In this issue:

~ Editorial
~ Anime Video Review of the Month
~ Anime News
~ Game Review
~ What/Where/Who on Anime Online
~ FanFic Stories

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   E D I T O R I A L
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     Well here we are with the fifth issue. Each issue's format is getting more and more familiar to us. We are not struggling as much when trying to find information. So needless to say we are able to bring you more and more information on anime each month. But let us know what you think.

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     Here you can find back issues of the news letter and other things as well. Such as fan fics and art work as well (well... when get that stuff in that is). Here you can find the links to other sites out there that will help you find the things you need.
     I just wanted everyone to remember that this site is there for you. If you want something to add onto the anime web site let me know and I will get it up there as fast as possible. So feel free to send in those requests to bink@main.com.
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     Pokemon is sweeping the nation....it seems that you can't go anywhere with out seeing something about Poke`mon. Go to the store and you see the games, both card and video, along with toys, and that is just at Wal-Mart. If you're lucky enough to have an Anime store in your area then most likely they're going to have a large selection of Poke`mon stuff, granted that they are imports. Which unlike Wal-Mart, these Poke`mon toys are from Japan. On top of all that for a short time you could get stuffed toys from Kentucky Fried Chicken, although they were not the popular ones but hey it was Poke mon none the less.
     On TV this anime phenomenon reaches a huge number of people from little kids to high school students as well as to college students and adults. It is very impressive that this anime is sweeping the nation faster than any anime before. Not only is it a popular anime and toy line but it's sweeping the nation in a faster way then any anime before it. Recently News Week ran an article on Poke`mon. This magazine reaches 3 million readers, spreading this anime phenomenon even more. Also, Wizard (which for those that don't know is the comic's source of what's hot and price guide) reports that the first issue of Poke mon is the 7th best seller and will go up from there with people trying to find more of the issues. Once again, this is amazing since cartoons have a very low sell rate when it is made into a comic book the best sales usually steams from little kids buying it. But Poke`mon #1 was a complete sell out very hard to find now.
     So Poke`mon is the center of attention. Is this a good thing for anime? By all means this is about as good for the anime world then anything before it. This is a way of showing the people out there that anime is more than nudity and violence. It is going to show that anime can be very endearing.
     In the late 80s when Robotech was on the air it reached a limited audience mainly college students that saw it as something more than American Saturday morning cartoons. But even at the height of its popularity, it was nothing more of a cult classic. It was college students that lived and breathed Robotech that played the games, collected the toys, videos and waited breathlessly for the new episodes. But it was never close to what Poke`mon is today. Even as popular as Sailor Moon was in the 90's it still cannot compare to the sweeping popularity of Poke`mon.
     So why is it that Poke`mon is so popular? It could be that the characters are cute without being too cute. It could be that it shows kids that are doing something that everyone wants to do being on there own and making a success out of them selves. Who knows what it is that makes it so popular, it just is.
     But will it stand the test of time? There have been several cartoons on American television that have started out strong only to end in endless re-runs without the hope of ever seeing another new episode again. Only time will tell.

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By: Sailor Pikachu

     I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. Even though it is associated with Sailor Moon R, the second season of Sailor Moon, it could have happened at anytime. Anyway, this movie starts out with Usagi (Serina) introducing the other girls, both in their everyday forms and their Sailor Senshi forms, definitely making it easier for new people to watch Sailor Moon.
     During the credits, the girls, along with Chibi-Usa (Rini), meet up with Mamoru (Darien) at the Botanical Gardens. While there, Mamoru has a flashback to when he was child. He is saying goodbye to a friend on a rooftop. The friend is named Fiore (Subbed Fiole), and he meets up with Mamoru at the Gardens. When Usagi tries to introduce herself, Fiore pushes her down and threatens Mamoru.
     Meanwhile, Artemis has discovered that a meteor of a sort is about to hit Earth. The girls aren't sure what to make of it until they find the streets of Tokyo overrun with flowers. After battling, the Scouts find that they need to discover the source of these energy absorbing flowers, for the sake of Earth.
     Despite this basic synopsis, I haven't even begun telling the story yet. The plot takes many twists and turns on the way to the intense conclusion. The music is, as usual, fitting to what is going on and adds another element to the tension of the story. The only problems I found with the movie, at least with my copy, is that the subtitles did not exactly match, such as the Fiole example earlier or with the names of the powers used. Also, there is a little casual swearing, but nothing truly offensive. Overall, on a scale of 1 to 5 Sailors, I would give this a four, only because I have yet to see the S and SS movies, which you will see reviews for soon!

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A N I M E * N E W S
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Poke mon was featured on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition this Saturday 3/6/99:

Listen to it out with Real Audio at:
www.npr.org/ramfiles/wesat/19990306.wesat.04.ram

Kids are clearly more clued in than their parents!

This is a thorough introduction to the exploding Poke mon phenomenons - tell your friends and web rings about it, as well as Viz's new videos & comics.

Oliver Chin
Director of Sales and Marketing
Viz

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Viz Comics have hit the mainstream!
The new 3/1/99 issue of Newsweek (p. 48) reports "It's a Poke mon Planet!"

     Newsweek has finally given Pikachu the coverage he deserves and prominently features Viz's Comics Poke mon #1 (now a collector's item - Wizard Magazine rates it the 7th most sought after comic in America)! Newsweek reaches 3 million readers, and this story is the latest step in spreading the Pokemon phenomenon.
     The New York Times last week noted that www.pokemon.com was the 2nd most highly visited site in 12/98 among kids 2-11! Of course www.viz.com and www.j-pop.com are the next step for fans to learn about the newest Poke mon comics and videos.

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Last week, Pokemon were featured in Newsweek magazine.

This week, the New Yorker magazine (3/8/99) has featured Pikachu on the cover (as one of the prizes at a carnival shooting gallery)!

Everyone is getting in on the act! Therefore we've sold out most of our Pokemon comics but are reprinting them as fast as we can:

Pokemon
ISSUE	EDITION	DATE SHIPPING TO STORES
#1 #2 #3 #4	4th printing 3rd printing 2nd printing 2nd printing	3/12 3/5 in stock 3/12

The new videos (vol. 2 & 3) are available now, and the new comics story Part 2#1 is shipping 3/19.

In the meantime, watch out for the brand new comics for GUNDAM 0079, shipping 3/5!

Look forward to hearing from you,
Viz

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     As you can see, Pokemon is a hot thing right now. Pokemon issue No.1 is already in its fourth print. Very rare in the comic world and even rarer for that to happen in the US when dealing with a Anime or Cartoon. So if your lucky enough to have a copy of a first edition then hold on to it you've got something that has the potential to become a rare item.

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Now here are some new releases to hit the store.

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     Akira is back in the store after a short time off. It's back in a gold collectors box. So if you missed your chance to buy it in the past here's your chance to get it for your collection. Warning, adult audiences only.

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     Finally the long wait for the Bakarhetsu Hunters is over. Look for the tapes wherever you buy Anime. Finally we can watch the travels of Carrot, Maron, Gouta, Tira, and Chocolate as the hunt down evil sorcerers in their world that will lead to something bigger and better. Look for the review of this series next month.

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     Just got the download on what's new from Viz for March 1999. If you would like more information on what other products are available from Viz please check out their web site OR send an e-mail to me at fechan@main.com for more information.

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 0079 #1
8-issue monthly series
story and art by Kazuhisa Kondo
b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/5
COLONY WARS

POKÉMON: PIKACHU SHOCKS BACK #1
4-issue monthly series
story and art by Toshihiro Ono
b&w, 40 pages
$3.25 USA/$4.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/19
POKÉMON DERBY

RANMA 1/2 VOL. 13
graphic novel
story & art by Rumiko Takahashi
b&w, 184 pages
$15.95 USA/$23.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/5
THE WORLD'S STRONGEST PIG

DRAGON BALL PART TWO #1
story and art by Akira Toriyama
15-issue monthly series
b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/5
KURIRIN ARRIVES

SILENT MÖBIUS VOL. 1
graphic novel
story and art by Kia Asamiya
b&w, 240 pages
$16.95 USA/$25.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/12
CYBERWARE AND PENTAGRAMS

viz graphic novels

BLACK JACK VOL. 2
graphic novel
story and art by Osamu Tezuka
b&w, 184 pages
$15.95 USA/$23.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/19
THE DOCTOR IS IN

viz videos

RANMA 1/2 OUTTA CONTROL: GREAT EGGSPECTATIONS
two complete episodes each volume
in English
color, stereo, 52 mins.
$24.95 USA
SHIPPING 3/5
LOVE OVER EASY

MAISON IKKOKU SUBTITLED EDITION: THE FOLKS CAN'T HELP IT
two complete episodes each volume
subtitled
color, stereo, 52 mins.
$29.95 USA
SHIPPING 3/12
THE FATHER YOU NEVER KNEW

viz comics

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION BOOK 4:2
7-issue monthly series
story & art by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/26
ASUKA TAKES CHARGE

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOOK 4:2
7-issue monthly series
story & art by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/26
PRINTED IN REVERSE

DRAGON BALL Z PART TWO #4
story and art by Akira Toriyama
14-issue monthly series
b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/12
THREE AGAINST ONE

RANMA 1/2 PART SEVEN, #14
14-issue series
story & art by Rumiko Takahashi
monthly, b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/19
THE LAST RESORT

INU-YASHA PART TWO #9
9-issue series
story & art by Rumiko Takahashi
b&w, 40 pages
$3.25 USA/$4.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/5
SAID THE SPIDER TO THE FLY

MAISON IKKOKU PART EIGHT, #8
8-issue series
story & art by Rumiko Takahashi
b&w, 40 pages
$3.25 USA/$4.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/12
THE PROPOSAL

NO NEED FOR TENCHI PART SIX, #5
5-issue series
story & art by Hitoshi Okuda
monthly, b&w, 40 pages
$3.25 USA/$4.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/26
GREEN THOUGHTS

NIGHTWARRIORS: DARKSTALKERS' REVENGE, THE COMIC SERIES #5
6-issue series
story & art by Run Ishida
b&w, 32 pages
$2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/19
ANITA THE PSYCHIC GIRL

viz magazines

ANIMERICA EXTRA VOL. 2, No. 4
APR '99
manga anthology
b&w, 128 pages
$4.95 USA/$7.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/12
INTRODUCING MITSURU ADACHI

PULP
APR '99
Vol. 3, No. 4
manga anthology
b&w, 128 pages
for mature readers only
$5.95 USA/$8.95 CAN
SHIPS 3/5
MANGA FOR GROWNUPS

ANIMERICA Vol. 7, No. 3
anime & manga monthly
color and b&w, 88 pages
$4.95 USA/$7.50 CAN
SHIPS 3/19
IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR

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     Saga Frontier is a game that I started to play with some excitement when I put it into my PS. It is a RPG by Square Soft after all and it was bound to be a good game right? My excitement lasted while I picked my character to play and then it ended there.
     It was by far the most boring game for me to play. It had a weak story line and the sound track reminded me of Final Fantasy when it was on the old Innuendo. So I kept on playing hoping that it would get better. Then I found that I couldn't stop playing. It was somehow addictive. I played and I complained about it the whole time getting onto everyone's nerves that were around me. What it amounted to was, it was a RPG, an easy one. I didn't have to rack my brain trying to solve complex puzzles and the fate of the world was not resting on my shoulders. So I could sit back and let the game flow.
     This game does have some good qualities. It would be a great game for any beginner RPG player. Let's face it. RPGs can be very intimidating when you first start to play and this is a great game to cut your teeth on. Simple and straight forward battle controls and easy to understand plot. You don't have to keep track of a slew of sub plots at all. Another good quality is, if you have younger sibs that bug to play more complicated games. You know the ones that ask to play and then keep asking where everything is till you want to pull the CD out and play frisbees with it. Then this game would be good for them. You wouldn't have to explain to play the game to them.
     Finally the game itself has seven different story lines that you can play. Beat one and then you have six more to go. Not too bad. The story lines range from Emelia, who's boyfriend is killed by a guy named Joker and your job is to find and get him. Or you can play Riki who is from another dimension and his home is going to be destroyed unless he travels to another world (the one the game takes place in) and collects rings that will save it. Or does playing a robot suit you? The game has that. You can play T260 who had to abandons his ship and is found by two kids. He has to put back together what he has forgot.
     So the game does have qualities for both the experienced and the newbies in RPGs. The game will be a challenge to the new but not a difficult one. And for the experienced, it's a walk in the park. I was able to finish half of Emelia's quest in about two days.

Game Name: Saga Frontier
Game Company: Square Soft
Rating: Kid Approved
System: PlayStation
Quality: First time RPGers a Five and stays around a three after a while playing. Experienced RPGers a 3 that goes down from there but still an all right play.

Games to keep an eye out for Final Fantasy Tactics and Street Fighter.

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W H A T / W H E R E / W H O on A N I M E * O N L I N E
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     Since our newsletter this month seems to be a big issue on Pokemon I thought it would be fitting to add also a website totally dedicated to Pokemon. Pokemon Times has received two awards (The Brock's Ultimate Poke-Award and the Mew's Excellent Pokemon site award) for it's web site and is updated frequently to keep up with info on Pokemon.
     Pokemon Times has information on all the available episodes (both here in the States as well as in Japan), previews for coming toys and games, Pokemon Fan Art, downloads of video and audio clips, as well as links to other Pokemon web sites.
     Just to warn you ahead of time, some of the video clips to download requires you to have Real Player G2. I downloaded the Team Rocket's main theme song in Japanese and it was pretty hilarious.
     If you're interested the web site also carries a free e-mail address (yourname@Pokemontimes.zzn.com) that reflects how much of a Pokemon Otaku you are.
     Overall this is an informative web site on Pokemon and I love that it is updated frequently.

Editors note: This web site is AC okay but as with any page we cannot check all the links. So use caution when traveling th links from that page.

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A N I M E * F A N F I C
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Still no Fan Fics for this month remember if you have a fan fic on any anime this is a place to showcase that story here. Or if you have art work that you want to publish online we can make room for those as well. Send them to bink@main.com or fecha@main.com.