Otaku Introduction
Ok, so you have clicked on this post about how to be an otaku. I am guessing that you are brought here by how to get into anime and wish to learn more about its community. If this is the case, then congratulations! Because you are in the right place.
The question of How To Be An Otaku? is often asked. In this guide today, I will teach you all you need to know about what it means to be an Otaku. Show you the way around our niche community, and get you used to the slang and common phrases we use.
So whether you are entirely new to anime or have perhaps only binged around 20 anime series or so. Worry not! Because there is always something new to learn within the Anime community every day.
Now, let’s begin this Ultimate Beginner’s Guide on Becoming and Understanding Otaku Culture!!
Otaku’s Term
I would like to get us started with some of the most common phrases and words that we Otaku use on a daily basis.
Common Otaku’sWords
Otaku: Otaku is literally translated into ‘nerd’. Although in Japan, Otaku means a person who is generally obsessed with a niche hobby of some sort. In our otaku context, the term usually refers to a huge anime fan.
Weaboo: Weaboo is a somewhat more extreme version of Otaku. Generally, the word refers to a person who is in love with Japanese culture. Ultimately, a weeaboo tries its best to become Japanese by watching anime and learning the language.
Kawaii: Kawaii translates to ‘cute’ in English. Exactly what it sounds like, the term refers to characters who we Otaku find cute.
Aho/Baka: The two words mean the same thing, which translates to ‘stupid.’ These terms are also widespread in romance anime… Where anime couples often use this term during their arguments.
Loli: Loli refers to the young/cute female character in anime. They are also characters who are often sexualized by their fanbase.
Chibi: Chibi refers to cute anime drawings with deformed body proportions. This is due to their bigger-than-average head size.
Fan Service: This term refers to a scene in anime that is erotic or sexy to further engage its audience. Fan service is also used as a way to promote anime merchandise.
More Common Otaku’s Words
Bishoujo: Bishoujo translates to ‘a young beautiful girl’ in English. These girls are usually in their teens. The term is often associated with fan service.
Bishounen: Bishounen translates to ‘beautiful young men’. The term can be used for guys of all ages. However, they often refer to younger men. The term is also associated with fan service.
Nani?: Translates to ‘what’ in Japanese. In the newer and modern context, it is also used as a reference to an old meme.
Tsundere: Refers to a character who tends to deny sensitive emotions in order to maintain his prideful attitude.. But they secretly love the attention.
Waifu: The term refers to the anime crush of us Otaku. This specific version refers to female characters.
Husbando: The term refers to the anime crush of us Otaku. This specific version refers to the male characters.
Yandere: An anime character who would inflict harm on others to be with their loved ones. They also tend to be very possessive towards their partner.
Otaku’s Honorifics
Kun: Often used to refer to a younger guy.
San: Used in a more formal setting for both males and females.
Sama: Used to refer to a person or being of high rank such as a God.
Senpai: This honorific refers to an upper-level student. Or in the workplace, it refers to one with more experience.
Kouhai: This honorific refers to an underclassman. And in the workplace, it refers to one with less experience.
Sensei: Translates into ‘teacher.’ And typically used to address teachers, or sometimes artists and writers.
Onee-chan / Onee-san: This honorific is used to address a younger / older sister.
Onii-chan / Onii-san: This honorific is used to address a younger / older brother.
Chan: This term can be used in many situations. Typically, we use them to address younger females, loved ones, children, family members, etc.
Tan: The more glorified version of ‘chan.’ It is the cuter and more affectionate variant used in a super informal setting.
Take Away
Hopefully, from this list of the Otaku’s terms, you can now hold a decent conversation with a fellow Otaku. You will no longer be confused by that one friend who constantly addresses you as -Kun or -chan. And you can finally give them love advice every time they start their daily Notice Me Senpai!~ rant.
Now, let us venture to the next topic. I will discuss the common terms that you might hear or see while watching your favorite anime. Let’s begin!
Anime’s Terms
Let us move on to the more anime-related terms that you might find yourself questioning. These are the terms that all Otakus will inevitably come across as we explore our anime taste. You will often see these terms in Anime discussions and Episodic reviews. Hopefully, by the end of the guide, you will finally be able to understand what they mean!
We shall begin!~
Anime’s Common Words
OVA: Stands for Original Video Animation. These are episodes or parts of a series that go straight into merchandise without being released on TV. You can often find them in anime DVDs and Blu-Rays.
ONA: Stands for Original Net Animation. They are anime series that are first released on the internet rather than on T.V.
OST: Stands for Original Sound Track. These are usually a compilation of all soundtracks used within an anime or video game. And are distributed explicitly through DVDs and merchandise.
Special: They are somewhat similar to OVA, except… they are more special. Specials have little to do with the plot and are generally shorter than their OVA’s counterparts. Think of specials as parodies and OVAs as epilogues.
Fillers: A filler is often seen in anime as a time-waster. And they are made especially for that purpose. If the original anime source, such as manga, has yet to update. Then a filler is made to fill in that space. However, these fillers often do not relate to the main story whatsoever.
Sub/Dub: These are two different versions of aired anime. Sub is when the audio is in Japanese, and the subtitles are in a translated language. Dub is when the anime audio itself is in a translated language.
More Anime’s Common Words
Fansub: A fansub is when a group of non-licensed people subtitled an anime. They are frequently amateurs. As opposed to professionals who have official licenses to translate and distribute the content.
Yaoi: Yaoi is the genre referring to the romance between boys.
Yuri: Yuri is the genre referring to the romance between girls.
Doujinshi: Doujinshi is the artistic work of an indie author who based their work on some external source. They are essentially fan-made manga/novels with possibly different stories and settings. One thing to note is most of the doujins are made by an amateur.
And that is it for some of the most common anime terms that you will come across. Hopefully, you are now able to understand anime discussions and participate with fellow Otakus. Know the difference between the episode types. And enjoy your anime as best as possible.
Common Anime Genres/Recommendations How To Get Into Anime
Now that you are equipped with both the ordinary Otaku and Anime terms, it’s finally time to move on to the more fun stuff. And that is, of course, anime!!
Anime is a medium. And within that medium is a variety of its genre. So whether you are a lover of Romance, Action, or Horror, there is always something for everyone. Below, I will be introducing what I think are some of the most important and fundamental anime genres you must know!
And though there are a lot more subgenres out there…Just know that the most fundamentals are what will introduce you to the rest of them.
Romance
Romance anime are precisely what they sound like. These anime typically focus on the love life between the protagonists. They are constantly filled with drama, heartbreak, and even sweetness.
Toradora
Ryuuji Takasu is a high schooler deemed for his delinquent-like looks. Taiga Aisaka, on the other hand, is a frail-looking girl yet possesses a ballsy personality. One day, the two accidentally crossed paths.
Coincidentally, Ryuuji discovered that Taiga has a crush on his best friend, Yuusaku. And Ryuuji himself has a crush on Taiga’s best friend, Minori. But, surprisingly enough, they decided to help each other conquer their loved ones. So how will their romantic life play out?
Clannad
Tomoya is a delinquent who describes his life as utterly mundane and boring. Then, one day, he crossed paths with Nagisa, a strange girl who out of nowhere exclaimed her favorite food: ‘Anpan!’
As the two get to know each other, their feelings slowly develop. Soon after, Tomoya realizes his life is not as dull as he initially thought. How will their relationship develop in the future? Only a couple can answer this question.
See Also: Top 10 Sad Romance Anime That Will Make You Cry
Shounen
Shounen anime, literally translated as ‘young boy’, are usually anime targeted toward the teenage group. They are very action-based. Yet they are not too gory. Think of them as PG-13 shows!
Shounen Otaku Anime Recommendations
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Edward and Alphonse are two brothers who are incredibly well-versed in Alchemy. Using their skills, they attempted human transmutation: a strictly forbidden act of alchemy. The price they must pay? Edward lost a leg, and Alphonse lost his entire human body.
Years later, the brothers are back with their constant search for a new Alchemy technique of Human Transmutation. How will their next attempt turn out? And what are the prices that the two must pay?
Shingeki no Kyojin
After being driven out by colossal monsters called Titans, humankind has surrounded themselves with tall and rigid walls. For a century, they have finally managed to lead peaceful lives. However, one day, the Titans abruptly appeared, and terror struck once again.
Having lost his loved ones to the Titans, Eren, a young boy amidst the chaos, vows to drive the Titans to extinction. After joining the Survey Corps, an elite military unit, Eren is finally on his first step to avenging his friends.
Comedy
Comedy anime are made with the pure purpose of providing laughter. Therefore, in most cases, this genre tends not to be plot-driven. But instead contains different contexts per episode.
Comedy Otaku Anime Recommendations
Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
The story revolves around 3 boys from the Sanada North High School. Unsure of what to do with their seemingly mundane daily lives, the trio must find ways to entertain themselves. And what better way to accomplish that through role-playing their wild and ridiculous imaginations?
Gintama
After the invasion of aliens from outer space, Japan has long prohibited swords and similar weapons. However, one samurai still stuck to his core. And that person is no other than Gintoki Sakata.
As an errand boy, Gintoki’s life is in no way easy. He has to deal with cops, gangsters, assassins and often finds himself in unfortunate yet ridiculous events. In short, Gintoki is always running to his next errand!
Thriller
Thriller anime is the genre that will keep you on the edge of your seats. It usually evokes strong feelings of some form, such as surprise, fear, and anticipation.
Thriller Otaku Anime Recommendations
Death Note
High schooler Raito receives a Death Note from a Shinigami named Ryuk. With this notebook, he can kill people from afar by simply writing in their names. Realizing the scary power of this note, Raito then formulates a plan to transform the world and become its GOD.
Using the notebook, Raito begins serving justice by mass-murdering criminals from all over Japan. However, his actions are quickly caught on by the Police. Soon after, an infamous detective named L joined the investigation. His goal? To figure out the real identity of Kira. And so begins the fierce competition between the two young men.
Steins; Gate
Okabe Rintarou, along with his lab members Daru, created a machine he named the “Phone Microwave’ one day. The microwave can transform regular bananas into Green Jelly Bananas. Unimpressed, Okabe simply ignored it.
However, by total coincidence, Daru somehow manages to use the machine to send a message into the past. Excited by these results, Okabe continued sending messages into the past: without realizing the mysterious strings of events around him.
Adventure
Adventure anime is exactly what it sounds like. It illustrates the long-winded journey of the protagonists to achieve their goals. These could range from a physical to an emotional journey of some sort.
Adventure Otaku Anime Recommendations
Dr. Stone
One day, humankind was petrified into stone by a mysterious green light from the sky. Senkuu, a young high schooler, soon wakes up to find himself 3700 years past modern civilization.
Ironically, the world has reverted itself back to the stone age. Senkuu, along with his scientific knowledge and comrades, vows to rebuild humanity from scratch. Will they be able to do it? Only time can tell.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Simon and Kamina were born in an underground village. Every day, their daily tasks are to dig for valuable artifacts. One day, while working, Simon comes across a mysterious shining object. He soon realizes that it is the key to an ancient war machine buried deep underground.
After a disastrous event struck, Simon and Kamina were inclined to escape underground and aim for the sky. However, their difficult journey has only begun; soon after, they learn more about the dark side of the surface and its residents.
Slice of Life
Similar to the comedy genre, Slice of life anime rarely contains a progressive story. Rather, it usually includes episodes, each with different contexts.
In addition, these genres tend to teach you a meaningful life message of some sort. Therefore, this makes a perfect watch for those seeking something more laid-back and relaxing yet extremely meaningful!
Slice of Life Otaku Anime Recommendations
Violet Evergarden
Violet, a young female soldier. She is one of the survivors of The Great War. Her last significant memory is Lieutenant Gilbert’s last words: I love you. As a former war machine who only knows how to kill, Violet fails to understand the meanings of such a confession.
Now that the war is over and Lieutenant Gilbert is nowhere to be seen, Violet is ultimately left alone. She must embark on an emotional journey of PTSD self-recovery and discover her true self. Only then will she be able to decode Gilbert’s message and live a peaceful life.
3-Gatsu no Lion
Kiriyama is an elite Shogi player who reached his status ever since middle school. Perhaps, this is due to the constant pressure from both his parents and the Shogi world. As a result, Rei tends to avoid others in addition to neglecting his well-being.
However, when Rei moves to a new residence hall, he meets compassionate people who change his life forever. These people are willing to provide the young man guidance to a happier life through their selfless and caring nature. Finally, Rei is now able to face his genuine emotions once and for all.
Horror
Horror anime, unlike other mediums, are very subtle in comparison. They rarely feature jumpscare but rather focuses on the psychological and gory elements of a horror film.
Horror Otaku Anime Recommendations
Shiki
In a remote village of Sotoba, a strange disease has begun to take the lives of multiple villagers. However, Toshio Ozaki, a local doctor, knew better. He starts doubting the cause of the disease, even goes as far as to deem it as supernatural. Will he be able to figure out the truth before the strange pandemic wipes out his entire village?
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Keiichi Maebara has recently moved to a quiet village named Hinamizawa. Along with his four new best friends, Keichii can enjoy every second of his new life. However, one day, Keiichi learns of the village’s annual festival and its connection to past mysterious deaths.
After questioning his friends to no avail, strange events started occurring around Keiichi. Sure enough, his life is about to turn upside down.
Useful Planning Websites
Perhaps you have begun watching a few anime episodes. For now, you will probably do fine coming up with a list in your head. However, as time goes on, there will be too many anime to remember. And this is where Anime Planning Websites come in handy!
So what are they?
Basically, anime planning websites will allow you to come up with your own anime lists. Such as having a Plan To Watch, Completed, Watching, etc. You will never lose track of your anime ever again!!
Below, I will try to list some of the most famous Anime List Sites. Hopefully, you can now come up with your ultimate Anime Watch List.
Sites List
MyAnimeList
MyAnimeList is a straightforward anime planning site. It will provide basic anime information, such as community rating, number of episodes, and genre. In addition, with the Advanced Search option, you can filter out anime by different genres and add them to your list.
MyAnimeList compromised of these list options:
- Watching
- Completed
- On-Hold
- Dropped
- Plan To Watch
AniList
AniList is similar to MyAnimeList, and they work the same way. However, I found the U.I. interface less intuitive and user-friendly than MyAnimeList. Despite this, AniList offers some of its unique features. For example, it allows you to see the score distribution of an anime and also shows you some extra detailed anime statistics.
AniList distributes their list into the following:
- Completed
- Planning
- Current
- Paused
- Dropped
Best anime blogs to follow
Top 90 anime blogs are some of the best popular anime blogs’ website lists. So please do go crazy, learn the inside outs of these websites, and update them regularly. In no time, you will be the ultimate Otakus who consume anime like all of us!
Where To Watch Anime?
Ok, now that you have a solid anime list, let’s answer an important question.
Where to actually watch the anime?
Below are some of the best and most common anime sites to watch your favorite shows. Remember to turn off your ad blocks. And also, some anime are region protected. So if you have a VPN, switch them on for either Japan or America.
Welp, here goes~!
Streaming Sites
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll offers you a large variety of free anime to watch. Unlike other streaming services that only include past aired anime, with Crunchyroll. You can now finally catch up to the MOST CURRENT anime season. Of course, having a premium account comes with unique perks. But in reality, a free account will still provide you with endless hours of entertainment.
Funimation
Funimation is yet another streaming site with a huge list of anime to watch. In addition, it is also a great platform that hosts DUB anime. What’s more? It’s FREE! That’s some excellent news for you all DUB fans out there! However, again, you will still have to put up with ads. So the choice is definitely up to you!
And there you have it. Now you can go and watch some of your favorite anime within your list! Also, if you are interested, you could click here to learn more about the other Nordic IPTV anime streaming sites.
Anime Merchandise
Anime merchandise are a must-have for every Otakus. And they are some of the most important possessions that you would ever obtain. But where to actually find them?
Below, I will list some of the best anime goods stores that you could start browsing today!!
Shopping Stores
Tokyo Otaku Mode
Every Otaku should know about this website. I mean, the company even has the word Otaku in it. Tokyo Otaku Mode sells goods straight from Japan, and their Action Figures never fail to captivate me. Though they are somewhat pricey, their products are definitely worth the cash at the end of the day.
In addition, they also have a wide array of Otakus items such as:
- Clothing
- Cosplays
- Manga / Light Novels
- Accessories
- Definitely go check them out!
Good Smile Company
Good Smile Company is yet another anime merchandise store that sells mainly Action Figures. Just from browsing through their products, I can definitely 100% guarantee you top-notch quality and aesthetics. Nowadays, we Otaku need a glorious shelf filled with action figures.
Also, Crow from Crow’s World of Anime recently did a product review of the character Ram from Re: Zero. He bought it straight from Good Smile Company, so definitely check out his reviews!
P.S. Also, Crow, if you’re reading this, thanks for reviewing that fantastic Ram model 🙂
Right Stuff Anime
Right, Stuff Anime! is a place where we Otakus can get our hands on those scarce DVDs and Blu-Rays. They also sell typical anime merchandise like action figures and cosplays. With a twist of those products being much cheaper than the companies mentioned above. Win-win for everyone!
Have fun shopping, everyone~~
Follow Up
I have passed you all the basics to help turn you into the ultimate Otaku. Now, it is up to you to explore the wonders within this industry. And go beyond it! Below are some useful links to help you in your exciting journey. Well, hopefully, I will see you all someday at an Anime Convention.
Perhaps we could talk about anime. I mean, what else is there to talk about between fellow Otaku? Right?
Links Here!!
That’s it from me. I really do hope you learned a lot from this post today and turn into an ultimate Otaku!! Till next time. Peace ~
