Viz Comics is publishing English language editions of a series of anime art books that should prove to be an important product line for retailers who deal in anime and manga. In fact many of these books have already done quite well in the U.S. market in Japanese language editions, but they should sell much better in English, since the vast majority of American anime fans cannot read Japanese and thus they have missed the captions, the interviews, and episode guides that these anime art books often provide. Hardcore anime fans who already own some of these books in Japanese editions will still want to own the English versions, and these visually stunning art books will appeal to a much larger audience now that they are linguistically accessible. Also since these volumes will be available for reorders, dealers can stock thinly and reorder quickly when the volume is sold out.
The first book in the series, The Art of Gundam Wing is available now. With 130 pages of character and mecha art from anime powerhouse Studio Sunrise, this volume should benefit from Bandai's yearlong Gundam push, which includes a Gundam Interactive Tour of America (see 'Bandai America Unveils New Line'). The Gundam Wing anime is running on the Cartoon Network's Toonami block right now, and other Gundam series that have never been on U.S television are slated for later in the year. This is one volume you will want to keep in stock right through the holiday season.
The Art of Ranma ? is slated for a July release. This sumptuous volume includes original pastel, watercolor, and colored pencil artwork by the gifted Rumiko Takahashi, plus profiles of every wacky character in the series. In early 2002 Viz will publish The Art of Inu-Yasha, which is based on the latest manga series by Rumiko Takahashi, which has provided the source material for one of the top anime shows in Japan right now.
Another book in this series that should sell as well as the Gundam or Rumiko Takahashi books is Der Mond, which collects the color illustrations of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto in an English edition for the first time. This volume will appeal to fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion, since Mr. Sadamoto was the character designer for that series, responsible both for creating the strange beauty of the blue-haired Rei Ayanami as well as the Evangelions themselves. Sadamoto, who also provided character designs for the brilliant space saga Wings of Honneamise, is undoubtedly one of Japan's greatest modern artists, and his works are essential for anyone who is interested in science fiction anime. This volume will ship in September and will retail for $29.95.
Legend--October, 2001
For fans of shojo manga (girl's comics), Fushigi Yugi artist and writer Yu Watase is a top-tier creator, and The Art of Ceres, Celestial Legend only confirms her lofty status. The Art of Ceres will be released in October and will retail for $24.95.