io9: otaku

Is "Otaku Week" on MTV2 All About Dissing the Nerds?

Annalee Newitz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:00 PST

A few bloggers say MTV's "otaku week," featuring anime convention videos, does nerdkind a disservice. But actually it's a surprisingly non-judgmental look at a misunderstood bunch.

The controversial video for most people looking at MTV's seven-video series seems to be this one, showing a bunch of young guys goofing around while playing card game Yu-Gi-Oh. Or this one, showing a cosplayer describing his Legend of Zelda costume, then playing his character's flute-like instrument.

I get why people think these clips could be construed as embarrassing, partly because their subjects are so unabashedly enjoying themselves. But to me these films seem pretty respectful. Unlike many vids I've seen on MTV, there are no sarcastic hipsters commenting on how ridiculous or repulsive geeks are - and there are no little popups zooming onto the screen that say "NERD!" We're seeing these gamers and anime lovers the way they are among each other, goofing around and geeking out over costumes.

In fact, if you watch the video I embedded above, from the same series, I think you get a flavor of what the videomakers were trying to convey. They show us an appealingly frenetic scene of people from all backgrounds getting together, dressing up, and having fun.

Sure the videos could have brought in an even more diverse group of otaku - sophisticated collectors, people who write about anime and manga professionally, academics, creators - but instead they capture only the regular fans. These are the people who make up the bulk of most conventions, and I like seeing them here, looking into the cameras, unashamed.

Japanese Bars Cater to Fans of Sentient Body Armor

Annalee Newitz — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:00:55 PST

In Tokyo's district for otaku, or mega-fans, two bars will soon be recreating the Gundam anime universe. Featured in countless animated series, Gundam is a world where people wear sentient body armor, or "mobile suits," for fighting. Also, sometimes, for loving. Patrons of the Gundam bars will be served by waitresses in full body armor. And maybe they'll get to see some war action.

The two bars are named after the rival factions in the Gundam universe: Zeon and Federation Forces. They're advertising right now for lady servers who want to dress up like characters from Gundam.
No word yet on whether Bar Zeon will go to war with Bar Federation Forces, but it seems inevitable. Now there's some live entertainment I'd like to see.

Mobile Suit Cosplay Bar [Anime News Network]

Alien Tech Gets You A Date With A Supermodel

charliejane — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:30:00 PST

A shy fanboy buys a weird alien figurine that starts making all his wishes come true, including a supermodel date, in The iDol. But everything comes at a price, and the doll's original owner is coming from outer space to look for it. The iDol looks like another zany Japanese comedy like Squid Wrestler, but it has a surprising source.

Co-writer/director Ken England is an American who's lived in Japan for years. He enlisted the aid of Japanese TV and movie veterans, and the result has an old-school sci-fi look. I like the non-CGI space monster the Oavian. The iDol is a satire of otaku (fan) culture, but looks as though it could have a creepy underside, what with the doll's eye-blasts and the hooded figures. It also looks similar to CJ7, the new Stephen Chow movie about an ordinary person who finds an alien object with magic powers. The iDol made its North American debut at Vancouver Comicon in October, but no word on when it'll show in the U.S. [SciFiJapan]