| The Anime and Manga Portal
Anime (アニメ?) refers to the animation style originated in Japan. It is characterized by distinctive characters and backgrounds (hand-drawn or computer-generated) that visually and thematically set it apart from other forms of animation. Storylines may include a variety of fictional or historical characters, events, and settings. Anime is aimed at a broad range of audiences and consequently, a given series may have aspects of a range of genres. Anime is most frequently broadcast on television or sold on DVDs either after their broadcast run or directly as original video animation (OVA). Console and computer games sometimes also feature segments or scenes that can be considered anime. Manga (漫画?) is Japanese for "Comics" or "Whimsical images". Manga developed from a mixture of ukiyo-e and Western styles of drawing, and took its current form shortly after World War II. Manga, apart from covers, is usually published in black and white but it is common to find introductions to chapters to be in color and is read from right to left. Financially, manga represented in 2005 a market of ¥24 billion in Japan and one of $180 million in the United States.[1] Manga was the fastest growing segment of books in the United States in 2005. Anime and manga share many characteristics, including: "exaggerated physical features such as large eyes, big hair and elongated limbs... and dramatically shaped speech bubbles, speed lines and onomatopoeic, exclamatory typography."[2] Some manga, a small amount of the total output, is adapted into anime, often with the collaboration of the original author. Computer games can also give rise to anime. In such cases, the stories are often compressed and modified to fit the format and appeal to a wider market.[3] Popular anime franchises sometimes include full-length feature films, and some have been adapted into live-action films and television programs. .hack//Sign (trademarked as .hack//SIGN) is an anime television series directed by Kōichi Mashimo and produced by studio Bee Train and Bandai Visual, that makes up one of the four original storylines of the .hack franchise. Twenty six original episodes aired on TV and three additional bonus episodes ( Intermezzo, Unison, and Gift) were released on DVD as OVAs. [1] The series features character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, known for his work on Evangelion, [2] and screenplay by Kazunori Ito, who penned Ghost in the Shell. [3] The score was composed by Yuki Kajiura, marking her second collaboration with Kōichi Mashimo. [4] .hack//Sign is influenced by psychological and sociological subjects such as anxiety, escapism, and interpersonal relationships.[5][6] The series focuses on a Wavemaster (magic user) named Tsukasa, a player character of a virtual-reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) called The World. Tsukasa wakes up to find himself in a dungeon in The World, but he has no recent recollections as he wonders where he is and how he got there. The situation gets worse when he discovers he is not able to log out and is trapped in the game. From then on, along with other players Tsukasa embarks on a quest to figure out the truth behind his abnormal situation. Sailor Jupiter (セーラージュピター, Sērā Jupitā?) is one of the central characters in the Sailor Moon metaseries. Her real name is Makoto Kino (木野 まこと, Kino Makoto?, or Lita in the English versions), a strong schoolgirl who can transform into one of the series' specialized heroines, the Sailor Senshi. Sailor Jupiter is the third member of the Sailor Team to be discovered by Sailor Moon, and serves as the "muscles" of the group.[7] In addition to being physically tough, she is able to manipulate electricity and uses some plant-based powers. Her friends rarely use her full given name, normally shortening it to Mako-chan. Aside from the main body of the Sailor Moon series, Makoto features in her own manga short story, Mako's Depression. A number of image songs featuring her character have been released as well, including the contents of three different CD singles.[8] The episodes of the D.Gray-man anime are based on the manga series of the same name written by Katsura Hoshino. They are directed by Osamu Nabeshima and produced by Densetsu, TMS Entertainment, Aniplex and TV Tokyo. TMS Entertainment produced the animation and Aniplex was responsible for the music production.[9] The plot of the episodes follows the adventures of Allen Walker, an exorcist that wields the power of "Innocence" in order to fight against the Earl of Millennium, an ancient sorcerer seeking to destroy the world with monsters called Akuma. The episodes began airing on October 3, 2006 in Japan on TV Tokyo.[9] The first season of the anime, known as the "1st stage", aired for 51 episodes, finishing its run on September 25, 2007. The second season, known as the "2nd stage", began airing on October 2, 2007, and finished its run on September 30, 2008, lasting 52 episodes.[10] The English adaptation of the series has been licensed by Funimation, and the first season of the anime is set to air in the beginning of 2009.[11][12] Twelve pieces of theme music are used for the episodes: four opening themes and eight closing themes. Singles have been released of the individual songs, and two original soundtracks, each containing tracks of the series' theme music, have been released on March 21, 2007 and December 19, 2007 respectively.[13] |
