From The Ninja Consultant comes a podcast interview with Jason Thompson. Also, TheoFantastique interviews Japanese popular culture scholar Andrea Levi.

Via: MangaBlog

Event preview, gift giving in Japan, contests, reviews & more in episode 54.

GRIMES, IA, November 21, 2007 – Anime producer and mega-online anime retailer Right Stuf, Inc. is pleased to welcome two of the organizers of the upcoming New York Anime Festival (NYAF) - Vice President and Show Manager John McGeary and Programming Manager Peter Tatara - to episode 54 of ANIME TODAY.

Read More »

From ANN comes an interview with Takehiko Inoue (creator of Slam Dunk and Vagabond), who appeared during a special in-store event at the new Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York City to paint a special mural.

Also, in the latest issue of PWCW, MangaBlog's Brigid Alverson talks with Tokyopop's Lillian Diaz-Przybyl about the titles that TP picked up from ADV Manga.

From Manga Jouhou comes an interview with Hope Donovan, editor of Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga competition:

We asked her a ton of questions, and thankfully, instead of putting us on her spam list, she was nice enough to answer them all. The interview focused primarily on the state of the industry and what it takes to go from ambitious young writer / artist to published manga-ka.

Publishers Weekly has posted a list of its print magazine's "Best Books of 2007." Three manga appeared in the list's "PW's Best Comics 2007" category:

• MPD-Psycho by Eiji Otsuka and Sho-u Tajima
• MW by Osamu Tezuka
• Tekkonkinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto

Also, in the latest issue of PWCW, Kai-Ming Cha interviews IDW's editor-in-chief Chris Ryall regarding the publisher's entry into the U.S. manga market, while Ed Chavez reports on the growth of the new online manga translation service MangaNovel.

The Okazu blog reports that Rica Takashima, creator of the yuri manga Rica 'tte Kanji!?, has given permission to a Spanish scanlation group to scanlate her manga.

Also mentioned is a new Yuricon toolbar, as well a Polish interview with Eriko Tadeno.

From YaoiSuki comes an interview with Yen Press' Kurt Hassler.

Newsarama's Benjamin Ong Pang Kean interviews Emma Hayley, director of Self Made Hero, the graphic novel and manga division of Metro Media UK.

The Star Online talks with Captain Tsubasa creator Youichi Takahashi.

The UK Times talks to Hataraki Man mangaka Moyoco Anno.

Via: MangaBlog

From The Muppet Newsflash comes an interview with Tokyopop's Tim Beedle, editor of series such as The Dark Crystal and Return to Labyrinth.

Source: MangaBlog

From Cosplayers Net comes an exclusive interview with World Cosplay Summit 2007 winners Damien Ratte (DamDam) and Isabelle Jeudy (cosplayed as Tsugiri and Myoubi from the manga Alichino), who talk abouttheir experience at this year's WCS.

Source: Papo de Budega

About.com's new manga section has posted two interviews, one with Yen Press' Kurt Hassler, and the other Dallas Middaugh of Del Rey Manga.

Also, Variety has posted two articles on Tokyopop, which takes a comprehensive look at Tokyopop, and talks with its founder and CEO Stuart Levy.

Sources: MangaBlog & ANN