Super Discount Updated

S u p e r    D i s c o u n t   !

Pick any 30 B&W issues for $45.00 ! OR Pick any 5 B&W issues for $15.00 ! OR Pick any 5 Color issues for $20.00 ! OR Get all Color issues for $35.00 ! Order Now ! (Make sure you read carefully our ordering & shipping policy first and please also check the Order Status and Order Inquiries information on our blog)

Moving

We are currently in the process of moving our offices to a new location. For the next couple of months, this *might* cause some delay in order processing.

Production & shipping update

All back issues orders received between 2010/03/05 and 2010/06/16 were shipped Wednesday (for Canadian orders) and today (for U.S. and International orders). They should be received within a week (for Canada & USA) or two (for overseas). We're sorry for this exceptionally long delay and will do our best to ship your future orders as quickly as possible.

We would like to remind you that, as stated in our ordering & shipping policy, we generally do not answer order inquiries. All answers to your questions should be found in our detailed “ordering & shipping policy” or the “order inquiries” and “order status” entries of the blog. Also, we do our best to ship orders every month or so—sometimes we can do it every two weeks but it can also takes up to two months (or even more, like it was the case lately). Unfortunately we have quite a small staff and we ship orders whenever we can drive to the closest USPS outlet. Finally, please do not file a dispute with PayPal “resolution center” because it would only cause more delay to your order (since in such cases PayPal is freezing payments and—the money having been withdrawn from our account—we would never ship an order for which we don't have the payment...). Please, just be patient.

Lots of people are wondering what's happening with the magazine and that's understandable. Well, it is still going on, but at a much slower pace. As it was previously announced, the magazine has cut its staff, reduced its frequency and temporarily suspended publication in order to implement production and distribution changes. Unfortunately, this hiatus has been much longer than anticipated because we misjuged the production capability of a reduced staff and encountered several production problems. We are quite sorry for this situation and be assured that our small staff of part-timers and volunteers is doing the best they can. Most of us are professionals (with “day jobs” in the anime or publishing-related industries) and we are working as hard as we can on the magazine, as a service to fellow anime fans, because of our love for anime and manga.

We might have stopped taking new subscriptions, but—don't worry—the magazine will still be available on an issue-by-issue basis, current subscriptions will still be honored and the next issue will come out eventually. Yes, we are way behind schedule and we had to change some of the content, but it is coming out. As Zac recently said in the forum about issue 98's release: “We're closer now than we've ever been. However we have a whopping staff of 2 people working on it and that's part-time. Slow boat, but it'll be done sooner rather than later.” And, just to be sure, we won't announce a street date until the issue is done and being printed. Again, please just be patient. You won't be disappointed...

Stay tuned, we still have many projects to come...

Subscriptions no longer available

Due to the magazine's now irregular schedule, we have decided to stop selling subscriptions. Please note that we will continue to honor existing subscriptions and that you can still order the magazine issue by issue.

To order the magazine please visit our online catalog.

For more information you can read our updated ordering & shipping policy.

Happy Holidays to all !

Merry Holidays & Happy New Year to all from Miyako, myself and all the staff of Protoculture!

May 2010 brings you all that you wish...

Panel cancellation

We apologize to all the people who came to our Otakuthon panel.

Unfortunately, a member of the staff had a medical emergency that prevented us to present the panel.

Press Release: Protoculture Addicts To Release 80 Anime You Must Watch!

Montreal QC, June 15, 2009 — Anime News Network and Protoculture Inc. present the all new Protoculture Addicts guide to 80 Anime You Must Watch! Whether you're a long time anime fan, or just getting started, this guide will introduce you to some of the most interesting anime you've never heard of. We've selected the best anime, the most thought-provoking anime, the funniest anime, and the most unique anime, and brought them together in one place. A perfect starting point for new anime fans, and a damn good way for the veteran otaku to find the best anime they've missed. Also includes the ten most overrated anime, ten best soundtracks and several other “top-10” lists. The Protoculture Addicts guide to 80 Anime You Must Watch! is priced at $7.95 and offers 100 pages of your best guide to anime culture!

In a letter sent to subscribers and posted on the magazine's blog (http://protoculture-mag.blogspot.com/), Protoculture Inc., the publisher of Anime News Network's Protoculture Addicts, explained why the magazine has not been published for several months and is detailed the magazine's new schedule and format.

The letter revealed that the magazine was experiencing difficulty due to the combined effects of multiple factors (not only the global recession, but also a crisis in both the anime and magazine publishing industries, as well as the fact that the editor-in-chief was having health issues). Therefore, like many other anime industry companies, Protoculture had to make cutbacks and delay the release of the magazine in order to restructure its production process and adjust the magazine format to make it more appealing to readers.

“No, Protoculture Addicts is not dead”, reassures Claude J Pelletier, co-publisher and production manager. “It is just experiencing a longer hiatus than usual. However, most of our readers are probably used to such delays since the magazine has always been somewhat irregular. Strangely, what can be seen at first as a major inconvenience, can sometimes become a blessing. The fact that we have a small (but very dedicated) staff sometimes presents problems, but it can also become our greatest asset during such challenging times. It makes us more flexible and versatile, and that's why the magazine has survived for so long and will endure even longer.”

In order to make the magazine more competitive during the current economic challenge, Protoculture is, for the moment, reducing the frequency of the magazine to two or three issues per year. The magazine's focus is also changing, making of each release a special issue dedicated entirely to one topic. “It's a complete departure from our previous magazine format”, says publisher Christopher Macdonald, “as it is now designed to be less of a periodical and more of a collector's magazine.” However, Macdonald insists that if the magazine had to adapt to the changing media world by providing contents with a longer shelf-life, its mission remains the same. “We still seek to introduce you to exciting facets of anime culture that you may not have previously explored.”

For 2009, Protoculture is planning only two thematic issues, one to be released in Summer (around late-July) and the other in Fall. The first thematic issue (officially issue #98) will be 80 Anime You Must Watch!

The magazine will be available to retailers from Distributors such as Diamond, AAA Anime, Disticor and directly from Protoculture. While it will not be available to consumers from regular book and newstand magazine stores such as Borders, readers can request it at their local comic-book & hobby shop or order it directly from Protoculture's website (http://www.protoculture-mag.com). The subscription fee remains at $30.00 US/CND for six issues despite the cover price change to $7.95 US/CND.

Anyone interested in Advertising should contact Christopher Macdonald at advertising@animenewsnetwork.com.

ABOUT ANIME NEWS NETWORK:

With over 30 million impressions a month and one hundred thousand visits a day, Anime News Network (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com) is the Internet's leading source of anime and manga news. ANN provides North American readers with up to date news, views and reviews regarding the North American and Japanese anime industries.

ABOUT PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS:

Protoculture Addicts is North America's longest running anime and manga magazine, first published in 1987. In 2005 Protoculture Addicts joined Anime News Network to take advantage of one of the most dynamic rosters of writers and contributors in the North American anime industry.

80 Anime You Must Watch!

Anime News Network presents the all new Protoculture Addicts guide to 80 Anime You Must Watch!

Whether you're a long time anime fan, or just getting started, this guide will introduce you to some of the most interesting anime you've never heard of. We've selected the best anime, the most thought-provoking anime, the funniest anime, and the most unique anime, and brought them together in one place. A perfect starting point for new anime fans, and a damn good way for the veteran otaku to find the best anime they've missed. Also includes the ten most overrated anime, ten best soundtracks and several other “top-10” lists. (Not final cover artwork)

The Protoculture Addicts guide to 80 Anime You Must Watch! is priced at $7.95 and offers in full color 100 pages of your best guide to anime culture! Don't miss it!

Available this Summer in all good comic-book or hobby specialty stores (from Distributors such as Diamond or AAA Anime) or directly from Protoculture.

Letter to the readers

Dear Readers:

You are certainly well aware of the current difficult economic situation that affects us all in our daily life. Unfortunately, on top of this challenging economic situation, there are many other factors that are also hurting magazine publishers like Protoculture.

Even before the global recession, both the Japanese and the North American anime industries were going through a small crisis that has forced many anime companies to restructure and implement cut-backs. While they are going through this process, anime companies are considerably reducing their advertising budgets and this in turn makes things very hard for anime magazines.

Magazine publishers, in general, were already having a hard time, because their readership is relying more and more on the Internet to access information and is moving away from print publications. At the same time, the bookstore and newsstand distribution system is falling apart. The distribution system is already rather inefficient and wasteful (only 30-40% of magazine copies are sold and the rest are trashed), but it is also getting more expensive for publishers, as distributors seek to increase their fees. Because of problems with our distributor, we had to stop distributing Protoculture Addicts in bookstores and newsstands with issue #97 and we are now trying our best to find alternate solutions.

Finally, at the beginning of the year, our editor-in-chief was repeatedly sick and needed some time to recover.

All those factors have forced us to follow the example of many anime industry companies. We had to lay-off some of our staff, make cut backs, and take some time to restructure our production process. It was necessary to delay the release of the magazine in order to adjust its format and make it more appealing to readers.

Such lengthy production delays are nothing new for Protoculture Addicts. The magazine has always been irregular (we released only two issues in 2004, six issues in 2005, two only again in 2006, five issues in 2007 and three in 2008) and most of our readers are probably used to this situation. Strangely, what can be seen at first as a major inconvenience, can sometimes become a blessing. The fact that we have a small (but very dedicated) staff sometimes presents challenges, but it can also become our greatest asset during such challenging times. It makes us more flexible and versatile, and that's why the magazine has survived for so long and will endure even longer.

In conclusion, there is no need to worry: Protoculture Addicts is not dead, it is only on a longer than usual hiatus while we restructure the magazine. We hope you like the result of our work, as it will be a bit of a departure from our previous work. In recognition of the changing media world, we will be changing the magazine's focus. Each issue will be a special issue focused entirely on one topic; we call them "thematic issues". This might seem like a huge change from our previous format, but in reality, our mission remains the same. We seek to introduce you to exciting facets of anime culture that you may not have previously explored. We'll just be going about it in a different format than before.

We will also, for the moment, reduce the frequency of the magazine to two or three issues per year. For 2009, we are planning only two thematic issues, one to be released in the Summer (around late-July) and the other in late Fall (around mid-November).

The first thematic issue (technically it will be issue #98) will be titled 80 Anime You Must Watch! Whether you're a long time anime fan, or just getting started, this guide will introduce you to some of the most interesting anime you've never heard of. We've selected the best anime, the most thought-provoking anime, the funniest anime, and the most unique anime, and brought them together in one place. A perfect starting point for new anime fans, and a damn good way for the veteran otaku to find the best anime they've missed. It also includes the ten most overrated anime, ten best soundtracks and several other “top-10” lists. The Protoculture Addicts guide to 80 Anime You Must Watch! will be 100-page and priced at $7.95 US/CND. Protoculture Addicts is your best guide to anime culture!

We remind subscribers that their subscription to Protoculture Addicts is not a yearly membership fee but rather a commitment on our part to deliver to you six issues. Therefore, if you subscribed to the magazine, you will definitely receive six issues (or the number of issues remaining in your subscription), no matter how many issues are released in one given year. Please also note that, despite the price change to $7.95, the subscription fee remains at $30.00 US/CND.

We thank you for your understanding and support and we apologize profusely for this lengthy publication delay.

Check the web site (www.protoculture-mag.com) or the magazine's blog (protoculture-mag.blogspot.com) for further announcements.

-Protoculture

Conventions Summer 2009

So far the two conventions Protoculture staff will be attending this summer are:

Otakuthon 2009 held from July 31st to August 2nd 2009



and

Anticipation, the 67th WorldCon, held on 6 - 10 August 2009



See you there!

Chibi-Pa

Next week-end, Claude J Pelletier and Miyako Matsuda will attend Chibi-Pa in Florida. If you can, come to the convention and talk to them.

Protoculture Staff Openings: Editorial Intern Wanted

Protoculture Addicts is seeking an editorial intern to assist in editorial duties and earn valuable on-the-job editing experience with a professional publication.

Some editing experience is required; blog editing experience is acceptable.

Applicants should expect to spend 10-12 hours a week performing tasks for Protoculture Addicts, including writing, copy editing and content editing. Strict adherence to deadlines will be expected. Full details of the position will be provided to serious applicants.

To apply, submit your resume and a short cover letter to zac [at] animenewsnetwork [dot] com.

This is an unpaid internship, but it may be eligible for school credit (talk to your school).

Otakuthon 2008

This week-end PA will be at Otakuthon. Come and visit us if you can. We'll be glad to chat with you.

We will be in the dealers' room saturday & sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, table #400. Bring your wallet: we'll have lots of goodies.

We will also have a panel on Saturday, 15:00 to 16:00 in room “Panel 2 / 523b.” Come participate to our Q&A as well as our focus group!

SPJA Nomination for PA

We were so busy working on the magazine back in April that we forgot to mention that Protoculture Addicts was nominated in the “Best Publication” category for the 2008 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Industry Award.

It is an honor to be (finally!) a finalist nominated along with Anime Insider, Newtype, Otaku USA and Shojo Beat. It is unfortunately too late to vote (poll closed on May 15th), but the results will be announced during the SPJA Industry Reception at Anime Expo® 2008.

See Anime News Network for more details on the SPJA Industry Award.

ANN congratulates Claude J Pelletier

Anime News Network congratulates Claude J Pelletier, Protoculture Addicts' editor-in-chief, for receiving the Momiji Award. [Link]

Anime North

Claude J Pelletier and Miyako Matsuda will be at Anime North this week-end. Come and meet with them if you can!

Movie reviews

We've just put online a bunch of movie reviews from last year's Montreal World Film Festival.

You can access them either on the eZine's live-action reviews, festival reviews or directly at the Montreal World Film Festival 2007 review page.

PA's Editor-in-chief to receive Momiji Award

Anime North will honor Protoculture Addicts' founder and Editor-in-chief, Claude J Pelletier, with the Momiji Award at the May 23-25 2008 convention in Toronto, Canada.

This Canadian Award honours “people who laid the foundations and helped to nurture the world-wide love of anime and manga that we all share.” The Award was previously presented to Fred Ladd (2001), Tezuka Studio's Takayuki Matsutani (2002), Frank Miller (2003), Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli (2004), Carl Macek (2005), Go Nagai (2006), and Peter Fernandez & Corinne Orr (2007).

Claude J Pelletier will also be a guest at Otakuthon (July 26-27) and Chibi-PA (September 27-28).

More information on Anime News Network.

PA in The Gazette

Protoculture Addicts and Anime News Network are mentioned in a newspaper article of the Montreal's Gazette (Saturday 2008/03/29: B2 “City Subculture: Anime fans have lots to choose from”) discussing the local fandom (clubs, stores & publications):

“One of those shows, Robotech, inspired Montreal’s Claude Pelletier to start Protoculture Addicts in 1988. It’s now North America’s longest-running anime magazine, and currently associated with Montreal-based Anime News Network, which publisher Christopher MacDonald describes as “arguably the most trafficked anime website in the world.”

MacDonald says Quebec’s anime and manga fans are lucky. Access to manga translated by producers in France and the U.S. makes Quebec “the second-best place” to be a fan.

“After Japan, of course.””

The full article can be read here.

Thanks to Al Kratina for the article.

New: eBook Compilation of the first 10 issues!

This new eBook compiles together the first ten (10) issues of Protoculture Addicts. It covers the early days of the magazine from its creation in Fall 1987 to the end of 1990. That's the period when the magazine was the “Official Robotech fanzine.”

It offers 362 pages for only $12.99 US (nearly half the combined cover price!) or $9.99 US if ordered from Protoculture's web site. All those issues have not been available in print for years! They are now made available in a single volume to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the magazine.

This volume contains short fanfics and comics, Robotech trivia, Uh?! (a series of funny articles that chronicles oddities in the Robotech TV series), optional RPG rules (Robotech, Mekton, Teenagers From Outer Space), plenty of news & reviews and cover several aspects of Robotech (The Zentraedi Way, What's Protoculture, Lyrics, comics, novels, etc.) but also of anime (Introduction to Japanimation, Project A-ko, OsamuTezuka, Iczer-One, Laputa, Megazone 23, Akira, Dangaio, Gunbuster, etc.). It also includes several interviews (Carl Macek, Kevin Siembieda, Jack McKinney, Toren Smith, Robert Napton & David Riddick, Jerry Beck, Tom Mason & Chris Ulm).

Going through those articles, news & reviews will allow you to retrace not only the beginnings of Protoculture Addicts but also the history of anime & manga in North America. It is a reading that is both amazing and amusing!

Purchased separately, all those issues would cost $23.25 (or $33.25 with shipping)! Purchase it now from Drive Thru RPG at the regular eBook price ($12.99 US) or from here (or anywhere else on Protoculture's webpage) with an exclusive discount (only $9.99 US). Click on the icon to purchase: