How about monthly manga anthologies that aren't released in the UK? Still no. Am I interested in the Chinese animation that appeared at one particular film festival? No, I am not. There are far too many articles that focus on topics that aren't of interest to the average UK consumer. It was also very informative on the various hidden factors that influence anime trends and production.Īs good as it is, this book does however have its weaknesses. I loved hearing all of the industry's dirty little secrets and I felt like I learned a lot about the history of my beloved medium. This is actually a very enjoyable read and as an anime fan, I found very interesting. I referred to this book as 'challenging', but maybe that phrase is misleading. That means you can read an article today and then pick it up again in a month's time and it won't matter one bit. However, it is ideal for someone who only likes to read occassionally, as there is a perfect stopping point at the end of almost every page. This book is nothing like a novel - you can't read it from cover to cover, it takes time and lots of perserverence. This is the first piece of non-fiction I have read since I left school half a lifetime ago, and I must say, I found it quite challenging.

This ranges from inciteful pieces on digital animation and the medium's future, to hilarious anecdotes on the secret life of the industry. Schoolgirl Milky Crisis is a compendium of sorts, collecting together the best articles, essays and speeches from his illustrious career.

He has seen it all, done it all and I'm sure somewhere he has the t-shirt.

Jonathan Clements has been in the anime industry for a long time.

An Heir Comes to Rise by C.C. Peñaranda