Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Damon Casarez

For all the Cal State Fullerton anime fans, AM Anime is here!

On Sept. 28, Aaron Eastwood, a Titan Radio disk jockey in his senior year, introduced his new radio show, "AM Anime with Aaron."

Eastwood, a 23-year-old double major in radio-TV-film and music composition, is the general manager of Titan Radio and has taken on the "DJ" role to dedicate a show to any sort of music related to anime and video games.

What inspired Eastwood to create and host a radio show based on anime and video game music, was not only his basic interest in Japanese popular music, but the growing popularity of anime movie and television soundtracks.

Eastwood ensures the listeners of his show that he will not focus only on one genre of anime or video game music.

"I'm not a purist," Eastwood said. "Anime and video game music from both sides of the Pacific is in my show, as long as it's connected to anime, it will be in the show."

The long-awaited break that anime music has received from Western record companies contributed to Eastwood's decision to pursue an anime-related radio show, as well.

"Record companies are just starting to release this type of music, whereas before you have to order it from Japan," Eastwood said.

With the selection of music Eastwood has chosen to air on the station, "AM Anime with Aaron" fits right in. The reason being that Titan Radio prides itself in the diversity and uniqueness it brings to the Internet media and its CSUF listeners.

"We want to do things that people do not normally hear," Eastwood said. " You have to have a topic of interest. People don't want a bunch of stuff that's the same, they want a variety."

A variety is just what Eastwood delivers to his listeners. From Japanese Pop to jazz, Eastwood plays it all. But Eastwood stresses that not only is it the types of anime music that are important but rather the opportunity for cultural diversity.

"Playing anime music will be a really unique show and promotes cultural diversity and awareness," Eastwood said.

Eastwood's radio show features many famous Japanese musicians or artists, responsible for the musical composition of many anime films, television shows and video games, on the air. Of the many Japanese composers for anime, he has included the works of Nobuo Uematsu, the musical composer for the "Final Fantasy" video games, and Joe Hisaishi, mostly known for making the soundtracks to animated movies such as, "Spirited Away," and other animated films by the famous Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki.

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