Anime History
It all started with a spark of interest in old anime laserdiscs. Then it turned into researching said anime and the different ways it was distributed in both Japan and the US, pre-DVDs. Including VHS fansubs and how they were made. And tracking down and poring over old Newtype, Animage and Animerica magazines.
Now it has spiraled into researching how the anime community came to be in the US, and how the fans communicated and connected with each other back when the Internet was just beginning. How anime conventions and college anime clubs were in the 80s and 90s, and how important they were for the fans to be able to watch and buy anime, since there was no Internet to download it. How difficult and expensive it was for US fans to import anime from Japan.
And then I came across Google's archives of the rec.arts.anime newsgroup, and other related newsgroups. The posts date back until at least 1988!
I find it all so very interesting. It's like looking back in time and getting a glimpse of how the world was for teens and young adults in the 80s and 90s... even if it's just anime-related. I was really young at that time (at least younger than 5!) and I didn't get into anime until at least 1998, so it's a part of the anime fandom I was never truly a part of. While digging through archives and various other info, I hope to feel a little closer to that time.
Old Anime Dubs and Where to Find Them
VHS Fansub Production