Otaku Helping Others Pt. 10: Are You An Otaku?

Here we are... At the 10th installment of Otaku Helping Others and nearly 2 years after the first installment of OHO. We're at Shabody Archipelago, ready to travel to the New World. We're powered up to the max and there won't be any more time-skips, maybe.

The 10th installment of Otaku Helping Others is about being an Otaku and the medium in which otaku live, anime and manga (and other Japanese media outlets such as jpop or video games).

Anime and manga have the ability to draw people in to them. Think about anime trends like Pokemon, Akira, or Miyazaki movies. Those three have such wide fan bases that it seems like everyone has seen them or heard about them. You don't have to be an otaku to know those anime. In fact, the Deputy Prime Ministor who was once the Prime Minister of Japan, Taro Aso, was an avid manga fan while he was in college. He also reads manga from time to time, as multiple sources suggest. You'd think that most Japanese celebrities would love anime since it's one of Japan's cultural staples. However, once you're a celebrity you have to be conscious of whether coming out and saying you love anime will be good for your career and for anime. To Taro Aso, admitting that he was an avid manga fan was like Barack Obama coming out with his love for things like beer and basketball. That means Taro Aso didn't mind saying that he was an avid fan.

Other celebrities have came out in the open about their interests in anime. Soulja Boy notably for saying that he looked just like Goku and also for liking Death Note. Soulja Boy also has been video'd playing indie games on his Xbox, as in the documentary Indie Game. It's speculated that Gwen Stefani and Zach Efron both like anime from sources like interviews. There are many people out there who do like anime but might not talk about it. I once knew a man who was an original gangsta and also a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh. The point here is that anime does draw people into them.

Let's get to the point. What makes someone say that they are an otaku though? The people mentioned above would probably never admit or come out and say they're an otaku. Being an otaku means that you're obsessed with anime and manga and Japanese media. In America or Japan, it's the same thing as being a comic book nerd. We all know what comic book nerds are like also. They're usually unattractive and never get a date. What would make anyone say they are an otaku?

For us at the Otaku Reviewers we knew we were otaku at a young age. Especially Chansu and Deretsun who embraced being an otaku in high school. Growing up as an otaku or comic book nerd is OK I guess. However, can one be an otaku forever? There's no short answer to this question.

Back to the main question, what makes one an otaku? The short answer is the list below. The more you match the more you are an otaku. If you match all eleven, then the answer is you are an otaku. This list is all or none. Or one for all. The point is... If you match even one, then you may possibly be an otaku. 

Are You an Otaku Quiz!

• 1. You have an anime list on Myanimelist.com
• 2. Your anime list has over 50 anime watched or over 50 days spent watching anime.
• 3. You've been to more than one anime convention. 
• 4. You've been to Japan.
• 5. You own more than 3 video game systems and at least one game that hasn't been translated into English.
• 6. You watch most of your anime in English subs.
• 7. You write fanfiction, write anime/manga, create video games, dojinshi, or draw anime characters.
• 8. You either know who the creator of Astro Boy is or you have watched a movie by Satoshi Kon.
• 9. You own an anime figure.
• 10. You have at least ten manga somewhere.
• 11. You've cosplayed or dressed up as an anime character.

Back to the article. What would make one say they are an otaku? They're usually unattractive and never get a date.... Well the answer to that is: If you've done even one of the things above you know that being an otaku is fun! It probably doesn't matter what other people say about you because you already know that anime and manga is fun. It's not about other people, it's about about being happy. And I'm not really sure about the unattractive part because Ne-yo created his own comic book and in the process of promoting it at the now defunct "New York Anime Festival" (Comic Con) he's crossed more than one thing off that list. But I'm sure that it's fun and it's time consuming. I'm a proud otaku!

Are you an otaku?

Chloe from "Potential of Austere", (drawn by Chansu)

img cred:
http://chansu90.deviantart.com

Who's who in the world of Otaku!

I'm going to start of this series right. "Who's Who" posts can be about singers, artists, writers, social activists, voice actors, etc however they're all real people although that may be debated because most of them work to bring you the anime characters and themes we know and love. For my first "Who's Who" post I am choosing to write about a genius mangaka (Manga Author) by the name Eichiro Oda.

Eichiro is a man of very few photographs, a trait common to certain genius' and great men. However his work speaks for him:

He is the creator of the HIT manga and anime series: ONE PIECE!

Check out our One Piece Recommendation for the summary of One Piece and Anime Peeps I Care About Post inspired by the anime!

Before that he created short stories/manga in a series called Wanted!

I don't think you can buy this one at any ordinary manga store... especially here in America... I wish though.

He collaborated with the creator of Dragonball, Akira Toriyama, to create Cross Epoch a short story about a world where DragonballZ and One Piece exist together.

Check it out at NBST

Look here young man/woman

Click above and you'll see, One piece is currently the third ranked anime in Japan for the week of October 4th. One Piece is third to two anime which are vintage anime. The first of which, Sazae San, is like the Japanese Simpsons in that it's the longest running cartoon there and still running today. 

SO ONE PIECE IS A PRETTY DARN BIG DEAL IN JAPAN! 

I'll go further to say that it's the shounen anime king there, it beats Naruto, Full Metal, Bleach, all those.

Why hasn't it dominated the USA cartoon inventory?? Well there's actually a story about that...

When One Piece debuted in the US in around 2004 or 2005 it was brought to people by the 4KIDS company that brought America Pokemon. Pokemon was a MAJOR hit in the USA and Japan thought they would do the same with One Piece, they entrusted another hit to them. However 4KIDS messed up the voice acting, changed the opening and ending themes, and censored out most of the show. What worked or whatever they did with Pokemon could not be done with One Piece and therefore the public in America rejected One Piece as stupidness. Only few people who could see the greatness of the story itself continued to watch the 4KIDS mis-presentation until it was taken off the air. Funimation in the recent few years picked up One Piece and fixed it up to be truer to the Japanese version however it hasn't been put back on TV for public audiences. And that is why One Piece isn't beating out Naruto and Bleach here in America, and yes I know those are good shows too.

For certain reasons the old 4KIDS dub was purged from existence (at least on youtube) so all I can show you is the bad censorship they did. They made many guns into water guns, cigarettes into lolipops, blood into nothing, knives into thin air, etc. I know these things are bad but c'mon One Piece is a world where they're all worthless anyway, WHY CENSOR THEM? 4KIDS should work for the Big Man Above... Alittle inside humor I think.

Anyway back to Eichiro Oda

 He worked hard to bring everyone the best anime/manga ever!
Oda remarked that his interest in pirates came from another show called "Vicky the Viking". Even Oda had to be inspired by something else! Check out his wiki article!
Wikipedia bio of Eichiro Oda

Will you finally go out and watch ONE PIECE?!!

Thank you for checking out my first "Who's who in the world of Otaku!"

Vocaloid track of the Whenever I Feel Like It 4 (Double Header!)

Hey guys, this time on "Vocaloid track of the whenever I feel like it" we have a Miku double-header! The two tracks I picked out this time are "Black★Rock Shotoer" and "Over"!

Black★Rock Shooter is a great and catchy song about... well... I guess an adventure of sorts? It sounds like a great anime opening track, and it has a cult following of sorts. Let's just say it's one of Miku's premiere songs and an important one that got Vocaloid music really famous (though the artist must also be pretty wealthy himself). It's so awesome that there's even an anime being made out of it! So, without further in ado:

Black★Rock Shooter - Hatsune Miku

“Over” is a less well-known song, has no real PV, etc. But the lyrics and the melody are somewhat pleasing to me! And it’s a great parallel to show how Vocaloid2 makes Miku’s voice flow a lot more. So, check it out!

Over -Hatsune Miku

I did not subtitle or create this video or the music. I don't own it. Don't kill me, copyright people.

-chansu

Spontaneous Otakulture 3 - Nico Nico Douga (Smiley Videos)

Alright guys, time for a quick review. So we've looked at vocaloids and Touhou right? They're both some pretty radical creations, but despite their awesome, in this world things can't just be popular outta nowhere. People have to you know, see and admire things for them to gain fame!

Thus bringing us to today's topic.

Otakulture 3 - Nico Nico Douga

The otaku's YouTube, Nico Nico Douga literally means "Smiley videos," "nico nico" being an onomatopoeia for ... smiling. So yeah, the vids are supposed to be funny then? Well it depends.

If you're truly an otaku, then you've seen nico nico videos. Pretty much all videos involving Touhou, MAD, Vocaloids, MMD, and those weird Super Mario levels where they go in tune of the music... those are all from nico nico douga.

Yes, in fact, those types of videos define the place! Videos where sound effects are pitch-altered to sound like a famous song (see Ronald McDonald Insanity), videos with stunning illustrations or 3dCG effects set to Vocaloid music (see Chain Girl or Just Be Friends), intense mash-ups of hundreds of anime in a single video and videos with 3D girls dancing (See... what I'll post in a second) are all part of the nico nico subculture.

Youtube should learn a thing or two from NND. First of all, NND doesn't go and play the Copyright Infringement card on every little thing. But that is also because the users put up tons and tons of original content a day. Secondly, NND allows people's comments to scroll across the screen. Unlike the horrible "annotations" addition to Youtube, the scrolling comments let you know what people found to be the most funny or influential. And like annotations it can be shut off so don't get scared.

I bet you're just pining to get started on that NND aren't you? Well it's only in Japanese so I guess you better start studying your Kanji. Oooor if you're somewhat bilingual in a certain romance language, Spanish can be an option for you to break into the NND world. But because the YouTube community loves ripping stuff off of NND and throwing it onto YouTube, you really shouldn't worry about your Otakulture fix. Sure it may be hand-me-down videos, but you'll manage.

Now, for some examples!

The All-time most famous video from NND:
Kumikyoku Nico Nico Douga!


Now the Super Mario Version!


"I can't defeat Airman!" Megaman video!


Touhou's "Bad Apple!!" CG Megamix!


"Just Be Friends" by the Nico Nico Chorus!


MMD [Miku Miku Dance] 3D Dance
"Clover Club"!


And Last But Not Least...


Nanairo Nico Nico Douga (Rainbow Nico Nico Douga)!!!






Hey guys that's all for now. I can't give away all of the greatest videos of all time. You'll just have to sit back and wait for more, or do some exploring of your own! Go to Nico Nico Douga and check some stuff out!




OH AND BTW.

I did not create or upload these videos or anything in them. I don't own ANY OF IT. Don't kill me, copyright people. Too young to die.


Here ends the third edition of Spontaneous Otakulture. Hopefully you learned something new, or were able to relate with a smile. Keep walking the path of the otaku, and the rewards will be plentiful. Probably.

-chansu

Our JPOP Video of the Night!

Hey ya'll, takin' over RPGHero's role for tonight :)
It's ma' girl Miliyah in the house with a recent hit! Enjoy!
Translated lyrics below from JPOPASIA! Credit goes to "aimerodi" for the trans!

Miliyah Kato - Bye Bye



Translated Lyrics:

When we've met and understood
How many times must we repeat this
Before we become happy?
The back of you has become far away and blurry
Beautiful feelings and fleeting dreams
There will be no loneliness if I do not forget
Bye bye bye bye

You were special to me, you had the same dreams
We'd have willingly chased them together
I've always kind of known
I wanted you to be here for ever and ever
But surely, surely, it couldn't continue like this
I cried and cried and troubled myself
Barely still grasping happiness as the last of it escaped my hands

Since I became so sad
I've looked back on everything
I'll never let anything like this happen again
I will always remember you
Despite everything, I'll always love you
Even though our romance is at an end
Why does my heart ache so much now?
I still love you
Say goodbye bye bye

I've been through love, and it has been difficult
I'd like to cast aside everything to do with it
But I'm sorry, I can't (no)
Now you are free to spread your wings
But just hold me, hold me, make it last forever
Still wait, wait, I haven't forgotten you yet
That sweet farewell ended it, and still you are the only one I love

Again and again
I'll keep calling your name
Until I can't speak anymore
Even when the feelings in my heart become vague
Even if it's my last love, I'll promise
Even then, I want this to be the start of forever
Why are you so far away from me?
Despite everything, I love you
Say goodbye bye bye

Your happiness and my wishes are so far apart
In the future, we'll both meet and fall in love with lots of different people
And somebody will love us both in return

Since I became so sad
I've looked back on everything
I'll never let anything like this happen again
I will always remember you
Despite everything, I'll always love you
Even though our romance is at an end
Why does my heart ache so much now?
I still love you
Say goodbye bye bye

oh oh oh
oh oh oh
oh oh oh
I want to be with you

oh oh I love you
oh oh I miss you so much
oh oh but you've forgotten
I guess it's good bye
I won't forget you





I did not traslate or create this video or the music. I don't own it. Don't kill me, copyright people.

-chansu

Vocaloid track of the Whenever I Feel Like It 3

Hey folks, here with another Vocaloid track for you guys to enjoy! This one is not a Hatsune Miku song, but instead styled by the duo of Rin and Len Kagamine! This song, called "Gemini," is about fated love in pairs (or something). The lyrics are pretty deep again. Plus you even get a little bit of Len spitting a verse near the end!

Gemini - Rin and Len Kagamine

I did not subtitle or create this video or the music. I don't own it. Don't kill me, copyright people.

-chansu

Vocaloid track of the Whenever I Feel Like It 2

Hey guys I'm back! Guess what, I feel like posting a Vocaloid song! This one's called "Just be Friends" by the not-as-popular-but-amazing Megurine Luka. This song, despite it's catchy fluff-techno sound, is surprisingly powerful. A love that wants to endure hardship but cannot stand itself... pretty cool if you ask me. What's even more interesting is that Luka is singing the guy's thoughts...

Well, here's the video!

Just be Friends - Megurine Luka



I did not subtitle or create this video or the music. I don't own it. Don't kill me, copyright people.

-chansu

Vocaloid track of the Whenever I Feel Like It

Yet another pointless post series by chansu? You bet! If you have read my post on Vocaloid (which you can find quite quickly here), you know I'm a big fan of Vocaloid music. I think it has a place in our technological future and will play an important role once it rises to mass popularity. I like to shamelessly promote things I like a lot, but if you're also a Vocaloid fan then maybe you'll enjoy what I have to post?

Welcome to the first post of "Vocaloid track of the Whenever I Feel Like It"! Today's song is one of my favorites by Hatsune Miku: Chain Girl. From what I can collect, this song is about the longing and whatnot, chaining one person to another. Quite a contrast to the cliche "red thread of fate," don't you think?

Well, here's the video!

Chain Girl - Hatsune Miku

I did not subtitle or create this video or the music. I don't own it. Don't kill me, copyright people.

-chansu

Our Definition of Diesel

Sorry guys I forgot to give you a definition of diesel in my last post. The dictionary definition of diesel is: an engine in which air is compressed to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite fuel injected into the culinder where the combustion and expansion actuate a piston. Yada-yada-ya.

Diesel engines are commonly used in Mack trucks and if you ever got hit by a Mack truck it would be an intense moment... A diesel moment in anime is like that, but getting hit by a Mack truck transporting COOLNESS in its hull!

UPDATE:   A DIESEL moment is not a sad moment it's a moment where a character STAKES his past against his future and CHANGE happens, usually for the better no matter the COST.

Here are a few moments in anime that are considered DIESEL!
WARNING WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK, THESE VIDEOS CONTAIN SPOILERS

There are many more but this one is one of the best:




If you have any diesel moments feel free to post the below, we'll give you props! They don't even have to be from shounen anime!

If you like our blog add follow us young Samurai! We are even going to have a contest soon so stay tuned!

Just A Bit You Should Know

Hi all! My name is RPGHero. I'm 22 years old and I am a self-proclaimed African-American otaku. The purpose of this blog is to keep you, the reader, informed on cool updates and tidbits of information in the world of people like me, people teetering on the edge of traveling to Japan and people who want to know whats what in the world of cool gizmos, video games, anime, and culture. If you like my posts and come back periodically for all your cool information then I've done my job.
Sincerely,
RPGHero