Rating: 
Summary: Why Cant All Encyclopaedias Be Like This?
Review: It was only a few years ago that people couldnt even get Japanese
animations name right. It was just "that Manga stuff" to most of us, though it had a history back to the time of World War One. Helen McCarthy's Anime Guide told us that the anime world was bigger than we knew, but its taken this giant Encyclopaedia to really prove it. Since it would take eighteen years or so to watch every anime, the half-million words or so in the Anime Encyclopaedia can barely scratch the surface of this incredible world. Even so, its absolutely PACKED with data, from directors and artists to bits of history and gossip.
Theres so much info in here that after a few hours I kept getting carried away and reading the other entries around the stuff I was looking for. So I gave up and just read it from cover to cover. Now I KNOW ANIME. I still dont know kung fu though :). I dont want to complain coz this book easily should get five stars, but I still wish there was more. It could be twice the size if the authors wanted to make it that way. I hope they are writing an even bigger one :). Its funny too and shows a real love for anime: they care about Japanese animation for real, enough to be tough on it when it disappoints them. But when they tell you something is good, you know they mean it from the heart. The
best book Ive read all year... and the biggest book I own except Lord of the Rings. Thats a scary thought. :)
Rating:
Summary: An amazing accomplishment
Review: Long ago, before the surface of the Earth cooled, I wanted to write a book like this...but gave it up as being an impossibility, which of course it is.
Fortunately for us all, Clements and McCarthy were not so easily daunted. It is an astounding achievement by two of the world's most knowledgeable anime experts, and, if you have even the slightest interest in anime, belongs right on the shelf next to your DVDs, laserdisks, and videotapes.
If I have any criticism to give, it's that movies that were not of personal interest to the authors are sometimes given short shrift. Example--Crusher Joe and Dagger of Kamui, both of which were groundbreaking films at the time (and still have the capacity to delight--CJ for its amazing action sequences and DoK for the stunning color and design work), are given rather flat entries. But this is personal opinion--the bottom line is that the book is very nearly all-inclusive, and if it contains any errors of significance, I have so far been unable to spot them.
Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: the best book on anime
Review: Opinions are often sadly lacking in an anime fandom reared on the saccharine hype of feckless distributors, and the toothless puffery of Newtype and Animerica. It is thus with great relief that I found the Anime Encyclopedia: a book that is not shy in sifting the good anime from the bad, though it does rattle the cages of those fans who like to believe that all anime are perfect. A mandatory purchase for any school library seeking to keep abreast of the times and liable to create some healthy playground debates on the nature of quality. I note with interest the authors' willingness not only to receive corrections from readers, but also to make alterations -- copies on the market now seem to be second printings with several corrections, now that's what I call aftercare.
Rating: 
Summary: Completa información (Complete info about anime)
Review: Si lo que se busca es pura información de la historia de animé en Japón, esta es una exelente opción para conocer eso: INFORMACION, no está lleno de imágenes que no dicen nada, es la información que se necesita para poder buscar detalles en otras partes que nos pueda interesar.... es una buena compra.... (¿existe una versión en español?)
Rating:
Summary: An Indomitable Effort
Review: The first thought that runs through the mind of a potential otaku faced with the wealth of Anime films that are available is, frankly, "Where do I start." It doesn't take a great deal of time to sniff out the Evangelions and Princess Mononokes, but beyond the great successes are many lesser lights that all promise pleasure and entertainment if one only knew which they were. Of course, part of the challenge is that coming to understand anime and manga requires reaching some level of understanding of the Japanese culture that underlies them. However, the simple truth is that, lacking a guide, the effort is always in danger of becoming fruitless.'The Anime Encyclopedia' is the answer to need. While it really isn't encyclopedic, it provides summaries, data, and even some analysis of over 2,000 anime films. The authors confess that there are probably another 2,000 films that could have been included, and a complete failure to touch on interactive (game) animation. Nevertheless, 2,000 titles covering the period from 1917 to 2001 is a lot. While the writers are rarely excessively judgmental, there is enough information to identify both films of interest and films to be avoided. Occasionally, the reader finds a lengthy discussion, but most of the descriptions are 100 to 200 words. One will find dates, formats, key translations, creative staff, and length listed. Some indication of the appropriate audience where needed, and indication of whether English productions are available. In short, enough to navigate one's way to the winded path of an otaku's apprenticeship. The writers have a dry, witty style that makes this more than a simple catalog, but far less than a treatise. The book does exactly what it promises to do, competently and clearly. Lacking a command of Japanese, this is the best resource available for US viewers.
Rating:
Summary: An Indomitable Effort
Review: The first thought that runs through the mind of a potential otaku faced with the wealth of Anime films that are available is, frankly, "Where do I start." It doesn't take a great deal of time to sniff out the Evangelions and Princess Mononokes, but beyond the great successes are many lesser lights that all promise pleasure and entertainment if one only knew which they were. Of course, part of the challenge is that coming to understand anime and manga requires reaching some level of understanding of the Japanese culture that underlies them. However, the simple truth is that, lacking a guide, the effort is always in danger of becoming fruitless. 'The Anime Encyclopedia' is the answer to need. While it really isn't encyclopedic, it provides summaries, data, and even some analysis of over 2,000 anime films. The authors confess that there are probably another 2,000 films that could have been included, and a complete failure to touch on interactive (game) animation. Nevertheless, 2,000 titles covering the period from 1917 to 2001 is a lot. While the writers are rarely excessively judgmental, there is enough information to identify both films of interest and films to be avoided. Occasionally, the reader finds a lengthy discussion, but most of the descriptions are 100 to 200 words. One will find dates, formats, key translations, creative staff, and length listed. Some indication of the appropriate audience where needed, and indication of whether English productions are available. In short, enough to navigate one's way to the winded path of an otaku's apprenticeship. The writers have a dry, witty style that makes this more than a simple catalog, but far less than a treatise. The book does exactly what it promises to do, competently and clearly. Lacking a command of Japanese, this is the best resource available for US viewers.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Comprehensive--A Must for All Anime Fans!
Review: This book fulfills the dreams of all anime fans... it is a true Encyclopedia, with just about every anime described and catalogued in loving detail. The index alone is worth it, and the sheer size of the thing (way over 500 pages) is impressive. (I just got my copy this weekend and have been combing thru it nonstop. And I'm still not finished.) The authors have real opinions and a funny, really literate style, too. You can tell they've actually seen the anime they're writing about, which is refreshing, especially after all the pseudo-academic anime books that have come out in the past year.
In short, THIS IS IT! The Anime Encyclopedia totally replaces the old protoculture book (especially since it goes from the really old stuff--since 1917--to the present) and is a lot more complete.
Rating: 
Summary: A shot in the dark
Review: This book was filled with misinformation, and elitist viewpoints. I picked it up at a friends house, and was curious to their information within. I knew nothing of the authors, and now wished I knew less. The authors seemed to hold anime to the same critical highpoints Hollywood movies are, and don't seem to understand that; one, this is a different culture, and two, a lot of these were made for enjoyment, rather than Oscar-winning aspirations. In addition, production dates and biographies of makers are horribly inacurate. This really isn't the kind of book to hand to anyone that hasn't watched anime before. It would steer them from some highly watchable series before they had all the facts.
Rating:
Summary: An invaluable and accessible guide to the anime medium
Review: This chunky little volume will shake Western anime fandom to the core. It's real audience is not the exclusive subculture of long-term anime fans, but the ordinary public. Not only does the book raise the ordinary reader up to the knowledge level of the average anime-buyer, but it discusses hundreds upon hundreds of titles that fandom had never even heard of before today. It also does us the service of correcting much disinformation on titles and creators that floats around the internet masquerading as truth. If that's not enough, this volume's critical assessments of many titles is worth the price alone, pointing newcomers away from meretricious fan favourites. How many outsiders have had their opinions of anime shaped by juvenile trash such as Ranma 1/2 or Tenchi Muyo, rather than being pointed at the more interesting output of studios such as Ghibli, Gainax or Headgear? Fans will learn something new from this book. Non-fans will discover a whole new world. Postscript: Since writing this review, I've had the opportunity to look at some of the other opinions offered. These can be divided roughly into two types: the appreciative fan, and the spurned fan. Hell hath no fury like an anime fan scorned. Broadly, the objections of the spurned fans are as follows: (1) "The book slated my favourite show". I have little respect for this point of view. It's time the hobby grew up and received critical attention. (2) "The writers are elitist and disrespectful of fans". And about time too. The fan community is an insular niche that clings to a handful of poor quality shows rather than critically examine why the good material is worth watching. (3) "The book is full of factual errors". I know of no encyclopaedia that isn't. And the authors are big enough to admit they may have made a few errors in a work that is so large and comprehensive. It's up to readers to contact the publisher with corrections (an e-mail address is in the book). (4) "The writers are wrong to editorialise and review the anime featured." What guff. It is vital to discern the good material from the bad. Make informed decisions about shows. An intelligent reader can make up their own mind from the descriptions of whether they want to see a show. (5) "The book contains spoilers." Tough. Why read it then? In all, nothing persuades me that this book doesn't deserve its five stars. And shame on the petty carpers.
Rating:
Summary: Encyclopedia? Yeah, right!
Review: This has to be one of the most frustrating books in the world. It's not an encyclopedia, it's a book of reviews! I suppose it's not a total waste of money, as long as you don't mind the way they give their opinions on almost every anime. The real problem for me is that they put down so many anime shows that a lot of anime fans [including me] enjoy. I have to wonder why the authors wrote a book on anime at all, since they seem to think that almost all are trash. I really wish they had kept their opinions to themselves and just given reliable information. Some people may enjoy this, but I definitely don't and I know a lot of other anime fans out there won't either. My advice to anyone who is thinking about buying this is that you should definitely look at it first to make sure that the reviews and spoilers don't bother you.
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