TOKYOPOP To Launch “Otaku-Centric” Documentary Series

I know I’m a bit late on the uptake with this, as it got lost in the holiday hustle and bustle. But now that I’ve had a chance to actually see this trailer, I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Okay, that’s not entirely true. I have a sinking feeling that this will be one of those “look at THIS!” type of feature that highights the eccentricities of the subculture as a whole, while shying away from the more moderate hobbyists. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen this sort of thing.

From MTV’s “Otaku Week”, to Adult Swim’s “SwimCon” commercials (below), to other ends of popular culture, anime fandom gets the short end of the stick. After all – the stereotypical anime fan is an ill-mannered, socially-inept boob that is more of a spectacle than a decent human being. It’s simply something to be expected. Hell, even Otaku Unite had footage of crossplayers and Johnny Otaku, and that’s one of the more even-handed features surrounding the fanbase.

I really would like to be proven wrong by this, and I would honestly love to be. A documentary series that doesn’t focus on simply the “weird” and “crazy” anime fans would be refreshing. After all, this is from manga publisher TOKYOPOP, who have dealt directly with fans for fourteen years. Furthermore, the greater subculture is far from dull, and really deserves a look on its own. Unfortunately, history tells me that this probably won’t happen again.