Otaku no Video

Otaku no Video is an interesting anime to attempt a review of, simply because it is so unusual. Put simply, it is an insightful love letter to otaku culture in general, especially as it was in the 80s and 90s, complete with lengthy live action segments amounting to scripted interviews meant to convey the essence of what it means to be an otaku. There really is nothing else like it, and it is something that could have only been made by Gainax. Beginning with the story, which is the strongest aspect of this anime for its unique story structure alone, ... presents us with two simultaneous tracks. First, the story of how a regular guy, unfulfilled by his tennis hobby, gets into otaku culture, despite being intimidated by its seemingly impenetrable oddities. Second, a series of documentary-style live action interviews with otaku of varying types and degrees, presented in a style which is meant to be realistic and believable, all the while being fictional in nature- they're completely scripted scenes featuring Gainax employees and friends of the studio in the place of the otaku interviewees. Nonetheless, these little snippets convey a lighthearted and intriguing look into the culture at the time, and moreso its perception of itself and the stereotypes which surround and often define it. Both these halves of the story get a lot crazier in the second episode. Also, while the first storyline is fun, it is the live-action interviews which, when paired with the anime itself, make the whole thing something unique and special. Even the silliest moments reveal something interesting about what it was like to be a hardcore anime fan back then, and that is valuable on the face of it, beyond its initial value as an entertaining curiosity.

The art is good, showcasing that classic Gainax style, but there isn't anything in this department which really sets it apart from their other work.

The sound design is particularly strong, with a fun, energetic ost and characteristic, highly emotional voice work.

The characters are another pillar of the show, as they feel like they're the primary drivers of the story, exhibiting depth and agency, which is impressive considering they're so crowded out by the live interview sections. Of the anime cast, my favorites are by far the protagonist Kubo and his close friend, Tanaka. Kubo is idealistic, hardheaded, and determined to follow his passions regardless of the social cost, which is an admirable quality, and Tanaka is a genuine enthusiast, serving as a pillar around which his friends congregate as those who share in a common passion. Of the live interviewees, Shon Hernandez is by far my favorite, both for the topics he chooses to focus on and the hilarious contrast between what he's actually saying in English and what the Japanese narration and subs say. Overall, Otaku no Video is a fascinating and engaging piece, and I believe it is an essential cornerstone of one's otaku education.

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 ... inspired by my manga-ka hero, Kenichi Sonoda.

Funny in a self deprecating way, truthful without pointing a finger in your face and yelling, "YOU'RE SICK! GROW UP!", and for an older project I don't think it has aged too badly.

I'd suggest it for the completionist collector of genuine anime geek stuff, and applaud anyone who gets the gang together for beer and a viewing party. Hey, that sounds like a great idea...

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 ... to be (basically, don't fall into the trap of becoming an otaku).

Art: It's from 1985, what is there to expect?

Sound: Once again, it's from 1985. It's fine.

Character: The main character, Kubo, somewhat feels like a puppet of the creators rather than a full-fledged character. He falls into the trap of becoming an otaku, but that is where the realism ends. He jumps from one idea to another, and none of the other characters have any depth. Very little is noted about Kubo himself, other than that he has/had a girlfriend, and has incredibly odd dreams after being pushed around like a cue ball.

Overall: Nothing stands out very much other than a terrible story.

INTERVIEWS:

Story: There isn't much of a story, but most of the interviews are somehow related to the anime portions. The interviewer asks multiple questions about the lives of the interviewees, ranging from past experiences to sexual habits. Some of the interviewees are just plain weird, others seem like normal people who are down in the dumps. At one point, the interviewers practically assault somebody who appears to be trying to just go about his normal day.

Sound: I think the sound was fairly normal quality for such an old show, but the first interview stands out to me as being particularly horrid. You can hear every time he breathes in, as though the microphone is sensitive in the wrong place, along with a fan running in the background. One of the people interviewed was from the U.S., and although this may be due to where I seen the movie, the subtitles did not match what he was saying at all.

Polls: After every interview, the narrator shows the watcher several charts depicting responses to various questions, from whether someone has hear of garage kits, to whether they had sex before marriage. These polls are practically taken as fact by the movie, and are used to create assumptions based upon an incredibly small portion of people (usually 100). The process of choosing people is also not explained, so it furthers how unreliable the results may be.

Overall: This is what killed it for me. The idea was certainly interesting, but between weird audio, and unreliable statistics, it didn't feel like it made sense to be included within the movie.

CONCLUSION: This is my first review, because I could not believe how high the ratings for this were. Otaku no Video is overall pretty terrible, from a low-quality story to faulty information. I would definitely skip this, and look for something better to occupy your time with. 2/10