Otaku culture utilized in the car industry.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by JokerD

Well at least it's better than the Miku concert I saw which consist of a video being projected onto a huge screen on stage.

And it was laggy in between videos too.

You are not the only one who didn't get his money back.

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by JokerD

Also there's no social stigma associated with anime otakus in the west. Some even see it as a badge of honor.

not even close... especially if you're into loli moe blob crap from the gutter

[synaesthetic]

It's interesting to note that the general Japanese definition of "otaku"--which means a nigh-obsessed enthusiast--are not socially stigmatized in America. Car enthusiasts, book-club denizens, film buffs, history buffs, computer geeks, gamers, smartphone addicts, fashion freaks... all pretty well accepted in America. Hell, even the South gets into cosplay more seriously than any anime otaku I've ever known--Civil War (or other historical battle) reenactments are Serious Business! Some of these guys actually use the same guns their ancestors carried in the actual War Between the States.

The anime otaku stigma comes from two things: the Animation Age Ghetto (CARTOONS R FOR KIDS HURR) and the idea that all anime is pedobait porn. These misconceptions are really common.

Manga, on the other hand, seems to share a similar status with Marvel/DC/etc comic-book nerds, despite the massive efforts taken by the Western comic book fans to distance themselves from the manga fans.

Ah, fanboyism.

[HasuMasu]

the Animation Age Ghetto (CARTOONS R FOR KIDS HURR) and the idea that all anime is pedobait porn

ah, those, can't seem to escape them