Anime Cave

Archive, #19 Echo, #19 Art & Comics / By
Chris Marks
Chris Marks is a Filipino freelance animator who ate four slices of expired ham yesterday and discourages people from doing the same. The toastie wasn’t even worth it.
Chris’ black and white manga-esque linework is complimented by light blue spot-shading. Page 1. Panel 1: ‘After payday, I like to visit a tiny warehouse off the freeway.’ The narrator, wearing a blue jacket, black pants, and with a black bob haircut stands next to their car before a generic warehouse. A sign in the window announces, ‘JAPAN STUFF’. Panel 2: ‘There’s a barely visible sign in the front window.’ They’re standing by the entrance now, the sign is more visible and we can see a boxed anime figure through the window. Panel 3: The narrator enters the store. Panel 4: Text box 1 reads, ‘Inside is what I’d describe as a cold, concrete cave…’ Text box 2 reads, ’But instead of gold…’ The narrator stands in the store surrounded by shelves of boxed anime figures. Panel 5: Text box 1 reads, ‘You’ll find a hoard of delicate figures shipped from Japan.’ Text box 2 reads, ’Mostly of cute anime girls.’ A close-up of one of the boxes, we’re focused on a smiling anime girl’s face. There is Japanese and English text on the packaging.
Page 2. Panel 1: ‘Last visit, a few assistants were moving cardboard boxes around.’ The tall panel is divided in half by a shelf. Up top, we can see the narrator standing at another shelf, hand raised as if reaching for a box, but they’ve turned around to look down-panel towards two guys moving boxes. Panel 2: ‘They were in the process of recycling a huge pile in the corner.’ A larger employee holds a pile of cardboard before a huge stack of flattened boxes. Panel 3: Guy 1 says, ‘Sup!’ Guy 2 says, ‘Hey bro!’ A guy in a letter jacket holding a box waves at another ‘anime-bro’. Panel 4: Text box 1 reads, ‘I go for the cheaper $30 figures.’ Text box 2 reads, ‘I’m a basic weeaboo.’ The narrator pulls a box off the shelf, their face a look of wonder. Panel 5: Text box 1 reads, ‘I’ve never watched this anime.' Text box 2 reads, Whatever.’ Holding the box, they seem very content, satisfied.
Page 3. Panel 1: ‘The manager knows all the characters and their names without looking them up.’ The narrator stands before the manager, who sits at a desk with his laptop. Panel 2: ‘He says renting a warehouse costs less than a retail store.’ A closer look at the manager, slight black mohawk and facial hair. He types on the laptop. Panel 3: ‘Unfortunately, there’s no heating or plumbing.’ A close up of the narrator picking up the box. We see the figures’ cute face. Text on the top left of the box reads, ‘figure’. Panel 4: ‘The nearest bathroom is at a KFC a few blocks away.’ The narrator and the manager wave goodbye to one another. Panel 5: ‘That’s dedication.’ Their car drives away, a couple puffs of smoke trailing behind.
Page 4. Panel 1: Text box 1 reads, ‘Sometimes I feel ashamed of my interests.’ Text box 2 reads, ’As if I should hide them.’ The narrator sits at their desk, the unboxed figure before them. To the left we see a bookshelf with a couple of figures lined up on the centre shelf. Panel 2: Text box 1 reads, ’These figures are akin to dolls.’ Text box 2 reads, ’Immature and unmasculine.’ The narrator carefully places the figure on the shelf between two other anime girls. Panel 3: ‘But I bought them with the money I’m paid to make cartoons.’ The narrator has their back to us. They’re pulling on what seems to be a stereotypical maid’s outfit, neko (fake cat) ears on their head. Panel 4: ‘It’s all cyclical I guess.’ The narrator pulls on a pair of black stockings. Behind them a goofy teddy bear smiles. Panel 5: ‘So why should I be sorry?’ The narrator stands before their full-length mirror, wearing their complete maid outfit. It’s so kawaii! They hold up the peace symbol and smile at their reflection, an expression of slight embarrassment but pride in seeing themselves for who they really are.

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