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Ask Jonny Otaku, he knows all (or at least acts like he does).
askjonnyotaku@otakuunite.com

4.26.06 Michael from the UK asks:
Hello,
A few years ago, I could do nothing but dream of entering an anime enviroment, surrounded by people like me, that understood me (I'm 15 now). And yet now...it seems that all my brethren otaku are grumpy, sarcastic, and out of touch with reality. This depressed me so much that i I almost turned into a ''grumpy otaku" (roughly around the time One Piece was edited). Anyway, everybody seems to look down on each other and judge anime that they haven't seen badly, just because they have a ''gut feeling''. This seems very common, I have only met one or two otaku who are like me (yet about 20 years older). It is my theory that after a while, the youthful optimism disappears and is exchanged for a grumpy and depressed nature. I'm having a hard time escaping it myself, however it only comes to me because of the situation of my fellow otaku.
This extremely concerns me, where are all the nice otaku? Do you agree? Is it maybe because only my fellow British otaku are like that?
Please! I need answers! This is not how I imagined my future of anime, being ruined by those that are supposed to be my colleagues. Are we all doomed to become depressed and sarcastically evil zombies?
Thank you,
Michael
Deeply concerned otaku

Hey Michael,
Kinda ironic your e-mail came when it did. Here on my side of the pond, I just got back from Momocon that was held in the city of Atlanta just this past month. And this weekend I'll be heading for the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention in my state capital of Nashville.

As far back as I can remember, there's been that loud, obnoxious fanbase within the otaku community that think ALL Japanese voice-acting is Academy Award winning stuff and all English-speakers are third-rate hacks. This one Naruto cosplayer was going on and on about how he wants to bomb Cartoon Network because he hated the Naruto dub. T_T (dumbass never heard of the Patriot Act). You're going to get that wherever you go. And for the most part, they're mostly "kids" 15, 16, 17, etc. with no real power or influence and don't know how the world works when dealing with the masses. They think they can do a better job then what's out there when in reality they can't. I've heard some fandubs that are good but most are even more god-awful than some of the commercial stuff. They just want to see the shows done what they think is the so-called "correct" way. Sometimes, that's not always the case.

I'm not going to go into long-written dialogue about how shows get dubbed for broadcast and what rules "must" be followed and why the culture aspect of anime is not in sync with the masses to produce a better product or why in America only 15 million copies of "The Incredibles" have been sold but the combined sells of all three Inu-Yasha movies have never cracked the 1 million mark with a population of over 300 million. But here's what I will tell you. Ask yourself, why do you like anime? Why do you like to cosplay? After that, go back and watch some of the dubs. "Try" to find something positive to counter something negative and vice-versa. I grant you this is extremely difficult with the ones done by "4Kids" because they deliberately fuck-up anime for the sole purpose of the all-mighty kiddie dollar. But ones like Naruto, IGPX, Ghost, Inu, etc. ALL have at least some positives because they are broadcast as close to the original storyline as possible. And some voice-actors DO take the work seriously. And you can tell which ones do.

Finally, not ALL British otakus are snobs..same goes with us "yanks" (though I'm from the South [see American Civil War]) you just have to hang around with enough people and eventually you'll find someone or a group of someones who understand what to make a big deal out off...and what not to.

I wish you luck.

-J

Benjamin Symonds asks:
If there is someone cosplaying Nightmare from Soul Caliber whose blocking your view of the screen at a packed anime music video showing how am I supposed to ask them to move their head without getting a faceful of their very realistic-looking sword?

Hey Ben,
Ahhh, the power of cosplay! One thing I've noticed over the years is how many people with larger-than-life costumes tend to easily forget that sometimes those costumes aren't made for video rooms. There's also the fact some of those bulky components (such as heads, armor, wings, etc.) are very difficult to put-on and take-off. Cosplayers need to remember that if a costume has accessories with the potential to block another person's view, they need to either remove that accessory or wait to "add-on" if he or she is registered for competition. When I did Nabashe (from Excel Saga) this year, I always removed my afro wig because I knew it would easily block the view of the person behind me. Now doing Nightmare from Soul Caliber, I can only imagine that headpiece being a little less easier to remove as suppose to a simple wig. First, ask him "nicely" ("sir" NOT "dude" or "buddy") if he can remove the head. If he says I can't, then ask him can you lean against the wall or sit in the back of the room. If he's smart AND courteous, he shouldn't have any difficulty complying. If however, he sticks his sword in your face with intent to harm, remind him that just about all cons have VERY stingent weapons policies and that this act MAY cost "con X" it's "more liberal" weapons policy. If he still continues...that's why conventions have staffers. We know how to deal with situations like that.

RikkuRed2 from Augusta, GA wonders:
Do most cosplayers buy their costumes or make them to keep with the true spirit of cosplay?

Actually both. But it depends on which cosplayers you're refering too. Although cosplaying is being picked up in other countries as they start hosting conventions, American and Japanese cosplayers still make up the majority. Japanese cosplayers will make their costumes if they choose but they do have an advantage over their American "cousins". In Japan, you can buy "licensed" excessaries at stores that specialize in cosplay. The also sell "complete" official costumes like you'd find at Toys R Us or Party City around Halloween. American cosplayers however have to fend for ourselves. But our ability to adapt and think outside of the box is what gives us an edge over our Japanese "cousins". You'd be surprised where cosplayers here in America get their ideas from. In my quest for cosplay enlightment, I've been to the usual venues (costume stores, Asian shops, the internet, etc.). But I've also found stuff at Lowe's, Home Depot, and every thrift shop up and down the Chattanooga-Northwest Georgia area. When I made my Meis Triumph costume (from Thousand Arms), I hit a western-clothing store in Georgia, made the poncho-cape out of materials at Wal-Mart. Made my leather scabbard for my sword at a leather shop in South Chattanooga and made my blacksmith googles using my old googles from chemistry class leftover from my junior year in high school. Although only "three" people recognized me, it was one of my more "unique" costumes.
A cosplayer can be a little-more elaborate if he or she is a crafted seamstress. Of course, it doesn't hurt to know one as well. ^^;; But don't feel bad if you feel your costume is basic compared to someone cosplaying as a giant "Labor" (from Platlabor) with working shoulder sirens and everything. Those people have more time and do those kinds of costumes a YEAR in advance.
>From my opinion, no one really seems to mind whether you made the costume or if someone made it for you. What matters is do you enjoy wearing it. But play around with your ideas or better yet, surf the internet for cosplay forums and talk to someone who can help you with the perfect costume.
And one last thing. In Japan, they're really "icky" about having their pics made in costume. While here, THE MORE FLASH BULBS! THE BETTER!! I personally wish the Japanese would let us come over there and show'm how it's done.

Otakune in Atlanta, GA writes:
I saw Otaku Unite! at Anime Weekend Atlanta and liked it a lot. I thought you were really funny in it. Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think of it?

I actually did see the movie. Believe me, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. As an overall portrait of the otaku fanbase, I don't think it could have been done anymore fair and balanced then how Eric did it. While "Trekkies" was more "exploitive", this one was a little more "intellectual". I am glad to be part of it but there were some things that I'm afraid to say I felt a little queasy about.
Just so you know, most of the filming done of me was done almost three years ago. I had just gotten the radio show and as you could tell, I sounded VERY green...and southern. My show today doesn't sound ANYTHING like that. But try convincing that to the Ocean Group or ADV Films. I also saw how fat I was at Anime Express. I didn't look like that 2 years ago when I did the same "fanservice" routine at Otakon in 1999.
However, I did do some redemption a couple of months back at Anime Festival Orlando during the voice actors panel when after months of training, I did some voice work that really impressed the vets. Right now, I'm currently enrolled in a two-year professional actors apprenticeship program here in Chattanooga taught by two teachers from New Actors Workshop in NYC. So let's just say the improvements are slowly becoming reality.
But before anyone gets really up in arms, let me make something very clear. I signed-up for the project out of my own recognizance. I did what I thought was my best work three years ago and I make no bones about anything I have done in front of the camera. I gave Eric permission verbally to use any footage of me he saw fit to create his art. I tried to "throw" some stuff at him (like the fan service bit) and to me, it backfired. But I see this as a learning experience more than anything. Yes, there were times I was meant to be funny. But there were others that I thought..."Great, some hot Asian cosplay chick dressed as Sailor Mars in sexy red heels is going to see this and think...'what a fat dork! I don't want to bang him!'" So it works both ways. The most difficult thing about being either an actor or director is you really don't know how a product will look until you see the audience reaction. It can either do you good or haunt you the rest of your life. I personally don't think Otaku Unite! is going to be considered "exploitive" like Cameron Diaz's pics showing off her "Ts, A, & P". But to some people it may be.
Let me put this in one more angle before I put this subject to rest. When I think of Tom Hanks. I think of Philidelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, The Green Mile. As well as some of his "tongue-n-cheek" films like Bachelor Party, Big!, Sleepless in Seattle and Splash! But one day some friends and I were watching a package on Tom Hank's acting career and the voiceover made a comment how some in actors elite claims Tom Hanks as one of the great actors of the 20th century. My friend at the time, James Elrod then said "As long as there are re-runs of Bosom Buddies floating around, I don't believe that for one instant!" And James was what you'd call "the quiet one." Even quieter than Silent Bob.
So now the question is "What can I do next time?" Even though any movie I star in or Eric directs will be completely different genres than the subject matter of OU!, what can I do to be better? It's so I'm remembered for something other than Otaku Unite! Unless you're an actor or one in-training (like me), it's really hard to explain this mindset. I did some great things in OU but now how can I raise the bar? You see?
But I'm glad you enjoyed it and feel free to drop-in a line anytime in the future.

ASK JONNY OTAKU ARCHIVE:
September 21, 2003 -- Cosplay love, subs vs. dubs, and parental guidance.