General Questions / Identifying Anime.

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[ATTN] General Anime Questions

Why is there always a "Watch anime in a well-lit room and do not sit too close to your TV!" message at the beginning of every anime? Is there some kind of law in Japan that requires all TV shows have this warning?
 
General Anime Questions

How is hentai sold in Japan? I mean here it is sold in porn stores, or in the back of music/dvd stores. I guess I am interested in, if I am a typical Japanese male, what should I expect if I want to get the latest hentai? Atmosphere?

Also, are Japans censure laws still active today? I.e. do they still mosaic everything? I find this odd since they have shrines to penises that are uncensured and accurate.

I would provide links for the shrine, but I think that might be inappropriate.
 
[ATTN] General Anime Questions

The million dollar question: "where do I buy legal (R1) anime online?"

Deep Discount DVD
Suncoast
Best Buy
Robert's Anime Corner Store
Anime Nation
The Right Stuff International
Tower Records
FYE

And if you happen to be looking for an import R2 DVD

CD Japan

All of these sites have various prices and specials so remember to shop around, buy in bulk, and avoid bootlegs!

Emerje
 
Anime that references Okinawa

Not an anime, but a manga:

IO, by Koio Minato.

More or less the entire series takes place on Okinawa, with occasional forays to the home islands and other places (e.g. South America). It's a very nice manga if you like mysteries, diving and scantily-clad women -- and don't we all?

- abunai
 
Anime that references Okinawa

Not an anime, but a manga:

IO, by Koio Minato.

More or less the entire series takes place on Okinawa, with occasional forays to the home islands and other places (e.g. South America). It's a very nice manga if you like mysteries, diving and scantily-clad women -- and don't we all?

- abunai
 
Anime that references Okinawa

Also not an anime (but almost sure to be at some point):

Yotsubato! - Asagi goes to Okinawa on a trip and brings back plenty of souvenirs.
 
[ATTN] General Anime Questions

Wolverine Princess said:
Why is there always a "Watch anime in a well-lit room and do not sit too close to your TV!" message at the beginning of every anime? Is there some kind of law in Japan that requires all TV shows have this warning?
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Yes, there is a reason for it. It was all because of the one infamous episode of Pokemon that caused a bunch of Japanese children to get seizures. 685 children were affected. Since that episode, the message started appearing in most anime. I don't think it's a law, it's mainly just a safety precation I think. I don't see it in a lot of the newer anime that have came out so I don't think it's a law. More information on the Pokemon episode here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_episodes_of_Pok%C3%A9mon#Electric_Soldier_Porygon
 
General Anime Questions

Did the "pinky promise" ritual that kids do when they're serious about keeping a promise originate in Japan? I've noticed is a lot in anime, and cultural notes for a fansub said it did. (I'm not so trusting of that, though, since the fansub that came from pluralized words with an apostrophe+s.)
 
[ATTN] General Anime Questions

Toboe06 said:
Generally, how much do they edit from the original Japanese animations, such as dubs and the likes?
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If it's released on DVD directly, there is no editing.

In some cases, the Japanese DVD release will be altered to include more violence or nudity than the Japanese TV broadcasts will allow (yes, there is censorship in Japan).

Sometimes, the Japanese companies will even change footage for sale overseas.

Fansub groups use whatever source is available to them, which might be DVDs, the TV broadcast, or some other set of footage. As such, they may have different video or audio than the official American release.. and sometimes this leads to a perceived difference between the "Japanese" and "American" releases, and some fans will blame American licensors for those changes. The truth is oftentimes much more complex than fans make it out to be.

If a title is showing on TV, then consider what the target demographic is: If it's for children, odds are it will receive greater editing ("Americanization") so that it will appeal to a wider audience. Shows on Fox Kids and KidsWB tend not to receive uncut releases later (although exceptions exist).

If it's aimed at more mature audiences (tweens, teens, and young adults) odds are increasingly good that an uncut release either is already available, or will be available in the near future.

In addition to the target demographics, the ACTUAL demographics play a part; a show with a large 18+ audience, even if aimed at 9-11 year olds, will be more likely to receive an uncut release.

When editing DOES occur, it depends highly on the target audience, as well as the actual audience. Each channel also has different standards, and so what might be found acceptable on Fox may not be acceptable for the same demographics on Cartoon Network (or vice-versa).
 
Anime that references Okinawa

I'm relatively new to manga (I've only bought one volume of Princess Tutu for my kid and just recently subsribed to Shoujo Beat 8O ) but I have heard of Yotsubato! I think I'll pick that one up!

@abunai, is the IO manga available in the US? Where could I get it? Also, can someone tell me what 'tankoubon' means? I suppose it means 'volume', but it's not in the lexicon.
 
Identifying Anime

Ah, Emerje beats me. We need some rules and recommendations for this sticky thread.

Please provide as much information as you can:
  1. Approximate time and place you watched this title. If it was on TV, airing hour is appreciated.
  2. Video format. Was it on TV, in a movie theater, or on a video? If it's video-based, was it VHS or DVD?
  3. Audio and/or subtitle language(s).
  4. A brief description of the story, including its genre and background settings.
  5. Data on protagonist(s). Name, age, gender, race, most and least favorite(s), equipments, etc.
  6. Anything else distinctive and special enough that you've never seen in other anime titles, like mascots, special abilities, special equipments, martial art styles, etc.
As for rules, please note the following:
  1. ALWAYS include a short quotation from the poster you are answering to, no matter whether you are providing a possible answer, a thank for a correct answer, or a thank but sorry for an incorrect one. After posts accumulate in this thread, no one would be able to tell which question you are answering if you don't include a quote.
  2. Be courteous. Everyone here is willing to provide assistance, yet no one is obligated to help you. Don't be discouraged if no one could answer your question.
  3. No "I don't know" reply. If you have some clue but are not sure, give a range of titles and ask the original poster for specific additional information you need.
 
Anime that references Okinawa

Also not an anime (but almost sure to be at some point):

Yotsubato! - Asagi goes to Okinawa on a trip and brings back plenty of souvenirs.
 
General Anime Questions

Wolverine Princess said:
Did the "pinky promise" ritual that kids do when they're serious about keeping a promise originate in Japan? I've noticed is a lot in anime, and cultural notes for a fansub said it did. (I'm not so trusting of that, though, since the fansub that came from pluralized words with an apostrophe+s.)
Click to expand...
There are some Japan-specific chants involved with it -- subtitles will often "lie" and say things like "cross my heart, hope to die," but what they often say is, "If it's broken, you have to swallow 1000 needles."
 
General Anime Questions

Dargonxtc said:
Also, are Japans censure laws still active today? I.e. do they still mosaic everything? I find this odd since they have shrines to penises that are uncensured and accurate.

I would provide links for the shrine, but I think that might be inappropriate.
Click to expand...

I don't, so here's a link to the Hounen Matsuri, at Tagata Jinja in Komaki.

- abunai
 
In episode five of Wind ~A Breath of Heart~, Hikari was doing a very bizarre dance. She was dressed in a traditional Miko outfit and was twirling around in circles with a paper fan, stamping her feet on the floor. Then she made a few "wax-on, wax-off" swirly motions with her hands. Is this some kind of traditional Japanese dance, or was it just something the creators made up specifically for this series?
 
Anime that references Okinawa

I'm relatively new to manga (I've only bought one volume of Princess Tutu for my kid and just recently subsribed to Shoujo Beat 8O ) but I have heard of Yotsubato! I think I'll pick that one up!

@abunai, is the IO manga available in the US? Where could I get it? Also, can someone tell me what 'tankoubon' means? I suppose it means 'volume', but it's not in the lexicon.
 
General Anime Questions

Gemini Angel said:
There is a gesture that I see in anime sometimes where the person flaps their hand up and down like they're waving. What does it mean? Some example are Natsumi in the first episode(?) of Get Backers while saying to Ban and Ginji Not to worry about not getting fed, she'll take care of them.; and Kaorin in the first Sports Day episode of Azumanga Daioh, I think she might be saying something like don't worry. I'm guessing it means something along that line.
Click to expand...
It's sort of an Asian thing. In the west, most people wave their hands with their palms facing up when gesturing to "come here" or whatever of the sort.

From my personal experience, the Asian people I've been around do it in reverse with the palms of their hands facing down and doing the motion.

It might not necessarily mean "come here" all the time. I've done the same thing, but meant something more in the lines of a sweeping motion, as in "ha ha, I'm so confident about what I just said that I'm symbolically brooming that statement with nonchalance, now get outta' here" :P.

I don't know, I guess it just depends on the person. Oh, and I am Asian by the way, just so you know ;).
 
General Anime Questions

abunai said:
I don't, so here's a link
Click to expand...
Was just trying to be cautious.

Ok then, this is where I got this from. English is not the authors native language. Not work safe. Not porn either, just a Japanese english blog.

I would still like any info on original questions.
 
Anime that references Okinawa

-gecko- said:
I'm relatively new to manga (I've only bought one volume of Princess Tutu for my kid and just recently subsribed to Shoujo Beat 8O ) but I have heard of Yotsubato! I think I'll pick that one up!
Click to expand...
Do that -- it's a fine series, the latest and best work by one of the finest mangakas.

-gecko- said:
@abunai, is the IO manga available in the US? Where could I get it? Also, can someone tell me what 'tankoubon' means? I suppose it means 'volume', but it's not in the lexicon.
Click to expand...
I don't think so. I first became aware of IO through scanlations, and I've been buying it direct from Japan (the language is not a problem).

Yes, 単行本 (tankoubon) is more or less the equivalent of "volume". Specifically, it's a compilation of manga, usually by the same author, and usually from the same series. Most manga are published in serialized form, remember, and tankoubons represent the normal way to buy them in collected form, as volumes.

The volume thing is partially artificial, of course, since the serialized chapter form is the "natural" form. Though some mangaka (e.g. Mori Kaoru) may plan their chapter contents so that each compiled volume ends on a dramatic high point (a "cliffhanger"), others don't, taking the story chapter-by-chapter.

- abunai
 
Anime that references Okinawa

Just my two cents supplementing abunai's words of wisdom:

abunai said:
Though some mangaka (e.g. Mori Kaoru) may plan their chapter contents so that each compiled volume ends on a dramatic high point (a "cliffhanger"), others don't, taking the story chapter-by-chapter.
Click to expand...
That's why publishers might release repaginated versions, such as the smaller bunkoban/bunkobon (文庫版/文庫本), often without the title page of each chapter, making reading experience less interrupted. More info can be found at [i]tankoubon[/i]'s Wikipedia entry.
 
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