Otaku (おたく or オタク), for those who don't already know, is a Japanese term used to describe people who have obsessive interests. The negative connotations associated with the word in Japan have been lost in its American context, where it instead describes the pride of fans.There are several types of otaku, anime and manga being the most popular but there is also pasokon otaku (computer geeks), wato (obsessive idol fans) and even gunji otaku (military enthusiast). In this article I will just cover the basic anime otaku which is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.S.
Anime is literally an abbreviation for animation. These days children, teens, and even adults are leaving behind Batman and X-Men and turning to Naruto and Bleach (both are now being aired on Cartoon Network). Most people who are unaware of the differences between American and Japanese animation may wonder what the attraction is. Well, unlike American cartoons that are primarily geared to pre-pubescent children, Japanese animation or anime has something to offer everyone. There are even anime about the otaku lifestyle like Welcome to the N.K.H. and the newly released Chaos Head.
Anime is also considered an art form; one that not only influences Japanese culture, but cultures around the world. Japanese animation is release around the world and has billions of fans that only want more. These cartoons aren’t only watched but copied and redesigned. An example of this is the recent release of the live action movies Transformers and Speed Racer. These anime where dubbed (released in the states with English voice over) in the 70’s and 80’s and still re-run on television have been turned into blockbusters. American cartoons are also being influenced by the anime invasion. Comic book favorites like the Teen Titans and Spiderman have had makeovers to appeal to the growing number of otaku. There are even anime inspired cartoons such as Family Guy and Futurama.
Cosplay, short for costume play, is a form of fan fare that is also making its way to the states. Unlike people who only dress up as their favorite characters for conventions like Comic-Con, cosplayers take it to a whole other level. Tokyo’s Harajuku and Akihdara are districts were it wouldn’t be unusual to see cosplayers walking next to you on the street or to hang out with friends at a cosplay café or night club. Even though it’s not as big in the States, Gwen Stefani has helped introduce it with her clothing and accessory line Harajuku Lovers.
For those who are die hard otaku, such as myself, and simply can’t wait for FUNimation or Viz Video to dub all your favorite anime or just hate the way American versions leave out certain parts there are websites where you can watch anime soon as it’s released in Japan. My favorite being www.animecrazy.net where your favorite anime is uploaded the day it’s release or where you can view older series in their entirety. Other sites such as www.afterhouranime.com are also appealing because of their large collection, and the way each anime is organized and described helps viewers discover new anime.
