Showing posts with label studio ghibli. Show all posts
Am I Otaku???
From earlier posts, you all know that I have a strong lovre for anime, particularly Studio Ghibli. I recently came across the word OTAKU, pretty much meaning you are obsessed with everything and anything anime related. I know I had a strong pull toward anime, especially now that I've discovered a whole new world of subtitled goodness, but I never had a "label" to go by.
I never really cared, I just loved anime. However, when I discovered what otaku meant I felt like I fit in that description pretty well.
When I was five years old, during the good ole VHS days, my mother would take me to the local video rental store and every time, it never failed, I would run straight to the foreign section and pick up my favorite movie (still in my top 5 list by the way) which happened to be Studio Ghibli's magical movie "Totoro." Mind you this copy of the movie was completely in Japanese and although it had subtitles what 5 year old is that fantastic of a speed reader? So basically I had know idea what was going on dialog wise but I loved it. I loved it so much I got irritated feedback when it was the only movie I ever wanted to watch.
After, thinking for a while I realized that anime had been a huge part of my childhood and has still stood the test of time.
Next in progression in my life was being obsessed with Digimon. Augumon was my favorite character, probably influenced by my passion of reptiles. I even had one of those digimon digivices where you could battle your friends on the play ground.
Then of course I fell in love with Pokemon. This has been one of my childhood loves that has followed me into adulthood. (Currently writing this in a starter pokemon blanket) I remember collecting cards and I still have a large collection today. I played Pokemon red and other pokemon games always ready for the next game to be released. (Yes I already have the demo for omega)
Then as I grew older I was allowed to stay up later. Thats the best, getting your bed time extended. I ran into the discovery of Toonami broadcast late at night and my love for Gundam Wing and Sailor Moon. I think Gundam Wing was partly influenced by Power Rangers too. Haha.
Presently, I own all of the Ghibli collection and rewatch them on a regular bases. After Netflix entered my life I was thrown into a plethora of anime goodness. Of course I would watch anime night on cartoon network but its not the same being able to watch a whole season in one day!
I just finished a rather dark type anime called Tokyo Ghoul. ( i finished it on Halloween, a good end to a creepy Holiday i think) I really liked it and in the past month I have watched Ghost Hunt, Vampire Knight, Vampire Knight Guilty, and some other bits and pieces of anime.
It really has become a familiar world to me and I am in love with my obsession. What a wonderful world of fans too! So yes, after much thinking, I really do think I am OKATU!!
Do you consider yourself an obsessive lover of anime? I always love to watch new ones (particularly dark ominous types) Please share!! I would love to see your top 10 lists!
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
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| Design by: Asia Sansalone |
Hayao Miyazaki was born January 5, 1941 is a Japanese film director, animator, manga artist, illustrator, producer, and screenwriter. Through a career that has spanned six decades, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of anime feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli, a film and animation studio. The success of Miyazaki's films has invited comparisons with American animator Walt Disney, British animator Nick Park, and American director Steven Spielberg. He is considered one of the most popular and influential animators in cinema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki)
I have a strong love for Japanese anime. Although I started watching anime when I was in my toddler days I have recently just started watching it religiously. When I was little another Miyazaki/Ghibli film took my heart. It was called "Totoro." Back then the movie didn't have English dubbing and I wasn't that great at reading too fast either ( I was around 3-4 when i first found this movie) but I loved it anyway. I went years with out watching that movie until I joined Pinterest in 2011 and saw a picture of Totoro, Immediately a childhood long lost returned to me and I was obsessed with obtaining a copy of the movie.
Being older I was able to do more research on other related films and discovered that there was a plethora of movies waiting for my eyes to behold. My second movie from the Ghibli collection was "Spirited Away." However, when I was viewing the movie I realized that I also watched that movie in my childhood as well! (Yubaba, the witch is kind of a hard character to forget)
After falling in love with two of my favorite movies all over again, my husband went on a man hunt to add more of the Ghibli/Miyazaki films to my collection. I believe I own all of the movies besides the most recent movie "The Wind Rises."
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| My Ghibli Movie Collection |
If you haven't checked out any of the Ghibli films it would be a great introduction to this genre of film and maybe even open your door to more types of anime. I know it did for me. I honestly sit for hours watching all sorts of anime on Netflix, but I will make another post on that. This is for Miyazaki! One of the greatest animators/illustrators/directors that this industry has ever seen!!!
