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| Posted: 28 Feb 2011 03:00 AM PST Every once in a while I get asked what would be a good series to introduce someone to anime. There is no single answer as everyone has different tastes, but I have found that some series seem to stick more than others. After asking people how they got into anime and which series they found appealing at first, I've come up with a small list of series that you can use to introduce your friend/sibling/significant other to the medium based on what they already watch. Most of the people that ask this question will have already heard of all the classics so this will cover some more recent anime. They Watch Romantic Comedies
If the person you are trying to introduce likes watching romantic comedies, then I would recommend Toradora as their first anime. Not only is the series hilariously funny, it has a deep plot and some very emotional moments. There is also very little fanservice, which is typically found in abundance with this genre and scares away newcomers. They Watch "Gar" or Manly Men Shows
Many people think of anime as fluffy children's shows with big-eyed characters that all look like little girls. Admittedly, there are a lot of anime like that, so what do you do if your friend likes watching tough guys beating the crap out of their enemies? Look no further than Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. This series is packed full of action with none of that cutesy stuff. They Watch Science Fiction
Who doesn't like sci-fi, and similarly, who doesn't like Gundams? Anyone who likes sci-fi would get a kick out of watching giant robots duel it out in space with lasers firing everywhere. Oh, and let's not forget the light beam sabers. They Watch Action
There are plenty of action series to choose from when it comes with anime, but your best bet is probably with Bleach or Naruto. I get a lot of people saying that these two anime suck, but it's hard for them to make a case when Bleach and Naruto are two of the most successful action anime out there right now. They Like Mind Games
Death Note is probably the most well-known psychological thriller anime, and for good reason. The rules set up in this little game of cat and mouse are simple, but the strategies employed are complex and cross into the realm of being criminal. They Watch Comedies
Lots of anime have a comedic factor, but will usually involve quite a bit of fanservice, something you might not want to show someone new to the medium. Thankfully, Azumanga Daioh is just pure comedy; it does not have any fanservice and does not require a deep understanding of Japanese culture. They Like Hot Guys
Sometimes with all the male-oreinted content we forget that girls watch anime too, and they also like some eye candy in their shows. I can't say I understand it, but girls seem to love the anime Durarara. Maybe it's the charm of Shizuo the bartender or Izaya the bad boy. They Like Cute Girls
K-ON pretty much defined the moe (mo-eh) boom and is the perfect anime to show someone who likes anything cute or adorable. Others
Every few years there is an anime that introduces a new generation to the medium. Some of these have included Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, and Pokemon. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is probably the most recent of these. Ask around any anime convention and you'll find many of the newer fans were hooked by the show's hyper activeness and crazy antics. This list isn't meant to be comprehensive and I can't guarantee that these titles will help ease someone into the medium, but I think they have a good chance. If you're interested in finding out how others were introduced to anime, you can find a small collection of stories here. There are some common titles, but also some differences which may give you some ideas.
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| A Printing Chain of Antique and Old Printers Posted: 27 Feb 2011 12:35 PM PST As fan of books(plus paper and pen) I’m impressed by Xavier Antin’s work. Specifically the one where he used four old desktop printers to create an printing chain. He then used the printer chain to print a 46 pages book which he sells for 36 euros(currently out of stock). The first printer of the chain is a Stencil Duplicator from 1880, it prints the color magenta. The second one is a Spirit Duplicator from 1923, it prints the color cyan. A laser printer form 1969 prints black and and Inkjet printer from 1976 prints yellow. Xavier doesn’t explain on his website how exactly the printing process is handled. Only obvious form the photo is the order of the printers. I assume he prints the colors one by one by hand with the duplicators and through a computer with the laser and inkjet printer, a process that requires a lot of patience. He created 100 copies of the book, at 49 pages that is a total of 4900 pages printed with 4 printers for each page!
I grew up on a small island which used to be a colony of the Netherlands, more specific, Aruba. When I started first grade around 1987, all school benches, blackboard, etc. came form the Netherlands and dated from the ’40 or ’50′s. All schools on the island had the same old equipment and also a duplicator. I couldn’t find anybody to tell me from which year the duplicator at our school was but I’m guessing from the same decade as the benches and blackboard. The first A4 sheets with printed text I used were stencils, for all tests and exams you saw the teacher handling a stencil from which she then made duplicates. I never saw the duplicator and two years later the school finally got a photocopier. Page printed by the printing chain
As a geek I find it kinda cool that I have known old “technology” most people my age haven’t experienced. It has some pro’s to have grown up on an island that was slow to catch up with the latest technology. The printing chain is an awesome piece of art in these modern times. Ironically when those laser and inkjet printers breakdown, the duplicators will still be working. All thanks to the industrial revolution.
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