Newtype USA

This is by far the worst of the lot.  Such a statement may seem harsh but it is warranted when describing the publication in question.  It may still be teething [the magazine is only a year old] but that’s no excuse for this barely literate, unfocussed and above all irrelevant magazine.  Within the first year many of the stories and articles have focussed around Gundam SEED [a show yet to be released in America or here for that matter!] and Japan-only shows.  While this may add some to its hardcore credibility it takes away from its relevance in the lives of today’s otaku youth.  That said the magazine is nicely designed [sometimes the page layouts can confuse however] and to its credit it certainly is one of the more colourful publications out there.

Note that the magazine usually ships with a DVD and lots of extra crap including postcards!

Price around €12 [available from The 3rd Place in Temple Bar and Forbidden Planet in both Dublin and Limerick also available from Other Realms in Cork City.]

Animerica

Viz’s own anime news and views magazine, Animerica does everything that Newtype USA should it’s informative, literate and above all relevant to the American [and in some cases European] anime scene.  However it does tend to concentrate more on reports than actual reviews and so some may find it a let down if they really want to know the score [see what I did there?]

Price €5.95 [available from Crow's Corner in Temple Bar and Forbidden Planet in Dublin and Limerick.]

Anime Insider

Beginning its life as a once off Wizard special Anime Insider has now become a fun dip into the ever-expanding anime ocean. Published every four months. Anime Insider may lack the maturity of say, Animerica but it more than makes up for this through its humour and fan fuelled frolics.  Yes a lot of the magazine is made up of contributions from fans but the publication is none the worse for.  Anime Insider proves itself to be the perfect companion for the younger anime fan. 

Price about €6 [can easily be bought from Forbidden Planet in Dublin or Limerick.  I've also seen it in Other Realms in Cork City and in some better newsagents and Sub City on Geoge's Street in Dublin.]

Protoculture Addicts

This is it, the real deal, the big McCoy etc.  Without a doubt the best anime magazine published in the English language.  PA covers everything be it convention reports, news, reviews and even fan-fiction.  The reviews seen in PA are some of the best around [excluding our own of course!] they are both fair and accurate and reflect change in today’s anime market.  Some more good news is that PA is slightly more helpful where European fans are concerned covering manga releases in French as well as English.

Price €7.65 [the only places I've been able to find PA are Tower Records on Wicklow Street [off of Grafton Street] and Other Realms in Cork City.]