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Right Stuf, Inc. is pleased to welcome Helen McCarthy – the author of the recent books The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga and Manga Cross-Stitch – to episode 106 of ANIME TODAY.

In this new interview, McCarthy discusses what anime and manga fans can gain by learning about the background of Astro Boy and Black Jack creator Dr. Osamu Tezuka, the relevance of his work to today’s audiences, how her biography’s pop culture perspective differs from a more academic examination of his career, and which Tezuka works are her very own personal favorites. (The rest of this interview, focusing on her other new book, Manga Cross-Stitch, will air in episode 107 of Anime Today on December 4, 2009.)

A trailblazer in the field of anime writing and journalism, McCarthy’s recent published works include 500 Essential Anime Movies, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation and The Anime Encyclopedia (co-authored with Jonathan Clements). One of the world’s foremost experts on Miyazaki and the works of Studio Ghibli, she has also curated several seasons of lectures and screenings at London’s Barbican Cinema and is a featured guest and lecturer at conventions and events worldwide, including the recent opening weekend of the Smithsonian Institution’s current exhibition, “Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga, Father of Anime.”

Also in Episode 106:

• Chad shares “What’s Hot” in the world of anime and manga.
• Shawne tells fans how they can “get in the spirit to save” on DVDs, Blu-ray and more from Media Blasters and its labels.
• Rich and Nick take a look at how packages get out from RightStuf.com to customers in the third and final installment of “Best Wishes, Stuf!,” which focuses on how outgoing orders are packed and shipped to anime fans.
• Rich announces the latest Year of the Otaku winners (and new weekly contest), remind fans about the contest for the Korean drama adaptation of Boys Over Flowers, and announce a new contest marking the launch of the site for Nozomi Entertainment’s release of Rental Magica.
• Nick provides a rundown of upcoming conventions, courtesy of AnimeCons.com.
• In a new “If… /Then…” segment, Christy offers recommendations to fans of the Gakuen Alice anime series.
• Listen to clips from Fafner Original Soundtrack 1: No Where from Geneon Music. Also hear tracks from JapanFiles.com artists Blue Trike (“Stand up!!” from the CD Daydream) and nanocycle (“folksonomy” from the CD something burning).
• And finally, ANIME TODAY highlights some of the newest fan reviews from RightStuf.com visitors.