Ok, after 4 weeks of tallying votes and a whole night calculating averages,
the results are in!!!  Please read the entire message, as there are several
bits of interesting info.  :)



Here are the top TEN MANGA voted for, over all, (as numbered):

10. This is Greenwood (Koko wa Greenwood) by Yukie Nasu
9.  The Dragon Ball series (original, Z & GT) by Akira Toriyama
8.  DNA^2 by Katsura Masakazu
7.  Fushigi Yuugi by Yuu Watase
6.  Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP
5.  RG Veda by CLAMP
4.  Video Girl Ai (Denei Shouju Ai) by Katsura Masakazu
3.  Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
2.  Kimagure Orange Road (Kimagure Orenji Ro-Do) by Takahashi Rumiko

and the #1 most requested manga to be seen translated into English is:

1.  Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) by Takeguchi Naoko



NOW, interestingly enough, here is the Top Ten manga which was #1 on most
people's lists:

10. Yu Yu Hashuko by Yoshihiro Togashi
9.  Please Save My Earth (Boku no Chikyuu wo Momote) by Saki Hiwatari
8.  The Dragon Ball Series (original, Z and GT) by Akira Toriyama
7.  Fushigi Yuugi by Yuu Watase
6.  This is Greenwood (Koko wa Greenwood) by Yukie Nasu
5.  Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP
4.  Video Girl Ai (Denei Shouju Ai) by Katsura Masakazu
3.  Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) by Takeguchi Naoko
2.  Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP

and the manga which was #1 on the most people's lists was:

1.  Kimagure Orange Road (Kimagure Orenji Ro-Do) by Takahashi Rumiko



As for the questions on format, color vs. b&w and average cost willing to
pay, here are the answers:


1. The Asian format (smaller pages, book style, a little more expensive)
was overwhelmingly the top choice -- by a whoppin' 99% of those polled.

2. 96% of the people polled would prefer to keep the manga in it's original
color scheme -- black & white if that's what the original artist intended;
coloring only on manga that is available as a colored format.

3. The average cost that was willing to be paid, per Asian comic format,
was $14.00.
   The average cost that was willing to be paid, per American comic format,
was $3.00.



The company who asked that this poll be conducted was:   AREA 51.

Area 51 is a BRAND, NEW anime company opening up probably by the end of
this year, and the beginning of the next.  They have already acquired 3
adult anime titles, set to release next Spring/Summer.  Their manga
department is still iffy, and that is why this poll was being asked -- they
wanted to know if it was worth the effort to get into the manga/comic
market, and if so, what the demand was for.

Area 51 is an off-shoot of another well-established American anime company.
They have asked that the name of their original corporation be kept a
secret until they are ready to reveal their titles next year.  They will go
public then.


If you're interested in finding out more about AREA 51, feel free to e-mail
me (since I'm friends with the owners), and I'll answer what I can for you.


Thank you so much for participating in the poll, and for your patience
while it was being conducted.  Your responses will be taken into SERIOUS
consideration by the owners of Area 51, and a decision on whether to jump
into the manga market will be made, probably, within 2-3 months.

If Area 51 chooses to break into the market, I'll post what titles they
will plan on publishing as soon as I know (I'll probably be a fore-runner
in the entire affair, so it'll be from the horse's mouth, so to speak).

Thank you again!

- Rena

Jennifer L. Mondazzi
Guest Liaison, Anime America '96-97

e-mail: jmondazzi@mail.arc.nasa.gov
homepage: http://fragment.arc.nasa.gov/bios/jennifer_mondazzi.html