OTAKU UNITE!
Sesho | Pasadena, TX USA | 09/01/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Kanji Sasahara is a college freshman and as he browses the school club fair, he's trying to decide which club he wants to join. Even though he's a little ashamed of it, he's really a closet otaku. Also at the fair is Saki Kasukabe, who meets childhood friend Makoto Kousaka. Saki is instantly lusting after Makoto but is horrified when she finds out that he is now an anime and manga freak! Sasahara and Mokoto end up joining Genshiken:The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, a club that focuses on manga, anime, and computer games. Saki is reluctantly drawn into their circle because she wants to bust a move on Makoto. It's up to the Genshiken club to bring Sasahara out of his shell and into the world of the otaku!
Genshiken is a great anime about the love of Japanese visual culture and it's great to see your own interests reflected in the characters passion. While it is a comedy, its humor is usually subtle and more realistic. The only thing that I didn't like is that the characters seem overly obsessed with porno, whether it be fan manga or computer sims. I would have rather seen a more healthy interest in all kinds of anime and manga than just focusing on that narrow field of interest. But it is cool to see the characters roaming the streets of Tokyo or going to doujinshi conventions. Still a great show.
I would also recommend the manga version of this anime. Also, in a more humorous vein, Comic Party (the manga and anime) covers the same ground. You should also check out Otaku No Video.
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