Re: conlang greetings? (was Re: Let me introduce myself)

En réponse à Hiroshi Kato <hkato@...>:

>
> I'm sorry this may be a little bit off topic.....
>
Don't be, we like that :)) .

> I was really surprised 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' is "known" to outside
> Japan.
> I know anime like 'Pokemon' has got some popularity in U.S. but I
> thought
> 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' was too weird and controversial to be accepted
> by
> foreign culture. :-)
>
Not by the French!!! Before the USA ever heard of the words 'anime'
and 'manga', those were already well known in France (so much that you know
find in France French 'manga' drawn by French authors but taking the imagery
and style of the Japanese comic :)) ). Myself I am quite an amateur of manga.
I've spent my childhood watching anime. It began with Grendizer (Goldorak in
France. Though not important in Japan, this anime was a real phenomenon in
France, and opened the way for dozens and dozens of anime during the following
twenty years), carried on with Minky Momo (Gigi in France), Captain Harlock
(Albator in France), Galaxy Express 999, etc... Then came the new generation
(Saint Seiya, called 'Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque' in France, Dragon Ball - I
never like it - and Sailor Moon - my personal favourite -, and of course Ranma
1/2, Maison Ikkoku - 'Juliette je t'aime' in France -, etc...), but it suddenly
ended because of a scandal made by the anime 'Ken le survivant' (can't remember
the Japanese title), which was considered too violent for children (it really
was, but the broadcaster in France hadn't realised that they had bought the
right to diffuse an anime for adults, and broadcasted in children's programs).
Instead of taking the blame on them though, French people began accusing
Japanese animation of all the bad things happening in France, of making
children violent, etc... and they nearly disappeared. Now we see a timid
rebirth, with the infamous Pokemon and Digimon, but also (a little) more
intelligent things like Card Captor Sakura, and occasional pearls like Vision
of Escaflowne. But nothing really grand. Well, it's still better than in the
Netherlands where I live now, where except for Pokemon and Digimon (bleah!),
the only anime you see come first from America. So we get stupidities like the
Power Rangers, or horribly misformed things like the American version of Dragon
Ball Z :((( .

Of course, I didn't talk about the live series, but we also got lots of them,
the first ones being Gaban (X-Or in France) and San Ku Kai (despite the looks
of this name, it's an invention of the French, the actual Japanese name escapes
me :)) ), then Spielvan and others, and of course the famous Bioman, Maskman,
Turbo Rangers, Flashman, etc... Nowadays unfortunately, we receive those series
from America, so we also have to cope with the Power Rangers :((( .

Needless to say, manga sells very well in French bookstores. Moreover, compared
to most countries, I find the French translations of Japanese manga of quite
good quality. I myself is and will stay a fan of Sailor Moon for ever.

> By the way, I confess some of the words of Ka are 'inspired' by 'Neon
> Genesis Evangelion.' :-)
> Have you guys on the list got the same kind of experience?
>
Not that I recall. But the manga and anime have had a great influence on my
writing style. You can see an example in my webpage, but unfortunately you have
to be able to read French :((( .

About NGE, we never saw the anime on TV in France, but the manga is slowly
released. I've read until now five volumes of them, and I must say that the
whole story escapes me completely, though I'm quite accustomed to the Japanese
style of narration. Of course, everything is quite mysterious still at this
point. How many volumes were there released in Japan?

Well, enough for an off-topic mail. Sorry that I was so long.

Christophe.

http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr

Take your life as a movie: do not let anybody else play the leading role.

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