Rating: 
Summary: A very detailed book...
Review: The author starts off with the history of anime and manga then gets into folktales, hardcore anime, themes, the Way of the Warrior and the Way of the Teeenage Girl, Japanese mothers, Christianity, Shinto, Idols, nature, war and anti-war themes, birth, death and rebirth, giant robots, Sailor Moon, Pokemon and so much more.
SOME of the things that the author presents as facts are wrong. For example, on page 122, says "Long ago, two members of the interplantary noble house of Jurai traveled to Earth: Tenchi Masaki's mother...and grandfather Yosho-" which is wrong. Achika, Tenchi's mother was born on Earth. Yosho had been on Earth for over 700 years guarding the Masaki Shrine. As he was chasing the dangerous pirate-demon, Ryoko, I DOUBT he brought a baby along for the ride.
Also, at the end, the author tells you the book is based on his own favorites. What happened to list of resources, the titles of anime and manga and history books we should read? If you want to be told what to watch and read DON'T buy this book. This author wants you to think. How un-American.
Oh, the afterword is also kind of weak.
I would suggest this book for a person who just entered the world of anime. It is newer than most and VERY detailed.
Rating: 
Summary: Good information - flawed organization
Review: The book appears at first to be an in-depth review of the anime phenomenon and claims to offer insights into the Japanese understanding of the medium. Unfortunately, once one starts asking questions of his assumptions, the whole structure crumbles. This book operates under the fallacy that what you see in anime reflects the values of the Japanese people (just like "South Park" reflects American values, right?), so we get concepts like "yasashii" thrust at us, and claims like "harmony is the most important thing to the Japanese." He overlooks the concept that the Japanese are not a monolithic people and seems to indicate that all the Japanese think alike on an issue.
Actually, the author seems to base his theory that anime is great on the basis that it's not American and his praises of Japan frequently revolve around knocking American moral values (there are quite a few asides to the evils of "conservative America")
Similar to Susan J Napier's book on anime, this book takes the author's preconceived notions and forcs examples to fit them, even when they don't have the meaning he tries to make them convey.
This would be more tolerable if his writing style was not so imperious, giving the impression that these views were solid and immutable facts instead of opinions
Rating: 
Summary: Many Words, Few Insights, None Correct
Review: The book appears at first to be an in-depth review of the anime phenomenon and claims to offer insights into the Japanese understanding of the medium. Unfortunately, once one starts asking questions of his assumptions, the whole structure crumbles. This book operates under the fallacy that what you see in anime reflects the values of the Japanese people (just like "South Park" reflects American values, right?), so we get concepts like "yasashii" thrust at us, and claims like "harmony is the most important thing to the Japanese." He overlooks the concept that the Japanese are not a monolithic people and seems to indicate that all the Japanese think alike on an issue.
Actually, the author seems to base his theory that anime is great on the basis that it's not American and his praises of Japan frequently revolve around knocking American moral values (there are quite a few asides to the evils of "conservative America")
Similar to Susan J Napier's book on anime, this book takes the author's preconceived notions and forcs examples to fit them, even when they don't have the meaning he tries to make them convey.
This would be more tolerable if his writing style was not so imperious, giving the impression that these views were solid and immutable facts instead of opinions
Rating: 
Summary: Accessible, Informative, and Downright Fun.
Review: What most newcomers to Japanese anime (neo-otaku) miss out on is the culture that lies behind the films. Since anime owes some of its roots to American comics and animation there is a lot of common ground, and it is possible to skate along for some time before the viewer begins to sense that there is a whole subtext going on with which they have no connection. This is the point where a loyal addict starts reading about anime in between watching DVD's of their favorite episodes.Patrick Drazen's 'Anime Explosion' is the perfect book to begin a deep dive into anime. It begins with history and then follows key themes and genre. This discussion alone is well worth the price of admission because it reveals where American and Japanese viewpoints diverge. This helps the viewer to 'get' many things that used to leave one vaguely confused and dissatisfied. He also dispels a few urban legends about anime in the process. If you are like me, you got focused on the Christian imagery in Evangelion, but completely failed to realize that the real legendary context is from Japanese myths like Kojiki. It is all a bit like getting a viewpoint adjustment. The second major part of the book discusses, particular films, directors, composers. Drazen does not make the mistake of trying to cover everything. He makes the right decision - that the reader will benefit more from Evangelion, Escaflowne, Ghibli and Shirow in some depth than from a lot of little tidbits that are more appropriately to attempts at encyclopedic coverage. These are like practice sessions that gradually hone the reader's ability to see the how and why of what is Japanese in anime. And this helps us vastly increase our ability to enjoy Japanese animation. Which has come a very long way from its origins. I would consider this a must read book in this subject area. It helps greatly that Drazen has considerable writing skills and makes learning all this almost effortless. Even more than a little funny if you don't mind an occasional horrible pun. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Accessible, Informative, and Downright Fun.
Review: What most newcomers to Japanese anime (neo-otaku) miss out on is the culture that lies behind the films. Since anime owes some of its roots to American comics and animation there is a lot of common ground, and it is possible to skate along for some time before the viewer begins to sense that there is a whole subtext going on with which they have no connection. This is the point where a loyal addict starts reading about anime in between watching DVD's of their favorite episodes. Patrick Drazen's 'Anime Explosion' is the perfect book to begin a deep dive into anime. It begins with history and then follows key themes and genre. This discussion alone is well worth the price of admission because it reveals where American and Japanese viewpoints diverge. This helps the viewer to 'get' many things that used to leave one vaguely confused and dissatisfied. He also dispels a few urban legends about anime in the process. If you are like me, you got focused on the Christian imagery in Evangelion, but completely failed to realize that the real legendary context is from Japanese myths like Kojiki. It is all a bit like getting a viewpoint adjustment. The second major part of the book discusses, particular films, directors, composers. Drazen does not make the mistake of trying to cover everything. He makes the right decision - that the reader will benefit more from Evangelion, Escaflowne, Ghibli and Shirow in some depth than from a lot of little tidbits that are more appropriately to attempts at encyclopedic coverage. These are like practice sessions that gradually hone the reader's ability to see the how and why of what is Japanese in anime. And this helps us vastly increase our ability to enjoy Japanese animation. Which has come a very long way from its origins. I would consider this a must read book in this subject area. It helps greatly that Drazen has considerable writing skills and makes learning all this almost effortless. Even more than a little funny if you don't mind an occasional horrible pun. Highly recommended.
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