You’ve heard the name and know what it means in Japan; an individual who is obsessed with a certain topic yet has vast knowledge of it, but lives with their parents well into their 40’s, eats nothing but junk food, and watches anime (and reads manga or comic books) all day. Basically a shut-in NEET. Even though this is considered a negative stereotype in Japanese culture, us westerners have redefined the term into something endearing. The word ‘Otaku’ over here in North America means that you have a vast knowledge of anime, manga, or anything nerdy and fun, and still be a functioning member of society. (No matter how ass-backwards it can be in this day and age.)

Being an Otaku in America is not all bad, in fact there are a few benefits behind it that can make your life worth while. So to shed some light on this stereotypical term for being an overly obsessed anime/manga fan (or something of the like), we bring to you five different benefits to dating an Otaku!

Number 5 – Tech Support? No Problem!

If you’re having any computer related problems that are beyond your power, having an Otaku around is the best solution! You won’t have to worry about your computer misbehaving or can’t get the screen to stop glitching as long as you’ve got a girlfriend or boyfriend who’s good with computers.

Number 4 – They Excel in the Romance Department!

People don’t give Otaku’s enough credit when it comes to love! They’re the kind of guys/girls who will shower you with love and treat you with respect in ways that other guys/girls wish they could. That ‘Honeymoon’ feeling that you get after you get married lasts a lot longer with an Otaku, than just getting flowers and candy on Valentine’s Day.

Number 3 – They’re Low Maintenance When it comes to Food!

Can’t cook, or you’re cooking skills aren’t up to par? No problem! Otaku’s aren’t the kind of people who fancy lavish meals from five star restaurants, if you want to make your Otaku girlfriend or boyfriend happy, then Royal Farms or Pizza Hut is the way to go! Forget spending $150 on food dishes that you can’t even pronounce, just point us to the nearest taco place and we’ll chow down there!

Number 2 – They’ll Never Cheat on You!

It’s hard to trust people these days, especially within the realm of social media! If you have an Otaku girlfriend or boyfriend, their level of commitment is second to none! They will never cheat on you on matter what, and you won’t have to worry about them dancing with any of the hotties at the club, because you will be their only dance partner!

Number 1 – They Love You for You!

Sometimes when we look at magazines and movies we see how hot our favorite actors/models are and we second guess ourselves, stating that we’re not good enough. We don’t look athletic or sexy or anything that might attract us a hot guy or girl. For Otaku’s on the other hand they could care less! They don’t care if you’re a little on the thick side (some guys/girls like em’ curvy/fluffy), or don’t have long flowing hair, or even the fact that you sound like a bag of pork grinding when you snore. Otaku guys and girls love everything about you, and will except you for who you are!

Dating an Otaku or having them as your girlfriend or boyfriend is not all bad. In fact they might even be that soulmate that you’ve been searching your whole life for. Not all of them live at home with their mothers and stay in their room reading manga, watching anime, and playing video games. Some of them even own anime conventions or are entrepreneurs in their own right.

The days of being ousted by the cool kids are over! Otaku (in reality) were the cool kids all along and didn’t even know it! They’re smart, educated, have bachelor’s and master’s degrees, cultured, passionate about anime/manga, and are romantic. You won’t find them in places like nightclubs or local bars, but they can be found at anime conventions or nightclubs dedicated to all things otaku. (You’ll find some if you Google it.) On that note that’ll wrap up our benefits to dating an Otaku, now get out there and find your Asuna, Kirito! 😉

So here we are less than 10 weeks away from 2018, and let me tell you, this year has been a heck of a ride for many of us (including me). If I told you how many thoughts go in and out of my own head on a day-to-day basis, it would be too much for one person to handle. One thought in particular is that fact that people keep saying that ‘Chivalry is Dead’; that the fact that most men (especially young men) don’t appear to show or mimic the qualities that you would find in a sophisticated gentleman. You rarely hear answers like “yes, ma’am!” or “No ma’am!” from some of the teenage adolescents that are out here nowadays, however it’s not to say that there aren’t any chivalrous people out there in the world. In fact both A. Goldman and I fit that category in a sense because that’s how we both grew up, to respect our parents and elders and to be a gentlemen towards ladies.

‘Where did the love go?’ is the question that’s on my mind sometimes. This may sound a little cliche coming from me, but throughout middle and high school I was a fluffy Afro-American nerd who loved Samurai Jack, Teen Titans, Dragon Ball Z, and Toonami. You can imagine how hard it was to make friends during that time, as I didn’t have a lot of them. I was bullied by boys and teased by girls for various things from my weight to the things that gave me great joy. I’ve gone through two nervous breakdowns and developed a ‘Lone Wolf’ attitude with a malevolent spirit that could erupt at any moment. Needless to say, I never had a girlfriend throughout the whole four years of high school.

Now here I am almost 10 years later with an AA degree from a school that’s no longer valid or even accredited, wondering what the next phase in my life will be. Accomplishment-wise I’m one of the founding members of this awesome anime blog alongside my partner and friend of 15+ years, I’m back in the music producing (beat making) business again after a four year hiatus – with advanced production skills! Now I’m on the road to pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Production, so that I can stay current and relevant with what’s going on in the world of music. Chivalry can bring you a long way in life, but sometimes I wish the generation behind me knew that. (Yes, I know I sound old for saying that.)

While we’re on the subject of music production and beat making, the sounds that I like to produce involve elements of EDM and Chiptune music. I find myself creating instrumental tracks as opposed to ones with lyrics because I want people to listen, hear, and feel the groove of the sounds that come from my tracks like they’re reading chapters in a novel or a story. I want to take people on a journey with my music; whether I’m producing Dubstep, Trap, Moombahton, Progressive House, Hip-Hop, or any other genre that people can dance to. Do I see myself as becoming the next Dr. Dre or Skrillex? No. I just want to be myself. I just want to go my own way – the Technocolorz way!

There are some long-term goals that I have for my life. One, to continue with the blog and hopefully have our own anime convention in ten years, or sooner. Two, to eventually find love and move out of my mother’s house, hopefully I find a girl that loves music and anime as much as I do. Three, to make enough money to pay every single bill on time – even my student loans! Even if I did make $150,000+ a year, I will still go to anime conventions (and run the blog) as well as chat with you guys about anime related topics. I don’t really care about being rich and famous that much, because then I would become the one thing that I hate more than slugs, rapping out loud, and soy milk…being a snob!

I know this post may or may not have sounded a tiny bit rant-ish in some areas, but if it did, I want to thank you for taking the time to read it. Our fans are our friends, and we appreciate everything that you’ve done to make this blog the way it is today!

Thank you! 🙂

A few weeks ago this particular topic popped into our heads as we thought to ourselves, ‘What are four things (or categories) that both creators and fans might want to take into consideration, before creating or reviewing an anime series?’ The answer to that question revealed itself in these four words: Balance, Placement, Timing, and Involvement. There have been many of times where if an anime title (subbed or dubbed) doesn’t do so well, the level of criticism without the evidence to back it up can really rub certain fans the wrong way, often causing disputes which may lead to the rise of small hate groups against the fandom of said title (or titles).

Everyone goes through a ‘Trial-and-Error’ period in their lives when it comes to being creative, even some of our most beloved creators of many of the shows that are out here today, have had their own ups and downs. Although there’s a percentage of us that don’t take to kindly to this too often, constructive criticism should be viewed as a way to help the creator improve on where he/she falls short on their work. (VA’s included.)

Hopefully these four categories will help you look at an anime title that you’ve had doubts about (or hate) differently now, than you did when you first watched it. You can also apply these four categories to movies and TV shows too! 🙂

Category 1: Balance

Balance is like the glue that holds everything together. If the other three categories are working hand-in-hand in perfect harmony, then the level of balance will be perfect! From an anime prospective this would include the overall plot of the story; such as the storyline, the characters/character development, the setting, the situations, and so on. Balance can also be incorporated through the mannerisms and behaviors of an anime character; such as an ‘All-Around’ type character like Goku.

For everything to fit into place there has to be balance. Poor balance in an anime title can upset the flow and nature of the other three categories, and can cause negative or unwanted criticism from the viewers who are watching the title. Balance is like the leader of the wolf pack; he’s the one who leads the charge while the others follow. When reviewing an anime title it’s a good idea to keep this category in mind as well as the others, so that it will make you a better reviewer in the long run.

Great balance can lead to a great story, so if you ever find yourself wanting to create your own original masterpiece (be it a manga, web cartoon, etc.), make sure that you incorporate a sense of balance in your work before you send it to the masses!

Category 2: Placement

The definition of this word could be defined as, ‘putting someone or something in a particular place or the fact that they’re being placed’. An example of this word from an anime standpoint would be the anime title’s setting, background, or environment. Placement can also be contributed to a specific genre of said title or even in the title itself; such as School Rumble having its story taking place in a school setting, or Ghost in the Shell taking place in a futuristic timeline in Tokyo.

Placement can also set the mood for where certain character events occur; such as an action scene in an anime title where almost half of the mall is blown up by a terrorist, and the protagonist shows up in the nick of time before a battle ensues after a brief exchange of dialogue. Having great placement in an anime title can enhance the overall viewing experience for the viewer, but having poor placement (including character placement) can upset the balance of the overall story and its elements.

Category 3: Timing

You know how they say that timing is everything? Well the same can be said about dialogue in anime (especially jokes in rom-com and harem titles). The audience’s reaction to a certain word or phrase said within an anime character’s dialogue with another, will vary depending on its timing. This category is crucial when it comes to fan service and slapstick comedy anime, because miscues in this area can result in poor reviews and possibly a lack of solidarity among the title’s fandom. (The latter may not be entirely true, but it could lead to something of that effect.)

Think of timing as a character’s reaction to a situation that he/she finds themselves in. If there was a big ball of fire coming at you, what would your response be? Would you run like hell and hope you don’t get scorched? Or (if you have super powers) would you try and stop it? Timing is basically having the choice or control of when to take action during a situation, when to insert a joke, or even how often to use a reoccurring gag (like the exploding ghost scene in Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt).

Category 4: Involvement

The emotional aspect of character development in anime. Although this is the last category of the four in total, this one is the icing on the cake. Does the main character (or supporting character) have a love interest? How is the main villain connected to the main character’s past? Questions like these will come up when it comes to this category, because this is a key element in the overall progression of the story’s plot. (Or even how the story progresses.)

Sometimes involvement is the driving force behind the reason why certain anime characters do the things that they do; such as saving the world because of a loved one, or avenging your honor by defeating a major villain who killed someone who was close to you. (Like a parent, sibling, or lover.)

Before making an anime review or even creating an original anime title, it’s a good idea to keep these four things in mind during the creative process and while also writing your review. You can use this as a little exercise for yourself whenever you find the time to watch your favorite anime titles. Perhaps reading this post will change your prospective on an anime title that you may not have liked in the past, but just like the concept of fan service and slapstick comedy in anime, the final decision will be entirely up to you.