Dork. Nerd. Geek. Fan. Otaku. In this day and age, you’d think we’d rise above name calling and label slinging. Labels confine people and commit them to one identity. Labels like jock, dork, homo and nerd have been in our insultation vocabulary for decades, but still haven’t lost their sting. And with new forms of entertainment being shared at the speed of the internet, new labels are cropping up as well- namely otaku.
Otaku is one of those words which can either raise the hackles of an anime fan or whip them into a frenzy of appreciation. It’s a divisive word, one which some people use derogatorily while others happily declare themselves such. Some people wear the word like a badge of honor, while others are unfairly labeled with it and still others fill the stereotype of otaku and may not even know it.
My perspective on otaku has changed over the years, and I’ve re-evaluated just what it is that makes an otaku an otaku. To me what makes an otaku who he/she is, is an asocial and obsessive personality. I also strongly feel the term otaku has been unfairly overused in describing fans of anime who really like the medium. Just because a fan of anime decks out their room in merchandise, doesn’t mean they’ve crossed the line into otakudom. Fandoms through the ages have always had their fair share of strange fans, and otaku are just the next wave. In my mind otaku-ism should be weighed on an in depth case by case analysis, if at all.
The below definitions aren’t my definitions of an otaku, but they are some of the perceived characteristics of what is known as the quintessential hardcore anime fan.
The Stereotypical Otaku is a person who’s:
- asocial
- unhygienic
- obnoxious
- obsessive
- unrealistic
The American Otaku may also:
- Have an unhealthy obsession with Japanese culture.
- Identify closely with anime and manga characters.
- Speak broken Japanese in everyday life.
- Talk about nothing but anime and manga.
- Have a skewed perspective on relationships and women.
- Only wear anime logo tees.
- Dress in cosplay outside of conventions.
- Learn martial arts.
However, my definitions of the word, and the persona, are much more individualized.
In the Beginning
There was a time when I was first getting into the fandom that I thought anybody who called themselves otaku was someone who was out of touch with reality. Who would blatantly label themselves an anime fanatic so blithely? I also figured anyone who wore cat ears in public and randomly interjected Japanese words into an unrelated conversation was a moron.
But was I so bitter because I was projecting something I didn’t like about my relationship with the fandom onto these other people? In a word, yes. I was a grown woman getting acquainted with an animated art form and didn’t much expect that I would be accepted anymore in the company I kept, i.e. professionals who weren’t anime fans.
Unless people actually take the time to talk to a person, in depth, they don’t have the right to use the word otaku derisively
Times change, I completely accepted my anime fandom and have balanced my perspective of it and myself. Now, I can better look at the word otaku, those who call themselves otaku and those who supposedly fit the definition.
Asocial and Obsessive
Many times people think otaku are these strange brand of fan, who seldom bathe and who can’t read body language. Fans like these can also range in otaku-ness from being a shut-in living on the internet, to the more adjusted fan who can go out into the world and hold a job, yet nonetheless can’t adeptly interact with the rest of society. This is the stereotype.
Socializing is important in the world, so it’s a priority we know how to interact with people who aren’t like us or who we don’t like. This skill comes with age and experience. A lot of people labeled otaku are just young people who may not necessarily have developed their social skills. This isn’t otakudom, it’s life. That doesn’t mean that being asocial and maladjusted is a part of life, it could be just a stage,something we stutter through on our way to adulthood. Getting through that can be tough, but it needs to be done.
However, there are people for whom it isn’t a stage. It might be a part of their personality, or they might never have thought they needed to change and thus, have never made the effort. These are the type of people who think the world revolves around them. They’re always right, their opinion is the best and quite frankly, the world owes them.
As long as people know who they are, accept who they are and don’t try to morph into something they’re not and will never be, they’re not otaku. Not in my eyes.
These are the “scary” fans. The fans who’ll shout down any naysayers and torch a site that opposes their view on anime. They don’t realize that an opinion on an anime isn’t an opinion of them. This is what people think of when they think negatively about otaku- people who identify too closely with a piece of fiction and take things too personally.
Where’s the Line?
Being a fan of anime means getting to know all about the medium. Watching anime doesn’t automatically make someone an anime fan. Fans take the time to learn about the background of a series, the voice actors, the meaning of an anime, and most importantly, the culture which produced it. The more devoted the anime fan, the more they’ll look into the language, the food and the culture of Japan.
There will always be those people who take this journey into fandom a little too far. But where’s the line? Otaku are those people who are said to have crossed the line from lively interest into unhealthy obsession. Is it crossing the line to wear anime logo tees? To have an anime ringtone? To have anime posters and plushies all over the house? To only eat with chopsticks? To call your friends (insert name)-chan? To learn the language? When’s it too much of a good thing?
For me, the line is crossed into “otakudom” when there’s a profound disconnect and loss of identity. People can still have their plushie collection, learn the language, draw fanart, have their pet names among their anime friends and the like, and still be on the opposite side of otaku. As long as people know who they are, accept who they are and don’t try and morph into something they’re not and will never be, they’re not otaku. Not in my eyes.
Folks who can’t accept that they are Jim Smith living in Nebraska going to Average High School, are at risk for otakudom. Jim Smith is not in an anime, he’s not going to be dating a moe girl (because I believe they, like Tinkerbell, don’t exist), and he’s nowhere near being Japanese, but there’s nothing wrong with being Jim Smith who loves anime
Fanatics of any stripe can be described as having “social blinders”, in that they only see certain parts of society.
Otaku are those who don’t pick up on the clues and mores of society. This is disconnect. It occurs when there’s a lack of awareness of what’s going on all around us. We need know that what we say and do has an effect on the people in our lives. A lack of interaction with people not like us is one reason for the disconnect. Talking too loudly, ignoring body language, not taking care of one’s public appearance, are some of the characteristics of a person who’s out of synch with their surroundings- all of which are things otaku are ascribed to. It’s almost as if they’re wearing blinders.
Social Blinders
Fanatics of any stripe can be described as having “social blinders”, in that they only see certain parts of society. Whether this is by choice, from a chemical or emotional imbalance or lack of experience is highly individualized. And otaku are anime fanatics. They only see anime, moe girls, yaoi action, big breasted figurines, etc. They don’t see they’re making someone uncomfortable when they describe a hentai scene, they don’t notice when someone doesn’t want to talk about anime, they can’t get the hint that bathing improves their aroma, they don’t see that there’s something wrong with never leaving the house or they do and simply don’t care.
Not Just Anime
However, this describes any number of fanatics in any fandom. Before anime hit the States, there was Dungeons and Dragons and LARP-ing (live action role playing). Then of course there are the Sci-Fi/ Fantasy and Ren Faire fanatics, as well as the MORPG (massive online role play gamers). Not to mention the hardcore sports fanatics who can be just as loose with their grip in reality as any otaku.
These fandoms and anime all have one thing in common: projection and escapism. People who are prone to isolation, who don’t like to interact with a harsh judgmental world, will find it easier to relate to anime, science fiction, fantasy and gaming. It only becomes a problem when it becomes their sole interaction.
Overuse of Otaku
Nowadays, the term otaku is a mixed bag. Some American fans have embraced it as a positive, while others slap the term on anyone who gives off a creepy or annoying fan vibe.
Whenever I hear someone being called otaku based on their appearance, it’s usually negative, and I think of the unfairness in labeling someone for how they look. While I think a Naruto headband and cat ears are a poor fashion choice and I may snicker at the fashion faux pas, I don’t feel it’s my right to sit as judge and jury and condemn them to a negative stereotype because of it. Unless people actually take the time to talk to a person, in depth, they don’t have the right to use the word otaku derisively.
While there is much, much more that can be said about obsessive anime fans, to me otaku is just a synonym for someone who wears social blinders and has lost themselves to their hobby. This phenomena happens in any fandom, but we as anime fans are so protective of our fandom, we feel the need to distance ourselves from these people so as not to be guilty by association. Finger pointing and name calling will only go so far, however, and we need to accept that we as individuals are making a positive impact in our fandom, and stop concentrating on the few who are doing so negatively.
So there’s my definition and view on otaku. Here are some other perspectives on otaku:
- Mei
- Elezend
- Death By Moe
- Calamitous Intent
- Hynavian World
- Hikikimori-chan
- Fujoshi Scribblings
- Simplicity
- Such a Small World this is…
- Gar Gar Stegosaurus
What are your definitions and perceptions of otaku? What connotations does the word have for you? Do you call yourself otaku? Why? What are your thoughts on the stereotype? Do you judge someone to be otaku? Have you been labeled otaku? How do you feel about it?
Please share your thoughts on otaku in the comments below!
