Rising Anime Popularity in The Western World

The word Anime is an abbreviation of animation. In English, the dictionary defines it as a style developed in Japan. Since, anime describes all types of animation; Japanimation is applied to differentiate the Japanese work from the rest of the world. In the past few years, anime was recognized as manga in European countries. In Japan manga is considered both comics and animation (though use manga as animation is usually restricted to non- fans).

Anime usually takes influence from light novels, manga and other traditions and culture. Anime can be transmit on TV and is usually distributed through any type of media presentations such as video, DVD and internet. Anime is sometimes considered as Japanimation, but this term is not used now. When it comes to the countries except Japan, this word is referred to the animation that began in Japan.

Anime attract everyone from children to adults and deals with various themes in sports, science fiction, horror and romance. Unlike animation, anime also include few elements of realism like emotions, suffering and death which raises both its pedagogical and content value. Anime popularity is increasing both in terms of range and audience. The children's craze for the Pokémon movies including Pokémon products like different video games shows its wide appeal. One old argument in anime fandom was watching anime movies being redubbed in English.

Today, with the increase in popularity of CDs, most DVD disks include both subtitled and redub track. The rapidly increasing popularity of anime resulted in a large number of clubs, colleges, public libraries and high schools. Different meetings and convention are taking place in many western countries. Anime is taking great fans and sales than ever observed before.

Walt Disney production of Japanese movie "Spirited Away" which even beat "Titanic" in Japan was a great success in the western world. Director of this anime movie Hayao Miyazaki is being praised by the movie fans, for providing attention to the details of minutes relating crafts and arts in the film. Anime programs and movies in the western countries like Fox TV network and Walt Disney added a $2 billion annual profit in the anime film industry. Few years back, there were only few anime series and TV shows, but now every child is associated with Japanese movies and cartoons and is increasing in popularity among teenagers.

A Japanese anime and toy company, Bandai entertainment said that they released 75 different anime movies and TV shows last year in the US, which shows a great increase in demand of anime films as compared to the movies released during the previous years.

Nowadays, anime is the fastest growing industry in DVD and video marketing. A D Vision was the first company developed in US in 1992, now there are more than 20 similar industries. Anime films or movies are comparatively cheap and low cost budget movies. If you think the overall cost of making movie in today's high risk industry then anime is affordable and cheap for example Titanic cost $100 million. Animation success in the west countries is gradual. The first turning point was the facility of internet during 1980's.

Full Anime Movies

What is anime? It is a Japanese animation that uses visual styles. Full anime movies are just like a normal movie in that they tell a story and have a main theme. But they are animated and they usually have very complex stories. They are known for having futuristic themes which are often mature. The number of characters is usually several and the visual style is highly emphasized.

The list of full anime movies is quite extensive. There are even rare and hard to find anime. Even though everyone may not have heard of anime the oldest one known to exist was made in 1917. It is only a two minute clip; nonetheless it is considered the first one to have been screened.

Called "An Obtuse Sword" this is the oldest one known to be in existence. Created as humorous, this anime tells the story of a samurai warrior who through trickery purchases a dull sword. The samurai tries to attack people he passes on the street to see if the sword is really dull. The tables are turned as the people living in the town retaliate and knock the samurai down.

The expansion of anime from Japan to other markets did not really start until the 1960s. During the 1980s and 1990s anime turned into a major export as the full anime movies became quite popular. According to the Japan External Trade Organization anime in the U.S. is worth $4.35 billion. The world loves movies and anime is very popular when it comes to a different twist on the typical movie.

One of the best full anime movies for the family is Spirited Away. Available in English, French and Japanese this movie is rated PG. The story revolves around a young girl that becomes trapped in the world of the spirits and must find her way out of this world. The story as well as the animation is superb and reviews of this anime are all thumbs up.

If you have never seen a full anime movie, you do not know what you are missing. The most common form of anime is known for exaggerating certain aspects of the physical appearance. Huge eyes, very long legs and arms and tall hair are the most common. The subject of the movie may have speech bubbles that are shaped strangely.

Anime can be either drawn by hand or it can be generated by a computer. Today computer anime is much more common especially for the full anime movies. Not only is anime used for movies but it is also used for video, commercials and even television - especially series of shows.

There are many aspects that should alert you to the fact that you are watching anime if you are unaware of the fact. But the main thing you should do is sit back, relax and watch your first full anime movie. Who knows? You may become hooked on them.

V.K. Rajagopalan is a full time Web Publisher. As a Platinum Publisher, he is credited with publishing many high quality, niche based articles at EzineArticles. He owns several Authority Sites in different niches.

He is from New Delhi, India and has been in this line of business activity since end of 2005.

Animation As a Teaching Tool

Animation is not artlessly asinine eye candy. In the appropriate affairs it can be acclimated to acquaint adult concepts beyond abounding levels. It additionally can be a abundant blaster in a chic ambience area acceptance who generally accept difficulties compassionate or communicating accept a anatomy of media which allows them a accomplished new arena field.

Here are some arresting examples of not-so-conventional learning:

Development of planning skills:

All activity requires planning. As a time/art skill, you alone accept a assertive bulk of time (30 frames per additional in video or 24 frames in film) to accomplish an article go from one abode to another. You additionally accept to adjudge if that article has to coact with accession article and adjudge the abutting path.

Understanding action, acknowledgment and consequences:

This leads to free a abbreviate artifice line; a adventure band wherein there is an action, a acknowledgment and a consequence. It consistently gives a apprentice that abrupt fun of that mad scientist activity of captivation the adeptness of conception in their hands. More chiefly it allows them the befalling to accept outcomes and accept aesthetic decisions and activity consequences.

Understanding physics:

Animation uses activity and reaction, which are basal attempt of physics. In addition, the abstraction of cogitating angles, force and dispatch are all implemented in the activity of altar and characters in an activity sequence.

Understanding and communicating the behavior of materials:

Once the compassionate of the physics of activity is mastered, the abutting footfall is the butt of assuming the weight or behavior of a actual visually. A abundant archetype is the use of a simple amphitheater in a aisle of motion. By advantage of its aisle and speed, the amphitheater can arise to float like a airship beyond the screen. A change in that aisle can accomplish the aforementioned amphitheater arise to act like a allotment of chewing gum or alike a brawl fabricated of solid lead.

Understanding and planning chaos:

If the aforementioned amphitheater again became a access of fireworks or an explosion, anniversary new allotment would accept a accidental path. The abstraction of creating a accidental blow is inherently counterintuitive. The apprentice has to actualize a accidental blow and has to plan a anarchic scene. It leads to the adeptness to assignment aback from a final blow such as a arena from an accident.

Understanding three dimensional coordinates:

Because activity is a two dimensional representation with a time coordinate, it armament the student, alike as adolescent as six, to actually be graphing advice on three dimensional level. Intuitively the apprentice is acquirements circuitous algebraic concepts.

Understanding computer programming basics:

Further to the compassionate of algebraic concepts, an activity arrangement actually has the aforementioned consecutive anatomy as a computer program. For example, anniversary cartoon can be represented as a band of code. If a appearance is walking aural a scene, the walking arrangement of one bottom afterwards the added is the aforementioned as a bend of repeating code. If the appearance is accretion in admeasurement it is an accession of a ascent or alternating agency aural the code. The end of the arena could be the end of that cipher sequence.

Interpersonal accomplishment development:

An activated arena has so abounding added elements aural it such that depending on the complication abounding individuals can be accidental to the process. It allows participants to coact against a greater whole. The added befalling for interpersonal accomplishment development would be to accept anniversary alone actualize a arrangement with a alpha and an end which links with accession individual's contribution. The alignment depends on the goals set for the curriculum.

Animation has a attentive and attentive aftereffect aural the artistic process. Once the planning has been finished, the repetitive/manufacturing action takes over. As the artwork takes form, the apprehension of examination of the accomplished assignment takes focus. It is abundant like the ambience up of a domino trail. Although I accept begin best acceptance actual acceptant to the artistic and acclimatized action of animation, it has been my acquaintance that acceptance who were advised apathetic learners, accepting acquirements difficulties or advised underachievers were the actual acceptance that rose up to and surpassed the expectations of those in educational authority. When accustomed the chance, after assumption barriers, acceptance can be affianced and aggressive to actualize allusive works which do backpack over into added areas of their class and life.

As a teaching tool, activity has abounding applications and can accommodate a added akin of acquirements for the student. My best success has appear from never authoritative assumptions about students, alleviative all with account and an accessible mind. Use activity to affect and interact. Accomplish anniversary cartoon and anniversary apprentice count.

Who is Naruto's Girl?

It is always amazing to know how much individuals will get riled up over the love of Naruto's life. Indeed, the love of Naruto's life is the subject of numerous debates as well as flame wars on the web. Either way, we cannot deny the truth that the whole "romance" aspect of this anime makes it more and more interesting. And, as Naruto plays the main role he has to end up with some body, right?

If you watch this series, you will come to know the whole story about it. Once you watch you will come to know that there are two girls who play the main character in this series. Therefore these girls have the opportunities for ending up with the hero Naruto. This will be the same unless Kishimoto who is the author of this series throws in few more female characters onto the story. There are two main girls in this series who are known as Haruno Sakura and Hyuuga Hinata.

Sakura has been always been Naruto's crush. This was the same from the beginning of the series. Even though she is the team mate of Naruto, she was not necessarily Naruto's friend at the starting of team Kakashi. Indeed, Sakura displayed much hostility towards Naruto in the starting of the series. However, she will warm up to Naruto as the series progresses and begins to care him as a friend.

Then you will come across Hinata. Hinata is a very shy girl, like all the other academic girls. From the beginning she had a crush on Naruto. Hinata never looked down on Naruto even though she is very smart than Naruto. On the contrary, her crush on Naruto is huge that she will faint whenever she will come close to Naruto.

The World of Naruto Uzumaki

The whole manga series is based on the ninja world. It takes place in a virtual world consisting of five great nations and two-three other nations that are not so important. The main character Uzumaki Naruto resides in the hidden leaf village located in the Land of fire also know as the Konohagakure which is lead by the Hokage. The people of hidden leaf village are said to follow the will of fire. It is featured mainly during the series and most of the happenings take place there in the series.

The other Nations are:

Land of Wind - It hosts the Hidden village of sand lead by Kazekage.The ninjas of this village specialize in wind based Justus however it has been seen in the series that they also use puppets for fighting.The Current Kazekage.The Garra is a very good friend of Naruto.

Land of Water - It hosts the Village Hidden in Mist also known as the Bloody mist as it used the brutal methods such as killing own comrades for graduation for training. It is also home to the seven swordsmen who can wield heavy swords and have massive amount of chakra.

Land of Lightning -- It hosts the Village Hidden in the Clouds lead by the Raikage. The ninjas of this village specialize in lighting based Justus.

Land of Earth -- It hosts the Hidden village of earth lead by Tsuchikage. The ninjas of this village specialize in Earth based Justus.

The other villages that had been featured in the manga but are not that much important:-

Land of Waves - It is shown in the very beginning of the manga and the Naruto gets his real combat experience there only where his team fights one of the seven swordsman namely Zabuza. It does not have any of the hidden village.

Land of Rice - It hosts the hidden village of sound that was lead by Orochimaru. The ninjas of this village specialize in the Sound based Justus but the main purpose of this village was to act as a safe house for the Orochimaru to conduct his experiments.

Land of Star -- It hosts the hidden village of star. It was shown in the anime series not as a part of the original manga series.

The Start of Uzumaki Naruto

Naruto is a complex and delightful story of a difficult child who wants to be the greatest Ninja ever. Like many of the anime that were derived from their manga, it has developed a great and loyal following, not merely because of the complexity, but the intense emotions and deep motivations. Uzumaki Naruto is a child that many children his age can identify with. It is a story of heroes and challenges, with just the right amount of silliness, humor, and budding romance.

In the beginning, Naruto is a noisy, arrogant, troublesome child, who performs disrespectful pranks around his village. He thinks he is going to be the greatest ninja ever, yet when he is tested, cannot perform even the simplest of techniques which all the other students have mastered. Alone, without any parents to look after him, he is identified with by his teacher, Iruka-sensei, who has also been alone since he was a child. It is known to everyone in the village, but not to Naruto, that he has a monster nine-tailed fox sealed inside of him. Twelve years earlier, the demon fox had attacked the village, destroying it, and killing Iruka's parents. But the village recovered, and the demon fox was neutralized by sealing it inside the newly-born child, Uzumaki Naruto. It was forbidden for anyone in the village to ever reveal the truth to others, especially to the child himself.

Alone, unrecognized and despised by everybody, Naruto performs his pranks to try to gain attention. In the end, when another final exam comes by, all the students are given the chance to demonstrate their developing ninja powers. Everyone passes, except Naruto, who attempts to create a replication of himself, but only succeeds in creating an absurd, weak, useless replication. Iruka, his teacher, has no choice but to fail him. Naruto is depressed, seeing everyone else graduate and acquire the symbol of graduation, a metal plate with the village symbol that they wear as a forehead protector.

Fate and an evil force conspire to give Naruto a second chance. A sly and untrustworthy teacher, Mizuki-sensei, befriends Naruto and convinces him that he can graduate if he steals the Scroll of Sealing and uses its immense and dangerous powers to learn impressive techniques that will allow him to pass. Secretly, Mizuki manipulates Naruto for his own ambition to steal the scroll. He is prepared to kill Naruto in the process.

Naruto steals the scroll and learns one primary and powerful technique. The head of the village, the Hokage-sama is angry by the theft, and sends the village ninjas out to find the childish thief. They are angry, saying that this was no mere prank, but a very dangerous act. Even Hokage-sama realizes that Naruto can cause great damage, and may even be able to unwittingly unseal the demon fox within him.

When Iruka has found Naruto, the boy is confused and exhausted. He has practised over and over one of the forbidden techniques. The teacher and student are set upon by Mizuki. The traitorous sensei injures and disables Iruka, ready to take the next step and steal the scroll and kill both witnesses. Iruka protects Naruto, who runs away, scampering off on all fours just like a fox. Mizuki pursues and catches up, but Iruka appears and is able to protect his student once more. When Naruto finds out the truth about the demon fox sealed inside of him, he realizes that Iruka is a loyal teacher and friend, who has only ever tried to help him. Mizuki attacks, but Naruto, still just a boy, unleashes his newly-developed technique of multiple shadow replication. The astonished Mizuki is beaten up by the hundreds of Naruto duplicates. Iruka is impressed, deciding then to graduate the boy. He gives Naruto his metal forehead protector as a symbol, and the boy is pleased and proud. But the wise Iruka-sensei warns the boy that the path of the ninja is just beginning and it will be a lot harder from here-on. Episode one ends on a note that is upbeat and with the anticipation of many adventures and lessons to come.

Who Will End Up With Naruto?

Haruno Sakura has always been the crush of Naruto. Sakura was not that interested in Naruto in the beginning of the series where showed a lot of hostility to Naruto. Gradually, they both become friends and this makes Sakura care for Naruto as a friend. This relationship can end in romance, as they both are the leading characters of the series. However, Sakura is romantically involved with Sazuke, the biggest enemy of Naruto in the series. This can be the chief hindrance in Sakura being the romantic partner of Naruto.

Even though, Sakura and Sazuke are not in great terms now, she still loves him and there are great chances for both to be reunited. The chances are high, as Sazuke has once called Sakura, one of his precious people and Sakura still loving him.

Hyuuga Hinata is another character in the series that has chances of ending up with Naruto. Hinata is a girl who has a crush on Naruto right from the beginning. She is a shy girl and the crush she has on Naruto is so strong that she faints whenever she goes near him. Even though she is smarter than Naruto, she has never seen him that way.

Hinata is one among the few people who admires Naruto from the beginning for his courage, strength, confidence and determination. All that takes Hinata to end up with Naruto is a little courage for her to go up to him and make the confession. Most probably, Naruto will end up with Hinata and Sakura with Sazuke.

Naruto Episodes 1 - 5

Episode 1 "Homecoming"

Naruto Uzumaki returns to Konoha after a two-and-a-half-year training journey with Jiraiya. He is reintroduced to his peers, who have all advanced to Chunin rank and beyond, unlike Naruto who is still a Genin. Elsewhere, two members of Akatsuki head towards Sunagakure to capture Gaara, who has since become the Kazekage, the village leader.

Episode 2 "Akatsuki makes its move"

Jiraiya tells Kakashi Hatake that Akatsuki's plan to collect the tailed beasts is underway. Because of the Demon Fox inside him, Naruto is in danger any time he leaves the village, so Jiraiya relinquishes Naruto's training to Kakashi, who can ensure his safety. Kakashi gives Naruto and Sakura Haruno a test to see how far they have mproved. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki members Deidara and Sasori arrive at the entrance of the Sunagakure. They discover that Yura, their sleeper agent, has already cleared the guards.

Epsiode 3 "The Results of Training"

Kakashi challenges Naruto and Sakura with the bell test, in which they must forcefully take from Kakashi two jingle bells using whatever means necessary. Sakura and Naruto both demonstrate their newly acquired skills. At Sunagakure, Deidara reveals his ability to manipulate exploding clay. He takes to the skies aboard a giant clay bird and begins his aerial assault by lobbing exploding clay spiders onto the guards, instantly killing them. As soon as he makes it to the Kazekage building, however, he finds Gaara there waiting for him.

Episode 4 "Jinchuriki of the Sand"

Naruto and Sakura both realize that even though they have vastly improved, they are still no match for Kakashi's superior techniques, as he too has become stronger, and decide to resort to more unconventional means. They win the challenge by threatening to spoil the ending of Kakashi's new novel, forcing him to cover his ears and shut his eyes because of the Sharingan's ability to read lips. Meanwhile, Deidara and Gaara begin their battle. Deidara finds a formidable challenge in Gaara's abilities to control and manipulate sand.

Episode 5 "As the Kazekage...!"

Deidara sees that subduing the Kazekage is not as easy as he thought. He hurls exploding clay at Gaara to no effect, as Gaara can quickly summon a shield of sand around him with relative ease. Gaara then commands his sand to attack Deidara who has no choice but to try to evade. Gaara's sand eventually catches up with Deidara and crushes his arm.

Naruto Shippuuden 117

Sasuke takes Karin and Suigetsu to go find Jugo in the North hideout. As when Sasuke went to recruit Karen, Suigetsu asks Sasuke why he wants to recruit Jugo. Jugo is known to be a blood thirst killing machine when the curse mark takes over. Apparently, Sasuke seems some advantage in having Jugo's strength on his side. Or perhaps it's the fact that Jugo is the originator of the curse mark.

Suigetsu and Karin are still reluctant to admit that they're following Sasuke of their own will. They both insist that they have other plans and that following along with Sasuke somehow will help them to reach their goals. It seems pretty obvious that they will stick with him til the end though.

They reach the North hideout to find that all of the guards have been slain and Orochimaru's test subjects have escaped. Despite their escape, the test subjects seem to be lingering around, taking over the hideout. However, Jugo is still locked up inside. Apparently, all of Orochimaru's other test subjects are afraid of him.
Sasuke and Suigetsu go on an Orochimaru's test subject butt kicking spree. At Sasuke's request, none of the test subjects are killed. Then the search for Jugo commences with Karin at the lead searching for signs of his chakra. She takes the opportunity to trick Suigetsu into walking down the wrong path while she steals some private time along with Sasuke.

Though nothing particularly interesting happens during this private time, Karin leads Sasuke to where Jugo is kept. Jugo leaves his prison with a ferocity of bloodlust, planning to kill Sasuke. Sasuke has another plan in mind. Instead of fighting, he'd rather be diplomatic and talk to Jugo about joining his group. Jugo, however, is reluctant to leave the hideout. The episode tapers off mid-fight between Sasuke and Jugo. The next episode will surely cover the reason that Jugo does not want to leave the North hideout.

The World of Naruto

The seriousness of the Naruto story is often intermixed by pure silliness, but it all serves a purpose, propelling the young superhero forward on his path of adventure and growth.

After meeting Konohamaru, the annoying and aggressive grandson of the village Hokage, Naruto shows him no mercy, smacking him down before heading out the door. The child, seeking to become the next great village master ninja, The Fifth Hokage, becomes Naruto's follower, trying at first to remain unseen, but his efforts are ridiculously inadequate. He quickly learns to respect the older and somewhat wiser Naruto, deciding that he should become a student of the new graduate.

We are then introduced to information about the ninja's energy source, a substance that Naruto incorrectly identifies as chatora, meaning brown tiger. His young student is confused, envisions a large brown cat, then corrects his master, revealing that the word is actually chakra. Naruto covers his error, by telling the kid to "Shut up. Good Ninjas call it Chatora." We then learn that Chakra is the energy that you use to execute a technique. It is the inside body and spirit energy which can accumulate through experience and training. When you mix together training and experience, a seal is formed and the technique can be executed. It was Konohamaru who quoted this to his new-found teacher, Naruto being unfamiliar with the actual definition, although of its use his skills were much advanced.

Given this knowledge, the two young students embark on a training exercise, Naruto, teaching his very young charge, the silly and sexy "temptation" technique. The older Naruto is able to transform into a very beautiful girl, while the younger boy's efforts results in a fat, ugly hag. The combination of comedy and the logic behind the ninja lifestyle, lead to Naruto conducting the boy to various locations not very suitable for a boy his age. They go to a book store that sells girlie magazines so that they can "research pheromones". After the owner kicks them out, they head off to a woman's change room where they transform into girls before entering. Once again they are kicked out, with Naruto receiving a beating in the process. Here, we are introduced to the topic that Naruto is an older boy with a developing interest in girls, which will lead to complications in upcoming episodes.

When the younger boy's guardian, an elite Ninja master, finally catches up to them, he is upset that Naruto should be teaching so much nonsense to the grandson of the Third Hokage. "Young master, you are only going to get dumber and dumber if you hang around Naruto."

A showdown then ensues, but unlike the more serious and damaging fight of the earlier episode when Naruto earned his right to graduate by defeating a dangerous rival, the fight is much more comedic. Naruto surprises everyone by executing a combination of his Shadow Replication Technique (producing a hundred copies of himself) and his Temptation Technique, changing all of his duplicates into sexy women who ultimately subdue the distracted elite teacher. Witnessing this conflict on his crystal ball, the Third Hokage can only sadly conclude: "He made another stupid technique. I'll fall for it for sure, probably."

As the two young students part company, both realize they have parallel ambitions of becoming great Ninjas and achieving wide recognition. For now, this light-hearted view of the two immature students, much like the blind leading the blind, has introduced us to a variety of Ninja principles, attitudes, techniques, and resources, the most important of all being the power that could reside within all of us. Known as "chakra" here, the substance has been referenced in many works of fantasy and science fiction, not the least of which includes Star Wars, where it is known as "The Force." Here it is much more complex, though we are reminded of the growth of the youthful hero, Luke Skywalker, whenever we encounter Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto Episode Guide - Naruto 3

In this episode we're introduced to the majority of the characters that will make up the base for the Naruto anime and manga series. We're also briefly introduced to the relationships that they share. For example, it becomes obvious early on that Sakura and Ino are rivals. It also becomes obvious that Naruto has a crush on Sakura, Sakura has a crush on Sasuke, and Hinata has a crush on Naruto.

At the beginning of this episode, we watch Naruto enjoy a seemingly innocent breakfast before his first meeting as a real ninja. Though it doesn't seem so at the time, this scene is important relative to the rest of the episode. Naruto arrives at the academy to be paired up in a three man squad. Shortly after entering, Sakura and Ino come into the classroom and begin arguing over who will sit next to Sasuke. Seeing Sasuke as a threat, not just romantically but in many other areas, Naruto decides to get up in his face, which leads to the classic Sasuke and Naruto kiss, one of the most memorable scenes of the anime early on.

Being paired up with Sasuke is the last thing that Naruto wanted, while being paired up with Sakura was exactly what he wanted. This begins the love hate triangle that we get to witness in the coming episodes. Sakura tries desperately to get Sasuke's attention whilst snubbing Naruto all the while despite his vying for her attention. Sasuke, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with either one of them.

Naruto breaks into Sasuke's room and ties him up, transforming into Sasuke in an attempt to get closer to Sakura. He plays it smooth getting close to her and asks what Sakura thinks of Naruto. Sakura replies that she thinks Naruto is annoying, which hurts his feelings but doesn't stop him from continuing to play as Sasuke and try for a kiss. Just before the moment of magic occurs, Naruto gets a raging case of diarrhea and must rush off to the bathroom. At this point, Sasuke has freed himself and is looking for Naruto. Sasuke passes by Sakura and she looks at him wantonly, expecting the scene to pick back up where it left off and result in a romantic kiss. The real Sasuke is not interested though and lets Sakura know that he thinks she's annoying. There is also a brief snippet in this conversation that reveals that Sasuke, like Naruto, is orphaned.

Sasuke bumps into Naruto as Naruto is leaving the bathroom, and though for a moment we get the excited thought that they might have their first rival battle, it is not to be. Naruto's stomach acts back up and he leaves Sasuke standing there dumb founded. Seconds later, Sasuke decides it's not worth his time and walks away. The cause of Naruto's tummy ache? Sour milk from his morning breakfast.

The Rurouni Kenshin Anime Review

Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin, also known as Samurai X in its English-dubbed version, became one of the most popular Anime series. It was derived from the Manga (a term for the Japanese comic book) that was published in 1992 by Shueisha in Japan. Although the TV series started around 10 years ago, this Anime is still a popular title up to the time this article was written, and probably will still be popular for some years to come. There are a lot of reason why this anime is so popular but the main reason is that it is somewhat different from most of the Anime series that came out. Like any other popular Anime series, it has a hero with an interesting character, has an exciting plot, a mix of comedy, drama, and awesome fighting action. But what separates this Anime from the others is that its fiction lies behind a factual history. The setting and the events in the background do exist and can be found in the records of Japanese history.

The whole story found in the 95 episodes of the TV series happened in the 19th century Japan in a period known as the Meiji Era, in its early years. The hero, a wanderer named Kenshin Himura, was once an skillful assassin for the Choshou clan (one of the oppositions to the Tokugawa government) and fought during the Bakumatsu war. After the war, he decided to change his ways and swore not to kill. During his journey, he met Kaoru Kamiya, a young girl who lived in his late father's dojo found in Tokyo, where they met their friends. That includes Sanosuke, an ex-gangster who was hired by a revenge-seeking menace to kill Kenshin. After their fight, Sanosuke also decided to join Kenshin's friendly gang.

Also there's Yahiko, a young thief adopted by Kaoru, and other interesting characters. Most of their villains were also warriors who can't let go of the old ways. Some of them are Aoshi Shinomori, who was once the leader of Oniwa Banshu (an elite group of ninjas back in the Edo Period), and Shishio Makoto, who was also an assassin during the war. The series can be divided into three parts. First is the Tokyo Arc, which is the sum of Kenshin's adventures that happened in Tokyo. Next is the Kyoto Arc, the one I consider (and I believe most Rurouni Kenshin fans would agree) as the main part of the whole series. Here, Kenshin and his friends travels to Kyoto to stop a terrorist group, lead by a former assassin, Shishio Makoto, from its evil plans to destroy the government. Following the Kyoto Arc are the final episodes where Kenshin and his friends continues their adventure. This TV series was aired on Cartoon Network and Animax.

On December of 1997, A Rurouni Kenshin Movie was released in Japan. It was entitled "Ishin Shishi no Requiem" (entitled Samurai X: The Motion Picture in the English-dubbed version). Here, Kenshin and his friends travels to Yokohama where they are caught between an attempt for a civil war against the Meiji Government. Two years after it's release, the first Rurouni Kenshin OAV (Original Animated Video) was released, entitled Tsuioku Hen (Samurai X: Remembrance). This OAV is an awesome 4-episode special for Rurouni Kenshin that shows the life of Kenshin as Hitokiri Battousai, or the assassin that he used to be. In several aspects, this OAV is very different from the TV series and the movie.

The graphics and animation is higher in quality and more life-like, the fight scenes are truly spectacular, and the story, dialogs, and everything is a lot more emotional. Most of the characters that appeared in the TV series weren't present and in the story, Kenshin had a wife named Tomoe Yukishiro. While this OAV supposedly happened before the TV series, the second OAV, entitled Seisou Hen (Samura X: Reflection) is set after the story in the TV series. This time, Kenshin was already married to Kaoru and they had a son named Kenji who is also learning his father's technique from the master, Seijuro Hiko. The main villain in the story (who also appeared in the first OAV) is Enishi Yukishiro, Tomoe's little brother. Seisou Hen was released in Japan on December, 2001.

Rurouni Kenshin is truly a work of art. No wonder why a lot of people considered this Anime as their favorite. For the past years that Rurouni Kenshin reached the peak of its popularity, a lot of websites that are dedicated to this Anime series had emerged. Some of them features episode guides, character profiles, and other information about the Rurouni Kenshin Anime and Manga.

Naruto - The Animanga Series

The following is a brief outline of the Japanese animanga series, Naruto (contains Manga spoilers).

The story of Naruto follows young Uzumaki Naruto on his journey through the ninja world. Naruto grows up with quite a burden to carry as he soon learns he is the container or Jinchuuriki of one of the Tailed Beasts - the Nine Tailed Demon Fox. The reason, as I understand at least, for Naruto being the container was that when the Fox attacked the village, the village's leader, called the Hokage, who we now know was Naruto's father, had to seal the Fox in order to save the village of Konoha. It seems logical that Yondaime (the Hokage) would choose his own son to seal the Fox within for reasons which I won't go into here. Unfortunately this act of sealing the Fox cost Yondaime his life and so far we are unsure of how Naruto's mother died.

As a result of being the container of the Fox who many years ago wreaked havoc in Konoha and killed dozens of ninja, Naruto grows up being hated throughout the village and ends up being a bit of a troublemaker in an attempt to get attention from others. In the long run though, we see that this gives Naruto unbelievable mental strength and his attitude to never give up often shows up in the storyline. Had Naruto not been hated in his childhood, which his father had obviously wished against, he might not have turned out to be the exceptional individual we see in the Manga at present.

Aside from Naruto, the story closely follows the lives of other ninja, most notably Naruto's rival and friend, Uchiha Sasuke. The life of Sasuke develops in complexity as the story goes on and it brings yet another theme into Naruto as the young Uchiha is set on revenge for the massacre of his clan by his brother Itachi. An amazing twist in the plot more recently changes everything for Sasuke and it becomes very hard to tell just what Sasuke is thinking which makes this series even more exciting than it already was.

Other major characters in the series include Haruno Sakura and Hatake Kakashi, Naruto's teammate and Sensei, all of whom along with Sasuke and the main character himself make up Team Seven. Others include Jiraiya one of the legendary three ninja who is responsible for teaching Naruto his more advanced ninja techniques along with Tsunade, Iruka and many more.

Animated Soccer - Animated Soccer Training Drills

Animated soccer drills are an effective alternative in teaching soccer. Indeed, coaching is a challenging role and takes a lot of dedication. As a soccer coach, you are responsible in teaching the sport to your players.

It is more difficult to train younger players compared to adult players. Young players can not easily understand information being taught. If the traditional methods of training do not work with them, you should find another method of teaching. Since most children love to play computer games, then why not use their interest on this to take advantage in teaching them.

Software called the 3D coaching is one of the latest developments in teaching soccer drills. It was designed by Grass Roots Coaching. This software is a simulation of the sport which features easy control methods. With this tool, it can be easier to teach the younger children on specific training drills which they can follow and practice. Because it uses 3D graphics, young children will become more interested and attentive in learning. While learning, they can also enjoy at the same time.

The training drill comes with text information which goes along with the animation. The text contains through explanation on specific drills which can be easily understood. This program allows you to control the animated drills. You control the camera angle as well as you can zoom in and out.

This training method is a great technological advancement which helps coaches and trainers in teaching the sport to the young children. Animated soccer drill provides the easiest method easily understandable by kids.

All About Anime, Manga, And Western Animation

The word anime is almost synonymous with Japanese culture, where it is as much a part of society as the newspaper or magazine. Most anime are actually derived from their manga (comic) counterparts, and the word is basically an abbreviation of animation, but specifically cartoon or comic animation. In fact, manga is a very popular form of literature in Asian countries, and a lof of manga titles are actually have a historical or contemporary flavour to it.

However, it might surprise many to know that there is not a lot of differences between Western and Eastern animation. Both share many common techniques and approaches, but perhaps Western animations have been trending towards using more sophisticated technology. Many of the most famous creators of anime still prefer to do things using the traditional methods, and are less reliant on computers and technology.

The biggest difference between the two styles of anime are probably the types of genres explored in the animation, and some of the peculiar features that are only found in Eastern animation.

Since anime and manga is such a big part of Eastern culture (you can find manga book shops everywhere in countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan), it tends to be more broad in the topics covered. Themes such as sports, relationships, history, military, political, humour and medicine or science have all been the subject of anime. In fact, there is probably an anime or manga for just about anything that you can think of. However, Western culture seem to be very specific with its animations, and tend to focus on heroes and villians, actions and consequences.

Some of the most interesting features of Asian anime is the use of dialogues within the dialogues. That is, as a particular scene is unfolding, there will be commentary from the characters within the animation providing a third person perspective from people involved in the plot. Also, the interplay between imaginary and real-life is often strong, with characters able to take words out of their speech bubble, or pull out various instruments from empty space.

To give you a taste of Japanese anime, and understand soem of the things we've been talking about, have a look at some of the most popular Japanese: Naruto, Blackjac, Eyeshield 21, Slam Dunk. If there is something you are interested in, you will almost certainly find an anime or manga that covers the topic. So why not take a look in your favourite bookstore today, you never know just what you'll discover.