Otakuism

One the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me: three PRIMAL SCREAMS OF HOT BLOODED FURY!, two(million) RONs!, and one GIGA DRILL BREAKER!

This is the third post in a series as I look at the twelve best anime moments of the year from shows I watched. Key there being watched, as a few of these moments are going to be from some pretty old stuff, but I think they’re damn good enough to talk about at any time. This is a joint ABC blogging project with other contributions from Roxas, CCYoshi, Orion, Owen S, Xerox, Nekoron, Martin, Michael Huang, usagijen, and Moogy. Yeah, there’s a lot of us.

Lucky Star was a mixed show for me: when it was funny it was hilarious, and when it was unfunny is was boring as hell. And Lucky Star was at its funniest whenever it highlighted the crazy antics of Anime Tenchou or, as I liked to call him in my heavy handed parody posts, Captain Gaigerryu of Manly Battle Team Animate Force G. The extremely fluid animation, character designs by Kazuhiko Shimamoto, over the top acting, and voice of hot blooded veteran Tomokazu Seki made every Anime Tenchou segment a joy to watch, to the point where they were the best part of the series. Indeed, my interest in Lucky Star waned as Anime Tenchou appeared less and less. Screw Haruhi season 2! Kyoani, give us the hot blooded fighting/comedy series of Anime Tenchou we deserve! FOR GREAT JUSTICE!

With one ridiculous dance. And, no, I haven’t actually watched the episode yet. In fact, I’ve hardly watched any anime this last week, managing only Gurren-Lagann 24, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 06 (yay subs!), and Kamen Rider Den-O 30. Damn real life.

Shiraishi is appreciative of all kinds of humor.

So many “oh gawd Tsukasa is clumsy and moe” moments this episode, from the sleeping late to when deers attack. I wasn’t the only one having indecent thoughts during that scene, right?

EEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW……….

OHMIGAWD IT’S INDIANS! IN ANIME! Kyoani going for the cultural diversity award.

I liked the whole Kagami confession scene for showing Kagami as a normal girl, but I didn’t really like the emotional torment we’re forced to watch in her all for a weak joke. Honestly, I would of liked to have seen how kyoani would handle romance in Lucky Star, but I guess hoping for it to be anything more than another joke is too much. Kagami’s expressions is priceless in the end, though. Like “Oyashiro-sama, please kill this man.”

You can’t have Kyoto without Kyoani.

Continue to fight on, Kuroi-sensei!

I immediately thought of John McClane when I saw rugged Shiraishi for some reason.

F**K YEAH SHIRAISHI! Finally taking the bitch DOWN! Show your manly ruggedness and fighting spirit! Take down your corporate oppressors and scream on top of their broken bodies “I AM MINORU SHIRAISHI! I AM MAN!” That’s how you do it.

Manly Battle Team Animate Force G member Captain Gaigerryu, under his civilian alias of anime manager Anizawa Meito, goes on popular tv show “Lucky Channel” in order to show others how to live a hot blooded life. Here he demonstrates the two key powers to a hot blooded life: Hot Blooded Flame On and Manly Tears of Courage. Research has shown both gurantee a hot blooded lifestyle. Finally the Captain gains an apprentice in the already-proven-manly Minoru Shiraishi, who is renamed Gai for his hot blooded lifestyle. He will need much help indeed to defeat his enemy, the nefarious “Kyon.” Fight on, Gai! Meta-parody aside, this is the first time I actually found out what Animate Tenchou’s name is. I’m still going with my parody of a parody names, though. They’re just too good to stop now.

I don’t understand how Konata can’t like light novels when so many great series have been adapted from them. Haruhi anyone? Not very otaku like. And the manga thing isn’t any excuse, as I’ve seen some manga that are even wordier than light novels. Just compare Monster to Scrapped Princess, or Death Note. Now that’s a pain to read through.

So is this Super Sentai now?

This is the same answer I give to anyone that asks me the meaning of moe. It’s such a complex term that requires many years of studying under arcane monks in the offices of Gainax before you can truly understand the wonder of the word. And, yes, I have studied under those monks. They were quite nice, though Hideaki Anno kept slapping me around. Guy has personality problems.

Some wouldn’t hesitate to call that an asset (pun intended).

Sadly, this would probably be the three places I’d visit whenever I get to Japan. I’d still go to Kyoto, though, and maybe bike up to Hokkaido (for anyone who remembers that reference).

Friends aren’t off limits until you start drawing hentai, and even then they may not care. See Genshiken.

Please be my bride Minoru Shiraishi.

It’s tough luck for Captain Gaigerryu and Checkout Clerk George when they are once again defeated by the apathetic might of Legendary Girl A. Can not even the power of Unlimited KyonXKoizumi Works destroy this foe? Keep up the fight, Captain! Hot blood and courage can triumph over any evil, no matter how moe!

This is an accurate portrayal of my reaction to 99% of cosplay.

ITT death by Yuki moe.

The creepy thing is that right now, in Japan, there are a group of guys in a cafe doing the exact same dance.

By day Sojirou Izumi is a normal otaku housedad, but when evil threatens Sojirou reveals his true nature: A cyborg who can transform into the super hero Awesome Dad Super-1! His mission is to destroy the organization that killed his beloved wife Kanata, the evil Dogma Empire! Fight to protect the freedom of Japan Awesome Dad Super-1!

If the heavy handed parody isn’t enough to say it, Awesome Dad’s henshin transformation is a reference to the 1980 tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Super-1. Comparison transformation on youtube here. I wonder why they chose Super-1 and not the more recognizable Kamen Rider 1 and 2 transformations? Kyoani still prove themselves to be the craziest otaku of them all.

April Fool’s Day is the best. I didn’t know the japanese even celebrated it.

The fated destiny of the two lovers.

Continue the fight, Kuroi-sensei!

There’s something wrong with this picture. I can’t quite place my eyebrows on it…

You trained in the school of the Undefeated of the East, Minoru Shiraishi?! Does your manliness know no bounds?!

Not as funny as the other ones, but you can really tell they’re having fun doing these things. I have a strong urge to go find an ocean cliff now.

Awesome Dad is the winner in all of us.

The moment when yuri love blossoms.

Japan has the greatest police in the world: Maniacly insane drivers, heavy drunks, and hot cousins.

Oh god, this was so awesome. Minoru Shiraishi singing Hare Hare Yukai while performing kung-fu next to the ocean and under the setting sun? That’s a perfect win right there. And once again I am amazed by the man’s god-like voice. Someone get him a Vegas show, stat!

MINORU SHIRAISHI, CONQUER THE WORLD WITH YOUR FIGHTING SPIRIT!