I just came back from NYC to see the idol group AKB48. I will post my full blog article tomorrow. In the mean time you can look at my newest article I wrote about the famed anime and manga store, Mandarake. I got permission to take photos and interview the staff members.

Many thanks to Kono-san for being a great contact during my time at Mandarake.

Animators in Japan.

I have been reading closely concerning the situation with animators in Japan. Anime News Network wrote an article regarding the situation in detail here. The article mostly discusses the irregular payments given to low-level animator and directors. Of course the directors will get paid more. I am mostly concern with the base pay of some beginning animators.

The JAniCA, AJA, ASIFA Japan, Tokyo Anime Center have some valuable information regarding the animation industry in Japan.

Japanese culture and western culture are obviously different. The rights of works for equal pay, vacation time, and job security are the same in any country.

This has been an ongoing issue in the Japanese Animation industry for quite sometime.

Evangelion 1.0 You are not alone


On a late summer afternoon in Washington DC, about 100 people got a chance to see a film that is one of the top grossed films in Japan. "Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.0: You are (not) alone" is the highly anticipated reworking of Hideaki Anno's popular series, Neon Genesis Evangelion. The Japan Information Culture Center and DC Anime Club in their 3rd year of joint collaboration treated the dedicated few to a rare glimpse of the popular film. The version that was screen was the original Japanese version with English Subtitles. The English dub release will be shown at the Hoff Theater at the University of Maryland on September 11th- 17th.

The president of the DC Anime Club (Chris Wanamaker) Vice President, (Craig Vaughn) and 1st lady (Monique Wanamaker) were on hand for the event. Mrs. Wanamaker made the keynote speech thanking the audience for attending the event. Mrs. Wanamaker was dressed as Rei Ayamani during her speech, she also address herself in character.

The film felt very similar to the original TV episode, which aired in Japan a decade ago. The story, character, and vehicle designs were spectacular. The only drawback with the film was the subtitles, which were white and very difficult to see. If the subtitles were at the bottom of the screen or in yellow, such problem would be avoided.
The second film, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance, was released in Japan early this summer. The other 2 films will be released on a later date.

At the end of the film, some of the fans clapped and cheered. One can only guess what the response will be at the premiere in Maryland.

10 years of reflection

I can't believe I am writing about my 10 years as a professional artist. It was only yesterday that I graduated from SVA. I have become a little wiser, but I still have so much to learn.

I have learned many things since becoming a professional artist, writer, and teacher. I have seen and experienced thing no fan has ever imagined. I experienced the worst domestic attack on the US since WWII. I lived for 5 years in Asia. I experienced different customs. I was broken to my breaking point. I have escaped one of the worst economic disasters in modern history.

As a professional artist I have learned to keep my friends close and forget about the people who treated me in a negative way. There will always be people who want to take advantage of you and twist you into their agenda. Right now in my life I don't need any of that BS. For now it is to tread lightly and make sure there are no traps on the road ahead.

Another most important thing I learned was don't get "blacklisted" or given the "cold shoulder" by people in your industry. The animation industry is very small. Getting someone that you respect on their bad side is the worst feeling ever. No amount of saying "I'm sorry" will make it up. It is better to walk away and maybe come back to it later. Maybe it was for the best. This can be a learning tool on how to treat other people you respect.

Keep your skills up to date. If you can't do the other skills, go back to them later. It isn't the end of the world if you can't figure draw. As long as you can convey things in color and light/shade, everything else will fall into place.

During a symposium at New York's Japan Society, I asked the great director Mamomuro Oshii a question, "what advise would you give to an aspiring director?" I still remember him thinking and pondering over the question I asked him. He finally came with three lists. I forgot the first two, but the last one was stuck in my head. He said, "You should have the ability to influence others." I am slowly understanding what Oshii-san was saying about that last statement.

Experience is something one must witness for themselves. If you want to know everything you are just kidding yourself. You are human and biological. Like all things biological you need time to rest and regroup. One of my favorite animated films is Studio Ghibli's "Kiki Delivery Service." This film can help anyone who are at the crossroads. I encourage anyone to pick up a copy and watch the film. It won't make sense at first, but if you let it soak in. It will make a lot of sense.

Looking back is ok only at a glace, but it most important seeing what is ahead of you in this path that you take. It might be painful at first, but it will all worth it at the end.