Sep. 11th, 2006
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Typhoon = can't go out = inside reading magazines = screwing around on internet = posting a lot.
So, anyway, Newtype. Still the premier and most popular anime magazine in Japan, even if they do devote twenty pages every issue to humping Gundam Seed and even if their furoku is pwned every month by what Animage and Animedia offer.
But what Newtype has going for it that the other two don't is brilliant, calculated false advertising.
For example: Sometime in 2001, Newtype publishes an issue with Keiichi and Belldandy on the cover, wearing a tuxedo and wedding dress, respectively. The cover says "AH! MY GODDESS THE SECOND MOVIE" in giant English letters. Fanboys across the nation orgasm in delight when they see this cover on the newstands, snatch up copies of the magazine like whoa, post all over the internet how there's going to be a new Ah! My Goddess movie, and.... Open the magazine, read the article, and find out that it's a total false alarm. Meanwhile, Newtype sells a bazillion copies, and Kadakowashoten sits on their pile of money and laughs.
For example: In August 2006, Newtype publishes an issue with Suzumiya Haruhi and her friends on the cover. The cover says "SUZUMIYA HARUHI RETURNS!" in giant English letters. Fanboys across the nation orgasm in delight when they see this cover on the newstands, snatch up copies of the magazine like whoa, post all over the internet how there's going to be a second season of Suzumiya Haruhi, and.... Open the magazine, read the article, and find out that it's a total false alarm. (The main article is an interview with the director where he says, "Well, I wouldn't be opposed to the existence of a theoretical second season, but there's no plans for one," in so many words.) Fans in Japan cry out the false alarm, but fans in America who see the scans and can only read the English cover but not the Japanese article, continue to spread the false impression that a second season has been confirmed. Meanwhile, Newtype sells a bazillion copies, and Kadakowashoten sits on their pile of money and laughs.
For example: In September 2006, Newtype publishes an issue with Ayanami Rei on the cover, giant English writing that says "REBUILD OF EVANGELION," and Japanese text that says (loosely translated) "Hey guys totally new Eva anime liek ROCK AWESOME!" Fanboys all over the nation view this cover with... extreme skepticism. News leaks out over the internet that the interior article of said Newtype issue does indeed confirm that there will be four entirely new Eva movies, including prequels and sequels, the first of which is set to premier in 2007. Yes, that's right, new Eva anime - not a new DVD release, not a new PS2 game, not an inane new shoujo manga remake, not a new artbook, but actual new anime. However, fanboys are skeptical of the Newtype cover, do not trust the internet sources, and snatch up copies of Newtype by the thousands to see for themselves whether it really IS true or not.
Thus, Newtype sells a bazillion copies, and Kadakowashoten sits on their pile of money and laughs.
The false advertising works even when it's NOT false advertising. Awesome.
So, anyway, Newtype. Still the premier and most popular anime magazine in Japan, even if they do devote twenty pages every issue to humping Gundam Seed and even if their furoku is pwned every month by what Animage and Animedia offer.
But what Newtype has going for it that the other two don't is brilliant, calculated false advertising.
For example: Sometime in 2001, Newtype publishes an issue with Keiichi and Belldandy on the cover, wearing a tuxedo and wedding dress, respectively. The cover says "AH! MY GODDESS THE SECOND MOVIE" in giant English letters. Fanboys across the nation orgasm in delight when they see this cover on the newstands, snatch up copies of the magazine like whoa, post all over the internet how there's going to be a new Ah! My Goddess movie, and.... Open the magazine, read the article, and find out that it's a total false alarm. Meanwhile, Newtype sells a bazillion copies, and Kadakowashoten sits on their pile of money and laughs.
For example: In August 2006, Newtype publishes an issue with Suzumiya Haruhi and her friends on the cover. The cover says "SUZUMIYA HARUHI RETURNS!" in giant English letters. Fanboys across the nation orgasm in delight when they see this cover on the newstands, snatch up copies of the magazine like whoa, post all over the internet how there's going to be a second season of Suzumiya Haruhi, and.... Open the magazine, read the article, and find out that it's a total false alarm. (The main article is an interview with the director where he says, "Well, I wouldn't be opposed to the existence of a theoretical second season, but there's no plans for one," in so many words.) Fans in Japan cry out the false alarm, but fans in America who see the scans and can only read the English cover but not the Japanese article, continue to spread the false impression that a second season has been confirmed. Meanwhile, Newtype sells a bazillion copies, and Kadakowashoten sits on their pile of money and laughs.
For example: In September 2006, Newtype publishes an issue with Ayanami Rei on the cover, giant English writing that says "REBUILD OF EVANGELION," and Japanese text that says (loosely translated) "Hey guys totally new Eva anime liek ROCK AWESOME!" Fanboys all over the nation view this cover with... extreme skepticism. News leaks out over the internet that the interior article of said Newtype issue does indeed confirm that there will be four entirely new Eva movies, including prequels and sequels, the first of which is set to premier in 2007. Yes, that's right, new Eva anime - not a new DVD release, not a new PS2 game, not an inane new shoujo manga remake, not a new artbook, but actual new anime. However, fanboys are skeptical of the Newtype cover, do not trust the internet sources, and snatch up copies of Newtype by the thousands to see for themselves whether it really IS true or not.
Thus, Newtype sells a bazillion copies, and Kadakowashoten sits on their pile of money and laughs.
The false advertising works even when it's NOT false advertising. Awesome.