The DA’s Otaku Spot-Issue #2!!!
Otakudom 101

This week, we will be discussing what is known in the anime/manga world as “otaku”. We will be discussing it’s origins, it’s history, it’s importance in the US anime/manga society, and the proper way of living the Otakudom lifestyle..

But first, it’s time for our reviews of the week!!!

Anime Of The Week: Shonen Onmyouji by Hikaru Yuuki
Volume One on DVD Now by Geneon Entertainment - Volume Two on September 11th, 2007

So try being a kid who is unsuccessful at being anything except a loser. He is the son of a well known Japanese government official, and his grandfather is the best wizard in all of Japan. As a result, he is expected to become the greatest magician to succeed his grandfather. There’s only one catch, he is unaware of his powers until he meets a spirit beast by the name of Guren. When he discovers his powers, he is belittled over and over (to an almost obscene amount) of his inadequacy by his grandfather who taught him from the very beginning. So once again, we are introduced to a main character who has low self-esteem, but with a “burning” a desire to be something greater than even himself.

Sounds kinda cliché huh? Well that’s what this anime looks like on the surface. In reality, Abe no Masahiro, the main character in the series is a cliché. For about one episode (the first one) of the anime series that is. But that totally changes when he is faced with a choice, the choice of saving those he loves, or allowing them to just die right before him. This in itself, is what makes Shonen Onmyouji an anime that stands out above the rest. The action sequences are so fast paced that if you blink even for a half a second, you’ve missed almost half the fight. The artwork is of excellent, high quality, which is expected of Studio Deen, the company that created other animes like “Fate/Stay Night” and “Kyo Kara Maoh” (two of the reviewer’s personal favorites.) the voice acting comes from some of the best voice actors in the Japanese community and the opening theme and ending songs, will make you want to search the internet high and low for them. This is a well rounded anime, that takes a new spin on the traditional “coming of age” tale, and adds some wicked Japanese wizardry to it.

Miss Red Rose’s Verdict: With an anime this great, you must wonder, what exactly is wrong with it? Well let me tell you: While I am a fan of American voice-overs, the English voice acting in comparison to the original voices, is not quite up to par as one would have thought. This is truly a great anime, that would (and hopefully will) enter Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim anime lineup. But at the same time I must advise all those who wish to watch this anime to just put it in Japanese and watch it subtitled, it takes less away from the series than the English version does.

Manga Review of The Week:
Hayate The Combat Butler by Kenjiro Hata
Three volumes out by Viz Media--Volume four out on August 14th, 2007!!!
Anime currently airing in Japan. No US licensing yet!

This is a manga series, where if you do not sympathize with the main character Hayate Ayasaki, then you just have no soul. This tale begins with Hayate a sixteen year old high school student, who inherits a 2 million dollar debt from his parents who were deadbeats, took out a loan to pay off their debts from mobsters and then run off so that they do not get hurt, without any consideration of Hayate. Then, he tries to kidnap a girl in the hopes of having her parents payout her ransom. Only to not only have the plan fail, but to discover that the little girl he actually kidnapped was RICH!! And if you think that’s crazy enough, try having that same girl, mistake Hayate’s threats of kidnapping as declarations of love, and then pay off his debt for him? What does he do then? Well, Hayate becomes the butler for the SAME GIRL HE TRIED TO KIDNAP, in an attempt to pay off his debt! So, do you honestly think that this manga could get any more bizarre?

Yes it can, and does. But if we tell you anymore, then you won’t go and read it will you?

Miss Red Rose’s Verdict: One of the things that I love the most about this manga, is not only it’s anime adaptation which is currently one of the hottest animes in the fan-subs circles, but I love how this manga, takes a guy-in-tough situation and adds some serious next level humor all the while keeping the plot moving. I highly recommend this manga for those who are fans of the series “Ouran High School Host Club”, as this is a lot like that series, only with a serious gender and job switch. It’s also a high recommendation for those who love parody’s. The manga and the anime series, both do huge parodies to many well known anime/manga series such as Inuyasha, Sailor Moon, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and so many more. It’s not afraid to make you go: “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe they just made fun of that!”. Word of advice though, buy this manga, because if you read it in the store, you may be asked to leave the store because you’ll be laughing non-stop to the point of annoyance.

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Issue Two Feature: Otakudom 101

So to start this feature, here is one of my all time favorite Deviant Stamps ever! Despite the fact, that I am an otaku myself, I agree that sometimes, this stamp is all too true. Especially at anime conventions.



Stamp Created by

An otaku, by official definition is: “A fan on an extremely obsessive level“. [1] To put it bluntly, an otaku, is a nerd, geek or dork equivalent. In Japan, it is actually an insult to call someone an otaku (unless they are a nerd like you), cause in Japan, otakus are labeled as those who are homebodies who stay home and be geeks in their own little world. (Sounds familiar huh?) But here in the US, it has a reverse meaning, which states that they are a fan of the Japanese anime/manga world and it’s surrounding culture.

So why is it an insult to some to use this word? Well, while there are many arguments that are surrounding the actual origins of the word, it was not brought into the limelight until 1989, when it was used to describe the Japanese serial killer named Tsutomu Miyazaki. (who is in no relation to Hayao Miyazaki, one of the pioneers of independent anime films such as Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke) Tsutomu, was known in Japan for being a recluse who kidnapped four girls and acted out his anime rape fantasies on these girls before killing them.[2]

So why use a word that is connected to such a horrible past? Well, like many things in this world, it has been given a reprieve and is now a term that describes an anime/manga nerd. And honestly, “otaku” is actually a much easier and shorter way to be labeled than “that geek who loves Japanese anime and manga”. Besides, many Otakus like myself have proudly accepted the term and use it on a highly frequent basis. (My anime online store, is named that for goodness sake!) And many people don’t even quite know what the term means itself. So in a way, it separates us from Trekkies, Star Wars fans or any other circle of fandom groups.

So one of the many questions of course, is what exactly defines an otaku? As there are so many levels to define fandom, there are many ways to define otakudom. From the light love of the occasional manga or anime series watching. To heavier levels of those who are into watching on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. To more intense level of collecting items related to the series of choice and joining many web-rings and online memberships. To the seriously obsessive, which include watching and reading multiple series (and it being the only things that you watch and read.) collecting seriously obscene amounts of your favorite series related gear, to even writing columns about it… (Like yours truly here! ^_^)

If you fall into one of these categories, congrats, you are an anime/manga otaku!!!

And IT’S OKAY TO BE ONE! One of the awesome things about it, is that anime/mangas do not have a mainstream following outside of the Cartoon Network fans. So no matter what your level of otakudom actually is, you still are part of an elite small group of American fans. Therefore, since not “everyone is doing it” you are truly an individual. On top of that, there are so many genres of anime/mangas, that you and everyone around you can choose from. So your taste, will vary from your best friends’ or family members tastes in anime/mangas. And that is okay! Otakudom is one of the most unique fandoms in all of the modern world. Because one group will say a certain series is the best, and another group will say that another series is the best. There is no “absolute one anime/manga” that you must worship. That’s the beauty of otakudom, on all it’s levels. You can pick and choose to your own personal liking!

(Shameless Promotional Note: We’ll be talking about the many genres in anime/mangas next week. So if are looking for a genre to settle into, check us out next Sunday!)

So why should US artists take any notice to otakudom? Why you say? Well, whether or not older artists want to accept it or not, artwork coming from Japanese anime/mangas is bleeding into the modern American art scene. You’d be surprised how many American Deviant Artists say that some (if not all) of their artwork is inspired by Japanese animation. Japanese anime/manga artwork is original, without being abstract to the point of absurdity.

Think I’m kidding? Go to your nearest Borders or Barnes n Noble and go to the Manga/Graphic Novel section of the store. Take an American graphic novel and compare it to an manga. While many things will be different, you will see a lot of similarities. They also have pretty big sections in those Barnes n Nobles and/or Borders as well. Really! Take a look at how many shelves there are of manga in comparison to the graphic novels/comic sections in those stores. It’s obvious that a lot of that art work is somehow going to spark the drawing bug in some people. Face it, anime and mangas are here to stay, so you might as well embrace that and move on.

So while it is important to accept and embrace the following of otakudom. There are some actual do’s and don’t to being a proper otaku. As a fellow otaku, I share in the many loves of anime and mangas. However in my 12 years (I started following when I was 8 years old.) of otakudom travels, I’ve encountered many serious mishaps that could have seriously been prevented had the people involved just took an extra moment and thought about what exactly they were doing. Please note, that otakudom while is an extreme love for anime/mangas, there ACTUALLY IS a limit to how much can be practiced safely and legally as well. So please follow some of the below guidelines and you will have a happy time being a otaku!

Do: Support all artists, dealers and vendors selling your favorite series wares. That also includes any fan arts (literature or drawing wise) you may find in your journeys. Last week I mentioned that there is over 2 million pieces of Anime Fan art here on DA . Take your pick, as you see fit and if possible buy a print of their work from their deviant art shops or through other legal forms. Also, if you find any, that you want to put on a website, please ask the original artist for permission. Most of the time they will say yes, so long as you give proper credit via name or a link to their websites. Do so, and the artwork is yours to put anywhere you want!

DO NOT: Take another person’s artwork, put your name on it and then call it your own. Not only is that SO TOTALLY NOT COOL. But on DA, it’s a one-way ticket to being banned, and then you can’t even look at anything after being banned as well. So don’t do it.

(Editorial Note #1: If you are discovering that you are or may be a victim of art theft, check out this news article about what you can do to have your work protected: [link] however, nothing will protect your work better than putting a watermark on all your printed internet works. Deviants can learn how to do that here: FAQ #332: Does deviantART have an option in place that will automatically watermark my deviations? )

Do: Respect and appreciate your fellow otakus. I mean, we’re all human, so we all have feelings and emotions. This also extends into any people you meet at a “anime convention” (We’ll be talking about conventions in later issues.) and anyone running an “anime convention”. A lot of people work really hard to allow fellow otakus a place to meet and share in their love. So respect and love that.

DO NOT: Belittle, ridicule, or be flat out rude to any fellow otakus for their choices in anime/manga genres. As I was discussing earlier, one of the many wonderful things about otakudom is the choices we have in picking our favorites. One person may love “Naruto” to the ends of the earth, and another person may wish that series would go up in the flames. Regardless, they have a right to love it, and you have a right to love your own favorites. Respect that, cause you will find that one person who doesn’t like the series you like. And THAT’S OKAY!!! I mean, you would be surprised, how many otakus actually do a 180 when they actually do the research about a series that they do not like. If you respectfully tell a person why you love that series, who knows, they may end up joining you!! Otaku loving goes a long way my friends.

Do: Cosplay your favorite characters! It’s fun, and if done correctly, is also kind of cool.

DO NOT: Cosplay inappropriately. Make sure that what you wear, you can actually also wear in public as well.. Wearing a corset that is inches away from exploding all your flesh counts as inappropriate cosplaying. And it’s totally gross.

(Editorial Note #2: We will be talking about the aspects of Cosplaying in September. So that way you are ready for Halloween!!)

Do: ACTUALLY PAY FOR SOME OF YOUR ANIME/MANGAS. While fan subs and scanlations are a good way to discover new anime/manga series, or check out while you are waiting for the release of your next series; it is also illegal to have them in your possession by US and Japanese copyright laws. So watch them, but eventually buy the official DVD’s and books and add those to your collections. Besides, they will be much cleaner and sometimes are actually more understandable than the fan-subs and scanlations themselves.

(Editorial Note #3: We will be covering the importance of mainstream/underground and straight from the source animes/mangas on Sunday August 26th. This will be a great column for the veteran otaku who wants to know the in-depth difference, and those who may have no idea what the difference is.)

Do: THINK BEFORE ACTING!!! Please use common sense in all of your otaku adventures. Seriously. I personally have witnessed some seriously terrible moments because otakus were just plain dumb and didn’t think out what they were planning on doing. Yes glomping someone is fun, but when done with out the actual person being notified, it can turn into either assault, or worse end up in some one heading to the hospital. On top of that, many things that otakus do, are not very family or public friendly. Always remember, that unless you are in the comforts of your (or your friends’ otaku haven, you are subject to all state, local and federal laws. Yes you can be a weirdo, so long as it’s legal and respectful of all the others around you okay?

Well, that’s pretty much the entire foundation of otakudom in a nut shell. I hope that this feature helped those of you who did not know what an otaku was, or why it is such a big deal. If you have any questions and comments you are more than welcome to leave them here, or at my Deviant Page here .

Tune in next week, when we go even one step further into our general survey of anime/manga when we talk about the many genres from which many of your favorite series may be from! If there are any special requests, feel free to leave a note here, or on my Deviant Page, and I’ll be sure to add your favorite to the list!!!

Missed an issue? Check it out here!

Issue One: “What Anime/Mangas are and what They Are Not!”-- [link]

See you all next week!
~Miss Red Rose~

Source Notes:
1 and 2: From Wikapedia’s Entry on Otaku: [link]

Upcoming Releases!-- All releases are subject to change without notice, and prices will vary on publisher, and distributor which you buy from. So shop around okay!

Anime Releases for Tuesday, August 14th, 2007
3x3 Eyes Seima Densetsu - Legend of the Divine Demon (DVD 2)
Air (DVD 1)
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad (DVD 2)
Best Student Council - Special Talents - Crazy Times (DVD 5)
Kurau: Phantom Memory - Binary Complex (DVD 3)
Noein (DVD 5)
Pani Poni Dash! - Delinquent Genius (DVD 5)
Popotan - DVD Box Set (DVD)
Tekkaman Blade - DVD Set 3 (Sub.DVD)
Tokko (DVD 3)
Wings of Rean (Sub.DVD 3)

Manga Releases For Tuesday, August 14th, 2007
Basara (G.novel 24)
Battle Vixens (G.novel 12 of 12)
Bizenghast (G.novel 3 of 5)
Boys Over Flowers (G.novel 25)
Dragon Knights (G.novel 25 of 25)
Flame of Recca (G.novel 24) [192]
Hayate the Combat Butler (G.novel 4)
No Need for Tenchi! - (2nd Ed) (G.novel 11)
O-Parts Hunter (G.novel 5)
The Law of Ueki (G.novel 7)
Zatch Bell (G.novel 14)
8mm (G.novel 1)
Audition (G.novel 2)
Peter Pan (G.novel 1)