Long Term Plans
If Manga's collection is going for fewer gross-outs and more female points of view, it will achieve an identity distinct from Spike and Mike's. Cox is aiming for a more international flavor and a wider release that will make her festival "less of a cult thing" than that of her former boss. She sees the theatrical market as big enough for the both of them, plus several others. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a couple of compilations a year to choose from?" she said. For her, "adult" doesn't just equal "shocking and perverse." For Manga's collections, Cox envisions an audience that's less exclusively male, and more equally composed of women and couples. In fact, acting as a "teaser" in front of General Chaos is Quest, the Academy Award winning short from Tyron Montgomery and Thomas Stellmach, which will be showcased in a later all ages show entitled Art Gallery. Bringing a more diverse selection of films into the mainstream American marketplace is surely something we should all support.

However, my overall verdict of this show? Not bad for a first outing. Spike has had twenty years to get his act together (and even it's still pretty uneven!). So, good luck, Manga Entertainment. I'm looking forward to a stronger selection next time around.

General Chaos: Uncensored Animation is now touring theaters around the country. For more information call 1-888-4MANGA1. General Chaos will be released on video in September 1998 by Manga Entertainment.

Mark Segall has won awards for labor journalism and public service copywriting. He co-authored How To Make Love To Your Money (Delacorte, 1982) with his wife, Margaret Tobin. He is also editor of ASIFA-East's aNYmator newsletter.