Eric,

In another message you asked why I thought you were an "otaku." Your
comments below show why. Your constant attempts to portray them as better
than they are is a dead giveaway.

in article 4216EA00.2A845168@yahoo.co.jp, Eric Takabayashi at
etakajp@yahoo.co.jp wrote on 2/19/05 4:25 PM:

> Ernest Schaal wrote:
> 
>> in article 4215F8D7.F09CD864@yahoo.co.jp, Eric Takabayashi at
>> etakajp@yahoo.co.jp wrote on 2/18/05 11:16 PM:
>> 
>>> Ernest Schaal wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Anime, as a genre, tends to be loved by the otaku, but as a class it isn't
>>>> particularly well thought of. Although there are some films within the
>>>> anime
>>>> genre that are well thought of, such as the works of Miyazaki, most of the
>>>> works in that genre are thought of as either crass porn (virgins raped by
>>>> alien plants) or kiddie stuff (Pokemon).
>>> 
>>> Which do you consider the science fiction sub genre (artificial humanoids,
>>> robots, giant robots, armored suits, outer space epics, etc) to be, and what
>>> titles do you claim to be acquainted with?
>> 
>> For a short while in California, I was watching a wide variety of anime,
>> mainly because I missed Japan and it was the only Japanese video at my local
>> video store that I hadn't already seen. I also saw some anime on public
>> television.
> 
> Why do you believe you are seeing a fair representation of anime based on the
> limited selection you saw during "a short while" in "California" or on US
> "public television"? It is no wonder you think it is porn or kiddy shows meant
> for otaku or children.
> 
>> I thought "Akira" was a waste of time,
> 
> Oh, I see. I don't care if you don't like the characters or the plot, but the
> artwork and concept mean nothing to you, particularly for its age, during a
> time American animation was indeed mainly meant for children.
> 
>> but liked "Galaxy Express 999." Initially, I liked Ranma 1/2, but it got very
>> predictable very fast.
> 
> Oh, and Tora-san is not? Were you waiting for him to marry one of the girls he
> meets and settle down at a serious job to raise a family, perhaps?
> 
>> After a while, I realized that much of the anime that I have seen seemed to
>> be geared towards losers who wished that all the women loved them, like they
>> did in Ranma, or that even a goddess would dedicate her time serving him like
>> in "Ah my Goddess," or horned aliens in cute tiger suits lusted after
>> them, like in "Urusei Yatsura."
> 
> Or perhaps they liked the humor, among other things. While "Ah my Goddess" was
> published in a magazine meant for adult readers and certainly celebrates young
> male fantasies regarding women and gadgets, did you not notice that Ranma or
> Urusei Yatsura were meant for children? Have you seen any of Rumiko
> Takahashi's other work, such as her romance, fantasy and horror, which would
> merit being made into live action TV or film for a wider audience?
> 
>> Now, what films of Kurosawa, Ozu, etc. do you claim to be acquainted with?
> 
> I have watched a literal handful of Kurosawa films. Why is this relevant?
> Kurosawa is not the issue, nor is Kurosawa representative of Japanese cinema
> in general when arguing its merits. Even you say "good" only "occasionally"
> comes from Japanese cinema, which is effectively the same as what I said when
> discounting out of hand most of which appears on video shelves (or TV). The
> same can be said of anime, most of which I would not show my mother or
> children.
> 
>>>> Some of the amine that I have seen is amusing, like good television
>>>> sit-coms, but only occasionally is it something that most people would want
>>>> to pay money to see.
>>> 
>>> Really? So how do you account for its continued success, or how Japanese
>>> animation has become an international phenomenon worth billions of dollars
>>> per year? Japanese live action TV shows, movies or music don't enjoy that
>>> kind of popularity or financial success (except possibly in Southeast Asia).
>> 
>> There are a lot of childish adults out there?
> 
> While the likes of Pokemon or Dragonball are broadcast for children even in
> Japan, why are you not one of the adults (or adult critics) who understands
> the appeal or sophistication of anime is not limited to children or otaku, and
> the range is not limited to porn or kiddy shows?
>