Hey everyone. I'm Koti. I was wondering if I could get some help on a school final project. I am doing an anthropological study on the way of the Otaku. Since some things have changed and due dates do not fit with what I was going to do originally, which involved going to the closest Anime Convention to me, Anime North, but the convention is not until May 23rd and the project is due on May 5th. I was hoping to get some help from my fellow Dollars and get a primary source for the project. That just involves getting interviews from people or just have random people answering questions. As a result, I was hoping for some people to respond to this and give me some sources or ideas for it before I get anything started. I know that this seems kind of late but I am looking to get the best that I can. So if anyone can respond to the few questions below in the best detail they can, that would be great.

1. What are your thoughts on Anime in general?
2. What is your favourite Anime?
3. Do you use any language that you learn from reading manga or watching Anime?
4. Have you learned japanese from watching anime?
5. Who is the greatest and most inspiring character that you have seen.

This question below involves the most important information and if you want, you can only answer this one question and ignore all the others.

6. What effect has anime had on your life and in what ways? Please put as much information as you would like.

1. It's my favourite pastime, has amazing plot lines, themes, characters, it's inspirational, I love it.
2. Kara no Kyoukai, because the animation is spectacular, the music is breathtaking, the artwork is gorgeous, it's a combination of a bunch of genres that I love, and the story just gets to me.
3. Yup. Like "zetsuboshita!" from Sayanora Zetsubou Sensei, and many other phrases.
4. Yes.
5. My favourite character right now would be Akemi Homura, because she is incredibly done, from her character design to how perfectly dynamic she was. One of the most dynamic characters I've ever witnessed and I loved/hated watching her in the story.
6. Anime has done a lot for me, it's given my courage and inspiration and I've learned a lot from just watching the characters (of the more serious animes). Otaku culture is really rich in diversity and I've made friends with people all over the globe. Anime helped broaden my mind as well, I now write better and I draw better as well. I took up digital editing because of anime. I admin a few fan pages on Facebook as well, I do it even though I really don't have the time because people have told me that I've made their day with my posts and that in itself makes me happy. Anime helps me escape reality for awhile. Anime has also introduced me to Japanese music which is pretty much all I ever listen to now. Anime affects a lot of people and is just awesome. X3

Ah screw it. I'll take part against my better judgment.

1. It's is a double edged sword, inspiring one to do better with their life or instilling a deep rage in one's psyche. Or perhaps giving someone something to do while labeling them in the worst way possible. I can go on forever. Good hobby, bad obsession.

2. If I had to choose, Kara no Kyoukai. There are very few that even come close to the depth of story, characters and plot, while having one of the greatest OSTs to ever be composed by Yuki Kajiura. I'd like to give props to anything Nasuverse related, but the original Fate/Stay Night, Shingetsutan Tsukihime, Fate/Kaleid Liner, Carnival Phantasm and Unlimited Blade Works all fall short, sometimes being really bad. Fate/Zero is also on the same level as KnK but KnK earns my vote. Hopefully, Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel will live up to the prestige of Fate/Zero and KnK. >>2, Your taste in favorites awards you my Seal of Approval.

3. I try for the sake of keeping the phonetics smooth and just because I can.

4. I've learned quite a bit, I think, but nowhere near what I would need to actually hold my own in a conversation.

5. It's a toss up between Kiritsugu Emiya and Ryougi Shiki. I have a strong affinity with strong female leads because they are so rare. It's hard to choose between them because they are both so moving and possess such an amazing depth of character on top of being extremely strong both in technique and willpower.

6. Very little. Watching anime is just a hobby for me, a time killer. It has allowed me to have a little more interest in Japanese culture as well as learning about various Asian related things but that is only a slight change, as I have always been that way. I recognize that anime is just one of the many 'windows' and if I really want to be serious, I need to dive into other subjects. I always tell people, I would much rather read something than watch it. In one way, anime has had a rather significant impact on my life. Namely, being a critic. I have honed my analytical skills by tearing apart both bad and good anime. However, on the reverse side, I have had to endure people's shit taste and surpass countless rage sessions. All for the better, I suppose.

1. Anime is beautiful. I wish I had internet at home to watch some because I'm really behind in the times. ;_; It's got some of the most random, beautiful story lines that really make a person think.
2. My favorite anime is as if right now is probably Angel Beats.
3. The simple stuff like senpai, sensei, arigato and yeah...
4. Fluently, no :D
5. I would have to say Shuuya Kano from the up-coming anime Mekakucity Actors and Manga series Kagerou Days. He is just very fun yet dark. I love that ^^
6. I started watching anime thanks to my mother. She now says that I'm a pathetic idiot who can't do anything but watch that anime. I have been teased and so has my sister because of it. But what people do not understand it that, to me, anime gives me the sense of life and death and explains it much more clearly to me. It gives me more characters to relate to. And plus side is that SEX ISN'T EVERYTHING LIKE T.V. SHOWS TODAY! In all, it has basically taught me to just be me and to not throw my childhood away and stuff.

1.It's the new generation of animation. Inspiring, motivating dramatic....don't know what else to say
2. Durarara and Gurren Lagaan
3. I use some Japanese words randomly
4.Yp
5.Kamina from Gurren Lagaan. He has a will of never giving up, even though he unfortunately died

1. What are your thoughts on Anime in general?

I think that anime is an amazing new open door to storytelling. A lot of kids don't want to read books, but they do like to watch cartoons. With the stronger, more complex stories that animes have, it tends to help inspire the fans of it to read and to go out and make their own stories or be more creative in general. I think that's extremely important. It has also inspired more plot-heavy cartoons in other countries as well, mainly through the US and FR.

2. What is your favourite Anime?

This is a tough one. I'd have to say Serial Experiments: Lain. It inspired a lot of my current philosophies and has always been my muse for my more psychological or spiritual stories. I also still listen to the soundtrack to this day. Perhaps other animes have similar messages with better animation and such, but they never stuck to me like Lain.

3. Do you use any language that you learn from reading manga or watching Anime?

Only when it's appropriate and relevant, usually. Though I have been exposed to words from other languages through anime that are relevant in day to day conversation.

4. Have you learned Japanese from watching anime?

Anime alone hasn't taught me it, but watching subbed anime helped a lot. This is also true for when I was learning French; watching subbed French movies really enhances it.

5. Who is the greatest and most inspiring character that you have seen.

I can't pinpoint one right now, but I'll post an update in this thread when I can.

6. What effect has anime had on your life and in what ways? Please put as much information as you would like.

Anime is the reason that I'm as much of a creative person as I am. It inspired me in so many ways that I prolly couldn't describe with proper words. Not to mention that I'm not sure I could have emotionally gotten through middle school without anime to escape to when I got home.

Thank you very much for the responses. It's helped alot with my school work. And for anyone else who would like to help, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you.

1. What are your thoughts on Anime in general?
They have positive and negative aspect. They're fun for me but sometime there're people who can't think rationally because too biased. I'm not saying being an otaku is bad it has its own merits but sometime people just cross the line I guess.I'm just hoping people can enjoy anime in healthy way.

2. What is your favourite Anime?
Hard one, I will say Death Note and Code Geass. Recently Durarara! LOL...I mostly like complicated and mysterious story...though I can watch any genre^^

3. Do you use any language that you learn from reading manga or watching Anime?
Yes, I learn Japanese for a while after knowing anime/manga. I can speak basic Japanese.

4. Have you learned japanese from watching anime?
Totally...

5. Who is the greatest and most inspiring character that you have seen.
Lelouch Vi Britania...He's so damn smart and good villain main character LOL. He thinks not like most people and he tries to changed the world into better place w/ his own way.

I hope this helps

1 Anime/Manga has changed everything for me, 2 Ill say Gintama , 3 some but getting a japanese dictionary to learn more, 4 A little, 5 Toshi from Gintama