Misato's Fan Service Center: Book 4, Issue 5

Dear Mr. Carl Gustav Horn,

First of all, MABUHAY! Hajimemashite! (For those who don't understand: how do you do?)

As you can see, I've been studying to learn basic Japanese language as my pastime. It's because Japanese anime and manga culture has been influencing me to do so. I also find that Filipino teens (some of them) are very fond of watching anime on local T.V. shows. At present, there's Voltes V, Daimos, Azazukin Cha-Cha, Samurai X [called Ruroni Kenshin in its original Japanese—ed.], and Saint Tail showing on different channels. I also watched Saber Marionette J (cool babes I should say) and Ranma 1/2. There's also Dragonball Z, showing every Sunday afternoon (I also forgot).

As long as I can remember, I've been addicted to Japanese cartoon. I really don't know why I keep on watching these things. Somehow I find that these anime are beautiful not just for their drawing but also for their content. I'll take Sailor Moon for example: I've seen the title character's unconditional love given to Mamoru. Now I see it. I think that besides great drawings, the content of the anime (or manga) catches my own emotions.

That's it! It's not the drawings, but the content. In Neon Genesis Evangelion, I would like to know how Mr. Sadamoto manipulates the emotions of the characters through his drawings. Through them, I was caught (as a reader) in his net. It's like I'm one of the characters in his work (specifically, I feel I'm like Shinji). MABUHAY KA, Mr. Sadamoto.

I just read this month's issue, surprisingly, part 4, #1 of Eva. Hey, Mr. Horn, you're right, there is a doll like Shin-chan. I saw it when Asuka was trying to get it in a UFO catcher machine. At first, I was stunned how beautiful Ms. Soryu is. But afterwards, she showed an unpleasing personality (to Shinji and Toji, that is, not Kensuke). I didn't know that Asuka would have this personality. But I like her very much besides her beauty and kung fu-like motions. I also saw that maybe (maybe only) Rei is jealous because of Asuka's arrival (even if it didn't show through her facial expressions or emotions). I'm looking forward to next month's issue. By the way, is she really a b_t_h or acting like a b_t_h? Is it all right to call her such?

I would like to say to Mr. James Abellar and Mr. Josue of Pasig City that, "Alam nyo, mas bagay na asawa ko si Asuka. Sa inyo na lang si Misato at Rei. I'm 14. So, talagang bagay kami at kung makita ko siya ng personalan, mamahalin ko siya ng tunay (hinde peke ha!)"

If ever they would read this, especially Mr. Abellar, I would like to read your comment about my opinion (Joke lang po'to!). I would gladly hear from you sir! I would like to thank Mr. Sadamoto who has deft hands to create such a work of art. I know that he's a virtuoso, so I want to draw cartoons like him. God bless the staff and Mr. Sadamoto. I hope that God would bless you in your everyday work to bring joy to teens like me in every country! More Eva power and keep up the good work!

Yours truly,
Hossan Gabriel B. Draculan
West Rembo, Makati City
Philippines

P.S. Mr. Horn, do the characters of Eva get old or have birthdays? I think that by the time you read this I may be 15 already. I would like to be some age as Shinji, Rei and Asuka are. I'll write soon too! By the way, does Asuka always wear the "hair pin" of the Eva as a hair clip? HERE'S MY DRAWING! Is it great or worthy to be called a drawing? DOOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!

You have a really cool name, Mr. Draculan! Well, Mr. Abellar says, "As I've said before, hindi pwede & I mean talagang hindi pwede! And how old are you... 15, hmmmm... MARAMI KAPANG PALAY NA AANIHIN, MARAMI KAPANG BIGAS NA SASAINGIN AT LALO NA MARAMI KAPANG KANIN NA KAKAININ PARA MAPA SAIYO SI ASUKA : ) !!! & BESIDES SHE LIKES OLDER GUYS (I.E. KAJI). Ano ba ang nakita ninyo kay asuka at gustong-gusto ninyo si Asuka :)"

In order through the year, we know that Hyuga's birthday is February 13, Fuyutsuki's birthday is April 9th, Gendo's birthday is April 29th, Shinji's birthday is June 6th, Kaji's birthday is June 17th, Maya's birthday is July 11th, Ritsuko's birthday is November 21st, Asuka's birthday is December 4th, and Misato's birthday is December 8th. Other character's birthday's are apparently classified. Eva takes place over too short a period of time for its characters to get much older. In 1999, of course, the Children haven't even yet been born, but Kaji, Misato, and Ritsuko are all 13 or 14. Gendo would be 32 this year, and of course in episode #21 of the anime series, you actually get to see him, Fuyutsuki, and Shinji's mother, Yui, as they were in 1999.

Does this mean that, somewhere in Kyoto, even as you read this, Fuyutsuki is bailing Gendo out of jail? Yes, Asuka always wears the "hai pin," which is meant to serve as a contact point for signals between the pilot's brain and the Eva. It's an expression of her pride as a pilot. You mentioned that Sabre Marionette J is on TV in the Philippines. The "cool babes" are designed by Tsukasa Kotobuki, who this April 23-25 was a guest of honor (as he had been the year before) at Chicago's Anime Central. He's a pretty cool looking guy, more like he's in a band than your idea of the shut-in artist. As a matter of fact, to be more specific, he sort of looks like the Slim Shady of the anime scene.

Ohayo Misato's Fan Service Center,

It's the first time I write to you. You're doing on Neon Genesis Evangelion an absolutely fantastic job. Of course N. G. Evangelion is since January published in Germany (yes, I am from Germany) but the English version brushes up my miserable English knowledge. I drew you a picture with Misato Katsuragi, hope you like it and publish it. My favouratest chara of N.G.E. is Rei Ayanami, because she's so similar to me. Some other mangas I like too, are Blade of the Immortal, Oh My Goddess, X/1999, and so on. I got one question: Do you will continue with publishing X/1999—I have got only the first six issues.

I am writing and drawing my own manga, but I think it's getting a long one. It's a bit inspired of A Chinese Ghost Story, Blade of the Immortal... What do I have to do, if I want to become a manga artist?

P.S. I am looking for pen pals; my address is:

Jeanine Hofmann
Schimbach 15
65488 Birkenau
Germany