Welcome readers one and all, to the first interview of my blog. I got the chance to interview Anime3000′s very own Sean Russell. Now for those who don’t know, Anime3000 is a blog/podcast/online community that covers all things anime. They’ve been around for a few years, but it’s their community-driven fanbase & truthiness-filled tenacity that have definitely put them on the anime scene in a big way. I was particularly interested in Mr. Russell, because while our worlds are pretty different, our roles are most assuredly similar.
Dark: So what’s Anime3000 all about?
Sean: Anime3000[.com] is a website dedicated to games, manga, comics and most of all anime. Our staff of writers bring you news, editorials, reviews and special features concerning the world of anime in America and abroad. We continue our coverage in our weekly anime podcast.
Dark: How did you guys get started?
Sean: Anime3000 has been around since 2004. Since then, we’ve seen numerous staff members come and go. In the summer of 2008, we formed the staff that consists of myself (Sean Russell), Andrew Choi, JD Banks and Joshua Valencia. Both Johsua and JD have been members of our forums for over two years and Andrew joined in July 2008 after reading one of our staff solicitations.
Dark: You guys are one of the most popular and respected anime podcasts/forums out there. How does that feel? How was the journey from the start to where you are now? and Is your current status anything like what you expected when you started out?
Sean: Whether or not that’s true remains to be seen. Either way, we are working hard to improve our product while providing a unique show that stands out against the hordes of preexisting anime podcasts. Our goal is to provide a discussion about hot button anime topics as well as inform our listeners about old and new games, anime and manga. We are still working out the kinks and hope that our listeners will exercise some patience.
Dark: In 5 words or less, your thoughts on the future of the anime industry.
Sean: Digital Revolution, Crunchyroll verses FUNimation.
Dark: Greatest A3K moment so far?
Sean: Traveling from South Florida to New York in 2007 to cover the very first New York Anime Festival. I made some valuable contacts in the industry and had a chance to explore an amazing city.
Dark: Ninja or Pirate?
Sean: Ninja
Dark: If you could have any anime character fix the economy, who would you pick? and why?
Sean: Lelouch from Code Geass of course! I’m a total mark for that series and think Lelouch’s tactical expertise as well as his geass would allow him to see past all the bureaucratic bull that plagues our current government.
Dark: You guys recently went through a big evolution with the site. What’s going on with that exactly?
Sean: Since our inception, we’ve been using basic html to develop our website. In January of 2009, we upgraded to a content management system. With this migration into web 2.0, we saw several improvements in the way we deliver content. It was time to bring our site to the next level, but we’re far from evolving our brand. Stay tuned.
Dark: Any future endeavors for Anime3000 still on the drawing board?
Sean: We have two new staff writers for our site and are constantly looking for new talent. Our podcast is undergoing an complete overhaul after recent events. Look forward to seeing a solid format without losing all of the fun.
