Interview with Robert Silva, Editor-In-Chief at Anime Play Magazine. DVD Vision Japan

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ANIME PLAY

Anime Play is a "DVD magazine" that takes the capabilities of the DVD format, and combines it with a printed magazine. The possibilities for this combined media format are endless.

Because of it's poor arrangement, lackluster DVD, and critical drubbing by anime fans, it seemed that no one wanted to play around with this new idea.

Robert Silva, the new Editor In Chief at Anime Play has a plan to change all that!

In an exclusive e-mail interview, Robert Silva gives us the skinny on the problems with Anime Play, what he brings to the table, and the future of the magazine!

PAST:

DVJ: What is your job at AnimePlay?

Robert Silva – I’m Editor In Chief of AnimePlay magazine. Essentially that means that I’m responsible for the “vision” of AnimePlay and ensuring that “vision” is met with the highest of quality. Everyone from the graphic designer to the staff reporter is hired by me and given set responsibilities for every issue of AnimePlay.

(Issue #4) is my first as Editor in Chief.

DVJ: How did you come to work at AnimePlay?

RS - I was originally hired by Hirameki (the company responsible for publishing AnimePlay) as a Marketing Manager. After consulting, on various occasions with AnimePlay’s Publisher and Sales Team, the Publisher felt that it was worth giving me a shot to take over as Editor In Chief beginning with the fourth issue.

I hope the final results prove that his decision was the right one.

DVJ: What special expertise or skills do you feel you bring to the magazine?

RS - I come from a fairly diverse background. I’ve had experience in all facets of business: sales, accounting, production, and marketing. I feel this combination of experiences has helped me develop a distinct perspective that hopefully makes AnimePlay a bit different from the rest of the magazines on stands.

I’ve also had the fortune to develop a number of professional relationships that were used as a valuable resource in putting AnimePlay together.

DVJ: Why do you feel Anime Play didn't perform as well as Hirameki had hoped for when it originally came out?

RS - (It was) the editorial base for the magazine. Ninety percent of the people working on AnimePlay Volumes 1-3 were living in Japan. Although they did the best job possible, they didn’t have a firm grasp of what Americans found appealing in Anime.

Based on the great success of both Anime and Manga in the US, it’s difficult to understand…but the reality is that Anime that is popular in Japan is very different from Anime that is popular in the United States. In some ways what Americans find appealing in Anime is far edgier than what is found to be popular in Japan.

For example before its international success, NINJA SCROLL was considered a financial failure. COWBOY BEBOP was only marginally successful in Japan. WITCH HUNTER ROBIN is practically unknown by the majority of Anime fans in Japan.

In many ways it’s similar to the films of AKIRA KUROSAWA. Although KUROSAWA is embraced by film lovers worldwide, he’s still not as highly regarded in Japan.

This also holds true in terms of design tastes. I hope that with issue 4 you can see that I have addressed these issues.

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PRESENT:

DVJ: When you came on board, did you have a specific plan for the revamp or did that develop once you began working with the Anime Play staff?

RS - As with most Anime fans, I’ve been dreaming up ideas of what I’d do with an Anime magazine my whole life. Lucky for me, I’ve been given a shot to put my ideas to practice.

More than anything, I wanted AnimePlay to have an intelligent yet entertaining perspective on Anime. Way too many of the magazines on stands are nothing more than page after page of advertisements.

I want AnimePlay to give people some insight on how Anime is made and why the AnimePlay staff loves the Anime and Manga that they love.

DVJ: Why did you decided to concentrate on the print side and make the DVD more of a supplement?

RS - A significant amount of time was spent on both the DVD and the magazine. In fact, the DVD in volume four is far longer than any other AnimePlay DVD (over 55 minutes!) and the magazine is 16 pages longer.

The DVD is provided as a supplement to the magazine because AnimePlay was always intended to be a magazine. The DVD is a wonderful feature that allows us to do stuff that could never be successfully done with static images on printed pages.

The way I see it is….when you pick up AnimePlay magazine at a newsstand, there is no practical way to play the DVD and see what’s on it prior to buying the magazine. BUT…you can open up the magazine and check out a few articles; check out the contents, design, and the beautiful artwork prior to deciding to purchase it.

What I’m trying to do is make a cool enough magazine with snazzy designs, informative content, and blindingly beautiful artwork that will get people so excited about what’s on that DVD that they have no choice but to BUY the magazine!

I can include a neat interview with a Scott Morse, but there’s no number of pictures that can show you the skillful way in which he can paint his adorable SOUTHPAW tiger.

No number of KIDDY GRADE images can show you the intensity of the action sequences as well as a fully animated trailer.

The magazine is the mouthy watering cake…the DVD is the tasty frosting that we all have a desperate craving for!

DVJ: Cosplay seems to be one of the main parts of AnimePlay. Who was responsible for deciding to cover this fun aspect of anime?

RS - (Actually), Cosplay has been a big part of AnimePlay since Volume 2. I was the one responsible for bringing Cosplay interviews to AnimePlay, so expect more of them…ESPECIALLY when the Convention season comes around!

DVJ: What is your opinion on conventions?

RS - Convention are awesome. The energy and enthusiasm found at Conventions could never be replicated. This is where Anime fandom in the United States blossomed. I expect them to be even more exciting as attendance increases.

DVJ: What is your favorite part of fandom?

RS - The great love and passion fans have for Anime and Manga culture. It’s this love and passion that fuels creators to do their best work.

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FUTURE:

DVJ: What does the future have in store for the magazine? Where would you like to see it in five years?

RS – The future has A LOT in store for it! More interviews with the best anime and manga creators the world has to offer. Better reviews. More groundbreaking previews.

AnimePlay Volume 4 is a hint of what can be done. Now that publishers and Anime/Manga creators are able to get a better idea of what we’re trying to do, they’re finding ways to contribute to our magazine.

I’m happy to say that some big name artists have already lined up to contribute some AMAZING covers for subsequent issues.

Five years from now, I want AnimePlay to be the first Anime Coverage TV show!

DVJ: Will there be more coverage of Japan in future issues (Japanese trailers, live action programming, Cosplay in Japan)?

RS - We intend to include more Japan coverage in future issues. Things get a bit sticky, with American publishers having the rights to a lot of upcoming Anime, but when we are able to give something new and different from Japan we will.

DVJ: Will you accept freelance submissions? If so, where will you post the guidelines and contact info?

RS - We’re always looking for quality freelance submissions. The best bet is to give us a solid sense of your previous work. If we feel that you can contribute a distinct but much need perspective to AnimePlay, there MAY be a mutually beneficial opportunity.

Guidelines will be posted on the website (www.animeplay-mag.com ) in the near future.

DVJ: Anything to say to the otaku out there?

RS - Don’t forget that the ultimate otaku is the one that can give back in the way that only he/she can. Continue to discover your talents and use them to fulfill your dreams!

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