Anime Essentials: Every Thing a Fan Needs to Know

by Gilles Poitras

What makes Japanese animation Japanese? What are the top, not-to-be-missed films? Who’s got the anime goods? What’s it all mean anyway? Answering just about every question a fan (or curious parent) has, Anime Essentials is an easy-to-read and fun-to-look-at overview of the pop culture phenomenon sweeping America. It discusses the major players, where to get your anime fix, otaku (devoted fan) etiquette, how to run an anime club (and get pre-release screenings!), how to "talk" anime to outsiders, and lots more of interest both to veterans and newcomers.

One of the New York Public Libary's 2001 Books for the the Teen Age List. "Overall, this book opens its welcoming arms wide to newcomers, so that more people can enjoy anime's story qualities, human element and cinematic, artistic effects. A valuable book!" -- Protocultue Addicts "For the anime beginner, this is a great place to start." -- Dreamwatch

Genres: Nonfiction, Anime, Japan

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ruri Gokou · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. If you are living in the year 2000. In today's age you are better off just checking out Wikipedia. Since Anime Essentials just skims 1% of the anime genre as a whole. It's quite biased too. The book ignores crap anime that was produced and says all anime is an Akira or on par with American films.

If you've been watching anime for the past 15 years or more then you probably won't learn anything new. The short list of anime recommendations in the back is worth looking at. Quite a few from the 90s I haven't see yet.

Also I just wanted to scream every time he used the word chara (キャラ) instead of character.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather unfortunately out-of-date guide to a fast-moving subject which has positively exploded in the past few years. Although not without the occasional nugget of wisdom, fans would be better off looking out for guides published much more recently.

[Melia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative if living in year 2000. Its still a good place to start, plus he's local to the bay area

[Monani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is undeabledy very well.

[Michael Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m too old to have discovered Japanese manga and anime in my youth, but I’ve made up for that the past few years. Being interested in Japanese culture and literature generally, I had some understanding of why anime is the way it is, and why it’s so much different from American or European graphic art, but reading this well-written book, I found there was a great deal I had missed. Poitras writes from the fan’s point of view, so he knows what questions he should be addressing -- everything from the “big eye” mania, to the difference between hentai and mainstream manga, to the nervousness among the U.S. morals police about “foreign” art, to actually setting up and publicizing a fan group, plus the ins and outs of model kits, imported publications, and so on. There’s also an excellent rundown of recommended anime titles and series, which I’ve photocopied as a checklist. This book doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, but it’s a good place to start.

[Marjanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a good starter book for anyone who is an Anime fan or interested (generally) in Anime. I mostly picked it up at the library because I have a distant interest in Anime (mostly for the cultural aspects). However, I did not feel that this book got me any more interested in Anime than I already am (which is not a lot). Anyhow, probably a good place to start if you are interested.

[Scott Gillespie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good introduction to the big-eyed world of Anime and its fans. Most aspects and genres are touched upon briefly.

[Jesselyn]

Now this is more like it. If you're looking for a complete history and backround on anime, this is it.