Japanese Anime
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Anime stands for animation -- or as its more commonly referred to in the States -- cartoons. In Japan, there are three main types of anime -- TV series, OAVs, and Movies.
TV Series are pretty much what they sound like. Many are actually based on stories from manga (Japanese comics). Most series tend to range anywhere from 26 episodes to a 100 plus. Some are even made with a definite beginning, middle, and end in mind.
OAV stands for Original Animation Video. This type of anime is normally released directly to the video stores. They tend to be more detailed in workmanship and visual quality because they normally have a higher budget than anything developed for television. A few could be thought of as works of art on their own!
Movies for anime are usually productions that appear in the theaters. Normally, the movie will be based on anime that has been or still is a series on television.
Anime Magazines
There are a wide variety of magazines that deal with information exclusively on anime. The main three usually available are Animage, Animedia, and Newtype. All three are monthly magazines. Animage and Animedia give information pertaining mostly to television series; both even contain TV listings of all the anime playing, what day and time, plus the name of the particular episode as well as the episode number. Newtype, on the other hand, tends more toward OAV's. It unlike the other two, also will give character and vehicle designs for upcoming series and OAV's. All three tend to have posters, cards, or other knick knacks as presents to their readers inside.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to get a subscription to one or more of these magazines by going through a local Japanese Grocer. There are also anime and manga specializing stores in some major cities that will carry them as well. Currently, there are also a number of magazines that are being published in the United States and Britain that are catering to the growing interest for Japanese anime and manga. Your local comic book store might very well carry these!
Another avenue available for fans out there is what are called Amateur Press Associations or APA's. These APA's represent people who have gotten together on a common interest and now share their work with other be it songs, stories, thoughts, or even translations of their favorite manga and anime.
APA's are a great way to get to know others with the same interests and provides an open format to keep involved.
APA's are normally a collection of sections, called tribs, sent in by the 15 to 25 contributors. The OE collects these tribs and collates them and then is responsible for sending them out to the members. Members in turn send in money to the OE for their mailing accounts to cover the postage of mailing the APA to them. Once the APA is received the members will read through it and provide comments and input, which they will use to form up part of their next trib. APA's are normally collated for distribution on either quarterly or three times a year, depending on the charter of the particular APA.
For more general information on Anime, please visit Rei's Anime and Manga Page
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