ANIME IN THE STATES. IT'S ABOUT TIME.
Written: 8 December 1999
Author: PJ

I've been an anime fan for as long as I can remember. I still recall the minute I saw an anime cartoon in action. I was in love. The seemingly undetailed and lazy art style......the adult themes and situatons....and when I actually saw an anime action scene, with almost every single thing on the screen moving, so much effort and detail put into this one second long charge as the hero swung his sword.....I almost wet my drawers.

However, I was disappointed when I learned of how limited a fandom it had in the States. Only a few knew what I was talking about when I mentioned Dragon Ball. No one knew what a "Tenchi Muyo" or a "Yuu Yuu Hakusho" was. It baffled me.

Even further more confusing, a lot of the people that knew what anime was, hated it, and I could not undersand why. How could anyone despise such an amazing and majestic art form? The original and complex story lines......the human interaction between characters (call me what you will, but I'm a real sucker for the love stories in anime)....the amazing action-scenes.....the cleverness, the boldness.......agh! Why!?

So, of course, when anime finally, after years and years of hanging on to life in a dark, damp corner, begins to thrive in the States, I'm honestly stoked.

I remember when Pokemon first hit the states. I used to tape the anime, and I was pretty impressed, especially after FUNimation's poor job of dubbing Seasons 1 and 2 of Dragon Ball Z. For a while, the show was pretty good, but I began to lose interest. It seemed, though, as I lost interest, every other person in America began to become interested in it. Before I know it, Pokemon is the biggest fad, the biggest craze. The anime is instantly the number one watched cartoon show. The toys, merchandise, the games.....all selling like hot-cakes.

Although I now can barely stand the sight of a Pikachu, this was a very good sign to me. An anime was popular! My God, I must be dreaming (a good dream, or a nightmare, I really don't know yet...). Pokemon was the number one craze, and along with it went the anime. Surely some would become interested in anime after being exposed to it?

Sure enough, the Japanese industry in America booms. Perish the thought, that I can talk with someone about anime, and they'll actually know, at least generally, what I'm talking about!

Soon after, FUNimation, not being the idiots to pass up such an oppurtunity, start Dragon Ball Z up again, under the wings of Cartoon Network. Sure enough, its an instant hit. They make millions off selling the tapes alone. Ratings soar every day at 5:00 p.m. Now, seeing Vegetto battle Majin Buu isn't such an impossible dream! Hell, Movie 4 and subtitled DVDs are scheduled for next year! The possibility of FUNimation actually (gasp!) buying the original Japanese soundtrack lives! Hark, DBZ hath made its (somewhat) triumphant return!

What's more, soon after DBZ starts up again, Cartoon Network buys another anime, and airs it on the Toonami block, directly after Dragon Ball Z. While the Ronin Warriors is an older anime, its still pretty cool, and I'm sure its caught a few viewer's eyes. What's more, Sailor Moon already airs on the Toonami block as well (at 4:00 p.m.), and Robotech plays early Sunday morning (on the "Saturday" Toonami block).

And to further improve the situation, one of the coolest animated films of all time and space, Princess Mononoke, has been dubbed and released in theatres. Just the thought of witnessing such a masterpiece results in soiled drawers from me, and to make it all the worse......sniff.....THE THEATRES AROUND ME DON'T CARRY IT!!!!!!!

Yes, I know, you pity me. I pity me. But.....somehow......someway....I will surivive. Maybe....just maybe....please, God, let them at least sell it here when it comes out on video!

Anyway, I guess I really should stop my sniveling and get on with the matter at hand.....

Recently, I was strolling through a local "Toys 'R Us" shop, in search of ideas for the approaching holiday season. I pass by the Pokemon section, which is booming with little anime fans, sharing the sagacity and love for the series that only a true fan could give or appreciate. While, as I stated before, I don't like Pokemon, this is quite a good sign, and any one of those kids could easily grow up to be a full-fledged otaku.

I continue my journey through the store, and eventually come to the aisle harbouring Dragon Ball. Due to my love for Dragon Ball (I can't help myself, its a sickness), I'm forced to turn and check out what's happening here.

I stroll down, and am surrounded by otaku of an older age group. Holding Irwin marketed Dragon Ball figures, Playing cards, and comics (which Toys 'R Us don't carry anymore, thanks to a bitch that will be the subject of my next editorial) in their arms, I listen to their talk as they share their (although generally limited) knowledge of Dragon Ball.

"You're kidding!" one exclaims, surprised.

"Nope, it's true. Vegeta and Bulma have a kid. His name's Trunks, and he's sooooo cool," the other replies.

I smile, pull a Super Saiya-jin Gokou off of the shelf, and take it with me as I head for the check-out counter. Once again, I pass the Pokemon section, and again the smile finds my face as I see all those overly excited (I'm serious, a couple of them deserved a few blasts from a tranquilizer rifle) chibi-otaku bouncing off the aisle walls. As I approach the check-out line, I assure myself repetitively that the Gokou figure in my hands will go to my littler brother for Christmas.

Five minutes after I get home, the Gokou figure's been ripped from his package and is sitting atop my computer monitor.

That's not the end, however. Cartoon Network is planning on showing Tenchi Muyo (although painfully renamed "Tenchi Meyo") and another anime (the name escapes me at this time) next year. FUNimation plans on censoring even less for Season 4, and the rumor of the original soundtrack being bought circulates. Princess Mononoke has received perfect reviews by every movie critic that I've read a review from. An anime plays every Saturday morning at 11:00 p.m. on the Sci-Fi channel. Pokemon holds the place of number 2, and Dragon Ball number 4, on Lycos' Top 50.

Its been a long, paintstaking journey, but it may seem that anime has finally begun to receive the attention in the States that it deserves. As more and more otaku are being molded each day, those who hate anime (and I have nothing against them....we're all entitled to an opinion) seem to slowly diminish. Censoring standards seem to become more and more linear. Anime is being more widely accepted. TV newscasts and newspaper articles about anime constantly litter TV Guides and newspapers. Various popular manga are being translated and sold (quite well, actually) via Viz (as of now, they're working on Dragon Ball/Z....hehe).

Its about time.