"It's not like I'm ashamed of my past or anything!"- Former Otaku
Preface:
Otaku no Video is a very insightful and introspective (with a touch of mockery) movie that contains both a slightly parodical animated version of the origins of studio Gainax, and live recorded interviews conducted by Gainax of former (and current) Otaku of the time- 1991.
Very nontraditional in many ways, it's not completely anime, and not completely live action, but a blend that presents relevant cultural information regarding the Otaku. It's broken up into two parts; one, an animated movie about a guy named Ken Kubo and his stereotypical fat, geeky otaku friend
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Tanaka, and the second part is a series of the aforementioned interviews in segments called "Portrait of an Otaku".
The animation first:
Kubo and Tanaka were college friends; Kubo the typical Gary Stu kind of guy- tennis team, has a beautiful girlfriend, scholar, and everything seems right in his life, except he's rather bored. He meets up with Tanaka by chance in an elevator, and from that fateful reunion on is slowly drawn into the Otaku lifestyle of making fanfiction magazines, garage kits (modified figurines), and eventually full on anime and video games in an attempt to become the OTAKING- King of the Otakus!
After rising to the top, Kubo and Tanaka get screwed, and then have to decide what it was that was really important to them- the grubbing, hand to mouth lifestyle of being an artist and original creator, or selling out and making all the money. There's only one true path for the Otaking, and that's to take it beyond the stars.
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The pacing is broken up by the interviews, but the narrative is both engaging and humorous, along with providing a very loose version of how Gainax was started, and their goals of shooting for the stars, both in animation and in business practices. It's very interesting to see how Otaku no Video inspired later works, and drew from the doujinshi (amateur produced works) that put Gainax on the map. Real life science fiction conventions Daicon 3 and 4 (1981, 1983) are explored, which Gainax also produced shorts for. Other character stylings and symbols seen in later works also make appearances, like Kamina's glasses on a building, robots from Gunbuster, and more.
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Portrait of an Otaku:
Through a series of live interviews, the movie also explores the lives and disparate interests of those who call themselves Otaku. Garage Kit Otaku, Military Otaku, Anime and Manga, Fanzines, Cosplay enthusiasts, and Fan Video Otaku, and even an art thief are all shown, and asked series of questions that either mock their interests and lifestyle, or that give some insight into what it is that drives them to their obsession.
While it's believed that the people interviewed were either Gainax employees themselves (who created their studio to put a name behind their amateur original works, and thereby personifying some of these stereotypes), some of it is plainly staged. Hideaki Anno himself is shown as a Hentai-game addict, even. Typically, the faces and voices are censored, so it's still unknown who some of them are. It's interesting in that they're making fun of Otaku, and at the same time themselves, because that's how Gainax started out: geeks making their own originals to hawk at conventions.
The portrait section also provides some hilarious statistics on what Otaku are interested in, and how different groups see different themes. A foreigner was also intereviewed, and it was stated that some 50% of those surveyed come to Japan solely out of anime and manga fandom, and the other half either "like" or "are not opposed" to it. A fanzine convention survey of 100 Otaku revealed that only 15% of them had cosplayed, and an overwhelming 60% had not. Of those 15 that responded yes, the "Otaku who did cosplay tended to be repeat offenders".
Another survey included those who "talk to themselves", of which the overwhelming majority with 70% did.
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There's also a deep sociological background to Otaku culture; stemming from how a more collectivist culture like Japan operates vs an intensely individualistic one like the US. "The nail that sticks out gets hammered" they say, and to a point, it's true. In a collectivist culture, the ideal person fits in with their group, their family, their society, and don't express their individualism much when around others. In private, they can be a night and day different person.
The Otaku have long been branded as "no life losers", and in a sense shunned from their culture as they're perceived "deviant", no different from the US, really. People with anime and manga obsession, people obsessed with doomsday preparation, zombie fanatics, etc.-all these groups share a common thread in that they're on the fringe of 'normative' society. In that, they find a bond together, and create their own subculture outside of the norms.
For anyone who's interested in the Otaku culture, this half mockumentary is a great video for insight into what it was like back in the day, even if it's somewhat parodical. In all honesty, what they portray satirically here is not far from the truth, neither in 1991 nor in 2015. There are tons of people out there like the ones shown in this movie, that are obsessive enthusiasts of different fandoms, and though their interests may be broad, they're all bound by a label that sets them apart- that of the Otaku.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Geeks' Video
Japanese: おたくのビデオ
Information
Type:
OVA
Episodes:
2
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Sep 27, 1991 to Dec 20, 1991
Producers:
Youmex
Licensors:
AnimEigo
Studios:
Gainax
Source:
Other
Duration:
48 min. per ep.
Rating:
R+ - Mild Nudity
Statistics
Ranked:
#36412
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#3918
Members:
31,896
Favorites:
116
Available AtResources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 20 / 23
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Your Feelings Categories Jun 16, 2015
"It's not like I'm ashamed of my past or anything!"- Former Otaku
Preface: Otaku no Video is a very insightful and introspective (with a touch of mockery) movie that contains both a slightly parodical animated version of the origins of studio Gainax, and live recorded interviews conducted by Gainax of former (and current) Otaku of the time- 1991. Very nontraditional in many ways, it's not completely anime, and not completely live action, but a blend that presents relevant cultural information regarding the Otaku. It's broken up into two parts; one, an animated movie about a guy named Ken Kubo and his stereotypical fat, geeky otaku friend ... Sep 16, 2007
I had heard that this was a must-see for people interested in the culture surrounding otakudom, and after finally watching it, I would have to second that proposition. It is simultaneously a humorous, introspective, and thought-provoking look at otaku, and more so than any other similarly themed production, it really covers all bases in its analytical approach to the lifestyle they lead, about the nature of shame, obsession, habitual collecting, and the way in which otaku approach other people, and the world around them. I’ll have to be brief in my comments regarding this aspect of the OVA, because there’s really enough content to write
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Jul 28, 2007
I thought it might be proper to define "Otaku" before the actual review.
In the following case, an Otaku (if you don\'t already know), is a Japanese term for a fan/person who is obsessed with any theme/topic/hobby. (The "portraits" are about anime/manga/military/hentai Otakus). Otaku no Video is a fairly fun video/OVA to watch. Not necessarily for the actual animation, but the Otaku interview bits(called portrait of an Otaku) in between the actual story, where they have interviews with all sorts of Otakus(Manga,Anime,Military,True,Foreign, "Garage Kit"). Of course, this OVA is fairly outdated (~24 years before time of this review). Opinion: Otaku\'s have changed over time, so the same ... Jun 26, 2015
This anime was actually rather educational. It explores the realm of otakus and opens the eyes of why do otakus exist. Since there is only 2 episodes I can't really find that much to talk about but there are a few factors. The fact that it gives a side documentary on real life otakus as of 1991 is rather impressive especially for its time. If you ever plan to become a genius about anime or want to see a story of a man who converts himself into the otaku life this is a must watch. It also explores the realms of not just anime otakus
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May 1, 2020
I cannot express my displeasure with this anime enough. This went between an incredibly cringey and unrealistic story, to a low quality interview between the interviewers and otaku from the 1980s. I am amazed at the high reviews for this. I will separate this between the anime part and the interview part, in what is hopefully better executed than the movie itself.
ANIME: Story: The story is quite nonsensical, and feels like a random conglomerate of events that loosely match up with the interviews. The ending makes very little sense, and almost feels like it is going against what the entire theme of the movie is supposed ... Apr 25, 2017 The Otaku Video is a 1991 Gainax OVA that provides a parodical glance into its titular culture as well as giving a very loose and fictionalized retelling of the founding of Gainax studios. Main character Kubo is an everyday college student dissatisfied with his life and hobbies, but a chance reunion with his old high school friend Tanaka drags him into his world of the Otaku. Kubo leaves his “normal” life behind and vows to become the “Otaking”. The anime skips forward in time as it follows the two friends from fanboys, to model distributors, to independent anime creators. As well as their various odd ... Oct 15, 2009
This Gainax video was missing in my library. And I’m very glad that I finally got to watch it.
The Gainax animation in ’91 was excellent and this OVA was probably the first in it’s kind to thread some experimental paths in animation, a style that it was copied later on on titles like Tylor and became Gainax trademark in Eva and Kare Kano and on. As Gainax universe is concerned you see obvious links and the same style used in Gainax productions, if you put Otaku No Video>Evangelion>Kare Kano one after the other you can clearly see the evolution of the studio in that ... Jul 18, 2010
Let me first start this review with a story. About myself. Trust me, it's relevant.
It's strange to imagine but I never considered myself as an otaku, more than an enthusiast when I was younger (yes I understand the irony of that statement). In the 90's though when I was still in middle school and high school, being a fan of anime and video games was a double-whammy of nerdism. I heard about this OAV while I was still in my Kenichi Sonoda kick, but only one of my friends had it. I finally got to watch it when I got ... Feb 23, 2017
Ken Kubo was just your ordinary Japanese college student. He had a beautiful girlfriend, a passion for a sport he was genuinely talented at, and a satisfying life with little to no problems to worry about. Everything was going just fine for young Ken, when he ran into an old friend from high school who’s dedicated his life to a surprising hobby. Tanaka, having put on a generous portion of weight since their last meeting, has fallen into otaku culture, a certified never never land where adults turn their backs on conventional society to pursue every possible facet of an underground counter-pop-culture
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Nov 5, 2019
- If you're into playing tennis, that's just fine and dandy. But if you watch anime, you're weird? Why?!
Otaku no Video was a brilliant and educational little two-part OVA that follows this guy who wants to be the ultimate otaku or the "otaking". Its mainly inspired by the real story of how Gainax was founded, which we're obsessed with anime fans who wanted to make their own stuff. What I loved about this is how passionate and in your face it is. This show is not only very good in terms of its message of embracing YOUR inner otaku, but it also includes parts ... May 25, 2008
Otaku No Video glorifies and celebrates (even as it lovingly skewers) the lives of people into anime, manga, model kits, replica guns, and science fiction. Supposedly an over-the-top, exaggerated biography of Gainax (the ultimate otaku's studio) themselves, this OVA is loaded with references to Macross, Gundam, Lupin, Yamato, Gainax's own works, and more.
To compare to other movies and shows, it's a little bit Project A-Ko, a little bit NHK No Youkoso (though not so dark at all), and dare I say its modern counterpart might be Lucky Star? It caters shamelessly to fans and asks nothing from outsiders, and it's a ton of fun ... Jul 12, 2021
For many people, anime was this super secret niche thing that nobody knew about, and you had to jump through hoops in order to find it, or go out of your way to some really obscure places to find it. I grew up during the 2000s, so this wasn't the experience I had with anime, but anime only started coming to the US in the 80s, and not in one piece if you know what I mean. Nowadays, we take anime and what it can offer us for granted, but back when you couldn't access it as easily as we could now, anime used to
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Jan 16, 2018
Otaku no video is a rather.. boring OVA.
It transitions between animation and live action segments. The animation tells a rather uninteresting story of 2 otaku who build up this giant otaku empire.. or something. I honestly didn't care much for the animation bit. It was constantly interrupted by the live action segment (which was much more interesting)- consequently messing up the pacing and making it hard to connect to either the plot or characters. The fictitious story emits strong themes regarding otaku and their personalities but ultimately seems to serve little purpose. I would have rated the OVA higher if it did not include ... Feb 26, 2021
You may have heard of Studio Gainax. They’re the guys that made Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, FLCL, Panty and Stocking among many others. What is most interesting about them however is their connection to Otaku and one particular project of their’s: the original video animation (OVA) Otaku No Video.
Gainax and Otaku: Before we get into Otaku No Video, let’s go over some context. Now what is an Otaku? For most people in the western world, it just means ‘anime fan’ however in Japan is has more negative connotations. It’s supposed to refer to someone who’s not only a fan but has seemingly devoted their entire lifestyle ... Nov 19, 2020
So I just watched the two episodes yesterday at Anime NYC online. I usually do not like older anime as much, but this one changed my mind. I really liked how it made fun of otaku stereotypes, and it explained parts of otaku culture that I did not even know existed (soldier otakus). The audio was all right, but I was watching it for a free con, so you kinda get what you expect. I enjoyed the story, even though it sometimes went a little too quickly. The art gave me a huge nostalgic feeling which I just adored. I actually really got into the
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Dec 6, 2018
Part introduction to the world of otaku and part self-fulfilment otaku wet dream power fantasy, Otaku no Video is charming on both fronts.
Having documentary-style video clips interspered amongst the entirety of the film really added to that charm, as did the relatively-lightning fast pacing of the second half for the main plot. But of course, as charming as many of the aspects are, all infused with the signature passion and self-aware voice of Gainax (lots and lots of Trigger tropes that took the weeb world by storm in the 10s are very present here), it does feel middling at times due to the fact that it's ... May 22, 2021
A classic and rare title for us stateside, I'd heard it mentioned and described and summarized for years. Got a DVD copy for the archives near the end of last year (went by quick and thank God for that) so I could finally see for myself what was so Otaku about it.
Overall a nice watch with an odd premise. Animated fictional account of a fan's ascent/descent into otakudom mixed with live action segments in a documentary style. The only thing that drags it down is those live segments. I enjoyed the anime skits and I could readily spot which character was ... Jan 27, 2024
If you didn’t like this anime (particularly the second half), it wasn’t aimed at you.
The idea is that these people, these weird, utterly impassioned people, followed their dream and through perseverance and guts managed to Otakunize the planet. It’s a wish-fulfillment fantasy, but it’s also only a slight exaggeration of what Gainax really accomplished (don’t believe me? They’re *still* playing Cruel Angel’s Thesis at half the Pachinko parlors in Ikebukuro). This OVA was aimed squarely at people like me and my wife. It is no understatement to say that it changed our lives when we first watched it in 1999, brand new Otaku, to whom all ... Dec 26, 2020
Otaku no video
Quite literally a video for Otakus, by Otakus. This "anime" isn't exactly an anime, and probably weren't meant to be viewed as an anime. As was intended by Gainax founders, Anno and many others. Otaku no Video is a documentary. The story is non-existent, unless you were to ignore the real-life interview segments and only focus on the animated parts, then you'd have a simple story of young man loses focus in life and goes on to become the OTAKING! However, that's not the point of Otaku no Video. The focus is on the negative connotations of being an Otaku. Only showing, the ... Sep 26, 2022
Anyone going into this film should probably know that a lot of the footage of the films live action portions are fake, with most people interviewed being employees of the studio, (one of the people who acts in this film as an interviewee is none other than notorious Otaku hater Hidaeki Anno, who pretends to be a fan who has little self control over specific viewing behavior, watch the film and you will see what I am talking about), so it shouldn't be taken seriously. As a mockumentary though, it is very funny. The anime portion is very enjoyable, starting out very relatable but going
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