Hi,
I just wanted to introduce myself on this forum because my (small startup) company is going to attempt to serve a need in the Christian community that is long overdue, but we wanted to provide a discussion area on our website as well to not only get people involved, but serve as a critical mass to move forward what we are planning to do.
My company just released its first video game called Victory at Hebron, which was actually a diversion from what we wanted to do which was make an anime-style Christian RPG game, but we needed to raise some capital to be able to afford hiring on CG people to do keyframing and also aquiring talent that can draw backgrounds and people at the level of professionalism that may allow us to break into the softer parts of the secular market.
We figured that many of you on this board can help us either with encouragment, information or even talent. Information-wise, we are looking for japanese or korean animation studio contacts that have a heart for the Lord. Talent-wise, we are also looking for CG or anime artists proficient with illustrator, photoshop and has no weaknesses in human anatomy form and drawing fighting styles or for background artists or mech or military weapons artists, no deficiencies in perspective drawing and pays attention to detail like sonada, the artist behind Bubblegum crisis or gunsmith cats. However first and formost though, we really need people that have a heart to reach GenXers or kids that don't know Christ or have fallen away. Even if we have the most talented person working with us, if he or she isn't walking faithfully with the Lord or at the very least honestly is seeking, it's not worth it to us.
Anyway, our website is still a work in progress, but ultimately, we'd like to set up a full anime forum as well as have some webpages where we'd like to have contests, fan art and encourage people to talk about anime and anime style games. Please visit if you get the chance. All of us here have played many of the favorites on snes, ps1/2 and gameboy and many of us have felt the angst that many have about how many anime games or movies seem to touch on elements that seem religious or spiritual, but it's either ambiguous or they full out do a 180 and embrace and occult theme or a New Age theme....like breath of fire 2, which now kids can play on GBA, how fun, now they can "pray to God" (which in the case of the game is an idol) all over again and mix up a new generation of kids (I'm being sarcastic of course).
Satan has a handhold on many areas of this amazing, breath-takingly beautiful medium, but if only someone shows how much more amazing and more beautiful a work created by a mind shaped by God can create. It's not an easy job, and we understand that we'll need a lot of encouragment, prayer and support from the Christian community that supports anime. Trust me, it's hard enough that non-christians would think that a christian anime based RPG is boring, some evangelicals and so forth that I personally have spoken to think most anime is of the devil. So it's not easy from both sides, but it's comforting to know that there are christians that understand and appreciate anime.
Thanks so much for your time. I apologize for the long message, but we're all very passionate about this project and we felt that it's important to really reach out to you guys and make a good strong contact.
In Him,
Scott Wong
President, Brethren Entertainment Software
http://www.brethren-et.com