Anime Books

The entire series is an essential item in the library of any aspiring graphic artist or graphic novelist. This is my most important resource concerning the modern styles that predominate manga and anime today. Taking on the complete set, I expected to be blown to pieces but instead I found myself slow cooked in a pot, sliced into thin slivers over the course of a few weeks, and put back together again. If you can stand the pain, it turns out to be quite a ride. Perhaps because of their experience of being the only nation ever to suffer the effect of nuclear war, I suspect that the Japanese have mastered the depiction of post-apocalyptic dystopia. However, Japanese graphic art has a long history dating back hundreds of years. I am not surprised that this is an excellent example of visual elements taking charge of the storytelling where words provide the common ground on which you may stand with others in the audience. I suspect that even in its original language this work would captivate just the same. Perhaps not to the taste of many avid readers of graphic novels because of the sparse dialogue. Personally, I tend towards more graphic elements so this was a treat.

Akira is awesome. Even from a time when you would have just about had to commit a crime against the person of a Japanese tourist, or pay ridiculous amounts of money to get anime and manga and things like that, Akira was available.

It is no surprise that it was, as is an example of that artform at its finest.

Neo-Tokyo is a city recovering from devastation and world war.

When a young bikie gang leader rescues a young boy named Tetsuo, after almost running him down, Kaneda soon comes to realise this is no ordinary boy, because of the government interest in him.

I have heard many people say that the books are better than the movie, I don't think this is true. The movie version of Akira is much better than the books. I'm not insulting the books but the story of Akira is better in the movie. The books contain much more detail and character development but lots of the events I thought didn't move the story along; like Tetsuo taking over the clown gang and that society Tetsuo starts in Vol. 5. The movie moves along very quickly and all of the detail's are important. It moves along faster and the ending is better. The books are still much better than most I have read and Akira is the only anime I find really interesting but the movie version is better. I would recommend this after seeing the film.

One of the best comic/manga books in the history, with the original black and white artwork in a nice and decent package.

I only wish they released it in the japanese original reading, not the americanized left-to-right reading. At least they made a great job and didn't leave backwards texts and other mistakes like that. I'm curious to read the other volumes to see if they inverted Tetsuo's "mutated" arm.

For those interested in knowing a bit about this reviewer, "Akira", the film, was the first avenue that I traveled within the world of Japanese animation. It was bold, it was beautiful, and the enchantment of the music eventually pulled me deeper into this growing form of cinema. Since my first viewing nearly 10 years ago, I have found myself comparing all other films of the same nature to that eventful first viewing of "Akira". It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I found a used copy of Katsuhiro Otomo's graphic underground comic under the same title. Since I found that comic, I never read it. I was afraid. I was afraid that it would tarnish my youthful image of the film. I was afraid that it would not live up to the film, and while I am the first to argue that books are typically more genuine than films, I wasn't sure if the same could be said for Otomo's comic. As it seems to be a growing trend with graphic novels, I was completely wrong. Otomo's release of Akira through Dark Horse Comics could not be a better companion to the film, and vise-versa.

What immediately pulled me into this edition were the first few color images that create the story surrounding this "Neo-Tokyo". It delicately paints the birth of the third World War and how a nation full of loss attempts to recover. Like most stories with a similar structure, we then are brought abruptly into the world of teens. Friendships are announced, youthful indiscretions are demonstrated, and we read as gang lines are maliciously drawn. This is a fast-paced new world, but much is still unknown and unexplained. As our story progresses, we are inundated with all the great elements of a heroic sci-fi story such as Akira. Friends are torn against each other, government conspiracies are as common as the drugs on the street, and a bigger threat looms around the corner (which is only hinted in this first volume) named only "Akira". Almost better than the film, Otomo does a superb job of building the suspense, adhering to top-notch action, and building a world that seems too eerily familiar. While the use of motion lines sometimes becomes a bit tedious, what makes this reviewer smile is that the motion lines genuinely mean that action is taking place. Otomo does not let us down when it comes to the action sequences of this graphic novel. It felt, as I was reading this, like I was watching a very detailed film. You could feel the explosions, you could see the chaos during the gang fights, and (again, maybe it was just me) you could hear the Colonel yell through the frames and into your mind. It was like no other graphic novel I have read.

What compelled me about this story, as it did with the film, is that you have a majority of the action between teens, or the youth of this devastated country. While the science fiction element acts as strong middle story, what glued me to the page were the contrasts between adults and the teens. This is a story about rebellion. It is a story about those that disrespect authority (both on the governmental level as well as the within the society). Otomo has created this new world where we only see (at least so far), three levels of hierarchy. There is the government who conceals the truth, battles from within, and is not afraid to disrespect anyone's rights to get their result; then there is the teen gangs who have some loyalty from within, respect no predestined authority, and are not afraid to fight for their ideals. Finally, we have the middle men, the secret society that seemingly wants to play both sides. They do not trust the government, while the biker teens may be stronger than they anticipated. Mixed within this is our boy Tetsuo, a product of random chance.

Otomo, for this first collection, has created a great mixture of pop culture references/styles with chaos. Between the fighting and the sheer unknown he builds a force that is both frightening and surprising. I especially loved the torn friendship fight near the end of this collection between Tetsuo and Kaneda. I enjoyed the style Otomo chose to tell this story, instead of building the friendship from the beginning; it is learned through the actions of our two characters and through their dialogue. There are no flashbacks or long introductions, just the knowledge that these two friends are in the same gang and they are extremely loyal to each other. While I do find Kaneda's story developing a bit slower than the exciting Tetsuo confusion, they both provide strong point-counterpoint moments to grow into. Honestly, what more do you need.

Overall, I am extremely sorry that I did not start this series earlier. I cannot wait to begin the next book and see what shortcuts were made in the film that perhaps can be better explained in this series. The illustrations are fabulous and extremely addictive. Otomo creates such a strong world that you feel like you are right there next to Kaneda as he is going through the confusion. Akira: Volume 1 is a perfect start to a science fiction masterpiece. I strongly recommend this story to all those interested in strong characters, fantastic stories, and a creature so menacing that only Otomo could think of it! Go get this book now!

Grade: ***** out of *****

As a dabbler only in the manga field I was familiar with the ttile but decided based on the price, this was a good try out book. I was not wrong!! Defintly worth your money as you get alot of story for the money. Actually cheaper than buying the individual books. Printed on strong paper with a handful of color pages at the front this is a compact beautiful apckage with a great starting story and I intend to buy all of the VIZBIG editions!

There are many manga that use themes that are similar to this one, but among all these, Rurouni Kenshin stands out as one of the best. Part of what makes this series so good is the great set of characters. There is also the wonderful recreation of the era in which the story develops; we truly feel like being at a different time in history. The impressive drawings are also a trait that makes this a successful series, and I particularly like how they use the distorted facial expressions for humorous situations. Finally, there is the story in itself, which has many layers and the deeper we get into it, the more mesmerized we are. The fact that this volume is not at the level seen later, in terms of the complexity and richness of the plot, is the only reason why it gets four stars instead of the top rating.

Hitokiri Battousai is a warrior that with the help of his sword slew many rivals of the imperialists and contributed to entering the Meiji era, and then, he disappeared. A few years later, in the eleventh year of the Meiji era in Tokyo, times are such that carrying swords is forbidden, and Kenshin, the former Battousai wanders around with a reverse-blade sword, after having vowed not to kill anymore. Soon Kenshin runs into a murderer impersonating the Battousai and trying to discredit the Kamiya Kasshin School. Luck has it that before running into the killer, he met Kaoru, the young woman who is in charge of the school, and therefore, soon gets involved in helping her clear her name. This is the first bond that will stop Kenshin's wandering, but there are even more to come.

Kenshin is a man with deep convictions, and nothing can steer him away from the goal he set after abandoning his previous life: to build a world where people can pursue happiness. He is one of the most interesting characters I have met in the world of manga, but he is not the only notable character in this series. Far from it! In this first volume we meet Kaoru, a brave young woman that provides the series with some fine humor, and there is romance to come. And we meet Yahiko, a kid that has somewhat of an attitude problem and that hopes to become a samurai and become strong. Maybe most importantly, towards the end, we encounter Zanza (Sagara Sanosuke), the street fighter who will become a central character in this series, so pay attention! He is a very complex character, with an unconventional weapon and a baggage from the past that makes him hate the Ishin-Shishi (imperialists).

This is the start to a wonderful series, and one that goes way beyond the fighting, humor and romance. The quality of this volume should be enough for most people to want to read further, but even if that is not the case, trust me, this series gets much better, so I urge you to keep reading the next volumes. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

A mysterious warrior named Hitokiri Battôsai arose in Kyoto 140 years ago. A fiercesome warrior, he slew countless men, his efforts helping bring to a close the Bakumatsu era and bringing in the age of the Meiji.

Then he disappeared.

In the 11th year of the Meiji, a rurouni--a vagabond--named Himura Kenshin surfaces in Tokyo and befriends the spunky Kaoru, the owner of a student-less dojo.

With the aid of young new friend Yahiko, a boy wanting to be a samurai himself, Kenshin and Kaoru must ward off those looking to kill them.

And so the story begins...

Despite its label being a "romantic comedy," this is by far the most serious out of the manga I read. Nobuhiro Watsuki has crafted an incredible tale, an important story, one that had captured my full attention the second Kenshin showed up in Tokyo (which is pretty much the first page of the book).

His art is stellar. The detail is astounding (even after the first 22 pages when the art goes from ultra detailed to "just" super detailed). His rendering of Japan from 140 years ago is believable, each panel transporting you directly to the past.

The big deal about this book is the fight sequences, each chapter in this volume containing at least one battle. I've never seen action like this before--so huge, so intense, so detailed, so explosive, with speed-lines everywhere--AMAZING!

This volumes also includes a special bonus story that was originally published about a year before the now-complete-twenty-eight-volume series began.

This is a great opening story to what is sure to be a fantastic saga this reviewer looks forward to finishing. (I'm also now eager to check out the anime for this.)

Language warning: Cursing

Applauds should be given to Viz for taking a step in this direction, we can only hope they add more series to their VizBig line up!

In this book, you get the first three volumes of the series (Vol I: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Vol II: The Two Hitokiri, and Vol III: A Reason to Act). Pages 11 - 32 are in full color, which adds another dimension to the story, I was sad the color had to end. The last few pages also give us some wonderful color pictures from the original volumes, without text. We also get 2 end of volume specials, the first occurs a year before the series begins and the second is, as the author describes, sort of the 'pilot' episode of Rurouni Kenshin, where the details are a bit different than the actual story, but it's still the Rurouni we all love!

The size of the book allows us to look at the detail a bit better. Another feature I noticed was page numbers, which are great if you lose your place.

If you're new to the series, I recommend buying this version over the original 3 volumes as you get more for your money.

I do not understand how people can review this product in 20006 and 2007 when this product came out in 2008.

First off, I ordered this book and the shipment was suppose to arrive in February since the book was suppose to be released January 29, 2008. However, I received it January 24 which shows that this product has fast shipping and was in mint condition.

Now this manga is very different from the normal manga released. A normal one volume manga has a couple of pages, is all black and white (expect the cover), is printed on low quality paper, and contains a little of the author's comments. The heights of these books are about 7.5 inches in height by 5 inches. The thickness varies, but is usually around .75 inches. These books are usually worth and sold for $7.95. This is not the product that is being sold under this item. Most of the people writing these reviews think this is what the book is.

Now here is what this book really is. When an old manga series becomes very famous in Japan, they re-make the series into a special edition one. It is the same story line and everything with a few changes.
Here is a list of the diffences:
Contains 3 volumes (books) of manga into one book
New cover art from the original manga
8.5 inches by 5.8 (about right)
1.8 inches thick
More author's comments throughout the book (not too sure about this one)
THE FIRST FEW PAGES OF THE MANGA AND SOME PAGES IN THE BACK ARE IN COLOR (then goes back to black and white)
Much better paper is used other then the poor one used in the original manga

As you can see there are big differences between this book and the other manga. This is more economic for people, because instead of buying separate books for about $21, you are instead paying $12. When this book enters in stores, it will coast $17.99. This is basically a collector's editions manga and something Viz (manga company for North America) decided to start up very recently. They will be doing this to old series like Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z in a few months. This book is much bigger then a normal manga. As a reader, I really enjoyed how they made the manga. The color of the first few pages looked great. In the back there is a glossary of words used in the manga and some colored art work. As you can see this book is a lot bigger then the normal manga. After all they have to put three volumes of manga into this one book. I greatly recommend the book whether you never saw the series or even if you have the original manga.

I wrote this review because many of the people writing the reviews know nothing of this book and do not own. Instead they are telling you about the story line. I will not go into details on the story since everyone else here did. In conclusion, this book makes the original manga look like garbage and will save you money by getting this book ($12 instead of $21).

If you are wondering, as months go by, more these versions of this manga will appear.

i found this to be a very good book. the story kept moving and everytime it began to wind down it lifted back up with another twist. never a dull moment. The character Vash the Stampede is more noble then one would think. it's an intense ride through the story as one reads as Vash risks himself time and time agian.Vash proves heroic when traveling on teh steamship and he sets standards for selflessness. not only does he risk himslef but he also takes on a child not so much as his own but to take care of in a sense. the storyline is excellent and it's improved by the cartoon format that it's written in. the pictures bring the book alive in you mind. it's incredible how this story can suck a reader in. what can be said about a book that both sucks the reader in and captures their emagination?...excellent.

Before i began i must tell you that i believe that Trigun is one of the best series ever vreated. I really enjoyed this book, it is the first in the series and is definetley one of the bests. This book introduces all of the characters and it has awesome action! If you like lots of action and guns then you should buy this book!!

This manga is great! It is the first manga I have ever read so it took me a couple pages to get used to it and sometimes I would still end up looking over a frame many times before I understood what was happening. This has a lot to do with how much action there is and what I am assuming are the sound effects (still in japenese because they are part of the actual artwork and would be difficult to switch to english). There are some things that I don't like but overall its great and well worth the money.

I am a high school senior who enjoys manga, anime, and the like. The topic of this review is Trigun. This is the super thick volume 1 of Yasuhiro Nightow's masterpiece, Trigun. So you'll know a little more about Trigun's manga, it goes; Trigun volume 1, Trigun volume 2, and then it goes to Trigun maximum.
In this volume we learn of Vash the Stampede. A man with a 60 billion double dollar bounty on his head. The pacifist Vash runs into many adventures along his quest for a man. It all takes place on a sandy desert planet. .I won't tell you any more because it might ruin it, and this is such a great series full of surprises and I wouldn't want to mess any of it up for you.
With equal amounts of humor, adventure, action, and intrigue, this title shouldn't be missed. This is definitely one of my all time favorite titles, and I've read a lot of manga in my day. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys manga and has good taste.

There are tons of manga on that I regularly collect. Dragonball/Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Ranma 1/2, Case Closed(Detective Conan), Yu-Gi-Oh/Duelist/Millenium World, and others.... but there are a rare few that grab me, that are are real gems that contend for the greatest manga in existence, such as Akira, Nausicaa... and Trigun(and Trigun Maximum).

Most people are probably familiar with Yasuhiro Nightow's series through the 26 episode anime series that was released in the US by Pioneer(now Geneon) and has aired on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, and let me tell you, as good as it can be, does not do this manga total justice. Covering only about 1/3 of both Trigun and Trigun Maximumn, the anime was forced to not only cut the overall plot short, but also cut out the development of many characters. Vash, the tortured wanderer throughout the planet Gunsmoke, who endlessly searches for his sinister brother, Knives, has a slightly deeper history, as does his eventual traveling companion, the priest/gunman Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Millions Knives, Vash's bro, is far more vicious and cruel, as is his subordinate, Legato Bluesummers. Bernadeli insurance girls Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson are pretty much the same, although personally I found Meryl far more likeable in the manga. Most of the Gung-Ho Guns are also far more sadistic, screwed up, and crazy than the manga(particularly Zazie, although I won't spoil anything), shocking anyone who's used to their anime personas. Nightow's artwork is a true sight to behold, something people will just have to see to fully understand its beauty. The grimy, dusty, and decayed design of Gunsmoke truly is a marvel to look at, and I often spend minutes just staring at the art before proceeding on with the story. The fast-paced action sequences have a fantastic rush, although often they also cause things to become intensely confusing, wondering who's shooting at who and what's getting blown apart, and it does take some time getting used to Nightow's style during these action-packed parts, but once it does, you are in for one crazy yet entertaining ride.

The first volume is episodic for the most part, other than introducing Vash, Meryl, and Milly, the real plot doesn't really begin until volume 2(and continues on into Trigun Maximum), but the stories are a nice read and help us get to know our three main characters, thus setting up the main Knives/Gung-Ho Guns storyline. Overall, this makes one heck of a great read. Welcome to Gunsmoke, and enjoy your trip.

The Art of Howl's Moving Castle is a large, hardback book, and is chock full of information and pictures from the amazing movie by Hayao Miyazaki.

This book begins with hundreds of concept sketches by Miyazaki, containing location scenes and characters with notes. The concept sketches go in order of appearance from the movie, so the concept sketches for Sophie come at the beginning, for example, while the concept sketches for Human Turnip show up near the end. There are thousands of gorgeous location scenes as well plus short bios on some of the creators of the movie and a few articles that discuss the creaters' experiences working on the film. Also, at the very end is the complete final screenplay to read through. The screenplay has a few minor changes in it from where the English actors improvised a little (especially Billy Crystal), but otherwise, is exactly from the movie.

Being a student of film and the arts, I found this book extremely helpful and interesting, because it showed the creative process of a huge movie. I would definitely recommend it to any film or arts students to browse through if they wan to get an idea of what kind of work it takes to create such a monumental film!

The only qualm I have with this book is that there were hundreds of screenshots. Not that that's bad, especially if you want to buy this book to revisit the movie, but I would like to have seen a few more sketches and whatnot, or at least a few more articles on how the particular scenes with the screenshots were made.

That aside, I fell in love with this book and was enchanted from front cover to back cover.

This book opens a world of anime art like none other. Primary characters & secondary characters are carefully drawn out and walk through a world & story created for them. As a professional artist, I found great interest in the prelimiary drawings straight through the setting concepts. This is also a great book for fans of the movie. If you loved the movie, you will love this book.

I totally enjoyed the layout and discussion in this book. I have been a Miyazaki fan ever since, "My Neighbor Totoro" which I saw when I lived in Japan. If you relish animation and all the details of this art form, you'll like the format and attention this book gives.

Janine Bolon, Financial Coach, Radio Talk Show Host, author of "Money...It's Not Just for Rich People!" available on amazon. Money...It's Not Just for Rich People!

If you loved the movie, you will love this book, The Art of Howl's Moving Castle it's hard cover, with original sketches, storyboards and the final screenplay!

The book explains every step of the complex story, from the original book adaptation to the final movie. Also have quotes and articles from creators of each process (designers, art directors, supervising animators, etc.) It's like seeing the movie scene by scene with artist commentaries.

Being a great Miyazaki fan I really love this book. Even though majority of the books is filled with movie stills, I love it. I revisit those pictures in the books and get myself lost in the beauty of colors. Also being a student of animation, I really get to learn a lot of things. Character concepts and other drawings are really helpful. I highly recommend this book for anybody who likes stories, animation and colors.

I liked this book, at first it was very confusing and weird. But CC goes deeply into the dynamic characters. The two situations in the book are very realistic and lifelike making the reader either love or hate the story.

Today I just started reading the first story .For most people it would probably make them feel sad but it made me feel confused .It makes you think of life and afterdeath.And you kinda feel for her friend Asparagus because every gets teased and it can make you go insane.

Confidential Confessions is one of the greatest manga of all time because it deals with real issues. You wont find any magic, superheroes, or bishounen in this series. Instead you will read about girls who have to deal with tough issues such as bullying, rape, sexual harassment, drugs, prostitution, stalking, and suicide. I recommend that every teen read Confidential Confessions.

Vol. 1
A strong beginning to an amazing series. The first story in this volume deals with bulling, suicide, while the second story deals with prostitution.

Vol. 2
This entire volume deals sexual harassment and is an awesome follow up the first volume.

Vol. 3
The first story in this volume is great because it explores drugs and some of the reasons why kids take them, however the second story is forgettable and is overshadowed by its predecessors.

Vol. 4
The story in this volume deals with prostitution again but instead of having a protagonist go into prostitution because of bad circumstances, this girl goes into prostitution because she is very materialistic and wants money to buy brand name items. The next story revisits the issue of bullying but in more depth. Both of the stories are remarkable but the next story is (for lack of better terms) lame. It deals with lesbianism but the impact is not hard hitting because the main character seems like a stalker rather than someone who is hiding her true feelings for the same sex.

Vol. 5
This volume treads on the tender issues of rape and AIDS. This volume is magnificent and I believe it should have been the last because of the bittersweet ending.

Vol. 6
This is the weakest of all 6 volumes and is a pathetic and disappointing end to a great yet disturbing series. The first story is about stalking and the second story involves a girl who is transformed from a victim to a bully.

There you have it, the complete mini-guide to Confidential Confessions. Like I said before this is a great manga and should be read by all teens. My only complaint is that this story was meant for the Japanese and so some of the main characters actions wont make sense to Americans (you might say, "what the hell is the matter with them, why don't they speak up for themselves!?)" because the Japanese are much more reserved people who don't like to make trouble for their family of school.

The Confidential Confessions Series is something that every girl or woman should read, manga reader or hater alike. Reiko Momochi has really captured the emotions and degree of each crisis for each character in the series, from dealing with drugs to escape problems, to dealing with sexual harassment from a teacher.

You feel for the each girl in each story, weather its anger for what you feel is a stupid solution for the situation, to sadness because nothing can be done. And with each situation comes a change in the characters involved, it being good or bad depending on what they hold dear. The atmosphere my be a bit dark, but it adds to the seriousness of the situation. But with the darkness is light, in some form or another.

I highly recommend this manga to anyone who wants to read something that can hit close to home.

I would reccomend any book in this series... it delivers a good slice of the shoujo we love in an extremely realistic way with very real problems we all deal with today. Even people who aren't interested in anime would want to take a look at one of these. You don't have to collect them in any particular order becuase the series itself is a collection of short stories. There's a story for everyone... I know that in this particular book I was dumbstruck to see that the story "Forbidden Kiss" hit very close to home... I broke down crying while reading it. The stories seem to have been spread out over a period of time (the art quality fluctuates over stories) but any changes are overlooked as each story captivates and motivates you to make the world right. A must read, pick one up immediately.

This particular volume deals with catalouge prostitution (if anyone knows a proper term for this, tell me. As far as I know it's a strictly Japanese thing), corporal punishment, "hazing" and torment by other students, and a teenage girl in love with her (female) best friend.

Great Book. It's a wonderful comparison of the manga and the Anime as well as a great reference for how each character is developed. Also makes a great picture book for my 2 year old. She sits with daddy and looks at the picturers.

This book has lots of interesting info on all the characters and enemies throughout the first part of this great anime/manga series Inuyasha. It has many full colored pages and director, voice actor,etc, commentary. It also features sketches of important characters and enemies in the series from Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku to Kaede, Seshomaru, Jaken, Yura, Mistress Centipede, and many others. I found the sketches useful for learning how to draw. Anyways, this is definetly a must have for all Inuyasha fans.

First of all, let me say my daughter is a complete InuYahsa addict. :) She loves the serial tale. That said, this book is marvelous! It has drawing examples, story snippets, voice character interviews.... very informative.

Beautifully colored drawings and detailed black and white work.

My only complaint refers to the hardbound version..... The spine of the book broke down the back very quickly and had to be taped. Otherwise the book is very well constructed.

Be aware the book is made to read from back to front in the typical Japanese manga manner. A little difficult for me, but my 9 year old daughter grasped the concept immediately....

Well worth the money for reference value alone.

Other reviewers have given accurate particulars about this volume, and I agree with their high ratings. This book is really a delight and a perfect way to spend a couple hours in Inuyasha bliss. I was incredibly impressed with the color panels from the manga, taken from Shonen Sunday Jump. The beautiful printing job brings out the quality of Takahashi's art, and I find myself going back and studying these pages again and again. There is also a nice section at the beginning (short but sweet) about the difference between manga and animation when it comes to storytelling techniques. As it's been said elsewhere in these reviews, if you're a fan of Inuyasha, this is a must-have. Keep in mind this isn't a voluminous book with tons of text ... you can read the whole thing in just two or three hours. But the art in it, and its A-plus presentation here, offers many more hours of enjoyment and you may, like me, find yourself returning to this book repeatedly and feeling like you've picked it up for the very first time. The art in it is that good.

I am actually over 13 years old , however I didnt want to give my email address out so I said I was younger. This is a great book. I bought it for my 16 year old son and he absolutely LOVES it. He is into drawing japanese animation and this book was a great inspiration. All of his friends who are mostly the same age want to get the book to. I did see it at Borders also , for the same price , and you dont have to pay shipping and handling charges, also you dont have to wait for it to show up. Borders also had a huge selection of other Inuyasha books and other Japanese animation characters.

It was in very good condition, came in a quick amount of time and Was very cheap about half off the retail price, while in the same condition you would find it, in any book store. I was very pleased with the order and if the seller has anything else in future, I would buy from him and suggest to others to buy from this seller.

BESM (Besm): How do I put this? This book is anything every GM, DM, Storyteller, or player could hope for. This book makes any storyline possible, any ability ever imagined can be done, this book is as limitless as the genre its about. Keep in mind this comes at a minor price. This is really not a beginners book into role-playing. Although it does give you a grasp of role playing if you are not used to complicated rolling procedures it shouldnt be used as a game book. If that is the case, it still makes a great resource book for comming up with stories. If you wish to put the time into it to make it your primary book it can be most worth it.

I liked the book it makes it easy to create a rpg based of any kinda anime. The ruels are easy and simple. I've even started applying the weapon flaw rules to my D20 games

Big Eyes Small Mouth has gotten even better.

For those who enjoyed the tweaks made to the 2nd edition, these words may be hard to believe, but trust me, it's true. With the newest edition of their anime-inspired role-playing game system, Mark C. MacKinnon and David Pulver have created what is at once both an incredibly streamlined, simple, and fun game, and also a deeply complex, customizable, and rich gaming experience.

First, the TriStat system, what the original BESM was built on (using the three stats of Body, Mind, and Soul to build a character and make rolls) has been changed to a roll-high rather than roll-low system. Instead of trying to roll under a number, you're now trying roll above it, making the game more intuitive and accessable for afficionados of other games like D&D and GURPS. Most everything else will be similar however. You still get a set number of points with which to buy your stats, collect Attributes and Skills (which have now been more integrated, nixing the need to load up on 6 levels of Highly Skilled in order to have a competent character), and get bonus points with Defects.

The changes made to these standbys are mostly "more of everything." You start out with more points than ever before, so most things cost more. However, you also have a broader spectrum of powerful attributes from which to choose, with effects that you can either customize (creating anything from a powerful magic artifact to a highly-evolved AI in your spy gear) or can leave completely alone if you don't want to fuss with the rules. Constant notes (titled "Keep it Simple") are made throughout the book of ways to streamline the experience to make it less complicated, even allowing for near-diceless playing (by "taking 6" instead of actually rolling).

Combat has been expanded as well, with more Armour options (including expanded Shield mechanics for defense), more information on performing wild stunts (in or out of vehicles), and several tactical options like going all defensive (to gain a bonus by not attacking) or holding your action until triggered by your enemy (allowing you break their stride during an attack). Many elements that used to be seperated are now combined to allow for less confusion (Kensei and Gun Bunny are now all "Combat Techniques," so you Munchkins don't have to spend twice the points to be able to wield both two swords AND two guns), and features like "Targeted" abilities allow you to gain bonuses when facing certain foes with certain weapons.

Magic has also recived an overhaul, with powers being divided into Dynamic Powers or bought individually as abilites (Flight, Mind Control, etc.), or even created using customizable attributes with enhancements, defects, and even some spell and spellcaster templates (Want a targeted beam of holy destruction to smite your enemies? You got it, and if you don't like the example in the book, make up your own).

Additionally, there are more options than ever for items, character classes and races (more than 40 templates are provided for classes and races in 3rd Edition like Half-Orcs, cat-girl Nekojin, Mercenaries, Students, and Demon Hunters), and, most importantly, setting.

Skills now have even more genre options (new examples include Historical: Steampunk, Modern Day: Superhero, and Historical: Ancient Greece/Rome) leading to even more options for customizing the setting of your game. In addition, BESM now has an official setting - the Anime Multiverse, seven interconnected worlds linked by the Cosmic Web and joined by World Gates. Earth is joined by the demon world Bazaroth, the high-fantasy Ikaris, the space-operatic Cathedral, and several others. You could start as a highschool studen on earth and end up as a space pirate rebelling against the Galatic Trade Authority in the Interstellar Diaspora.

Game Masters and players can either absorb all of this information for vast and almost-endlessly complex world-hopping adventures using loosely-canonized plot elements, or can just roll up a few basic characters for a simple game, or literally anything in-between. With BESM 3e, the creators have literally placed all of the power to create as complex or as simple a game in your hands, all using the same intuitive and easy-to learn mechanics and loveable style that made BESM a hit years ago.

So what are you waiting for? There's whole worlds out there to discover.

What can I say Big Eyes, Small mouth was like a gift from the gods. I was over at my brothers place for a weekend and he told me about this game. At that moment I made it my quest to get this book. You see I am a huge Otaku (Anime Fan). Well a roleplaying game that you get to roleplay an anime character well how could I not want to get it. I am also a very big person in RPGs as well I have been role playing for 12 years. Played Vampire, D&D 2ed & 3rd, Kindred of the east, Chtulhu, and others not going to name them all. But this RPG I now love more then all the others. The types of Genres and settings are limitless and the only limit you have is your own imagination. You can play anything from Big giant Mecha battles like you see in Robotech, Macross, and VOLTRON!! All the way to your supernatural horrors to even your fantasy worlds like D&D you could even have a game like Vampire. The Characters aren't limited to Races or classes like most games are. Its a very wonderful game. I recommend anyone who is creative and who loves anime to purchase this book. I even have people who hate anime interested in this game and they enjoy playing it. So buy a copy of this book you won't be disappointed.

I read tons of manga. This has to be one of the all time best stories. The emotions that the characters experience are spot on. There has yet to be one page where you think that a character has done something that does not ring true. I have read all of the volumes in print so far, and can not get enough. Several of the volumes have be re-read more than others. This series will make you laugh, smile, and cry. There is a good mix of different aged people in this series which I think goes to make a more realistic "world". If you are looking for a great series, with several "bishie" boys, give this one a try. I unlike one of the other reviews think that the men in this series are very sexy. One of the villains in this series is so super cute, that it makes it hard to hate this twisted character.

when a great art join a funny characters the story always be good.

Sho Fuwa decided to go to Tokyo to be a "Celebrity" and he asked his childhood friend whom often stays at his family house Kyoko Mogami to come with him, and she accepted since he chosed her among all people, after moving to Tokyo Sho is getting "famous" slowly and he is getting more sullen everyday, Kyoko trying to support him and to understand him since the road to be a star is hard, but once she heard sho talking to other celeb girl and she heard him says that he just sees her as maid and thinks she is ugly and booring and of course she will move her butt to support him since he is the famous Sho Fuwa, she decided to stop beeing with him and otherwise she wanted to beat sho and be a greater star than him, so he beg for mercy someday, she changed her look (its amazing how do girls change their look!) and she started her way to get revange from sho.

its very good story but the guys has very long faces which I hate, otherwise everything is cool, Kyokos revange will need too much work and its seems very hopless, and another character appears Ren is a famous actress that is even sho cant be more cool than him, that Ren works at the same place where Kyoko went to so she got another long face guy to beat

I have been reading this serie way before it was licensed here. I begun reading the Japanese version when volume 7 was just released in Japan, and now there are 14 volumes out so far! I bought them all! So happy. The English version is not, but there are a few error here and there, but still worth purchasing. If you like this work, you might like her other work : Tokyo Crazy Paradise where there are 19 volumes in total. Hopefully that serie gets licensed. While waiting, I am planning to buy the Japanese version.

Also you might like "The Wallflower" (A.k.A Shichi Henge or Perfect Girl Evolution) by Yamato Nadeshiko.

Where to even start? How about with THIS MANGA IS AWESOME! Skip Beat! Volume 1 kicks off a great start to what promises to be an addictive series.

At first, I wasn't sure on buying this manga because of the whole "girl followed childhood friend turned star--childhood friend turned star just using girl--girl finds out and wants to now make it into show biz just to extract her revenge on him." It sounded like a typical and predictable manga plot of revenge that I really had to toy with the idea of buying it on a whim.

But boy, am I glad that I did! It may have the used and reused revenge plot line, but Yoskihi Nakamura makes this plot idea completly atypical!

This manga grabs you with its off beat style and humor, the only complaint I have about it is the way the two lead males are drawn. It's either their faces are too narrow, or that their necks are just too thick. It takes a little getting used to, but Skip Beat! is worth it!

I bought "Skip Beat" after reading a preview chapter in Shojo Beat magazine. I liked the plot and the humor, so I bought it when it came out.

I was expecting plenty of humor, but I got a lot more than that. Kyoko's quest for vengence is hilarious indeed, but the best thing about it is how easy it is to relate. In fact, this is probably why the humor is so good in the first place. It's great to watch Kyoko obsess over getting even because we've all been there. Who hasn't ever wanted to prove her worth to some stupid jerk? And Kyoko's moments of glory are extrememly satisfying. It's like when you argue with someone and can't think of anything brilliant to say until much later. Well, Kyoko gets some really killer lines in at just the right moment. I often find myself laughing maniacally right along with her while I'm reading (which earns me some curious glances from my roommate).

The characters make this manga, especially Kyoko. You can admire her devotion to Sho in the beginning, misguided though it is, and you really sympathize with her anger after she finds out she's been duped. She's strong-willed. She's not perfect and forgiving, and she doesn't go around feeling sorry for herself either. And I also like Ren Tsugara, the biggest celebrity around who has a secret mean streak.

The art is nothing special, but it's appropriate somehow. Kyoko's not especially glamorous, and the guys, though not pretty like in most shojo manga, are tall and dark. I thought the characters' designs all fit their personalities very well.

"Skip Beat" has become one of my favorite manga. A must-read for anyone who has ever been put down, made a fool of, or just wanted to get even.

It has great poster-like images and screen shots, all of high quality. The original art is also superb. If you like Gundam Wing and want some extra art or if you want to draw something from Gundam Wing get this...and the technical manualGundam Technical Manual #1: Gundam Wing cause that thing has ALL the details about the machines and the story leading up to the show.

Hm... I happen to LOVE this book. I own it. Bought it at a different website (animenation.com) with a different cover, but it's the same pictures... And the pictures are great! There were quite a few I hadn't seen before (example 1: the one of Treize and Une's head from the side. example 2: one with both Milliardo and Zechs (Milliardo with his mask on) from the side and a full shot of Noin from the front). The whole thing is layed out very nicely. I give it... *drumroll* Ten out of ten thumbs up! Eh... Right. Anyway...

For all those die-hard Gundam fans who were disappointed with the three-volume manga, this will more than make up for it.

Like the title says, this book displays a collection of pictures -- original ones or screenshots from the anime -- that is, simply, the art of "Gundam Wing." The book does a good job of fairly balancing the pictures of the five pilots as well as other important characters. For those who surf the web a great deal, many of these pictures will be recognized immediately. And many people might also notice that the pictures are a lot crisper, clearer, and cleaner than some found on fansites, which is alone worth the price of the book.

However, there is also a good deal of pictures that have most likely not been found on the internet (although they probably will be soon because of people with scanners and a lot of free time). These pictures heighten the worth of the book, and the fact that they were drawn by the artists who worked on the anime makes it all the more satisfying. After all, where do the original artists take the time to add more of their talent to a collection of already-beautiful artwork?

All in all, there was only once complaint I had, and that was that the book was a little short. The book is only about 96 pages of art, with a brief interview with the artists. Despite this setback, the book is definately a must-have for anyone who's ever enjoyed the artwork and wants to gloss over it for days on end. Try and say something like that about "Pokemon"!

This is a really great thing to buy for any GW fan. The artwork is beautifull.....amazing.....there aren't enough good words to describe it.....I'm very happy that I bought it.....

This is a great book! It's worth the money! If you know Gundam like I do then you'll love this book. It has pictures from the Endless Waltz as well as some from the earlier movies. The pictures are very colorful and quite creative. Each character is given a few pages of pictures. If you are familiar with the pics on the trading cards, they're there too! Also the covers of the movies are included. I highly reccomend this book to anyone seeking help on drawing the Gundam Wing characters or just looking for a peice to add to their collection!

"Genshiken" is a comic for the Super-Otaku. The references are obscure, the characters sometimes talk in quotes from favorite shows, and the Cosplay flows like fine wine. It is quite possible that I am not geeky enough, but it is still a wacky ride.

Drawn from the pages of "Afternoon," the fan magazine/comic book that is considered the most otaku of otaku magazines in Japan, "Genshiken" tells the tale of a group of misfits who pretend to study "Modern Visual Culture" (thus the name "Genshiken," taken from Gendai Shikaku Bunka Kenkyukai). Pretend to study, because they mainly sit around playing video games and trading porn mags.

Providing the story conflict are Kanji Sasahara, a new-comer who is not quite sure if he is an otaku or not and takes tentative steps towards his new lifestyle, and Saki Kasukabe, a typical "cool Japanese girl" who can't stand the fact that her handsome and stylish boyfriend, Makoto Kohsaka, is a complete and utter otaku. They disrupt the ordered lifestyle of the Genshiken Club, providing some much-needed chaos and hijinks for the nerdy crew.

A guided tour through Japanese otaku lifestyle, the Genshiken takes the neophyte Kanji to all the hotspots, like Akihaibara the electric town, and Comic Fest, the massive otaku convention for shopping and cosplay, They explain in detail each step of otakudom, educating the reader at the same time.

The story is a bit slow to begin with, but picks up when Saki arrives. She brings a much-needed female presence into the mix, and provides the anti-otaku stance. A later addition, cosplay fanatic Kanako Ohno, also livens it up with some sex appeal.

There are no flying robots, fiery dragons, or space aliens in this one, rather Genshiken is about a select group of boring people with boring stories to tell. So why five stars? It is only that these boring stories are brought to us in the most kind and personable way, like a meal of white bread, served on a silver platter by the quirkiest waitress you ever did see. In the end, it was a fabulous dinner. Genshiken uses slight humor, slight romance, and a lot of good art. Highly recommended!

This is the funniest thing I think I've ever read!
There's no cheesy sci-fi/fantasy stuff or day dreaming girls trying to get married. The situations are realistic, which makes them even funnier. If you've every dated a super dorky guy or find that you're spending your free time watching anime (almost exclusively), you'll really enjoy this manga.

I seriously don't understand why more of you haven't read this book. It features one of the best and most memorable cast of characters in a manga that I have ever read. If you yourself are an otaku, this manga has at least one character you will find yourself saying,"Hey! Thats me!"

We start with a student, Kanji Sasahara, who is a shy young otaku, off at college. While searching through potential clubs to join, he finds the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, aka, Genshiken. It takes some prodding from a member of the club, but he eventually joins this club after feeling a sort of bond with the other members.

Through out this manga, we are introduced to several different characters, Tanaka, a cosplayer. Madarame, a military sort of otaku, Kousaka, definately doesn't fit the traditional "look," of an otaku, but his interests are in the right place. Finally, his girlfriend, Saki, who absolutely hates his okatu-ism, but you see her becoming more and more sympathetic towards it as time goes by.

All in all, I would have to say this is one of the best purchases I have made, and I eagerly antcipate the fourth volume.

Kanji Sasahara decides to join Genshiken, which is a club that deals with anima, manga, cosplay and video games. It happens to be his long standing dream to join a otaku club.
Saki Kasukabe's long standing dream is to get her boyfriend to act normal. But he joins the same club also.
Saki now has to chase Makoto around, from various activities to comic conventions, from video gaming to collecting figures.
I have volumes one to three and plan to collect any more that come out. There is tons of humor, but also lots of serious themes about art, relationships, S&M, porn, and what a otaku really is. Very much only for adults. Frankly, Age 16 seems too low a rating to me. Bonus material in each book.