Genshiken...
I picked up Genshiken recently...
I've seen the first few episodes of the series and, so far, I'm very pleased. Genshiken is a slice-of-life drama that revolves around the experiences of a group of Japanese fans -- otaku. The series has a nice mix of dramatic and comedic elements. Although the discussions can be somewhat suggestive at times, there are no naughty bits to speak of. Of course, being a slice-of-life drama, there isn't going to be a lot of opportunity for blood and gore, so, don't look for any here.
Not unlike, its earlier cousin, Otaku no Video, Genshiken strives to mock and have a bit of fun at the expense of obsessed fans, but, not so much, as to be offensive or cruel -- it was written by fans for fans. Fans of what, you might be asking. In Japan, otaku, has a much broader definition than in the U.S. -- it refers to anyone with a devoted interest in something -- not just anime and manga. But, of course fans of anime and manga are prominently featured in the series. Overall, I found the series to be very entertaining. I give it a 3 out of 5. By the way, I picked up all of the individual volumes of the first and second series.
Season 1
Volume 1
Sasahara appears to be a quiet college freshman, but a certain darkness lurks within his soul. For one thing, he knows what "cosplay" is, and he'd like to know more. He knows how to unlock all the secret characters in Guilty Gear X, and he'd like to know more. He knows what the plot twist is going to be in episode twenty-five of Kujibiki Unbalance because he's read the manga, and he'd like to know more. He's heard of doujinshi, and he NEEDS to know more. Enter Genshiken, the barely legitimized Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, home to all the various subspecies of Otaku!
Volume 2
Saki's life at Genshiken as the girlfriend of an Otaku reaches new and interesting depths. When the student council threatens Genshiken, none of the members are able to take even the most basic steps to stand up for themselves. Saki is the only one who will, if she can stop laughing at how pathetic the guys are taking long enough to do something. Then she is introduced to the wonderful world of model kits, the drive for new members, and the most mind-boggling event of all...The Modern Study Of The Physical Courting Rituals That Should Never Be.
Volume 3
There comes a time in every girl's life, where her friends try to get her to "experiment".....with cosplay. For Saki, that's just about every week - but this time Ohno may finally have enough influence to get her to don the helmet once and for all. Keiko's there as well, determined to get in on the act. To make her way into Kohsaka's heart, she's decided to force herself to become an Otaku... even if it means going to Comic Fest. If anything, at least those adult dojinshi for women are kind of interesting...
Season 2
Volume 1
The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, otherwise known as Genshiken, is now under the charge of a more confident Sasahara. Things have changed in between semesters (for all the details, check out the bonus Genshiken OVAs included on the Kujibiki Unbalance TV series), and the otaku club now has a new otaku-hating member named Ogiue. Sasahara's initial goal of starting a dojin circle and selling those fan-made magazines at the next Comic Festival becomes a reality, but reality is a cruel master. Who apparently crossplays. Afterward, the club is abuzz with talk about Tanaka and Ohno's relationship, which takes a hesitant step forward.
Volume 2
Who knows what darkness lurks in the hearts of women? Yes, that's right: yaoi fantasies! The adventures of seme Sasahara and uke Madarame reach their peak as Ogiue walks in on hot tie-pulling action! Meanwhile, Winter Comic Fest is on the horizon, and Ogiue is determined to make Yaoi day without tipping off the rest of Genshiken about her dark secret. But some forces are too powerful to be contained, and boy-on-boy dojinshi is one of them!
Volume 3
Ogiue finally brings her own work to comic fest, and that means baring her fantasies for all the world to see. To keep her from a total breakdown she has support from Sasahara, Ohno, and two new faces: the American Otaku! Of course, the only Japanese phrases they know are word-for-word quotes from Auska Langley Sohryu, but they are fangirls so they're at least fluent in the universal language of yaoi!
Then graduation approaches like the Eye of Vogler descending on Paris, and the Genshiken crew finds themselves looking down the barrel of the Buster Cannon of job interviews. Will Sasahara take the plunge and become a professional nerd?
Second Generation
It's a new semester at Shiiou University, and for "The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture," AKA Genshiken, that can only mean one thing - new freshman recruits! Originally founded as a club for otaku to discuss their unabashed love of anime, manga, and video games with one another, the current president of Genshiken, Chika Ogiue, may have bitten off more than she can chew by recruiting a bunch of yaoi-obsessed fujoshis to join their ranks! Meanwhile, the original members of Genshiken who have since graduated find themselves coming to terms with their new lives as productive members of society.
I've seen the first few episodes of the series and, so far, I'm very pleased. Genshiken is a slice-of-life drama that revolves around the experiences of a group of Japanese fans -- otaku. The series has a nice mix of dramatic and comedic elements. Although the discussions can be somewhat suggestive at times, there are no naughty bits to speak of. Of course, being a slice-of-life drama, there isn't going to be a lot of opportunity for blood and gore, so, don't look for any here.Not unlike, its earlier cousin, Otaku no Video, Genshiken strives to mock and have a bit of fun at the expense of obsessed fans, but, not so much, as to be offensive or cruel -- it was written by fans for fans. Fans of what, you might be asking. In Japan, otaku, has a much broader definition than in the U.S. -- it refers to anyone with a devoted interest in something -- not just anime and manga. But, of course fans of anime and manga are prominently featured in the series. Overall, I found the series to be very entertaining. I give it a 3 out of 5. By the way, I picked up all of the individual volumes of the first and second series.
February 7, 2011
