The Search

At the moment I'm sitting on the toilet, not because I'm using but because it is probably the most inspirational place in my house. So as I'm sitting here I'm wondering what really is an otaku. Of course I don't know what it is but have only heard it in anime and manga (a very limited but entertaining source). So what is an otaku


otaku: is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interest particularly (but not limited to) anime, manga, or Japanese video games. 

as sourced from the everlasting wikipedia, the most helpful site on the Internet since the Internet!

^Ripped off from the Internet as well!^

But considering that I'm calling this the otaku handbook i believe i should at least know what I'm talking right? anyone? please tell em I'm right? just forget it!

I'm right and I know I'm right! Because I'm awesome! and epic, and all around cool. Not really. But it's my blog and i can do what i want. 

Now that i\I've gotten that rant out of the way let's delve deeper the the different categories of an otaku (yes there are categories just like there are for any other label). There not categories but negative and positive aspect of the word. To actual people who are just obsessed about something the positive annotation can be simple as in saying " I'm a car-otaku" to things like " he's such an otaku or stalker!" 

In hindsight to normal mainstream media, and by media I'm keeping Japanese people out of this, its a pretty normal term to refer to a obessey but in Japan it can lean towards a term for outcasts or weirdos (and not the good type!).

The Simple Stories of A simple Life

All anyone wants is an anime of stories, no crazy plots with horrible charcter back stories or complicated settings. sometimes you just want a story about normal people living their normal life. Of course I won't say that I don't love the amazing ninja world of Naruto or the post cyberpunk genre of Psycho Pass but its the simple stuff like Lucky star which really makes someone want to be Japanese.

 Who doesn't love this gang?

While most people are asking for a love story, action and plot to all be in a manga, we still desire one which shows normal people doing normal things. Lucky star, a common anime which is made up of small skits of normal high school girls and yet seems to have a little storyline all while not being moved by it or Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou (DKN) which is basically Lucky Star but even funnier with its serious humor all have one thing in common, no plot. 

Well there is one but you never see it or never truly hear about. In Lucky Star we Don't find out why Konata has no mom till the last couple of episodes or how in DKN the artists don't show any of the girls faces (except the Highschool Girls are Funky ones). Plot is not necessary because dialogue and actions are even better!

Boys who dance around in women's underwear, what a sight.

But its always a refresher to stumble upon a good slice of life genre based manga like Bakuman or Angel Densetsu and even if they're not tat simple they're not so complicated. The simplicity is what drives them to be the manga that we read and fall n love with because it's complexity lays in its calm exterior. 

The horrors of holding in laughter 

While we all couldn't have lived without our Bleach and Dragon Ball, its always lovely to be able to read one which has no real concept or idea. The ones that are just there for our enjoyment

The Search for Cyberpunk

When the show Death Note finally ended it seemed like a burden was left on cyberpunk fans. It seems like we just can't find that taught and ideas in nowadays anime. Yet when we have a stoic detective and all around awesome criminals with harden past yet a fun exterior we seem to fall in love with it.

But come on who wouldn't want to watch something which has so much taught behind it that just watching the anime makes you feel like a god damn L.

Psycho Pass is probably that one thing that will become a classic.

Now this might all just be common speculation, but considering that the manga was an amazing ride through the minds of criminals and police alike a lot can be expected out of the storyline, because come who doesn't love some insane police action!

But what makes a criminal? That is the main question on psycho pass. Is it something in your mind or is  it something you're born with? Are we allowed to judge no rather can we judge the minds and decide if he/she is a criminal? Just like such shows, such as Death Note and Ghost in a Shell, it begs the question  
"What makes a true criminal?"

Our lovely major

While Psycho Pass can sustain our cyberpunk fans its far more into the post cyberpunk, yet this show has potential. It's hard to find an anime this good in this day an age.

The Stumble of a Pony

"There's a covention for everything"
 As i got ready for a small fundraiser near Disneyland (The world of overpriced food), i couldn't help but hate this. I mean who wants to go to a stupid fundraiser where I would most likely not give any money and would most likely walk out and go adventuring half way through.  But by the time I reached the Anaheim Convention Center the first thing I noticed was a girl with a blue wig.

Then a girl dressed in pink. then a boy in a Rainbow Dash sweater (my favorite), yes as faith would have it I who lived in two worlds one of the late night manga reads and one of the stylish and normal, stumbled upon a Wondercon.

Rainbow dash!!

To tell the truth I had only ever been to one convention and that was Anime con last December, so to actually see it one more time was magnificent even if it was the outside. People were cosplaying and having a great time. When most of the people were already inside a girl cosplaying as princess Celestia was standing outside taking pictures. The entire place and hotel nearby was swarming with otaku, who wouldn't love overhearing conversations (cause I'm creepy like that).

A friend of mine who was just as excited!

Now to make a long story short I will say this conventions are probably the best thing int he otaku world, but stumbling on it was even better.

Shojo: a simple obsession

As the week comes to a close it makes one wonder why the long awaited monday anime won't already be posted.

Recently I have fallen completely in love with two animes and for those who know this world well know the most romantic and love sappy shows are labeled shojo or shoujo.

Basically these are shows which are demographic toward women and involve two characters which have meet through some circumstance or other and end up in love. These shows most the time have a ikemen character who to tell you the truth is probably what anyone would call a delinquent. 

Clannad 

Shojo is a genre which certifies its own rules, as all anime and manga are, you cannot judge it by looking at it as a cartoon but as a anime in its own genre and respect. 

Because I am going through what I like to call shojo syndrome I have decided to turn towards shojo, because of the way someone can become totally obsessed with the characters but when the series ends you have no withdrawal issues. 

The first is:

Kamisama Hajimemashita- a story about a young girl through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events becomes the earth deity of a shrine and as well as gains a familiar who of course its a fox (because who doesn't love beastility?). They will most likely fall in love or something, but the main point is that he is a sexy fox spirit and any girl would want to take him away!

Who wouldn't want to live with that?!

The next is:

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun- a simple school life love tale of a, to no surprise, delinquent boy and a girl who loves studying mix in a chicken, some family problems, and a girl who gets hit on far to easily and you've got Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun