Product Details

• Actors: Yuri Amano, Kikuko Inoue, Jun'ichi Kanemaru, Masami Kikuchi, Takako Kikuchi
• Directors: Takeshi Mori
• Writers: Hiroyuki Yamaga, Toshio Okada
• Producers: Kazuhiko Inomata, Misuzu Kubo, Yoshimi Kanda
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: ANIMEIGO
• DVD Release Date: March 29, 2002
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008G5WZ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,305 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Otaku No Video" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

OTAKU NO VIDEO - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll Need A Firm Grip On Your Ego To Watch This..., December 16, 2000

By 

Carl Malmstrom (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Otaku No Video [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the culture of anime, February 6, 2004

By 

Scott Raymond "cadmium blue" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Otaku No Video (DVD)

For any nominally serious fan looking to know more about the culture behind classic anime, for die-hard Gainax fans or for psych/sociology majors researching the escapist motivations evinced by inhabitants of Sci-Fi fandom, this is absolutely required material. It's also one of my favorite discs.
A fictionalized account of how the key individuals at animation studio Gainax (Neon Genesis, FLCL) got into the business, Otaku No Video (graffiti of otaku generation) is one of a kind. Originally released in two parts in 1982 and 1985, this OVA follows "city boy" Kubo in his trek from tennis-playing college kid to becoming a revered cult figure in the world of Japanese animation. Leaving a college drinking spree early one evening (I've got a match in the morning) Kubo runs into old high school pal Tanaka and his posse of anime-manga-sci-fi junkies. Nerdsville incarnate. Kubo is quickly drawn into their world of geek fandom, losing his cute upper middle class girlfriend Ueno and abandoning college to begin marketing garage kits with Tanaka. Their upstart business brings them to the brink of garage kit kingdom , only to suffer a hostile takeover by a heartless corporate parasite and his vengeful new wife, Kubo's old flame Ueno!
Tanaka is sacked and Kubo loses position as president of the company, demoted to a remote outpost as a shamed middle-manager. But Fate strikes again. He runs into the shamed Tanaka on the street one day and they once again launch into a start-up, this time Garage Animes, rising to claim the throne of OtaKings!
The film is interspersed with several live-action, mockumentary-style "interviews" with various types of popular media fans, such as, a former cos-player, an anime collector,a cel thief and a garage kit builder. Through these "interviews", we see the culture of fans who attend Comic Market, produce their own fanzines, or live in the childish world of cartoon computer porn and paintball combat. They reminisce and rationalize, to great effect.
Otaku No Video is loaded with insider cultural references. AnimEigo includes in the disc liner notes that explain all the references, a BIG help to those looking to piece together Japanese subculture.
This is a fun, informative, sometimes even moving film that true fans of anime culture will watch repeatedly. You'll never look at anime the same way again after this.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To dream the impossible dream! To become the Ota-King!, December 2, 2003

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Otaku No Video (DVD)

"Otaku" in Japanese means "honorable house," and is used as a derogatory slang term for anyone so into their hobby that they never leave their house. Devout hobbyist that the Japanese are, you will find many otakus, laden with cameras and photo gear, or comic books and anime cels.

"Otaku no Video" (Otaku's Video) is a mockumentary showing the slow descent into otaku-hood of Kubo, a young college student with a girlfriend and a scant interest in anime/manga. Through the bad influence of an old friend, Tanaka, his interest gains control of his life, and he is soon a full-blown otaku, indulging in CosPlay and abandoned by girlfriend and society. Finding himself on rock-bottom, he vows to become the Ota-king, and create a theme park where all otakus can find respect pursuing their anime interests.

Interspersed with this animated storyline are live action interviews with "real" otakus, showing their dismal lives and asking questions like "So, did you ever think about having sex with a real girl?" This may hit a little too close to home for some otakus!

The DVD is a hilarious self-parody of anime otakus by anime otakus, and includes a thinly disguised history of animation studio Gainax. The in-jokes come fast and furious, and you would need to be a true otaku to catch them all.

"Otaku no Video" is quite dated, and many of the references will be lost on newer anime/manga fans. However, it makes for good viewing and both the animated storyline and the interviews are hilarious. A must see.