Air (visual novel, 2000-)

Air (visual novel, 2000-)

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 18+ (Original PC)

Game
Developer: Key
Publisher: Visual Art's (PC), NEC Interchannel (DC/PS2)
Prototype (SoftBank 3G/PSP/FOMA)
Genre: Eroge, Visual novel
Rating: 18+ (Original PC), CERO: C (15+, PS2, PSP)
Released: September 8, 2000 (PC-limited)

Manga
Author: Key
Illustrator: Yukimaru Katsura
Original run: August 10, 2004 – February 10, 2006

TV anime
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Original run: January 6, 2005 – March 31, 2005

TV anime: Air in Summer
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Original run: August 28, 2005 – September 4, 2005

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Air is a Japanese visual novel developed by Key which was originally released as an adult game on September 8, 2000 playable on personal computers (PC) as a CD-ROM. Subsequent versions with the adult content removed were sold playable on the PC, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 2. The PC version with adult content was re-released with added support for Windows 2000/XP under the name Air Standard Edition on April 8, 2005. Air was made available to play on the PlayStation Portable, and SoftBank 3G and FOMA cell phones in 2007. Key re-released Air compatible with Windows Vista in July 2009 and an Air Memorial Edition compatible with Windows 7 will be released in May 2010; the Vista/7 editions were rated for all ages.

The gameplay in Air follows a plot line which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the differing scenarios of the three female main characters. The game is divided into three segments—Dream, Summer, and Air—which serve as different phases in the overall story. One of the goals of the original version's gameplay is for the player to enable viewing of hentai scenes depicting the protagonist and one of the three heroines having sexual intercourse. The title of the game is meant to reflect the prominent themes of the air, skies, and use of wings throughout gameplay.

Air has made transitions into other media. A manga series based on the visual novel was first serialized in the Japanese magazine Comptiq and published by Kadokawa Shoten; the manga ran between August 2004 and February 2006 and was illustrated by Japanese artist Yukimaru Katsura. A thirteen-episode anime series created by Kyoto Animation aired in Japan between January and March 2005. A subsequent release of two episodes entitled Air in Summer aired in August and September 2005. While the anime was still airing, an Air film by the animation studio Toei Animation hit theaters in Japan in February 2005. The anime series, plus the two-episode Air in Summer and the film were initially licensed and released in North America by ADV Films, but the license for these titles was transferred to Funimation in July 2008. A set of nine drama CDs were also released, published by Lantis between August 2005 and January 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(visual_novel)#Anime
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(film)

How to Draw Manga Vol. 20: Female Characters (1999)

How to Draw Manga Vol. 20: Female Characters (December 1999)

How to Draw Manga is a series of instructional books on drawing manga published by Graphic-sha, by a variety of authors. Originally in Japanese for the Japanese market, many volumes have been translated into English and published in the US. Of the wide range of manga-how-tos available for westerners, the series is seen as one of the more useful, both for its provenance and wide range of practical tips. The English-language volumes in the series were co-produced by Graphic-sha and two other Japanese companies, Japanime Co. Ltd. and Japan Publications Trading Co.

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List of books in the series

This is a list of books in the main HTDM set and other sets that relate to the main series.

How to Draw Manga

Originally there were no volume numbers on the English versions, because the original Japanese version did not have them. Then only volumes 1 - 8 were given numbers. With continued reprints and more books being released, all volumes gained a number. The dates given are the first printing.
How to Draw Manga Vol. 1: Compiling Characters (October 1999)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 2: Compiling Techniques (July 2000)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 3: Compiling Application and Practice (August 2000)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 4: Dressing Your Characters in Casual Wear (May 2001)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 5: Developing Shoujo Manga Techniques (July 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 6: Martial Arts & Combat Sports (June 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 7: Amazing Effects (June 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 8: Super Basics (June 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 9: Special: Colored Original Drawing (May 2001)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 10: Getting Started (October 2000)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 11: Maids & Miko (November 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 12: Giant Robots (February 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 13: Super Tone Techniques (August 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 14: Colorful Costumes (January 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 15: Girls' Life Illustration File (May 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 16: Guns & Military Vol. 1 (September 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 17: Guns & Military Vol. 2 (October 2004)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 18: Super-Deformed Characters Vol. 1 Humans (August 2004)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 19: Super-Deformed Characters Vol. 2 Animals (June 2005)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 20: Female Characters (December 1999)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 21: Bishoujo Pretty Gals (November 2000)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 22: Bishoujo Around the World (March 2001)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 23: Illustrating Battles (October 2000)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 24: Occult & Horror (June 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 25: Bodies & Anatomy (December 2001)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 26: Making Anime (January 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 27: Male Characters (July 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 28: Couples (January 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 29: Putting Things in Perspective (October 2002)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 30: Pen & Tone Techniques (April 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 31: More about Pretty Gals (August 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 32: Mech. Drawing (December 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 33: Costume Encyclopedia Vol. 1 Everyday Fashion (December 2003)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 34: Costume Encyclopedia Vol. 2 Intimate Apparel (January 2005)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 35: Costume Encyclopedia Vol. 3: Sexy Sports Wear (May 2005)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 36: Animals (February 2005)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 37: Macromedia Flash Techniques (February 2004)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 38: Ninja & Samurai Portrayal (September 2005)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 39: Creating Manga: Stories (April 2007)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 40: Dressing Your Characters In Suits & Sailor Suits (August 2006)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 41: Costume Encyclopedia Vol. 4 Kimono & Gowns (April 2007)
How to Draw Manga Vol. 42: Drawing Yaoi (June 2007) Note: this is a bishōnen how-to guide, not yaoi
How to Draw Manga Vol. 43: Drawing Bishōnen (December 2008)

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How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons

This set was printed in a smaller format of 15 cm x 21 cm.

How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Vol. 1: Drawing Made Easy (April 2005)
How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Vol. 2: The Basics of Characters and Materials (August 2005)
How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Vol. 3: Drawing Sensational Characters (November 2005)
How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Vol. 4: Making the Characters Come Alive (March 2006)
How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Vol. 5: A Touch of Dynamism (2006)
How to Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Vol. 6: Striking the Right Note (August 2006)

How to Draw Manga: Computones

Each volume in this set includes a CD-ROM for use with Windows only.

How to Draw Manga: Computones Vol. 1: Basic Tone Techniques (May 2005)
How to Draw Manga: Computones Vol. 2: Depicting Characters (September 2005)
How to Draw Manga: Computones Vol. 3: Mecha (October 2005)
How to Draw Manga: Computones Vol. 4: Portraying Couples (June 2006)
How to Draw Manga: Computones Vol. 5: Aiming For Action (June 2006)

How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style

How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Vol. 1: Sketching to Plan (February 2007)
How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Vol. 2: Logical Proportions (April 2007)
How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Vol. 3: Unforgettable Characters (October 2007)
How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Vol. 4: All About Perspective (Nov 12, 2008)
How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Vol. 5: Sketching Sports Basics (Dec 10, 2008)
How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Vol. 6: Sketching Props (August 11, 2009)

Manga Pose Resource Book

This set was printed in an over-sized format of 21 cm x 29.6 cm.

Manga Pose Resource Book Vol. 1: Basic Poses (2002)
Manga Pose Resource Book Vol. 2: Animals (2002)
Manga Pose Resource Book Vol. 3: Actions Scenes (2002)

How to Draw Anime and Game Characters

This set is another Graphic-Sha publication that is shown alongside the main HTDM series on the dustjacks and in ads.

How to Draw Anime and Game Characters Vol. 1: Basics for Beginners and Beyond (August 2000)
How to Draw Anime and Game Characters Vol. 2: Expressing Emotions (March 2001)
How to Draw Anime and Game Characters Vol. 3: Bringing Daily Actions to Life (August 2001)
How to Draw Anime and Game Characters Vol. 4: Mastering Battle and Action Moves (April 2002)
How to Draw Anime and Game Characters Vol. 5: Bishoujo Game Characters (September 2003)

More How to Draw Manga

Another set of manga-know-how with only four volumes, based in character creation. Note: Only three of the first printings for this series are below.

More How to Draw Manga Vol. 1: The Basics of Character Drawing (March 2004)
More How to Draw Manga Vol. 2: Penning Characters (March 2004)
More How to Draw Manga Vol. 3: Enhancing a Character's Sense of Presence (2004)
More How to Draw Manga Vol. 4: Mastering Bishoujo Characters (September 2004)

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Draw_Manga

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Books about visual art | Manga distributed by Madman Entertainment

Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure (デュアル!ぱられルンルン物語)

Genre: Comedy, Mecha

Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure (デュアル!ぱられルンルン物語, Dyuaru! Parare Runrun Monogatari) is a fourteen episode series created in 1999 by Masaki Kajishima and produced by AIC, both well-known for the Tenchi Muyo! franchise. It is licensed in the US by Pioneer LDC, later known as Geneon. In addition to the original run, an OVA special was added to conclude the series as a de facto "14th episode".

Excel Saga (エクセル・サーガ)

Genre: Action, Parody, Science Fiction

Excel Saga (エクセル・サーガ, Ekuseru Sāga) is a manga series written and illustrated by Rikdo Koshi. It has been serialized in Young King OURs since 1996, with individual chapters collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shōnen Gahosha. The series follows the attempts of Across, a "secret ideological organization", to conquer the city of Fukuoka as a first step towards world domination. The titular character of the series, Excel, is a key member of the group working towards this goal, while the city is defended by a shadowy government agency led by Dr. Kabapu.

The manga was adapted into an anime television series by Victor Entertainment. Directed by Shinichi Watanabe and featuring animation from J.C.Staff, the series premiered on TV Tokyo in 1999. TV Tokyo only aired twenty-five of the series' twenty-six episodes, with the finale having been intentionally made too violent and obscene for public broadcast. As such, it was only included in the DVD release of the series, although it has since been broadcast in other markets.

The series has enjoyed some critical success coupled with respectable sales.

Elf-ban Kakyūsei (エルフ版 下級生)

Genre: Drama, Harem, Romance

Elf-ban Kakyūsei (エルフ版　下級生, Erufuban Kakyūsei) is an anime. It is unrelated to a different series of the same title, Kakyūsei, also produced by Pink Pineapple in 1995. It was based on a game originally created by Masato Hiruta more popularly known as Elf, and had a TV series produced after success of the OVA. The 14th episode of the TV series was never aired on television. The TV series produced further sequels and spin offs that were considerably more explicit than their earlier versions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf-ban_Kakyūsei

Amazing Nurse Nanako (1999)

Amazing Nurse Nanako

Alternative names: Amazing Nurse Nanako, 菜々子解体診書, Nanako Kaitai Shinsho
Genre: Comedy

Original video animation
Director: Hiroshi Negishi
Studio: Radix
Licensor: Save Our Nurse Project, Geneon
Released: 5 July 1999
Episodes: 6

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Amazing Nurse Nanako (菜々子解体診書 Nanako Kaitai Shinsho) is an anime OVA series released in Japan. There were 6 episodes. It was released in January 2003 in a DVD box-set in the United States through Geneon. It combines humor, science-fiction and ecchi.

The series details the life and history of Nanako Shichigusa, a 16-year-old who works as a maid (not nurse as the title might imply) in the hospital of Dr. Kyogi Ogami, the male lead. Nanako is a classic ditzy slapstick protagonist who tends to accidentally break things and do everything wrong. Ogami treats her frequently in a cruel or heartless manner -- threatening her, yelling at her and even subjecting her to physical abuse -- yet at the climax of every episode he comes through to rescue her from whatever predicament she got herself into. Much of the series revolves around the relationship between Nanako and Ogami -- his mean veneer, her faith in him, and how he alternates between the evil mad scientist archetype and the knight in shining armor archetype.

As the series progresses we are gradually revealed the history between Nanako and Ogami's family and given a reason why the two are so tightly knit together, as well as why the title refers to Nanako as a "nurse". A minor supporting cast is introduced, though Nanako and Ogami are clearly the leads. The plot incorporates the American military, the Catholic Church and outlandish science fiction experiments, with these elements progressed mostly in the lead episode and the last two episodes. The middle episodes 2-4 feature mostly unrelated one-shot plots, though minor progress is made in each episode regarding the history between Nanako and Ogami's family.

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Plot summary

In the beginning, Nanako was the subject of a cyborg experiment conducted by Dr. Ogami for one of his most powerful robots. Through rigorous training, Dr. Ogami trained Nanako to withstand the pain. However, he made her too strong, and the plan ultimately failed. However, recent developments between the Pentagon and the Vatican to resurrect Jesus for the Second Coming have landed Nanako as the subject of an operation in which she will give birth to the new Jesus.

Throughout the series, we learn that Nanako is, in fact, the third clone in a series of clones cloned from the original Nanako. The original died from a mysterious illness, and an experiment to clone her was successful. However, around the age of 20, each Nanako clone dies of the same mysterious illness that claimed the life of the first Nanako. It has been Dr. Ogami's quest to cure the "Nanako illness" ever since he promised the second clone that he would heal her before she died when he was young.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Nurse_Nanako

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Anime OVAs | Anime of 1999 | Anime series | Comedy anime and manga | Ecchi anime and manga | Fictional nurses | Geneon | Science fiction anime and manga

Kite (film)

Kite (OAV)

Alternative title
A Kite, Domination Nakite, Sexo Letal, Кайт - девочка убийца, カイト

Genre: Neo-noir, drama, girls with guns, action, drama, erotica, psychological
Themes: assassins, girls with guns, Police

Original video animation
Directed by: Yasuomi Umetsu
Studio: Green Bunny
Licensed by: ARMS, AnimeWorks (edited), Kitty Media (director's cut)
Released: 1998
Runtime: 45 Min (Cut), 60 Min (Uncut)
Episodes: 2
Related anime: Kite (live-action movie), Kite Liberator (OAV)
Ratings: Adults only! (Contains explicit sexual content)

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Kite (カイト, Kaito), also known as A Kite, is a highly controversial Japanese anime OVA written and directed by Yasuomi Umetsu.

The original Japanese release ran for two 30 minute episodes. However, subsequent releases, including the first two releases in the United States, have edited the OVA into one hour-long "movie".

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Plot Summary

Sawa is a school girl, an orphan, and an assassin. She is being controlled by a corrupt cop who gives her targets to kill, detailing to her the crimes these men have committed in order to justify their death. Some of his power over Sawa has to do with her deceased parents and the promise of revenge. When another orphan, a teenage boy called Oburi, is brought in to assist Sawa, the two teenage killers form a bond of sorts. As they heal each other's emotional wounds, they begin to dream of a life that would not be spent under the shadows of murder.

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Ratings

USA: 16+ (General Release), 18+ (Director's Cut and Special Edition)
ratings issued by the distributor, Media Blasters
Japan: R-18
South Korea: 18+ (censored version)
Australia: 18+ (censored version)
Norway: 18+ (censored version)
France: 18+ (cut)
released as Domination NaKite
Germany: 18+ (uncut/uncensored)
New Zealand: R-16

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite_(OAV)

Love Hina (1998~)

Love Hina (1998~)

Alternative title:
ラブ ひな (Rabu Hina), 純情房東俏房客

Related anime: Love Hina Final (special), Love Hina X'mas Special - Silent Eve, Love Hina Spring Special - I wish Your Dream, Love Hina Again (OAV), Love Hina [anime comic] (manga)

Genre: Comedy, Harem, Romance
Themes: Bishoujo, fanservice, harem

Age rating: Teenagers (May contain bloody violence, bad language, nudity)

Manga
Written by: Ken Akamatsu
Published by: Kodansha
English publisher: Madman Entertainment, Tokyopop, Chuang Yi
Demographic: Shōnen
Magazine: Weekly Shōnen Magazine
Original run: October 21, 1998 – October 31, 2001
Volumes: 14

TV anime
Directed by: Yoshiaki Iwasaki
Written by: Shō Aikawa
Studio: Xebec
Licensed by: King Records, Madman Entertainment, Bandai Entertainment, Funimation Entertainment, MVM Films, Network TV Tokyo
Original run: April 19, 2000 – September 27, 2000
Episodes: 25

Original video animation: Love Hina – Christmas Special
Directed by: Yoshiaki Iwasaki
Produced by: TV Tokyo
Written by: Shō Aikawa
Music by: Star Child Records
Studio: Xebec
Released: December 25, 2000, December 3, 2002, December 3, 2003, November 7, 2005
Runtime: 44 minutes

Original video animation: Love Hina – Spring Special
Directed by: Yoshiaki Iwasaki
Produced by: TV Tokyo
Written by: Shō Aikawa
Music by: Star Child Records
Studio: Xebec
Released: April 1, 2001, March 18, 2003, February 11, 2004, May 16, 2005
Runtime: 45 minutes

Original video animation: Love Hina Again
Directed by: Yoshiaki Iwasaki
Written by: Shō Aikawa
Studio: Xebec
Released: January 26, 2002, September 2, 2003, August 31, 2005, January 8, 2008
Episodes: 3

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Love Hina (ラブ ひな Rabu Hina?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Akamatsu. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine by Kodansha from October 21, 1998 to October 31, 2001 and was published in 14 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. The series tells the story of Keitaro Urashima and his attempts to find the girl with whom he made a childhood promise to enter the Tokyo University. The manga was licensed for an English language release in North America and the United Kingdom by Tokyopop, in Australia by Madman Entertainment, in Poland by Waneko and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. Two novelizations of Love Hina, written by two anime series screenwriters, were also released in Japan by Kodansha. Both novels were later released in North America and the United Kingdom by Tokyopop.

A twenty-four episode anime adaptation of the manga series, produced by Xebec, aired in Japan from April 19, 2000 to September 27, 2000. It was followed by a bonus DVD episode, Christmas and Spring television specials, and a three episode original video animation (OVA) entitled Love Hina Again. The anime series, special, and OVA were licensed for release in North America by Bandai Entertainment. In July 2007, the license was acquired by Funimation Entertainment, who released a boxset of the television series in February 2009. The series is also licensed in Australia by Madman Entertainment and in the United Kingdom by MVM Films.

The series has proved extremely popular around the world, both commercially and critically. In Japan, the manga sold over 6 million copies; over 1 million anime DVDs were also sold. The English release of the manga has been reprinted many times. Both anime and manga have received numerous industry awards in Japan and North America, as well as praise from critics.

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Plot Summary of Love Hina (TV)

Keitaro Urashima is determined to be accepted into Tokyo University, the hardest Japanese University of all to get into, because of a promise he made to a girl when he was young... a girl whose name he can't even remember. After failing to get into Tokyo U twice, he is kicked out by his parents and goes to live with his Grandmother at her hotel, but it seems it has been turned into an all girls boarding house. What's more, much to his surprise and to the tenants disgust, Keitaro is made manager of the boarding house.

In 2006, Shinkūkan produced a four-episode original video adaptation (OVA) directed by Makoto Sokuza. The OVAs contain a special audio track in which the female characters' voices are replaced by members of the idol unit Sweet Kiss and were released in two versions: original and special edit. Xebec produced a thirteen episode anime adaptation directed by Tsuyoshi Nagasawa, unrelated to the OVAs. It first began airing on TV Tokyo between October 5, 2008 and December 28, 2008. Kodansha has announced that Xebec will be adapting an OVA version of the anime in 2009, directed by Tsuyoshi Nagasawa, featuring the same cast as the anime.

AntZ (1988)

AntZ (1988)

Alternative Names (異名):
AntZ, 개미

Directed by: Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson
Studio: DreamWorks Animation, Pacific Data Images
Distributed by: DreamWorks Pictures, Pacific Data Images
MPAA: Rated PG for mild language and menacing action
Release date(s): October 2, 1998

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (彼氏彼女の事情, 1998)

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (彼氏彼女の事情, 1998)

Alternative Titles (異題):
Tales at North Hills High, 그 남자 그 여자, 그 남자 그 여자의 사정, Kare Kano, His and Her Circumstances, 彼氏彼女の事情, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijō

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life

Manga
Written by: Masami Tsuda
Published by: Hakusensha
English publisher: Tokyopop
Demographic: Shōjo
Magazine: LaLa
Original run: February 1996 – June 2005
Volumes: 21

TV anime: His and Her Circumstances
Directed by: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki
Studio: Gainax, J.C.Staff
Licensed by: Right Stuf International
Network: TV Tokyo
English network: Anime Selects, FUNimation Channel
Original run: October 2, 1998 – March 23, 1999
Episodes: 26
Ratings: 15+

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Yukino Miyazawa, the Queen of Vanity, is the 'perfect student' - smart, pretty, athletic and has an overall nice personality. What everyone in her school didn't know was that behind the perfect facade lies a different person. She is always the best in anything - but an obstacle comes her way. The obstacle's name is Souichirou Arima. Souichirou Arima is chosen as the representative of the freshmen, not Miyazawa. Thus, she strives hard to defeat him in all aspects. But a day comes when her most-hated enemy comes to find out her secret. From treating Arima as an enemy, friendship blossoms. Soon love comes. Kare Kano is a story that revolves all around the pangs and beauty of first love.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kare_Kano