You’ve seen it happen in many of your favorite movies (*cough* Deadpool *cough*). You’ve probably seen it happen in some of your favorite TV shows. If you don’t know what we’re getting at here, we’re talking about the greatest thing to ever happen to television, movies, and anime – the Fourth Wall! Much like fanservice found in certain anime titles, the Fourth Wall can basically mean a shoutout to the audience that’s watching, or even the fact that the characters realize that they’re in a work of fiction. Fourth Wall breaks are a time-honored tradition and mostly common in movies, TV, and of course, anime/manga. There are many titles out there that do this, but these five are pros when it comes to breaking down the one-way chalkboard that we call “The 4th Wall”.

Space Dandy! (No. 5)

He’s a dandy guy in space, who just so happens to break the fourth wall – occasionally. We may not know exactly what episode(s) the 4th comes into play, but watch the first episode of the first season, and maybe that’ll give you a clue. 😉

Rosario + Vampire! (No. 4)

If you’ve watched the first season of this show, then you’ve probably seen several instances of the fourth wall being broken, or at least poked at. There are a couple times in the series where the second season broke the fourth wall (When the cast was chased by Moka’s sister), but needless to say, this title is on the “4th Wall Breakers” list.

FLCL! (No. 3)

An anime title this bizarre sho-nuff’ breaks the fourth wall! If you don’t believe us then fast forward to the part where the animation style changes into the traditional manga style. We would tell you what was going on during that 4th wall break, but it’d be better if you watched it for yourselves. 😉

Team Rocket from Pokemon! (No. 2)

If our memory serves us (and we’re crossing our fingers it does), Team Rocket has broken the fourth wall numerous times (about 90% at least) – especially during the 1999 movie Pokemon the Movie 2000.

Gintama! (No. 1)

There’s no such thing as a “Fourth Wall” with a series like this. It’s not like the characters or the show itself doesn’t know that it’s there, they just acknowledge that it even exists. As with every anime title, we would tell you where and when the fourth wall breaks happen, but it’s better if you just tune in and watch the series for yourself. 😉

Well that’ll do if for us for this filler post, but we’ve got more for you guys coming up on the blog later this week! 🙂

We’ve done it! We’ve finally done it! 2017’s Thy Geekdom Con was not only our first time going to that convention, but our last stop on our 2017 Mini Tour! From start to finish this year has had it’s ups and downs, twists and turns, but to be on our way to our second year as a blog (as well as gain over 1,000 followers on Twitter and over 10,000 views on the blog overall), it’s without a doubt that we can’t thank you guys enough for all of your support! Truth be told we never thought that our blog would make it this far.

Now with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas around the corner, it’s time to give you guys our overall review on how the tour went for us!

Our First Stop: AniMore 2017 (Baltimore, MD)

Who says you can’t come back home? Believe it or not guys n’ gals, this convention is the birthplace of our anime blog! We debuted and launched this awesome blog/website hybrid right here inside the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore, Maryland. If you’re looking for a smaller con that has that fan-centered feel and not so much of the hustle n’ bustle of waiting in the autograph line at a larger convention, then make your way down to AniMore! We’ll be returning for its 3rd year on January 19-21, 2018, so come out and see us if you can! 🙂

Our Second Stop: NipponCon 2017 (Westminster, MD)

Not too far from our own backyard in Reisterstown/Glyndon, NipponCon is set inside McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Although it’s small in size and only one day, it makes for a great atmosphere for budding anime fans who want that fan-centered feel. We’re hoping that we can make our way back here for the 2018 year, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Our Third Stop: Zenkaikon 2017 (Lancaster, PA)

Our first out-of-state anime convention! Zenkaikon is a mid-sized convention that sits in between fan-centered, and the hustle n’ bustle found at larger conventions. Lancaster’s Convention Center is a lot smaller than ours back in Baltimore, but it’s got enough square feet to hold anywhere between 1,500 to 3,000 con goers. The people are awesome, the dances are hot, and we were lucky enough to meet the one and only Steve Blum! We’ll be returning to this convention next year, hopefully hosting a panel…hopefully.

Our Fourth Stop: Saikoucon 2017 (Allentown, PA)

Our second out-of-state anime convention in Pennsylvania! This convention reminds us a little bit of Animore; with that fan-centered feel that you can only find at smaller cons like these, with the exception of some really awesome VA’s that came by. Although we won’t get the chance to come back next year, we’re hoping to make our return in 2019 – if things for the blog go well!

Our Fifth And Final Stop: Thy Geekdom Con 2017 (Claymont, DE)

This is the final stop on our tour for this year! This convention is a multi-fandom convention; meaning everything from Anime to Doctor Who. In past years this convention only lasted for a day, but this year was the con’s first ever two-day event, and it was a blast! We got a feeling that this won’t be the last time we come to this convention, so if you didn’t get the chance to see us this year, you can catch us next year! 😉

Again we just want to thank all of our awesome fans who have supported us through the entire tour, as well as the special one’s who have taken some pictures with us. We plan on establishing a ‘Panel Presence’ for next year’s anime con go-around, so don’t be surprised if our name pops up somewhere on your convention’s overall schedule.

There’s more posts coming, so stick around for more fun and more D&A!

If you were born during the 80’s and 90’s or even went to middle or high school during that time, then somewhere down the line you might have heard of these terms before. There are so many stereotypes associated with these two terms, and although there are a lot of similarities between them, Geeks and Nerds are totally different. If you don’t believe us, then allow us to break it down for you.

What is a Nerd?

Let’s look at the definition of the word Nerd. A Nerd is an individual who is solely devoted to academics, literature, math, and science. They’re socially awkward, boring, studious, and dress like Steve Urkel from Family Matters. (And are really skilled in Tech Support as well as computers.) Like Otaku, Nerd is a stereotypical term that puts individuals who fit that category as unattractive or unpopular, but just like the word ‘Otaku’, we have redefined and popularized that meaning into something great and wonderfully unique!

The origins of the word can trace as far back as the 1950’s, with Dr. Seuss’s book If I Ran the Zoo. One year later it’s slang meaning was reported on Newsweek due to the popular usage of the term. By the 60’s the word spread as far as Scotland and even took on connotations of social ineptitude, or someone who was a book worm. By the 70’s the word was heavily used in the hit sitcom Happy Days, I wish we could tell you when it was used in which episode(s), but we weren’t born back then. XP

Stereotypically, Nerds (especially males) were seen as either skinny or fluffy, and being in a state known as “hyperwhite”; rejecting the use of Afro-American slang (ebonics) or other terms that the “cool” kids are using. After the release of Revenge of the Nerds and of course the appearance of Steve Urkel from Family Matters (as seen above), Nerds have become multicultural and have various ethnic backgrounds. Nerds have done A LOT of this country, and if you don’t believe us, just google up “Famous Nerds in America”!

What is a Geek?

As we mentioned before there are similarities between Geeks and Nerds, but like we’ve also mentioned before, the two terms are totally different. A Geek is an individual with eccentric or non-mainstream tastes. The term connotes with someone who is an expert or an enthusiast or (get ready for it) someone who is obsessed with a subject or hobby for its own sake! (That means comic books, manga books, anime, video games, etc.) The origins of the word come from the English dialect ‘geck’ or ‘geek’, which meant ‘fool’ or ‘freak’ in German. In the 18th and 19th century the term was used to describe a circus performer in a traveling circus, but overtime the word took on a much different meaning though it still had it’s derogatory sting.

Since the rise of technology, Geeks have been at the forefront and have helped launch a lot of technology-oriented businesses, as well as become a major asset to organizations all over the world. It’s noted that Mark Roeder’s book Unnatural Selection: Why The Geeks Will Inherit The Earth, that the high-tech world is quite favorable for geeks or individuals with geek-like traits. (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.) Also since the mid 2000’s the “Geek Chic” trend made it cool and fashionable to wear geek apparel.

Both Nerds and Geeks have had it rough during the middle and high school years. Both were picked on or bullied, both were laughed at by girls, and both weren’t invited to any of the cool kids parties. However over the years both terms have been stripped of their derogatory meaning and classification, and has turned into something filled with pride. If both terms are associated with popular culture in today’s modern age, then what’s the difference between the two? Nerds are more into academics (like math and science) than Geeks. Geeks are knowledgeable about Marvel, DC, Anime, Manga, and Video Games than Nerds. Some are even hybrids of the two terms; like a ‘Neek’ or a ‘Gerd’.

We know this filler post was a bit of a mouthful to swallow, but hopefully we explained the difference between a Geek and a Nerd. Both have similarities, both have differences, but both have a massive impact on the world.

Wow. 2017 is going by faster than anyone ever expected. It seemed just like yesterday we were waiting for the ball to drop on December 31, 2016, and now here we are less than 60 days before its time to watch the ball to drop on December 31, 2017! So here I am writing this filler post to let you guys know, that in less than four hours from now it’ll be my 28th birthday. One cool thing about turning another year older is that my age hasn’t quite caught up with my face just yet, and that’s a blessing.

Although I’m excited that my birthday’s right around the corner, I’m also a tad said because my 20’s is almost at its end. Next year will be A. Goldman’s last year to be in his twenties, which means that both of us are dreading our thirties – just a little bit. In spite of that I’m single (not that I’m complaining), I don’t have any kids (so no baggage there), I still want to run and represent 1/2 of D&A (you guys are the best), and I want to build a career around my artistic talents; music production, audio engineering, and video editing.

Speaking of music I find myself listening to some 8-bit soundtracks from classic video games like Pac-Man, SMB (Super Mario Bros.), Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and more. I say all this to say that I have found my niche in terms of the kind of music that I want to produce. I love listening to EDM and some Hip-Hop/Trap beats, but now I want to infuse and incorporate the 8-bit classic Chiptune sounds that 80’s and 90’s kids used to love (and still do), into my original creations; hopefully taking Chiptune to a whole new level. I love instrumental music because you’re able to tell your story through the very sounds, melodies, and beats, that you construct in whatever DAW (Digital Audio workstation) you’re familiar with. Mine being MAGIX.

2017 has been a year of ups and downs for me, but it’s nice to know that my journey in life is not even close to being over yet! I’m on the road to pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Audio Engineering, as well as doing everything I can to save money so that I can move out of my parent’s house. (I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.) Anyway here’s to turning another year older, and another year of being an Otaku!

“Live long, and prosper!”  — The Late, Great Leonard “Spock” Nimoy (Star Trek)

In many of our past filler posts we’ve talked about (and broken down) various topics that were ‘seemingly’ hard to dissect, but this one however is a bit of a history lesson, without the boring lecture. If you’re a big fan of Shimoneta, then this post is for you!

You thought the FCC was bad? (They’re not as hard-assed as they used to be like they were back in the day) Then sit on down and check this out! If you’re a little bit familiar with the Japanese Constitution, then you’d know that Article 21 guarantees Freedom of Expression and prohibits formal censorship. Kinda like our 1st Amendment rights here in America, but that’s about as political as we’re gonna get on our side. To realize how far Japan has come in terms of this topic, you’d have to go back a little bit.

This brings us to the Edo Period of Japan, where the Tokugawa Shogunate started turning towards censorship of ideas and talks that included Christianity, bad-mouthing the shogunate, and a few other things. Because publishing became pretty popular during that time, if there was anything published that threaten the traditional way of life (or the way that you look at the shogunate as a government), it was seized on contact! Which would make a Present Day hentai lover nervous if he/she lived during this period.

Fast-forward to 1868 during the Meiji Period, where censorship was really heavy – especially on western ideas and pornography. (No booty magazines here, unless you wanna get yours hung or shot!) 60 years later the Death Penalty was added among a list of punishments for crimes that were committed during this period – violation of censorship being one of those crimes. In 1940 The Information Bureau took full control over all news, advertising and public events. To top it off the revision of the National Mobilization Law kicked in, thus eliminating freedom of the press – until 5 years later when restrictions on censorship were abolished.

Although the strict laws that held censorship in place are a little more lenient than in days of old, explicit images (such as pornography) must still be partially censored to this day. The reason for that is because of one trial that took place in January of 2004, when Suwa Yuuji was convicted for his hentai manga, Misshitsu. The outcome of the trial dealt a nasty blow to the adults-only section in all of the Japanese bookstores, preferably the manga section, as they were forced to completely remove the section from their stores.

Now that you know the history of censorship in Japan as told by the guys of D&A, you’ll have a better understanding of the plot from Shimoneta…hopefully.