Gokaza, a content provider specialized in J-pop culture, has announced the release of the two-DVD documentary HELLO ANIME! The DVD delivers a firsthand look at the dawn of anime in America, the rise of the otakus, the anime Internet community, anime in Hollywood films like KILL BILL and THE MATRIX and the Japanization of America. In 19 exclusive interviews, the pioneers who defined the movement talk about their personal success stories and reveal the inside scoop on anime.
Filmmakers Manuel Stagars and Georg Fick followed the anime movement for one year. In trips to Tokyo, San Francisco, Hollywood and various conventions, they garnered exclusive interviews with anime pioneers, artists, animators, designers and entrepreneurs, altogether more than two hours of personal inside knowledge about Japan's most successful cultural export. Manuel is a music producer and director with a long time affiliation to Japanese pop culture. Georg is a filmmaker and cinematographer with a passion for all things animation.
HELLO ANIME! boasts a second disc of interviews with the titans of the billion-dollar industry, including VIZ Media, Bandai America, Tokyopop, ADV Films and Geneon. The marketing executives reveal in interviews the future trends of anime and describe the rising power of the fans.
HELLO ANIME! is available for $17.99 at www.hello-anime.com and Amazon.com
List of interviews on the set:Disc 1:Cindy Yamauchi, (AKIRA, RANMA, FINAL FANTASY, JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE)Masahiro Kimura (VIDEO GIRL AI, BATTLE ANGEL ALITA, CHOBITS, GUNGRAVE)Scott Haile (SEGA, Sanrio, ATARI, Sony)Masanori Shino (INUYASHA, GUNGRAVE, GUNDAM, SOL BIANCA)Marlon Schulman (Bandai America, Gundam, Saber Marionette J)Elaine Clark (JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE, SAIKANO)Tak Tsurukawa (owner Mikado Anime Shop)Hiromi Makepeace (Saikano, Maison Ikkoku)Tatsuya Hayashi (Domo Records, soundtracks STEAMBOY, METROPOLIS)
Disc 2:Anthony Jiwa (VIZ Media, director of marketing home video & publishing)Mike Kiley (Tokyopop, vp, editor-in-chief)Darold Higa (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, chairman AX 2005)David Williams (ADV Films, producer, director)Evelyn Dubocq (VIZ Media, director public relations)Peter Payne (owner J-List.com)Jim Yardley (Geneon, vp sales North America)Liza Coppola (VIZ Media, vp marketing/ sales, publishing/home video)Vince Sam (AAA Anime, distributor)Yumi Hoashi (VIZ Media, vp magazines)
Gokaza is a new company founded in 2005 in Venice, California. For more information, visit www.gokaza.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
