We've received a lot of mail this time around, so this issue's letter column is a little on the long side. But our readers have some interesting ideas and stories to tell, and since we are not troubled by a page limit, we decided to run more mail than usual.
Many of you have e-mailed us asking about purchasing the products we review in the magazine. While we are glad that we have piqued your interest, EX is not a mail-order service, nor is it affiliated with one. As a result, we can't fulfill purchase requests. In a future issue, we will provide a listing of mail-order services for anime and import games.
And now, on to the mail.

	From: Bernadette Enriquez (glingglo@ite.net) Dear EX staff, I really enjoy your online anime and manga magazine. I feel more knowledgeable and more up-to-date every time I read your magazine. Please keep up the good work! I also would like to thank you for your very persuasive article review on TENCHI! MUYO IN LOVE. After reading that article I decided to rent and watch the movie. I really don't know what happened to me after watching the movie. Somehow, I just automatically fell in love with the story and the characters. Now, I am currently collecting everything that is TENCHI MUYO! like the OVAs, the specials, and the TV Series. I guess I'm what you call a "Tenchi Muyo! addict." Thank you for that great article! Finally, s there really a TENCHI MUYO! IN LOVE special edition imported laserdisc that will be released soon. If this is true, will it be bilingual like the other TENCHI MUYO! laserdiscs? and when is its release date? Thank you again and keep up the good work!
	Bernadette, Hmm... I hope our friends at Pioneer are reading this column. I'm glad that you've found a series that you really enjoy. Sometimes I find it really hard to sift through all the stuff out there to find something I really like. Yes, a special imported laserdisc is on the way. According to the info we have received, the movie will be CAV on 4 sides, plus one side of the "Memorial Collection Disc," which includes continuity, interviews, and a previously unreleased clip. The disc will be bilingual as are all the other Pioneer LDs with Dolby Digital Surround Sound. It's a bit on the expensive side, though--list price is $149.98. Release date is on 25 March 1997.
	From: Victor Navone (victor@presto.com) Hi there! My name is Victor Navone and I am/was the creative director for Presto Studios's GUNDAM 0079: THE WAR FOR EARTH. I was reading your article on our game, and in addition to wondering where you got your information (all of which was pretty accurate) I thought I'd mention the reasons why the game is limited to one CD. Our contract with Bandai only called for a single-CD game, and our budget for the game (both monetary and time) wouldn't allow for much more. In truth, we actually worked out enough story and gameplay elements to fill at least 3 discs, and cover most of the One Year War. Whether or not all that will be realized in future games is, as you mentioned, dependent on the success of the game and other factors. I hope that clears up any questions. By the way, if you have any further questions you can either contact me (victor@presto.com) or the project director, Farshid Almassizadeh (farshid@presto.com).
	Victor, It's nice to know that we have such distinguished readers. As you know by now, most of our information on the game came from the panel you gave at AnimeExpo 96. Also, the author of the article, Keith Rhee, is a very devout GUNDAM fan. Thanks for taking the time to write. We wish you success — I'm sure that most GUNDAM fans would support a continuation of WAR FOR THE EARTH.
	From: Rai Johnson (erjohnson@scuacc.scu.edu) Dear EX , An interesting thing happened to me today. I was visiting the Nikaku Animart homepage (one of my favorite stores), and followed a link taking me to a page called EX – THE ONLINE ANIME MAGAZINE. This was my first time I've ever visited an online magazine, so I figured I'd flip through the first few issues...in short, I was impressed. Soon I found myself reading your holiday issue head to toe! The bright covers, clean pages, and high resolution graphics, were the first thing to draw me into your magazine. I was also lucky enough to discover in depth articles and reviews within this very "user friendly" magazine. Unfortunately though, my letter is not all praise. I am an avid reader of such anime and manga magazines as ANIMERICA, and probably my favorite (though only having a small section dedicated to anime and manga) Wizard. One of my favorite sections has always been the letters column, so of course it was the first thing I flipped to in EX. At first glance, it seemed like any other, except perhaps a little dry. It was the list of rules for anyone writing in that was really disturbing to me. Over ruling words you refer to as "inane" and not allowing readers to show there passion through punctuation and capitals take away from any CHARACTER this magazine might have. I was soon to find the same in most of the reviews and articles. What really makes a magazine a joy to read is when it is PERSONABLE. Sure a thorough review is nice to come by, but I, personally, would like to know whether or not a dubbing job "sucks", or that "if I haven't seen the Oh my Goddess! series yet, WHAT THE @$#% AM I DOING!?!". Just because a magazine is "gutsy" enough to use a few bad words, be a little direct, or chew out a few companies, doesn't mean it's garbage. Go out on a limb, use a little slang--you can take it easy at first, but TRY it!...who knows? It might make your magazine the difference between being a mere "reference" and a "MUST HAVE!!!" Anyway, I hope yer not pukin' yet. Just thought I'd throw in MY two cents. Thanks for listening.
	Rai, First, let me clarify something. The rules you mention are not for those who simply wish to write us, but those who want to be eligible for the DBZ cards. We decided that if we didn't do something of the sort, we'd get thousands of messages saying nothing more than, "I want cards" and "Dragonball Z Roolz." That's precisely the kind of e-mail we don't want. We want people to be able to express their opinions, whatever they may be, but we also want people to think about what they are saying. If someone can't be bothered to write things in a clear and coherent way, why should EX staff waste their time trying decipher the writer's intended meaning? If we wrote our reviews so that you had to guess our opinions, it wouldn't be very effective. And although slang is certainly a part of our everyday life, I believe that there are better ways of expressing oneself than through repeated use of a few words such as "cool" or "sucks." As for the overuse of punctuation to show 'passion,' I would merely say that there other more demonstrative ways to express emotion than a string of exclamation points. EX has a personality; it also has standards. One need not be sacrificed for the other. (And I am not implying that other magazines have lower standards--just different ones). Our character comes from our content--the interviews with Yokoyama Chisa, Fred Schodt, Scott Frazier, etc., the studio tours of AIC, Production I.G, and (the upcoming article on) Artland, to name just a few. As for reviews, we do try to call them as we see them, but also taking into account that there are differences in personal taste. Think about it--if I had riddled this reply with excessive punctuation, slang, and the occasional four-letter word, would my point have been made any clearer? I don't think so.
	From: Tom Tjarks (tntjarks@nexus-2.flash.net) I stumbled across your magazine by accident today, and I was amazed. This is the most well written group of articles on Anime based items I've ever had the pleasure to read. I hope you continue to write very good articles in the future. I will recommend this page to my friends who are also Anime buffs, as well as add the URL to my pages on the web. On another note, are you looking for any writers and/or submitted articles? I've been an Anime buff for a long time, and would like to share my experiences with others.
	Tom., Thanks. I am rapidly running out of creative ways to say thank you to everyone who tells us that they enjoy what we do. The submission guidelines should be posted at the bottom of the letter column, or you can e-mail me at mughi@hacks.arizona.edu if you've got a specific idea as to what you'd like to write about. Also, if you're going to link to us, why not use our spiffy new banner? You can get it off our front page. I plan on adding it to my own homepage because I think it's a super design.
	From: Michael Mann (marty@nabiki.wupper.de) Hello from Germany! I'm a big fan of Anime & Manga and don't miss any of your EX-magazines. It's one of my most important sources for Anime & Manga Information. If my English would be better, I would praise your magazine a lot more :-) And in your Holiday Issue is a very good article about GALAXY FRAULEIN YUNA by Peter Cahill. Greetings! BTW Does he know the mistake in the German word "Fraulein"? ;-) Well, I'm a fan of Yuna and can't wait for the tape with Yuna 2 (which I have ordered in July 1996 :-( ). Also waiting for the new Yuna-OVAs from Japan. But it could take some time until ADVision will release them in the USA... Until then I will read this great Yuna-article again and again :-) And a happy new year! With lots of Anime and Manga! Dewa mata, Michael
	Michael., Thank you for your kind words. I am really amazed that we have readers from all over the globe. Accessibility is certainly an advantage of the world wide web, and we at EX are glad that we have readers all over the world.. [Ihr Englisch ist gut genug. And sorry about the umlaut.. my German is pretty rusty — the Design Ed.]
	From: Lito Tamisin (lito@ix.netcom.com) First of all, I want to tell you guys that I thoroughly enjoyed your holiday issue, especially Scott Frazier's article on Japanese "year end" festivities. Its articles like these which draw me and, my guess, a great many anime fans to your online magazine. It also helps prove that being a fan doesn't equate to being a perpetual couch potato. Its also about discovering a whole new culture complete with both similarities and differences with our own. This leads me to my main comment about EX. During anime's U.S infancy, the days of blurry fansubs or Japanese only rentals, anime resources were very difficult to find for a "newbie otaku" unless you were "in the know". Today, especially with the "internet explosion", this same newbie could become lost with so many resources available. We now have a number of anime magazines (both online and printed), newsgroups, irc channels, more sophisticated fanclubs, as well as a slew of personal web pages devoted to anime. Add to this the ever-growing list of commercially available titles in the U.S. and the importance of knowing where to get useful information for a newbie, as well as more experienced otaku, becomes apparent. I've found your online magazine to be very helpful in steering several new anime converts on the right course. EX 's contents are to the point, well written, and includes interesting articles (like Scott's aforementioned one) which broadens anime's scope. I also appreciate EX being up-to-date with its information (ie. you guys were the first place I found with the most recent info on the GREENWOOD series). Anyway, sorry to make this so long. Keep up the great work and know that you're appreciated. By the way, how about something about fandom on the Japanese side. Perhaps you can have someone in Japan (not a pro) relate what's going with fandom over there. I know I'd be interested to see what our fellow otaku are up to. Ja ne!
	Lito, Thanks for the kind words. I think you managed to succinctly sum up the last ten or fifteen years of anime fandom. And for that, you've won one of our coveted (well maybe) letter awards. I remember when I first started and everyone was happy to see a copy that was third generation. I also remember seeing my first subtitled anime feature, THE DIRTY PAIR MOVIE, which was subtitled by a Canadian group using a white dot-matrix font! Anime fandom in the U.S. has certainly come a long way. Anime Fandom is Japan is quite different. Since anime and manga are so widely available (you can hardly take a step without tripping over some, it seems), there is less of a need for organized clubs. People can go rent or buy or just watch the anime on television without a whole lot of difficulty. Occasionally, though, fans do get together for such things as the Comiket, which happens twice a year, or for other special events, such as appearances of favorite voice actors or anime events sponsored by companies. There is also of course the huge popularity of doujinshi circles. We'll do our best to continue bringing you news of such gatherings in Japan.
	From: Cory T. Nagatoshi (paikalani@juno.com) Dear EX , It was about three years ago when a friend of mine was showing me some samples of his vast collection of foreign videos. After looking at some Hong Kong action films, our conversation moved to the subject of anime. I was not exposed to much anime, but I was interested in discovering some fresh, new entertainment. He proceeded to pop in a DRAGONBALL Z movie. The movie incorporated mind-boggling martial arts action, fantastic sci-fi effects, and refreshing comical sequences. I realized that I was hooked, and proceeded to watch and read every DRAGONBALL Z episode and volume I could get my hands on. As I became more involved in the series, I learned that DRAGONBALL Z had an epic storyline to follow. Every character has a unique personality, and the story progresses along a time line. In this respect, you are actually able to watch each character grow and pass on. Each character started to take a real life persona in my mind. They were no longer a product of the pen, but a living and existing personality. When I read and watched DRAGONBALL Z, I felt like I was following people that I knew closely. Was I turning into an obsessed fan? I would answer no to that question. DRAGONBALL Z and its long story and unique characters had just enough depth and charisma to takeover my imagination. The imagination needs a fantasy in order to come to life. My imagination is gripped tightly by the hands of this ever-changing beast. But captive it is not. In essence, my imagination is actually freed. I believe that an imagination cannot flourish without regular use. The series has ended, but my enjoyment is revisited often as I view hundreds of episodes for yet another time. Even though it sounds as though it has taken over my life, it hasn't. I go weeks without any anime when I am busy with school. In the meantime, I find myself doodling the characters in my notebook. When I finally get a chance to watch Goku and his friends, it feels like a reunion with some old buddies. Keep inspiring the world to imagine.
	Cory, I think you've touched on why DRAGONBALL Z is such a popular series worldwide. More than just a simple fighting anime, it has a very long and complex storyline. And after such an eloquent and heartfelt story, how can I not give you one of the prizes for the letter contest? Thanks for taking the time to write.
	From: "Mr. Yotsuya" (yotsuya@junction.net) Hello there, I wanted to say that your magazine is fantastic!. The layout is superb. The articles are pretty well-written and interesting as well. Although the volume of material may not be as much as one of the printed magazines, I think that it's overall quality puts it above the printed media. It reminds me of Anime UK, quality wise. If you guys ever put out a dead tree version, I'd be first in line to buy it. Ja Ne.
	Yotsuya-san., Since you didn't sign another name, I am assuming that you are in fact the actual Yotsuya from MAISON IKKOKU. I'm glad that we're being read in Ikkoku-kan, but I didn't know that it was wired for web access. There are currently no plans for a paper version of EX any time soon. (That would require a little thing called a ton of money). Thanks for your kind words--but keep away from my cup ramen.
	From: Lily Tsang (lilytsang@www.hotmail.com) I love SLAM DUNK very much! I am very upset about the sudden termination of this series! WHY? The author should concern about the reaction of the readers as well! I am very disappointed! What do you think?
	Lily., It is the creator's prerogative to terminate a series when he feels that he's done as much of it as he can or wants to do. Many people feel upset when their favorite series comes to an end. However, you have to consider how much work it is to do a continuing series on a weekly basis. I'm sure that the fans of SLAM DUNK would rather have it end before the quality started slipping.
	From: Mikitalo Jani (jani.makitalo@vlk.fi) Subject: Gundam To: mughi@hacks.arizona.edu Hello! I just read your article on the GUNDAM X-series on the online version of your magazine (EX), and it re-sparked my interest on the GUNDAM. Originally I came into contact with GUNDAM as a manga published by Viz Communications (GUNDAM 0083), and I had, until now, thought that it was a single series, without further (or preceding) attachments. Poor me! I have been looking for information concerning the availability of GUNDAM on videotape (the manga was clearly anime-based), but have found none. Sure, the Net is full of pictures and chronologies, but I cannot find anything concerning the videotapes (if they even are available through video). So, I thought that maybe you could help me with this. Of course, since I live in Europe (PAL standard, not NTSC), I would appreciate an address of a possible European mail-order service selling GUNDAM-films (IF they exist). I hope I'm not asking for too much (I have no information about GUNDAM's availability at all). Thank you for your answer in advance!
	Mikitalo, I'm afraid that European Anime Stores aren't our specialty. And since, as you mention, the television standards are different, Japanese imports won't be of any use to you, as they are NTSC standard as well. I'm at a loss as to what to tell you, unfortunately. European Readers, can any of you help out here?

Letter Contest

Keep that e-mail coming. We still have a lot of DRAGONBALL Z cards to give away! These cards were donated by Books Nippan and are special hologram cards mounted on a cardboard backing. These cards are unavailable for purchase in the United States, so these are truly unique items.
Keep in mind that "best" is a subjective thing, and totally subject to the whims of the Editors. Flattery will not necessarily make you a winner. I can't give you specifics as to what will make you a winner, but I can share with you the sure-fire ways to get disqualified:

• WRITE IN UPPER CASE. This will guarantee immediate rejection.
  
• fail to use capital letters at the start of sentences or when using words like ranma and macross.
  
• Use inane words and phrases such as 'Ranma sucks' or 'Robotech rocks'.
  
• Use punctuation in an inappropriate and outlandish fashion !!!!??????
  
• one-liners such as "Your mag rocks, gimme the cards!" will be disqualified immediately.
  
• Profanity and personal attacks will also wind up in the trashcan.

Our Mail Policy:

We read all of the mail we receive. Readers who submit mail may receive personal replies via e-mail, a reply in the letter column, or in some instances, both.
All letters sent to EX (or any of its staff regarding the magazine) are eligible for inclusion in the letter column. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. If you don't want your e-mail address printed, please tell us. If you would prefer that your letter not be published at all, please inform us of this as well.