Import Explosion

AnimeNation receives shipments from our Japanese suppliers all the time, but it’s not every shipment that delivers an abundance of exciting new items worth bringing attention to. Yesterday’s shipment, however, was one of those bountiful shipments. Here’s a look at some of the new books I bought for myself. Maybe you’ll find one or more of them tempting also!

The little known 2005 anime film Arashi no Yoru Ni (Stormy Night) is a severly under appreciated gem from veteran director Gisaburo Sugii (Night on the Galactic Railroad, Street Fighter II). The flick rises to the height of its potential as a “fox and hound” style family film by being especially intelligent, tragic, touching, and not condescending at all. The Arashi no Yori Ni This Is Animation Official Guide Book features extensive behind-the-scenes, voice actor and staff commentary, character profiles, story guide, and a lot more.

Manga fans that have been keeping current with the cutting edge anthology Robot Super Color Comic will certainly be familiar with Shigeki Maeshima’s awesome sci-fi serial about stylish sword and gun wielding holy assassins in a dystopian future. The stunning 167 page full color Dragon Fly volume 1 manga contains a thoroughly extended version of the sexy and bloody “super action” story, along with exclusive illustrations and other suplements.

Besides all the gar robot action and manly passion in Gurren Lagann, one of the very best parts of the show was the lovely sniper Yoko. The gorgeous 64 page full color Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Yoko Photo Album contains 35 pages of sweet and sexy Yoko illustrations, many of them never released elsewhere, plus Gurren Lagann character guides, an extended profile of all of Yoko’s costumes, appearances, and equipment seen in the show, an “interview” with her, a gallery of Yoko statues and figures, a gallery of memorable “Yoko” moments from the TV series, and even bonus Yoko illustration cards!

In 2006, Ryosuke Takahashi, the acclaimed creator of Votoms, SPT Layzner, Gasaraki, and Flag, turned his attention to the samurai era, creating the amazing but largely overlooked supernatural action drama series Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto. This spectacular show had all of Takahashi’s signature complexity, and its frequent action scenes were often goosebump inducing. The Irohanihoheto Materials Collection is a stellar illustration guide that includes a lush illustration gallery, extensively illustrated character profiles, a generous episode guide, and more. This book is really what all anime series guide/illustration books ought to be!

I also purchased a personal copy of adult manga artist Hyji’s latest book Cho Danchizuma Keiko, since Hyji is one of my favorite erotic manga artists, and this book is one of his best, but in order to keep this post “clean,” I’ll say no more.