Anime erotic subculture goes mainstream

I'd say something, but it's all been said already.

Congratulations, you fail the internet!

I remember back in the early, early 90s when I first became a fan of what was known as Japanimation. I also remember the great debate back then that amine was nothing but porn and violence and blah blah horse crap fed to the media, who never did their research and just generally made themselves look like flaming idiots to us fans.

It just makes no sense to me as to why this self-boasting loser got this story posted on here, with no iota of research behind it. I'm offended as an anime fan, and disappointed as a follower of MSNBC news. I'll be looking elsewhere for my news source from now on. You guys are just as bad as Fox News.

1. I'm offended by the article. To suggest that Otaku are sex crazed because of a small margin of fandom within the community show's you didn't interview any otaku prior to writing this article. Just so you know, I'm 24, female, Love anime porn to a certain degree... yet, I remain a virgin on the principle that I feel it's too important to just do with any one. Not to include that STD's are pretty @!$%#ing creepy.

2. Octopi have tentacles but tentacles are not octopi. Have you watched La Blue Girl or any other "tentacle-rape" hentai? There really isn't anything but blobs attached to the tentacles. The ladies aren't being raped by octopi, they're being raped by tentacles. It may not be the most "kosher" thing to watch, but if you're going to write an article bast on fact/opinion, at least watch the subject matter as opposed to seeing a picture or reading comments on messageboards/reviews/blogs to write a generalization on the subjects.

3. Gurren Lagann over-sexualized? Did you watch it, or just see pictures of the lead female character? I've watched the series, and I have to say, you couldn't have. If you had watched the series prior to the comments, you'd know that only one character wears anything suggestive in the series, and also, that said character doesn't run around the show sexing everyone up. In fact, she falls in love with one character, has said character die, and never gives her heart to anyone else. I think that's the picture of innocence, which you see a lot of in anime, regardless of "skimpy" outfits. And let's not even get into the fact that people watch the show mainly for the incredible story, awesome music, and "Big-ass robots". There's eye candy in everthing, but to just point that out is rude.

Frankly I'm offended. I've been a serious anime and manga fan for about a year and a half now, and I can't even begin to state how utterly wrong this article is. This is as ridiculous, if not more so, than the Fox News Mass Effect "controversy". For those of you who don't remember, when the video game Mass Effect debuted for the XBox 360 last year, Fox News ran a story claiming that the game amounted to "Luke Skywalker meets Debbie Does Dallas". This was due to the fact that there were several short sexual scenes in a 30+ hour game. The "expert" they brought in admitted to never having played the game and later also admitted that, upon viewing the game, she had seen racier content on Lost. Needless to say, the gaming community (which has considerable overlap with the anime community), was put out. Fox news was ridiculed and looked really bad as a result.

This article is arguably worse. It does not attack a single game, but an entire method of storytelling. Tell me, Mr...Steven, what anime have you seen personally? How about Naruto? That's the single most popular anime there is, and there is literally nothing sexually explicit about it. Bleach, the second most popular, and again with nothing sexually explicit (and it's not like it doesn't need to be. The show airs at 11:00 PM on Saturday nights). Or the works of Hayako Miyazaki, the renowned, Oscar-Winning filmmaker whose art, yes, is anime. Whatever sexual or titillating features are found in a large portion of mainstream anime can be found in equal amounts in western television. Remember Desperate Housewives?

Your argument is flawed, contrived, and ridiculous. Anime is a means of storytelling like any other. It has good parts to it, and it has bad. By the logic presented in this article, because most pornography is shot in live action, live action TV must be pornographic, disgusting, and bent on corrupting the minds of innocent youths. Do you see the flaw in this logic?

To add: "The appeal of Japanese pop culture [to Americans] is that it is a moral-free zone,". No, it's not. I cannot think of a single anime fan I know personally, myself included, who watches anime because of its "lack of morality". We watch it for gripping storylines, characters to whom we can relate and empathize with, and/or really cool action sequences. Morals have nothing to do with it.

This article is a sham! It just amplifies the old stereotypes of anime from the 80's that the industry has tried to keep from being the face to represent it. In fact, the way maid cafes are talked about, and especially the erroneous comparison to Gurren Lagann, a new anime that has a lot of buzz (and is only in the article because of a hot springs episode) and a hentai title from the Urotsukidoji series (a group of titles that utterly destroyed the name of anime in the UK when Manga Ent. released it in the early 90s) is completely absurd. Do the research. There is a difference between the majority of anime and hentai anime (which only makes up around 10 percent of the overall content). But, the article is right about there being dojins of popular anime titles mostly being hentai, anyone who has been or knows about Comiket could tell you that. However, it's not that prevelant. Hentai is NOT going mainstream. This article just perverts the reputation of anime has in this country among otaku. Before anyone attacks the "fan service" in anime, clean up the other non-Japanese erotic media on television that's made in the good ol' USA!

I stopped reading after he mentioned "Gurren-Lagann" as sexually explicit.

Please, people. Get a grip. We know you are all jealous because The New Speed Racer is total garbage. We know you are all jealous because japanese anime puts to shame every american-made cartoon by a longshot. We all know how you yourselves watched She-ha while saying "Whewt, sexy armor! fapfapfap".

But again, this is MSNBC. I've never taken anything they say seriously. It's all bias, really. And before you start talking about lack of morality, please remember you are a liberal working for a liberal company, pushing liberal values. Masturbating to PVC figures? Compared to you people, no big deal really.

Also, another reason why I refuse to buy any "Otaku" magazines in the US. This Macias guy has had some good points, and thank you for explaining that lolicon =/= pedophilia. But he doesn't really seem to contest this nut's views on things he has absolutely no knowledge about.

Sorry if I'm interrupting any conversation, but the author may want to recheck some of his definitions.

"Otaku" has an Americanized definition which is stated in the article, but the actual Japanese definition concerns someone with an unhealthy and obsessive hobby.

"Lolicom" is short for "lolita complex," not "lolita comic." In my experience with anime and manga, I have not come across the latter long-hand form.

Seriously.. did this guy check his sources... AT ALL? First of all "Otaku" derives most closely translate to the word "Fan" not "Techno-geek," saying that is an insult. Because it is a Japanese word for fan, and anime is Japanese, it simply caught on to say someone who is a fan of something Japanese is an Otaku. Nothing more.

Second of all, I like it how he said: "...devoted fans who pore over Japanese animation (anime), manga (graphic books), hentai (erotic comics) and other comics-derived media." The way he included hentai in that list shows a bias in this article that is supposed to make people who read it, be against this stuff. Hentai is a category of manga AND anime, not something of its own free design. Not to mention it is the ONLY category (out of hundreds more) that is sexually explicit. Some other categories include things like Mecha, Shonen, Shojo, Magic girl/magic boy, mystery, kodomo, ect.

It is also funny how he later says "Of course, not all anime and manga is overtly sexual — a lot of it is meant for children. Even some adult anime isn't sexualized any more than, say, Wonder Woman (who was created as a dominatrix bondage fantasy.)" Even though he is correct, he fails to mention that he only mentioned the minority. Kodomo, is a category that falls into "for small children." Such shows are commonly known as Pokemon, Digimon, Hamtaro. There are only a small portion of these compared to the larger market. Now when he said "Even some adult anime isn't sexualized any more than, say, Wonder Woman...)" This is true, however even though there are SOME anime that isn't sexualized like that, there are even MORE anime that aren't sexualized like that AT ALL.

Seriously, it doesn't take that much of your time to discover that most of what he said is bias and fails to mention that there is a much larger market for non-sexualized material. (Fan service is an exception which is commonly found in a few shows such as Gurren Lagann). I mean shows such as Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Shakugan no Shana, Fullmetal Alchemist, Ghost in the Shell, Full Metal Panic, Azumanga Daioh, Gundam, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Bleach, Blood+, Death Note, Fruits Basket, My-HiME, My Otome, Trinity Blood, Black Cat, Starship Operators, Air, Disgaea, This Ugly yet Beautiful World, Fate/Stay Night, Kanon, School Rumble, Lucky Star, When they Cry (Higurashi), Baldr Force, Galaxy Angel, Solty Rei, and many, many more have absolutely no emphasis on sexuality over 2-3%... which is no more than any other cartoon show out there that is made in America. You can even count the show Elfin Lied in there too. Sure it may have tons of nudity, but lest than 5% of if is sexually derived! (Elfin Lied is meant for more matured audiences and none of the other shows, nor hundreds more contain nudity) I mean, seriously have you seen shows such as Family Guy, South Park, Beavis and Butthead? I won't say I don't like them, but there is much more garbage material that is bad for society that is made in our own country than there are in imports. Because if you actually sit down to watch an anime you can find it teaches you many valuable morals and lessons that YOU SIMPLY CAN'T FIND IN AMERICAN PROGRAMMING. You can't find the values of friends and family or the drastic overtones of right and wrong watching something like Beavis and Butthead.

In the future, I would greatly appreciate someone who trys to research the topic they are writing about, and not attack something with no simple reason.

Mr. Alexander,

I have read your article and I must say that the number of errors and stereotyping have shocked me. Anime has been a passion of mine for several years and I greatly enjoy these works of animated art and storytelling. The view of anime several years ago to the general public had been one of negativity with associations to it being "just animated porn" amongst other things. As the anime industry has grown and integrated into American culture these stereotypes have died down and yet I come to find them re-emerging in your article, wrongfully labeling anime and those who enjoy it. I had hoped that an article being made on such a well-known news site would have at least held a neutral standpoint on the subject but it appears that is not the case here.

It does not disappoint me so much of the light anime and its fans are portrayed in as much as the facts that are used to do this. This starts from one of the core aspects at the very beginning of the article: the otaku. Rather than research the definition of otaku here you have used a common, erroneous definition. The word otaku, which means 'another's house,' is used as a slang to describe someone who is a large fan of some hobby. While commonly associated with anime and video games, an otaku can also be one who collects books, is a huge fan of a sports team, builds models, etc. In general some might call an otaku a 'hardcore fan.' Some people may or may not be familiar with the popular movie and TV series from Japan called 'Densha Otoko' or 'Train Man.' Although it centers on an anime otaku, it also includes a variety of other types of otaku. It is also a comedy-romance story about being able to overcome one's self to be a better person for love. Sexually explicit? Nope. Perverted otaku? Not really. Just an insecure young man who hopes for love.

In listing 'sexually suggestive and explicit anime' you named the series 'Gurren-Lagann' as one of the two. Now I must ask you: have you seen all of Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann beyond the opening, fan works, and episode 5? Ok, so one of the main characters wears a skimpy outfit. So? I have seen American films and TV series that have actors dress as such or even less. There are even some commercials with females wearing equal or less. Not to mention she is not portrayed as a sexual figure. Her character is strong and responsible. While Kamina wants to just rush in, she's wanting to plan and think out situations. Not to mention she is a strong fighter that can hold her own against their robot-riding opponents. Ok, maybe you've only seen episode 5: the hot spring episode. Yes, it had some scenes that have sexual undertones in them but at the same time no nudity is shown or the sexual tones are used as a gag. And this is one of, what? 27 episodes? If anything this episode shows that giving into temptation can only lead to negative consequences given all the trouble Kamina got himself into. Taking the series as a whole: fighting as the underdogs to overcome the ruler who oppresses humanity, struggling against an enemy that wishes to eradicate them, dealing with politics and moral dilemmas on how to appease the people, battling through the odds to save the woman you love, the loss the comrades that have become your family, and showing how that one, small boy can strive to become someone great. If this is 'sexually suggestive and explicit' I think that some definitions needs to be amended.

While there are several other points of possible error, I shall leave those for you to find. Anime is a lot more complex than one would think. It is not something that you can take just by its face-value. If you are going to write an article for the world to see on a news website, please please do your research first. The reputation of anime has come a long way since its popularity began in the United States. Many people still believe those negative stereotypes. These stereotypes should not be reinforced nor taught to those who come seeking truthful knowledge. Anime and manga are many, many things. Some are sexual in nature but that is but a drop of water in the much larger sea.

"Otaku is a Japanese word that has evolved from meaning "techno-geek" to describing devoted fans who pore over Japanese animation (anime), manga (graphic books), hentai (erotic comics) and other comics-derived media."

Uh, if you have really researched like a good journalist, "otaku" means "fanatic" and can be applied when speaking about a person in any sort of fandom, not just anime and manga. It doesn't mean "techno-geek". If you're a techno-geek, then you're into techonology, not anime or manga. Basic English 101. The adjective describes the noun. Last time I check, "techno" has always been a shortened version of technology.

I always find it interesting that every article that I come across mentioning anime is that it is blaming the culture for making American more sexualized, even though that sort of thing had existed long before anime was introduced in the US. Even you mentioned Wonder Woman, which was created in the US and way before anime was import. It seems to me that because it is foreign material, it is an easy target than rather looking into the big picture that has already occured back home. Although anime is mainstream, it is not in the manner in which you explained. It became mainstream due to the diversity of stories and themes that are untouched in American animation. You can't tell me that all of Hayao Miyazaki films are hinting sexuality. Or popular manga like Naruto and Fruits Basket, which have been in the best graphic novels list several times in the roll, do not have sexually explicit stories or characters. If you just think because a character may have a big bust or is drawn in a certain angle as sexual and others don't, that says a thing about you and not about us, fans.

Use some logic next time and look more deeply into the subject before you start ranting about things that you clearly don't know about... It shows way too easily.

To echo a lot of what's been already written: Research. Do some. Though your attempt to portray anything having to do with "Legend of the Overfiend" as serious gave me a good laugh. Thanks for that. There are plenty of series that deal with the question of morality. They also deal with the fact that reality is not black and white and good people make bad decisions and bad people can do good things. They look at actions and consequence and the nature of humanity. If you watch, say, Vision of Escaflowne and all you get out of it are the cat-girls; or if you watch Full Metal Alchemist and all you get out of it is that Lust is "hot", it's not the series' fault. Fan-service is a big part of anime/manga in all genres. However, try to see the forest for the trees.

I might be damning myself by bringing this up, but a correction: "Lolicon" does not mean "Lolita + Comic". "Lolicon" means "Lolita + Complex". When the Japanese shorten "comic", it's "comi". As in "Comiket", ("Comic + Market") the huge comics convention in Tokyo.

I'm now ashamed to have MSNBC as my homepage, seeing as they're willing to post such poorly written and researched articles. It's really upsetting that they're putting such an untrue and offending stereotype on otaku.

In response to this article, we interviewed Patrick Macias regarding his comments. To learn more about what was taken out of context, what was said and not printed, and what was accurate, you can listen to the interview at the following link:

The conversation starts roughly 30 minutes in.