| 1990s |
► anime (and manga /Japanese comic) experience (from various sources, incl. kind of pc games) spread especially among university students in Prague and some other big cities (Ostrava, Brno), who laid down a basis for mutual cooperation on obtaining more information about the subject.
This new interest was gradually supported by spreading of the internet connection ... and encouraged e.g. by local (very rare!) telecasting of some Japanese animation series... |
| 1991 |
► anime "Uchuusen Sajitariusu" (="Dobrodruzi z vesmiru" ; Japan made, but foreign subject!) first introduced on Czech public TV chanel 'OK3 |
| 1994 |
► anime "Akira" released on VHS in the Czech republic (by Intersonic) |
| 1995 |
► anime "Candy Candy" [kyandi kyandi] broadcasted by private TV 'Premiera' (=later 'Prima') |
| 1999 |
► world-wide famous "Pokemon" anime series launched on Czech popular private TV 'Nova' |
|
► in addition to exchanging anime related information by means of limited "e-mail conferences", some pioneering personal websites about this subject appeared... |
| 2000 |
► "Gon" (by TANAKA Masashi), kind of Japanese comic released in the Czech republic |
|
► the first 'organized body' was formed: "CZECHO-SLOVAK CLUB OF FRIENDS OF MANGA AND ANIME" (="Manga club") as a part of sci-fi club "Terminus" ... soon started own (amateur, fan) promotional activity, e.g. participating (by lectures and screenings) on sci-fi conventions (e.g. "Pragocon")... |
| 2001 |
► Nucleus of freshly formed "Manga club" (later "Mangaichi") built the first Japan popculture related solid website at www.manga.cz, with manga and anime reviews, gradually enriched with discussion forums... and location map of 'otaku', where interested Czech people could register
(with passing years - over 500 registered people ; but homepage surveys participants number sometimes exceeds 600 and number of website visitors achieved 2.000 per day ; the age range of people interested is from 10 to 40, but with a peak (ca 50%) around 20 years old) ... |
|
► "Manga club" members in Prague started to have regular meetings - in "Club of technicians" (aka: "Lavka", thanks to Czech "MENZA" society) ...
(later some meetings were held in the special high school "Budanka" - thanks to "MENZA" ... and some in the befriended tearoom "Na ceste") |
|
► the lecture (at "JICC Prague") about historical manga phenomenon given by Ms. Kraemerova from "Naprstek museum" (already well-known from "Pragocon"), helped manga-interested people to make contact (by coincidence via the 1st Czechoslovak student at Urasenke school of tea) with "CZECH-JAPAN ASSOCIATION" ... and later to establish its special section of "non-traditional (new) culture of Japan". |
|
► in 2000 November "Manga club" members welcomed the very first Japanese manga artist in the Czech republic: Ms. ISHIJIMA Yumiko on friendly meeting at "Lavka" ... |
| 2003 |
► more powerful ADSL internet connection was introduced into Czech (enabling downloads of big amount of data) and knowledge about anime/manga and other popular culture of the new Japan was spread further ... |
|
► Czech public TV (Channel CT1) broadcasted anime-movie "Mononoke hime" (="Princezna Mononoke") on Friday in prime time! |
|
► Anime-movie "Spirited away" (="Cesta do fantazie") was presented in some Czech cinema halls (and released on DVD 2003/2004 ; plus in 2006 broadcasted by Czech public TV) ... |
| 2004 |
► (2004 May 8.-9.) brought the first Czech 'stand-alone' anime & manga festival "AnimeFest" in Brno city (risen from local amateur anime translators group), incl. lectures, screenings, workshops,... (became annual) |
|
► (2004 Autumn) "AkiCon" (convention) organized by "manga club" enthusiasts (supported by CJA) held in Prague (became annual) |
| 2005 |
► some professional organizations (cinemas, theatres, TVs, publishers: magazines, newspapers...) draw their attention to anime phenomenon ... and some subjects started to seek the way of legal (commercial) spread among public |
|
► PRO-AERO Civic Association (Cinema AERO) organized in 2005 "Asia film festival" (anime included), under auspices of the Embassy of Japan and supported by the Japan Foundation ... |
|
► the first in Czechia regular broadcasting of anime channel ("A+" with Czech subtitles, by Minimax company based in Hungary) on cable TV (UPC service ; available to more than 300.000 Czech households)
...it was replaced in July 2007 by "Animax" channel (Sony Pictures Television International) - with highly watched series: Bleach, Death Note, Digimon, Fullmetal Alchemist, Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho, ... (www.animaxtv.cz) |
^[draft /under research] main source: shinji (max thanx) +web...
► Deeper interest in unique popular culture of new Japan started in the Czech republic probably among some people being able to watch anime (Japan-made animations) broadcasted especially by German TV stations (RTL,ZDF,...) in Czech border areas, possibly also via some satellite TV broadcasting (RTL, Cartoon Network, Polsat)...