Welcome to the all – new Komet Tails website. We are still in the process of putting it all together (which is a nice way of saying that we are having some trouble figuring out what the heck we’re doing and how the heck we are going to do it!), so please excuse the current state of the site. It will all get better soon, we promise!

I have a couple of uncles who live in Louisiana working out of Lafayette as maritime attorneys – those are the lawyers who help out seamen who have been seriously injured while working on oil rigs or aboard US flagged vessels operating either on the inland waterways or more than 3 miles offshore, in case you don’t know. You might think maritime lawyers are very conservative, “hard nose” sort of folks. And I suppose they are on many things particularly when it comes to making sure their clients receive the compensation they deserve if they were injured due to negligence of their ship’s captain, other crew members, or the un-seaworthiness of the vessel they were on. On the other hand they are both anime fans and have been instrumental in helping out while encouraging me to develop this website devoted to anime. SO I just want to give a shout out to them. Thanks.

Anyway, for the time being, we thought we would do our bit for public service by sketching out a quick history of anime. It probably won’t tell the hardcore fan anything that he or she doesn’t already know, but it might be interesting for the ones who are just getting started, or those who have a few select favorites and are looking to broaden their knowledge of the genre.

If you would rather just have a quick list of the classic anime that you must see, we can do that too. Of course, this list won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, so it is a good thing that we welcome comments, suggestions, critiques (within reason, of course…), and general kawaii.

• Imokawa Mukuzō Genkanban no Maki (The Doorman, 1917) – the first anime, ever
• Chikara to Onna no Yo no Naka (The World of Power and Women, 1933) – the first anime with sound (voiceovers)
• Momotarō: Umi no Shinpei (Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors, 1945) – the first feature-length anime
• Hakujaden (The Tale of the White Serpent, 1958) – the first full – color anime film
• Mittsu no Hanashi (Three Tales, 1960) – the first TV broadcast anime
• Otogi Manga Calendar (1961) – the first anime TV series
• Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy, or Mighty Atom, 1963) – first anime export
• Tetsujin 28-gō (Iron Man #28, a.k.a. Gigantor, 1963) – the first Super Robot anime
• Mach Go Go Go (Speed Racer, 1967)
• Taiyō no Ōji: Horusu no Daibōken (Hols: Prince of the Sun, 1968)
• Uchū Senkan Yamato (a.k.a. Space Battleship Yamato, Space Cruiser Yamato, Star Blazers, etc., 1974 TV, 1977 film)
• Kidō Senshi Gandamu (Mobile Suit Gundam, 1979) – first Gundam!
• Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu (Super Dimension Fortress Macross, 1982) – first Macross!
• Kaze no Tani no Naushika (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, 1984) – first Ghibli!

There are many different types of Anime. It can take a lifetime to explore all of the little nuances. Some of them are way out in left field. You can either enjoy some relatively wholesome family style anime or you can go over the edge with some that is rated XXX. There are people who like both of those as well as all of the styles in between. It takes all kinds & who am I to say which is the best. Some anime fans argue that the kid friendly version is not even really Anime but a softer knock off altogether even though it has a very loyal fan base.