Genshiken

I am writing again as I have finished by 2x review of yet another anime series.

Genshiken is the society for the study of the graphic arts which includes manga (japanese comics), anime (Japanese cartoons) and video games. This organization of course has it's selection of interesting members, each with their differing interest weather it is sexy video games, watching anime or just trying to get in with the pretty boy. Genshiken is an anime about those who love all the things that we think of as nerdy and geeky. It is a fun look into the lives of the otaku and the many relationships that come about.

The series that I am reviewing was divided into two parts. In the first part the main characters are introduced and the basic ideas behind being an otaku are talked about. In the OVA new members join and the club starts to take a turn moving several out of school and into adulthood. The second season of the show works mainly on the ideas of maturity, taking responsibility for one's life and the relationships within the group.

I found this anime really good as it is not one to poke fun of otaku (I being an American version of such) and yet at the same time gives a fairly good explanation as to what they are in the end. I really enjoyed the interactions between characters showing that the story was well done. The only grips I have with the story is that there were still a few loose ends not tied up after the series ended that bugged me so be weary.

In the sub I was impressed by the detail they went to but found that they seemed to give little care when handling the American characters using voice actors that appeared to have only a basic grasp on English which made the supposed "Americans" look really stupid not being able to even communicate in their own language.

In the Dub they did a good job matching voices and I have few gripes. The Americans came from a different angle with them leaving the assumption that they could both speak at least a bit of Japanese erasing the language barrier but also erasing some of the reasons to provide tension and still not coming up right overall but a good adaptation as they were originally doing things in English.

Overall this is a great series and would recommend to any true Anime fans.