1.	What's going to happen to those fired because of their lack of experience in Digital Animation?
	2.	What if the Anime industry sticks to a less cost-wise option?
	3.	Does it really matter what technique is used?

Some of your questions are addressed in this month's feature on digital animation. However, to address them briefly: (1) that's hard to say, but many studios are cross-training their personnel on the computer coloring process. (2) The industry is becoming convinced that computers are worth the initial investment, as they allow people to do the same work with less materials (cel paint, cels, etc.). (3) In the end, only the end product is what matters, but if you can get the same results with a process that costs a lot less, doesn't it make sense to use it?

POUND FOR POUND
From: Ka-Ming

Hello. I'm delighted that there is an online magazine for manga and anime and I do like your style. I want to complain about the amount of money it costs to be graphic novels in the UK. One volume of RANMA 1/2 costs over eleven pounds in the UK whilst if I bought a volume in Hong Kong it would only cost me around 26 HK dollars (around 2 pound 60p). Even across the channel in France, graphic novels cost less than 35 Francs (around 3 pound 50p) and they have a wider selection of stories available. Can anyone tell me why there are such discrepancies for the prices of graphic novels?

While I'm not an expert in the European market, some basic rules hold true. Part of the expense is probably due to the fact that they're not printing large numbers of the graphic novels. For example, in the USA, a typical translated manga print run (regular comic book size) is about 10,000, while something more mainstream such as X-MEN will number in the hundreds of thousands. This obviously creates a large discrepancy in the cost per issue.
Also, importing also usually adds a substantial cost to a product. If the manga you're buying is the American version imported to the UK, you're probably paying an additional cost to cover the import charges.
Unfortunately, anime and manga are not cheap hobbies for those outside Japan (and even for those in Japan).

On a QUEST
From: Kyle Garrett

You guys are doing a great job of educating the USA market on all things anime, keep up the good work, and thank you. Today I am writing to ask if you guys remember an anime TV show called DRAGON WARRIOR. Here is all of the information on it that I know...
This show aired on the East Coast (NY and NJ specifically) on ABC at 6:30 in the morning on Saturdays during the 1989/1990 season.
I have done some investigation with other Anime fans and I believe that the background story is known as DRAGON QUEST. There have been several video games made in Japan about DRAGON QUEST.
The anime story that I know as DRAGON WARRIOR featured a boy named Able (or Abel) who was having his coming of "age celebration" in the first episode. A sleeping monster/lord awakens from his watery resting place to rise again and kidnap the "princess" of Able's rural town. He must embark on a quest to save the girl, and the fun begins from there.
The characters were designed by Toriyama Akira, the master artist who brought us the DRAGON BALL characters, the CHRONO TRIGGER (SNES)characters and the TOBAL (PSX) series characters.
I hope you guys can dig up some information on this show. It was great! I actually got up in the mornings that early on Saturdays to catch the show only to return happily to sleep after watching it. However I traded my VHS tape of the episodes that I had taped, for a store bought copy of AKIRA. The guy who I traded with switched schools and I have not seen anything from the show ever since. Thanks for listening, and I will keep on reading your mag.

Well, you've found out pretty much all there is to the US release. DRAGON QUEST was released in the USA as DRAGON WARRIOR, and like most translated anime series, it suffered an early demise due to poor scheduling (6:30AM is not a good time slot!).
In Japan, the DRAGON QUEST anime series lasted for about 52 episodes, and is usually available in Japanese video rental places. The USA broadcast run only lasted for 13 episodes, though. Of further note, the first three games of the DRAGON QUEST series is available as the DRAGON WARRIOR series on the NES.
In any case, the anime in question was an original plot based on the world view of the game, much like DRAGON QUEST: DAI NO DAIBOUKEN (manga, movie, TV series) and DRAGON QUEST RETSUDEN: ROTO NO MONSHOU (manga, movie).

Where Do I Start?
From: Kevin Niemczyk

Nice site. I am not really a really big fan but I have started to watch. I am writing this to ask if there is a part on your site that can me out. You see, I've only seen anime TV shows on cartoon network. This includes SAILOR MOON, ROBOTECH, and DBZ. I recently looked up ROBOTECH online and I found out that there has been numerous movies. Is there a site you can suggest that help me catch up on what I have been missing out on in the anime world. Thanks if you can or can't. I would really appreciate it.

Well, the first thing I would suggest is that you browse the EX archive and read the things of interest to you. If you're interested in a specific show, you can always use our search engine. Another good site for information is the Anime Web Turnpike, which lists pages with information on specific series as well as general information. There's a wealth of information out there, you just have to start reading.

What the FAQ?
From: Anthony Hickman

Do you know where I can find a game FAQ on DBZ LEGENDS that has a move guide?

I suggest you check GameFAQs. They have one of the largest libraries of game FAQs online. If it's not there, I don't know what else to tell you.
And this goes for all those people who still write in asking for FAQs and codes and cheats. Please don't ask us where you can get move guides for games. We'll just point you to GameFAQs or a search engine, since we don't happen to have a catalog of everything on the web floating around in our heads.

Attention TOKIMEMO Fans!
From: Chris Tobita

This is the first time I have actually seen your magazine. It is very good. I am presently working on a petition drive to translate the anime game series, TOKIMEKI MEMORIAL.
With the upcoming release of the two TOKIMEKI MEMORIAL OVAs, I was wondering if you were planning to review them.
Also, if you do, I was wondering if you could mention my petition site on your magazine. I don't know if you do this kind of thing, so I understand if you refuse, but I would appreciate any assistance.

Well, we'll probably review the OVAs sooner or later. It depends on what the interest is like from our staff. If they're good quality, though, they'll probably wind up reviewed in the virtual pages of our publication.
Meanwhile, TOKIMEMO fans, if you're interested in helping out this petition drive, surf on over to the petition site.

Are We Ready for MONONOKE?
From: Alexander Harris

Interesting web site. I like it, but that's not why I am writing this. I read the article that Chad Kime wrote called: American Anime: Blend or Bastardization ? A well thought-out article, I must say. At the end of it, he asked if anyone out there has an opinion. Well, I do.
First off, even though I am utterly excited about the upcoming release of Hayao Miyazaki's PRINCESS MONONOKE (July 9) I am not sure that the American public has the open state of mind it would take to handle a film of this magnitude. I don't think at this point in time that Americans, with our thoughtless stereotypes and our quick-to-judge mentalities, are ready to handle any type of animation that contradicts the Disney idea of animation that has been handed to us without exception all of our lives.
Change will come. It will take time, but it will come. Soon, the generation that is growing up and watching anime will come into power. We will be the writers, the artists, the executives. We will decide what movies will be released, and what shows will air on televison.

I'm not sure that I agree with you entirely. After all, some of the people who are in power now have already grown up watching anime. That's not the problem. There are groups of people who believe that animation is a medium that can exist beyond the realm of children's programming. However, it is certainly not the majority of the population.
Still, the fact that Miramax is taking such care with the film (worrying over the name, the rating, etc) seems to indicate that they are taking this very seriously. Of course, that won't really matter if the American public isn't ready for it. And on the whole, maybe they're not, but then again, we'll never know until it comes out, will we? It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

• WRITE IN UPPER CASE. This will guarantee immediate rejection.
  
• fail to use capital letters at the start of sentences or when using words like ranma and macross.
  
• Use inane words and phrases such as 'Ranma sucks' or 'Robotech rocks'.
  
• Use punctuation in an inappropriate and outlandish fashion !!!!??????
  
• Profanity and personal attacks will also wind up in the trashcan.

you!