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Does Animerica still have what it takes.


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Ataru



Joined: 04 Jan 2002
Posts: 2329
Location: Missouri (Strikeman)
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 4:02 am Reply with quote
I've been reading Animerica for the past couple of years and now that Newtype has hit the US with posters and DVDs extras, I feel like it does really doesn't give the same bang for my buck like NewType does. I was in the store today looking though the magizines and I felt that there was no need to get the new Animerica. Then again, it might be a passing thing.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15614
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 7:27 am Reply with quote
Animerica sucks for the same reason Viz sucks: dumbed-down writing. That, and Animerica is way behind on anime and manga news, often making errors. I'm surprised you've continued to buy them this long! I just skim through each magazine on the newsstand and that's it. My preference is Anime Invasion though, because other than stills, their news is nothing I haven't read on-line.
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SuperSkylineGTR



Joined: 20 Aug 2002
Posts: 471
Location: Chicago, IL
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 11:00 am Reply with quote
I'm totally with Gatsu on Animerica. They do suck. The only person on their staff that was good however was Kit Fox, other than that, everyone else on the mag sucked. Even though Newtype is a bit pricey, it is definitely a way better magazine.
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Case



Joined: 09 Apr 2002
Posts: 1016
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 1:38 pm Reply with quote
In the thread where people were complaining about Newtype, someone mentioned that Animerica - among other publications - is meant for more casual, more mainstream fans than Newtype. I agree wholly with that reasoning, and I think it will probably continue to compete with Newtype for some time.

I have this sneaking suspicion that Newtype's entrance into the field may encourage the other anime magazines, including Animerica, to spend less time profiling older series and focus more on Japan... But we'll just have to wait and see.



At any rate, I'll continue to buy Animerica on the same periodic basis I always have.

Their most recent issue (I think it's still the most recent one, anyway...) has a history and analyses of Macross and Robotech that I found both enligtening and interesting, for example. It seems to me that the other magazines don't do that sort of thing as much. (Anime Invasion/Insider does also... But I'm hesitant to count on them for enlightenment when I find so many spelling mistakes and factual errors in their analyses of series I know. Who knows how many mistakes they're making that we DON'T see?)

As long as they keep generating that kind of content, I'll keep reading.
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Ferquin



Joined: 09 Dec 2002
Posts: 297
Location: Renton, WA, USA
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 3:00 pm Reply with quote
I agree. I lost interest in Animerica years ago when I found that I could find more up-to-date information on anime online. The dumbed-down writing really irked me and I too came to the realization that this was a mag for newbies. I used to read Manga Max which, in my opinion, was a way better publication, but of course, they died a couple years ago. They were a little behind on news, but their writing was great and the lateness was forgiveable.

I really really want to get Newtype, but it's just so damned expensive. I mean, $90 per year? Well, I guess someday I'll just give in and sink my money down. Mad Quality over quantity, I guess.
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SuperSkylineGTR



Joined: 20 Aug 2002
Posts: 471
Location: Chicago, IL
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 3:57 pm Reply with quote
Manga Max was pretty decent. Protoculture addicts wasn't too bad either.
But Newtype, definitely has a lot of bang for your buck.
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Emerje



Joined: 10 Aug 2002
Posts: 7425
Location: Maine
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 5:21 pm Reply with quote
I can't help but think the Animerica made a major nose dive when Trish Ladoux left a few years ago. There was a very noticable difference. Sure the color content went up, but the Best of the West reviews are largly freelance work instead of inhouse (not a bad thing, just a noticable difference) and the Best of the East reviews were cut down to a whole 2 and THAT's what hurt them, people know what's coming, but they want to know if what's coming it worth waiting for. 2 a month, rought 24 a year just doesn't cut it when NewType can fill an entire mag with stuff coming out in japan that people have never even heard of! It was painful transition for the magazine, I'd almost be willing to cut back on the color pages again just to get the quality out of the mag that it had when Trish was still with them.

Emerje
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ashram12



Joined: 29 Mar 2002
Posts: 86
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 1:34 am Reply with quote
On anime magazines;: I used to purchase Animerica when I was pretty new to the anime scene. The articles are not very insightful. For instance, I remember they had this issue on Sailor moon, which basically gave a plot synopsis of the seasons. No interview with the directors or what have you on the creation of the series. Just the sort of information I could dig up online.

One of my favorite anime magazines was AnimeFantastique, which not only dealt with anime, but with animation as a whole. The articles there were a bit more inghtful. But the magazine disappeared pretty quickly.

As for Newtype: it's expensive. Other than that, I really like it. Only some articles aren't really coherent. And when they're writing stuff on top of a picture, it can be hard to decipher the writing.
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ownerizer



Joined: 07 Aug 2002
Posts: 136
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 1:09 pm Reply with quote
In my opinion: Nope. For a long time Animerica was all we had, but it's more like water and we've long since graduated to beer.
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Ataru



Joined: 04 Jan 2002
Posts: 2329
Location: Missouri (Strikeman)
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 6:09 pm Reply with quote
ownerizer wrote:
In my opinion: Nope. For a long time Animerica was all we had, but it's more like water and we've long since graduated to beer.


I think that comment pretty much says it all for me. While Newtype gives me insight to what's new in Japan, Animerica gives me insight what just hit US. I think I'll put Animerica in the "What I am looking for, I'll buy." area. Kind of like with Rujin Comics and Shoron Jump. I'm a fan of Dragonball, also of City Hunter. Too bad Rujin is hard to find then Shoron and Animerica Extra.
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thebaron



Joined: 12 Aug 2002
Posts: 149
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 6:30 pm Reply with quote
Emerje wrote:
I can't help but think the Animerica made a major nose dive when Trish Ladoux left a few years ago.

Emerje


Where did Trish disappear to anyhow? Just some of the few persons that I don't have a good opinion of in anime right along with Carl.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15614
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 11:58 pm Reply with quote
Ataru: You can get back issues of Raijin at http://www.akadotretail.com/shop/shop_showbook.php?id=raijinset
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Ataru



Joined: 04 Jan 2002
Posts: 2329
Location: Missouri (Strikeman)
PostPosted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 3:24 am Reply with quote
Hmmm, thanks for the link, but it just a matter of beating this one guy to it now. I had the semi-honor of bumping in to him as he bought the last Animage. I would beat him up and buy myself, but he's bigger then me. Why does much thing out of High School, still feel High School. Oh, what an evil fate. Razz
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Emerje



Joined: 10 Aug 2002
Posts: 7425
Location: Maine
PostPosted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 9:24 pm Reply with quote
thebaron wrote:
Where did Trish disappear to anyhow? Just some of the few persons that I don't have a good opinion of in anime right along with Carl.


Couldn't tell you, haven't seen her since, I wonder if she still works for Viz. I have a lot of respect for Trish, she has made a few questionable decisions but she's a true pioneer in the US anime industry.

I assume Carl is Carl Macek right? Have you ever seen the fan parody "This is Otakudom"? "And that's not the half of it, we have to import the audio all the way from japan!" "We had to cash in on the idea that anime is porn, and that is why we call it Samurai X!" It's worth watching Otakudom just for that segment. Laughing

Emerje
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Case



Joined: 09 Apr 2002
Posts: 1016
PostPosted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 9:56 pm Reply with quote
Emerje wrote:

Couldn't tell you, haven't seen her since, I wonder if she still works for Viz. I have a lot of respect for Trish, she has made a few questionable decisions but she's a true pioneer in the US anime industry.


I noticed the other night that she's credited with some kind of work on the Inu Yasha anime... So she must still be around doing something or other.
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