Stonebridge Press, the company that published the extremely useful Anime Encyclopedia, has announced two new titles of special interest to retailers who deal in anime, and/or animation.  The first, Patrick Drazen's Anime Explosion! The What? Why? And Wow! Of Japanese Animation, is due out in October, while Animation on DVD: The Ultimate Guide by Andy Mangels arrives in November.

Anime Explosion! provides a great overview of the world of anime.  Drazen traces anime back to its roots in manga and the pioneering works of Osamu Tezuka and then moves to the modern era where he profiles two of the top directors, Hayao Miyazaki and Katsuhiro Otomo.  Drazen covers all the major anime genres including: giant robots, samurai, furry beasts, high school heroines, and gay/girl/fanboy love, and he also details the major themes of anime while pointing out the conventions that make anime distinct from other forms of animation. 

Speaking of other forms of animation, Animation on DVD is the first major guide to all types of animated films on DVD.  It includes 1450 films -- everything from anime to early twentieth-century works, to Disney, Warner Brothers, and contemporary TV computer-generated series.  Each entry covers the storyline, history, key personnel and ratings, and also provides details on DVD-only materials like storyboards, Easter Eggs, and production shorts.