Hello everyone and welcome to Ani-Manga World! This is the place to search for all things Anime and Manga-related. It doesn’t matter if it’s recent or perhaps just a *little* before your time. It’s all good here! I have been a fan of Anime and Manga since I was Six(6) years old. My very first introduction to the genre began with names like Speed Racer, Marine Boy and, of course Star Blazers (my all time personal favorite) as well as many others.

Growing up in Chester, PA, there weren’t a lot of resources for someone with my particular interest. Very few kids in my neighborhood knew what I was talking about and the adults didn’t even know where to start. So, outside of television, there was no readily available information about such an amazing and incredible story-telling platform. I’m a sucker for a good story and I have always been astonished at the level at which the Japanese understand how impactful a well told story can be.

As the years have passed many others have (fortunately) discovered how compelling such a medium can be and I want to provide a resource for all fans, young and old, to not only learn more about the genre, but most importantly, know where to acquire any titles, past or present, that may interest them. But, I want to be clear, this is also a continuous learning experience for me. The Anime and Manga worlds are extensive beyond description and I don’t pretend to know every title ever made. So, this will be a journey for all of us. Please share what you have experienced and any titles you want with us and if we can, we’ll find a way to make it available.

A Little Story About My Experiences

My journey into the Anime/Manga universe began with well-known titles (at the time) like “Speed Racer” , “Marine Boy”, & “Battle of the Planets”. All of these series captured my imagination not only with the compelling and memorable stories, but the unforgettable music. I still find myself singing or humming the various themes.

But the most impactful change occurred when I discovered “Star Blazers” a.k.a. “Space Cruiser Yamato”. The storyline still remains one of the most compelling I have ever experienced and the music produced by Hiroshi Miyagawa still inspires me to this day. I can honestly say that his music has seen me through some of the most difficult times in my life and strongly roots me to the best parts of my childhood, even after 40 years.

My High School years were punctuated by the creation of “Robotech” by Carl Macek. For those of you familiar with the series, it was actually a conglomeration of three separate and unrelated shows that were meshed together to form a multi-generational story. As I was a little older and had more resources, I endeavored to record EVERY episode and I still have the original videotapes (yes, I’m dating myself here) to this day, preserved in the event VCRs ever become popular again (lol)! Once again, the music, along with the story, was a constant reminder of the noble struggle to do the best one could. Personally, I think this series is one of the reasons I graduated 6th in my entire Senior class.

My College years were much more difficult that either my chlldhood or High School. But, I remember experiencing shows such as “Record of the Loduss Wars”, “Mellowlink – Votoms” and the absolutely ground-breaking (and sometimes quite disturbing) “Akira”. The soundtracks were captivating and inspirational. It was actually at this time that I encountered other “like minds” who could relate and appreciate the impact the genre had on my generation. One particularly funny instance occurred during a Chemistry III lab I was running with a group of other students. Someone in the back began to sing, “Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer, he’s a demon on wheels…” and before the second verse had started we were all singing it, in time, with perfect tempo, with no preparation or propping. Needless to say we were all thoroughly entertained, except for our professor, who was completely astonished…

We All Deserve To Be Inspired As Well As Entertained

Who wants to go to a movie, or any other kind of entertainment, only to leave unfulfilled, uninspired and feeling like you wasted two or more hours of your life (and probably a lot of money)? Sometimes life is stranger than fiction but not nearly as entertaining or manageable when it happens to you. I want to give people the opportunity to experience a genre where the stories and characters are so well developed and presented that you walk away feeling like you’ve met a real person (in spite of the animated medium), can relate in so many ways to the situations in which they find themselves and question what you would have done if confronted with similar circumstances. This is about sharing an experience with others that will not only generate conversation but bring us closer together through a mutually shared experience.

 

Not Easy…

Anime and Manga have traditionally been relegated to small groups of avid fans. Not any more. In recent years the word has spread and many younger folks have begun to appreciate the genre. However, it’s not always easy to find valuable source material outside of the occassional, yearly “con”.

I’m hoping to change that…

I’m looking to bring as many Anime and Manga provides together under “one roof” where all related interests can be researched and enjoyed. Maybe these sources are overseas (e.g. Japan) or perhaps on the coast (e.g California, Delaware) or maybe somewhere in between (e.g. Colorado). It doesn’t matter. We’re here to include anyone and everyone who is seeking a grand story-telling experience and just as important, share it with others.

If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.

All the best,

Ty
Founder of Ani-Manga World