STEVE BENNETT
Founder of Studio Ironcat

Steve started out as an animator on such animes as URUSEI YATSURA. He later on moved to America and eventually worked with Antarctic Press on some of their manga releases. Then he formed his own manga distribution company called Studio Ironcat.


STEVE'S CREDITS

Urusei Yatsura, Cutey Honey '90, Crusher Joe, Hyper Dolls, Doctor!, New Vampire Princess Miyu, Virtual Banc, Flag Fighters, Dragon Wars, Futuba-Kun Change, Valkyr, Love Touch, Space Dreams, Gun Crisis, Ironcat, Ogenki Clinic, Love Drive

Interview taken at Anime Weekend Atlanta 5, October 1999.

• WHAT'S IT LIKE TO OPERATE AND MAINTIAN YOUR OWN MANGA DISTRIBUTION COMPANY?
  It's alot of fun but it's alot of hard work running the company and getting the titles that the fans want. So, when we come out ot the shows, we come out not just to meet people and have fun, but we're here on business. We talk to the fans, listen to what they have to say, their critiques, their love, their praise, or even their distain and disgust. with what we do so we can improve our product for the fans. That's where alot of the hard work is invloved. The fun part of course is once the job is well done and and its put out there and seeing the smiles on the fans faces and the content feeling that they have that they see that have listened to the suggestions that they have and really care about it.
  
  
• DO YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS AN ANIMATOR?
  Not really. (Laughs) The reason why is if you have a good experience, it's always fun and it's always a good memory to look back on. Also, at the same time there were alot of hard times that you really don't want to remember. I would say I have no desire to really go back and become an animator anytime soon. But, I enjoy what we're doing now.
  
  
• WHAT PLANS DOES STUDIO IRONCAT HAVE FOR THE FUTURE? DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYES SET ON ANY CERTAIN TITLES?
  We do. But right now after what we've just been through we can't really say anything just yet untill we actually have them. We've learned our lesson not to say that we actually have got something and then find out that it fell through. I would say right now our coordinator at the Tokyo office, Kevin Bennett, is busy over there making new contact and new agreements coming around the corner. We just recently called PANKU-PONK by Hakuro Tachiri. It's a children's comic for all ages. I strongly recommend it for everyone. It's the story of an 8 year old girl and her michievious 300 pound pet rabbit. It's one of those that we just really enjoyed ourselves and thought you guys might like too. So just give it a whack.
  
  
• WHAT ANIME OR MANGA HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES?
  All the early Tezuka stuff. The Go Nagai matrerial(Cutey Honey, Maxinger Z). Most of the older stars. Of course Rumiko Takahashi from working with Urusei Yatsura. But I would say that I like alot of the brand new art that's coming out. I don't know their names of hand, but I do like reading the manga of Sorcerer Hunters and Evangelion.
  
  
• DID YOU EVER HAVE ANY EXPERIENCES WITH RUMIKO TAKAHASHI WHEN YOU DID URUSEI YATSURA?
  I got to see her one time at a party where all the animators and artists of the show got together and I was like one of the many small people in the middle of a crowd and got to raise a toast to her. That's pretty much it. Due to contrary belief, alot of us animators do not get to meet the manga artists upright and in person. But lately since I've been invloved in the manga line, I get to meet alot of these people at publisher parties and industy events and so on. So, Rumiko will of course never remeber who I am, but I will remember definately sharing a beer or two with her a few years back.
  
  
• IS IRONCAT GOING TO RELEASE ANY MORE OF THE ACTUAL 'IRONCAT' COMICS?
  Yes. The reason that there isn't an issue #3 out right not is due to alot of problems caused by our former partner. But it will be coming out soon. It was originally Masomi Kanzaki's dojinshi character that he was doing for a fan magazine. It was a tribute to the Sailor Moon brand of manga. We just happened to like the Ironcat design that he gave us permission to use it.
  
  
• WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH YOUR CIVIL WAR CAP?
  Well, the first cap, which has now been retired, I shot it of the head of a Yankee in a Civil War reinactment. And, as he lay there I took his hat. After the battle the man said keep the hat. So, literally I got it off the head of a dead Yank. This new one is one I got off the rack. It was never intended to be a trademark of mine necessarily. Just, became one of those things that everybody recognizes me at the shows. By the way, I'm Confederate!
  
  
• WHAT CONTRIBUTION DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE MADE TO THE MANGA INDUSTRY?
  I hope that when I'm dead and buried and my stone is slabbed up over my grave it'll say: 'Here lies Steve Bennett. He gave all he had, he enjoyed all he gave, and the fans love him for it'.
  
  
• DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO ALL POTENTIAL COMIC CREATORS?
  Yes. Develop your own styles. I don't know how often I get plenty of illustrations that are basiclly Shirow or Takahachi clones. Unless your going to be an animator where you have to have your style like the manga artists, I strongly recommend to you comic artists that you develop something unique to you. Study hard. Study live illustrations and models. An artist who doesn't know the basic construction of how to draw and how to create is not an artist. Study! Study! Study!
  
  

STUDIO IRONCAT