Vifam Books
Though most books published for the series have the same basic content (characters, mecha, and story guide), there is a huge variety of formats and other features. Almost all of them have unique artwork, much of it created by the animation team at Studio Live. Everything is out of print, but completely worth hunting down.
The Anime Special Edition
Kindaeiga Co., May 1984
136 pages
The Anime Special Edition 2
Kindaeiga Co., Nov 1984
136 pages
Animedia Special Edition
Gakken, July 1984
136 pages
Animedia Special Edition Part 2
Gakken, Oct 1984
136 pages
Studio Live Book: RADIKU Vol. 1-3
“Jam ‘zines” by the animation team of Vifam and other shows
Studio Live, Aug 1984
3 volumes, 58 pages each
Manga by Yu Sagai
Compressed adaptation of the TV series
Kodansha, March and September 1984
paperbacks, approx. 200 pages each
Anime Resource Library, Setting Documents
My Anime magazine bonus booklet
36 pages, October 1984
Terebi Magazine Anime Special #4
Kodansha, Oct 1984
paperback, 196 pages
Animec Special Edition: Sparkling Vifam
Rapport KK, Dec 1984
158 pages
MJ Material 2: Vifam Super Mechanic Guide
Making Journal magazine special edition, Dec 1984
Mecha compendium, 36 pages
Vifam Original Picture Collection
Publisher and date unknown
Original illustrations and TV series animation layouts by Studio Live
Best Hit Series, Vifam Graffiti
LOTS of original art in this one
98 pages, Jan 1985
Vifam Perfect Memory
The largest and most extensive book in the entire library (top recommendation)
Minori Shobo, Jan 1985
260 pages
The 12 Who Vanished, Perfect Book
The Anime magazine bonus booklet, May 1985
Guidebook to the OAV, 28 pages
Toyoo Ashida Illustrations
Art from Vifam and other projects
Minori Shobo, Aug 1985
106 pages
The Anime Film Comics: Kate’s Memory
Manga composed of animation stills
Kindaieiga Co, Dec 1985
paperback, 160 pages each
Galaxy Drifter Vifam: We 13
Tokuma Shoten, Feb 1986
paperback, 128 pages
Bandai Entertainment Bible #21
Bandai, Nov 1990
paperback, 144 pages
Vifam Complete Artworks
The only book containing material on all TV episodes, OAVs, and Vifam 13 (top recommendation)
Entertainment Archive Series Vol. 2
224 pages, April 2006
Dougram & Vifam Models
Model photography and animation art
Ascii Media Works, June 2012
134 pages
Master File
Original mecha illustrations and model photography
Softbank Creative, June 2013
128 pages
Opening Film Comic
Fanzine, 2015
B&W manga visualization of opening theme song Hello Vifam, 20 pages
Great Mechanics G
2016 Autumn issue, Futabasha
This quarterly magazine is the go-to bible for mecha lovers, a great source for articles on new and classic anime alike. Vifam got an 18-page cover story in this issue, published September 2016.
Hobby Japan Vintage Vol. 6
August 2021, Hobby Japan Press
The content of this irregular magazine is exactly what it sounds like, modern coverage of classic models and how they were created. Vifam models got a very generous 22-page cover story.
HJ Mechanics 17
September 2023, Hobby Japan Press
The goal of this special magazine was to mark Vifam‘s 40th anniversary with fresh, high-end modelbuilding and photography. There’s some series coverage as well, but the real thrill is seeing modern kit building techniques applied to classic plastic.
Figure King No. 311
January 2024, World Photo Press
Figure King is a leading monthly magazine for Japanese toy collecting. They also marked Vifam‘s 40th with a cover story, a magnificent 42-page article with an extensive series history and product catalogs.
Other publications
Children’s books, dates unknown
Coloring books, dates unknown
Nippon Sunrise Anime Festival, 1984 or 1985
A pamphlet to promote OAVs for Vifam(The 12 Who Vanished), Votoms, and Dirty Pair
