Welcome to the wonderful world of Japanese animation, or, anime. In Japan, the animation industry is treated almost like the live-action industry in America, in that it is a medium used for all genres of storytelling, from children's fantasy to dramatic films, horror, science-fiction, and adult movies. If you don't like one anime film, that doesn't mean you don't like them all. Every genre imaginable is part of anime, and somewhere there's a story you will like.

The following links will take you to e-zines, fan clubs, and internet resources, starting with the one link you will actually need.

The Anime Web Turnpike

The Anime Web Turnpike is one of the first resources I ever discovered on the web (I was surfing from it long before Trixie Turnpike became the mascot) and is generally accepted as being the most complete anime resource on the web. To this date, it has not let me down. You can see what else I recommend, but this link is pretty much the only one you'll need if you're just interested in browsing the anime web.

Cyber Mangazine Hanamaru

The folks at Hanamaru are very good sports, posting their manga (Japanese comics) on the web in Japanese, English, Spanish, and French. The result is that people in countries outside of Japan have access to brand new stories from the land of the Rising Sun without having to learn Japanese and buy a package to display it on their browser. Thanks, folks!

Otaku Illustrated

A quick warning about anime terms. Use of the word "Otaku" is very risky. The term currently carries a negative connotation in Japan, where "otaku" describes someone whose life is utterly lost to anime, to the point that they can only imagine in brilliant colors and clear lines about characters with large eyes and small mouths. You risk great bodily harm if you toss the phrase "otaku" around in Japan. On the other hand, many American fans use the word merely to refer to fans of anime who are dedicated enough to own more than one videocassette. You use this word at your own risk. You have been warned.

That said, Otaku Illustrated is a very well-designed e-zine for anime info, reviews, and resources. You might want to check these folks out.

Newtype Animation

Newtype Animation is an anime club at Virginia Tech. They have a very neat, clean web site featuring information on their board of directors, their weekly television show on campus TV, their newsletter, and other fun stuff.

Gainax (English Version)

Gainax is a popular anime and video game producer from Japan. Most recently, they are known for the popular Neon Genesis Evangelion anime which has taken the anime world by storm, but they are also responsible for classics like Otaku No Video(there's that word again) and The Wings of Honneamise. You can check out their site in English, Japanese, and Korean.

Mixx Online

The Mixx company offers Mixx Zine and Smile in the United States, featuring manga and information on Japanese popular culture. They recently expanded the color information pages in Mixx Zine and announced Smile, a new magazine geared toward girls. They publish Sailor Moon and Magic Knight Rayearth manga, as well as many other good titles, including the first translated sports manga, Harlem Beat. Since its launch, Mixx has worked hard to turn its web site into an interactive world.

If you don't see a link here you think I should have, then e-mail it to me at kallisti@slac.com. Please note that no payment has been recieved or given for these links and I do not pay to link to other sites; however, donations of small, unmarked bills are welcome at all times.