Database Analyst guy in Chicago who likes artsy and avant garde animation. Also a big fan of cinema and comics of all nationalities, with a bigger emphasis on Japan.
I run panels now and then at cons "Alternative" Manga, Auteuristic anime directors, etc.
These days I'm helping out with
www.animechicago.com, as they are running an excellent anime film series and I'm running a manga reading circle, because the manga market in the US is amazing these days (not so much if you like pulpy shounen or shoujo but if you like critically acclaimed or classic works!) I wish I could say the same about anime these days, as I"m watching much less than I used to but I still catch anything that is supposed to be interesting.
I'm more than a bit jaded, but I still periodically check out stuff that interests me, and I'm more than a bit obsessed with the large number of high quality manga coming out these days.
Also, I kind of helped out with this panel on Sakuga:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pm8AYpOJMw - if you don't know what sakuga is, watch it!
I decided to add a top 12 ANIMATED movies list, because I think anime fans kind of box themselves in a bit, there are a handful of great animated films outside of Japan and people should watch them! My tastes skew towards the cerebral and mature.
Current List
1) Mindgame
2) Only Yesterday
3) The Wind Rises
4) Millennium Actress
5) Porco Rosso
6) The Illusionist (France)
7) Persepolis (France)
8) Grave of the Fireflies
9) Princess Mononoke
10) Plague Dogs (US)
11) Genius Party Beyond
12) Memories
Also if you like mature animation do give BoJack Horseman a chance, it may start off as a typical pop culture parody hollywood adult animated show, but it winds up being the closest thing I've seen to an indie american comic put to animation. It comes highly recommended.
All Comments (18) Comments
My favorite animator is Kouji Morimoto. I absolutely love his style. The way you guys described his work in the panel was so perfect.
Aren't you so excited for Ping Pong The Animation?! My eyes were popping out while watching episode 1.
Sorry for the sudden and random comment, but I think it's rare to find other people here on MAL who like this type of anime.
Are you familiar with Jiro Matsumoto at all? He does some very interesting and unconventional stuff. Vertical is actually publishing his manga Velveteen & Mandala in a few months. I believe this is his first time getting published in English, so it's something to keep an eye on.
Oh, the Satoshi Kon panel was great as well. I actually learned a lot about him I didn't know from that, and it was interesting seeing how cinema influenced him.
Unfortunately I missed the Sakuga panel, probably because I was still in line for my badge, but I see its been posted on youtube so I'll check that out.
Still, it's far from becoming the French Market. A clear argument to that, is the fact, that all the new titles announced at SDCC by the more alt publishers (Top Shelf's Cigarette Girl, D&Q's NonnonBa and Onwards Towards Our Noble Deaths), were already published in French. The only exception perhaps would be Vertical's Lychee Light Club, which was a great news at least for me, since I was expecting for some time. Still my point is that all the new great stuff published in the US has already been covered by the French.
Where I come from, we rarely have con's (and are filled only by Naruto fans, not Anime fans).
You mentioned Tsuge, which isn't covered in english language. Do you happen to read japanese?
I would like to make the blog roll, but I would like to recruit some more people. Meanwhile, I took the liberty to create a tumblr, check it out if you like.
I'm so happy you would like to help with the blog! You say that you run panels, in your profile. As I never really went to a panel, I don't know what happens there. Could you explain me what exactly you do there?
Well the alt manga review site (or blog), is still in a very early status. I'm planning to dedicate more time at the end of summer (September), since I'll be away until then. So for now, I'm just looking for people to help me with it. I keep you posted with the progress on the blog.
Something rare, worth delving into, imo. Have a great weekend.
Yaya
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I'm tied up for now, but I'll definitely try to make it to either of cons in Columbus next year. The panels sound interesting based on the general description you give in your profile.