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Otaku No Video Director: Takeshi Mori Number of Items: 1 Format: Animated, Color Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 130 minutes Studio: AnimEigo Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-11-11 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 "Hilarious look at the life of anime fans!" This film is about the founding of Gainax, and it's both animated and live action. Not only does it tell the humorous tale of Gainax's success, it pokes fun at obsessive fans (often disturbingly close to those watching it!). Highly recommended! "You'll Need A Firm Grip On Your Ego To Watch This..." I can guarantee you that Otaku no Video will be unlike any other anime movie, series or OAV that you've ever seen. The fact that it was even brought to the US commercially is rather surprising. However, given that Animeigo has now reduced the price of the tape... it's a title that every serious anime fan should own. However, I should warn you: keep a firm grip on your ego when you watch this. I've never met an anime fan that's seen Otaku no Video and hasn't seen a bit too much of him- or herself in some of the characters. Otaku no Video is, primarily, three things: a self-parody of and by Gainax, the anime company that brought the world Wings of Honneamise, Evangelion, Nadia and Kareshi Kanojo no Jijyo (for those of you who haven't seen it, Right Stuf will be releasing it soon - don't miss it); a parody (although distressingly true-to-life one at times) of fandom in general and, thirdly, a sort-of history of anime from the early eighties to the early nineties (when it was produced). The plot can be hard to follow and the references to other (sometimes obscure) anime series fast and furious. The liner notes don't even claim to get all of the references in there. However, none of this stops it from being a both fascinating and hilarious - and sometimes painful - look at not only anime but fandom in general. I can't recommend this series enough. The only drawback I see is this, though: if you're a big enough fan of anime to know of it, you've probably seen it, and if you're only a casual anime watcher, much of it might be incomprehensible. "It's not a crime to be an Otaku" This OAV from Gainax is a mocku-mentary of the founding of Gainax itself. The story begins with clean cut college freshmen Kubo. After running into an old friend he soon is drawn into the Otaku culture. He with a little help he wants to otakunize the world. (that would be cool) This tape is a must for any one who has bonded with friends over anime. The animation like with all Gainax title I have is wonderful. Plus character design is by Kenichi Sonda (Gunsmith Cats and the OAV Bubblegum Crisis).