If you're somewhat geeky, then chances are you've heard of a trend that hit American shores from the East: Anime. If you don't know by now then it's time to take your head out of the sand.

Japanese Animation is now a global phenomenon. Fans from Australia to Tokyo to Los Angeles are united in celebrating this exciting artform. What makes Anime so popular, you may ask? Unlike American animation, which has primarily been used in the comedic format, Japanese artists use the medium to explore complex issues. There is a great amount of diversity of subject matter in Anime. There is everything from intense action(Macross Plus), to romantic comedy(Ranma 1/2), to political intrigue(Patlabor), to the effects of the Hiroshima bombing(Grave of the Fireflies).

In Japan, animation is as much a part of pop entertainment as film, TV, and radio. All year long, Anime feature films sell out theatres across the country. In America, Anime is mainly found on college campuses and art theatres. In response to the growing audience, videotape and laserdisc stores are carrying wider and wider selections of Anime, and rental stores have begun to capitalize on its popularity as well.

Some people look at Anime with suspicion, claiming that it's all gratuitous violence and excessive sex; and it's true that some Anime features are like that, but no more than the average American action flick. Some people tend to get exposed to the worst that Anime has to offer on their first viewing. The most commonly veiwed Anime features that are horrible and needlessly violent are: Fist of the Northstar, Vampire Hunter D, Dominion Tank Police, and Dragonball Z . These should be avoided at all costs simply because they are poor examples of the genres they represent. There are much better introductions to Anime than these sorry cartoons.

If you grew up in the early 80's and watched a lot of television, there is a strong chance that you've already been exposed to Anime. Shows like Voltron, Robotech, Tranzor-Z, Speed Racer, Star Blazers, and G-Force were all imported and badly dubbed into English.

Anime is all over the place these days. If you would like to check out some of the more clever and imaginary movies or series out there, here are a few that I recommend:

Probably the most popular Anime film of all time is Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo. Originally in the form of a 1,500-page graphic novel, Akira tells the story of a group of street bikers who unwittingly get involved in a top-secret government plot to unlock the ultimate power from the human soul. Released in 1988 in art theatres and small venues, Akira took the world by storm; renewing interest in Anime and introducing a whole new generation to the artform. Drawing inspiration from films like Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, and Scanners, Akira is a remarkable cinematic experience. It's available on videotape and you should try to get it in the wide screen(letter box) format, but to fully grasp the detail and grandeur of the movie, try your best to catch it on a big screen.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a complex epic about humanity in the future. Apparently, a cataclysm destroyed the world in 1999. The first generation of children born after this tragedy were gifted with unique mental abilities. One of them, Shinji, is recruited to pilot massive mechanical weapons called EVAS. Incidentally, his father is the creator of these machines and there is a deep, destructive secret that he is keeping from everyone. This series recently ended in Japan and the hype spread over the world like wildfire. Evangelion's popularity remains strong in Japan since there were two movies released last summer that had lines wrapping around city blocks. This series is now available in two-episode installments. Be warned! This is not the type of series you can watch while having a party. This is one of the most dramatic and thought-provoking shows released in the last five years. You've gotta pay attention to everything that happens. And trust me, it all makes sense in the end. If you don't have an anime shop in your area, you can buy Neon Genesis online at CD Now, just click here.

The most expensive Anime film ever made took the Western world by storm in the summer of 1995. Ghost in the Shell played to record numbers in the U.S., U.K., and Western Europe. GITS is a striking visual achievement; the creative team managed to flawlessly combine cel animation with CGI(computer generated images), resulting in an edge-of-your-seat action/thriller about mankind's relevance in the digital age. A new lifeform has evolved over the internet and is requesting asylum because of its right of sentience. A special police squad with cyborgs and humans is assigned to track down this "ghost"(life essence) and destroy it. The best way to view this one is on a movie screen, but if you cannot find it playing, then try to catch it on laserdisc. Ghost in the Shell is worth whatever it costs to get ahold of it. If you don't have an anime shop in your area, you can buy Ghost in the Shell online at CD Now, just click here.

The Vision Of Escaflowne, by Kawamori Shoji, combines fantasy with elements from science fiction. Escaflowne is set on a planet close to Earth called Gaea, a world where swords and magic meet advanced machinery and technology amidst a medieval setting. It is a fantastic series with a stunning soundtrack. This series is hard to find in America because it's primarily available on bootlegs or expensive import orders. Look around though, and you might find it in the most bizarre of places. If you're lucky enough to be in New York, L.A., Boston, or San Francisco, run down to Chinatown and check the video stores. Good luck hunting.