just so you don't have to go from zero to raw fish in six seconds. On the whole, it's actually pretty mediocre, but it did hook me.

ALASKAN ROLL- Well, apparently I'm not smart enough to research what fish I'm eating uncooked. I just sink my teeth in. Anyway, from the name, I'm guessing this is salmon (correct me if I'm wrong). I liked it better than the shrimp, as well. This sushi is also sprinkled with what might or might not be sesame seeds... gee, I have no idea what I actually ate for goodness sake!

TEKKA MAKI- This is it. THE Sushi. The Tekka Maki, or Tuna Roll, is truly my favorite. A sushi among sushi. It's simplistic, not simple. Unlike the others, the nori, or seaweed, is on the outside of this one. Other than that, it's just the rice and tuna, but it's great! Unfortunately, I was only able to sample it once so far. I think it was accidentally delivered with the other sushi that one time and I was lucky enough to get it, likely because it isn't on the wall menu.

SPICY TUNA ROLL- Well, this is the next best thing to Tekka Maki. Of course, it's easy to see the similarities, both being tuna. To tell the truth, I really didn't find it all that spicy, but then, when you douse the stuff with wasabi, anything otherwise seems tame in comparison. Not always recommended, of course.

CALIFORNIA ROLL- From what I've gathered from friends, this seems to be the most popular of sushi. Ironically, though, I can't remember anything about it! Except that I did have it once, nothing else sticks in my mind. Further updates as events warrant.

Well, that's that, then. Those are my opinions, which, if you think about it, really don't count for that much. Of course, a universal tip can always come in handy: If it moves, leave it alone.

Just kidding.

If you have a letter you would like to submit to the editors, please send it to asuka@animeinfo.org

VickyVerky

VickyVerky, often Vic for short, started posting in the Virtual Ranma-verse around April of 2000. Everything that happened before that isn't really important.

Compared to his comrades at AnimeInfo, he is still a neophyte as far as anime goes, and has a lot of catching up to do. His favorite anime so far are Galaxy Fraulein Yuna, Tenchi Muyo, Sailor Moon, Digimon, and Mon Colle Knights. There are more that he can't think of right now. He also reads manga for Ranma 1/2 and Oh! My Goddess, which are the series he plans on catching up to next.

Perhaps the reason he doesn't have quite as large a collection as his peers is because he has tended to focus his monetary earnings towards the purchase of music. His favorite groups include Squeeze, The Clash, Midnight Oil, The Vapors, and a wide assortment of others, mainly from the punk/new wave movement of the late 70's and early 80's.

Vic someday hopes to move to Japan and work on his own manga series, despite the obvious fact that he is not Japanese or even remotely Asian by any stretch of the imagination. Currently he lives in Massachusetts and attends the Massachusetts College of Art, which is very frustrating, as the school tends to focus its energy on 3-dimensional art (building and sculpting), rather than drawing. But we'll forgive them, because they have great sushi in the cafeteria.

Okay, I lied,... it's actually the cafeteria of the school next door.

Misato
misato@animeinfo.org

Asuka-chan
asuka@animeinfo.org