Nakama Britannica

In the early noughties there was a sudden surge of interest in manga in the USA, resulting in several publishing houses establishing their own lines of manga in English translation. Some have fared better than others – and now, one of the best-established of them all, Del Rey Manga, has recently celebrated five successful years [...]

As the year draws to a close, I’ve been scanning the lists of anime to be released in the UK on DVD at Christmas with a slightly jaundiced eye. Don’t get me wrong – I’m more than grateful for what we have available now on R2, especially when I think back to the turn of the [...]

When an iconic anime series comes along, we all tend to sit up and pay attention, whether it be ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, ‘ Cowboy Bebop’, or ‘Gurren Lagann’ , to name but three on whose superior qualities critics and fans alike seem to agree. But I’m certain that everyone has their own secret favourite series [...]

Last weekend I was invited to attend the ninth Japan Expo at the Parc d’Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte. When I first read the names of the mangaka and anime artists who were appearing at Japan Expo this year, I had to pinch myself. Because the team who organize Japan Expo had accumulated a wealth of [...]

I love CLAMP, I freely admit it. ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ was the first shojo anime series I remember seeing on UK TV (before ‘Sailor Moon’?) and even in its mangled US version, I fell in love with it and went straight out to search for the manga. From the elegant art nouveau drawings on the Clow [...]

Great Artwork, Clear Storytelling, An Involving Cast of Characters…
Del Rey Manga Round-Up Spring 2008

I really love the classy Del Rey manga format, especially their in-depth ‘Translator’s Notes’ and previews of the next volume, but sometimes, of late, I’ve felt that all their loving presentation has been wasted some less than distinguished series. The winning formula [...]

Pumpkin Scissors Vol. 1 Ryotaro Iwanaga OT Ages 16+
“This book does not contain and is not based on historical facts. Please also note that standard military facts and concepts do not apply, either.’
In the aftermath of a protracted war between the Empire and the Republic of Frost that in some ways resembles World War I, [...]

A new manga imprint is always cause for rejoicing and the promise of ‘Unfiltered manga for the unfettered mind’ was enough to make this self-confessed mangahead sit up and take notice. Yen Press have launched their list in the UK this autumn with an exciting and varied list of titles, including the first volumes of [...]

(Inspired by Lewis’s earlier article – and the fact that I just can’t get the first ending song from ‘Kyo Kara Maoh!’ out of my head right now!)
In France they call them ‘génériques’. Here we tend to call them the ‘opening’ and ‘closing’ song. Love them or hate them, they’ve been an integral part of [...]