Otaku: A Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga and video games.
The year is 1982, in Japan. A young man (Kudo) is starting his College career. He is very involved with his Tennis Club and appears to be dedicated to his new life. Like most first year College students he begins to loose focus and question his motivation to the things he is doing. A run in with a friend from High School (Tanaka) shows him the new and unseen world of SciFi/Anime Clubs. At first it seemed very strange, but it doesn't take long before he is hooked, and I mean really HOOKED! By the end of the year he has come to realise that his true calling to to become the Otaking.
We then jump to 1985 and see the beginnings of the grand plan. These two young men discover the ultimate secret to their plan, a Garage Kit. They start their dream empire and work their way to the top. By 1991 they are almost finished with the final piece in the pie to secure their place at the top and the Bankers step in and take over the company. This is not the end of them, but just a new start. They hit bottom, but because of their obsession they start over and do it all again. This time with the idea of Garage Video and do it without giving up control and finally become the Otakings and seek to create Otakuland, a place for Otaku by Otaku so that they can just be Otaku.
The great part of this film is the mixing in of the "Portrait of an Otaku" segments, mock interviews with the real Fan Boys of all media. At the end of each animated segment a short live action clip is served up. They are somewhat surreal portraits of Otaku and are presented in a documentary style interview format. They range from very funny to sad and depressing, but ad a flavour to the Anime that gives it the killer punch. In one of the interview the Otaku is an American and you can hear him talking in the back ground. If you listen closely you can hear what he is really saying. Question "Do you have any real Friends"……………very long awkward silence……………Answer "What gives you the right to ask that question!". Once you have seen this you will understand what a great moment it is.
It is a honest but odd look at the life's of the Otaku and the somewhat rewarding yet lonely life. These young men do one thing that is wonderful, they prove that you can get knocked down but with the drive of an obsessed Fan Boy you can never be knocked out. Just remember, if you want to become an Otaking there is nothing like a cute/sexy girl in a hot bunny outfit that will get you on your way. There are many references to some of the bigger Anime hits of the 80's and it is fun coming across them. If you are new to the Anime world it is a prerequisite, and if you have been around for a while you need to dust this one off and watch it again. This is a DVD that should be in every Anime Fans collection, or should I say the cornerstone of every Anime Fans collection.
This released in 1991, Directed by Takeshi Mori, Produced by Ganaix and is distributed by AnimEigo in the U.S.
ComicsOnline gives Otaku No Video a 5 out of 5 Sexy Bunnies
