Otaku no Video is about exposing a guy named Kubo to anime. He is a normal guy with a normal girlfriend, Yuki. One night, after drinking with some buddies, he goes home before them because he needs to get up early to play tennis. In the elevator, he runs into a group of people. He thinks nothing of them until he sees his friend, Tanaka) in there. He went to school with Tanaka, so they haven't seen each other in about a year.
The rest of the show revolves around getting him otaku-ized (for those of you who do not know what that is, an otaku is an obsessed anime fan. They want to get him that way). He becomes an avid anime fan, and his girlfriend dumps him. So Kubo and Tanaka (and the rest of the gang) open up a studio, called GP (or Grand Prix) that releases Garage Kits of certain anime characters (if you don't know what these are, they are rare models made by ameteurs that are sold at outrageous prices.... of already invented characters).
After the first company goes out of business, they start up another. And they are inspired to become OTAKINGS! (the otaku of otaku.... the ota-king!)
It goes through the emotions OTAKUS feel for once! And the scary thing is, if you are obsessed like the way a true otaku is, you relate to this movie, feel inspired by this movie, and you find it to be HILARIOUS! If you haven't watched a lot of anime, don't rent it until you have. It is MUCH more enjoyable that way! ^__^
And then there are the portraits of otakus... where they interview actual people who are obsessed with anime. That's funny too, because you relate to these people as well as you relate to the humor used in the show.
The only things here that you actually have to look out for are the perverted shots. In the live action Portraits of Otakus, they have real people with naked anime posters all over their rooms, they talk about illegal things, sex, and they swear. Oh yeah, and about killing things. So if you don't like that kind of stuff, then I suggest not watching the show. Or, just fast forward through the Portraits of Otakus. If you haven't seen a lot of anime, as I said before, then don't rent it until you have. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense unless you are totally anti-anime.
Storyline
4/5 Not much. Hilarious though :)
Character Development
5/5 Great for the characters there were. They were all either anime-haters, or anime-lovers... great job, GAINAX! hehehe
Plot Depth
4/5 Not really. It was just kind of a tragic tale or whatever. Well, it was an attempt at tragedy in SOME points of the story...
Music
5/5 Excellent! And the lyrics were funny as well. Mostly about how a girlfriend dumps her boyfriend for being an otaku. And he doesn't care. Or about becoming an ota-king. OR, about how two otakus fall in love ^_^
Sexual Content
4/5 None in the show, but they interview an actual hentai (pervert), who has nude pics of females everywhere.
Nudity
4/5 Just some seen when the perverts are being interviewed.
Violence/Gore
5/5 Not much at all. I think there were some scenes shown where people were getting blown up, but that was in an anime they were watching (Cool! An anime within an anime! Its like the "picture in the picture" thing!)
Animation
5/5 Really, really good for the 80's. Excellent, dudes and dudettes!
Profanity
4/5 They swear and say some bad stuff.
Overall goodness
5/5 Funny, funny, funny! They actually ask this perverted guy if he's ever considered having sex with a REAL GIRL. His reply? "Don't you think Hiroko's cute?" (Hiroko would be an anime chick he's obsessed with!)
Totals: 45/50, or great! Highly recommeded to people who are major otakus! You get all of the jokes, you understand how the characters feel, you relate, man, you relate! (I am so uncool... ^_^() )
It was great!! Hee hee, I can totally relate to what they say. Why aren't otakus accepted by society? Majorly-obsessed sports people are.. why aren't we? We love something like THEY do! Okay, I think you get my point. I'm not on my rant page, I'm not on my rant page..
Kubo is a NORMAL guy. He plays tennis, and he likes his girlfriend, Yuki Uebo(I think that was her name..) One night, he runs into an old friend of his, Tanaka. They say hello, and they meet up again-on school festival day. Kubo is a little interested in this.. "anime". He checks into it a little, and slowly gets hooked. He grows away from Uebo, and she gets MAD. They break up, and he gets really depressed. Him and Tanaka decide this- Otakus should be recognized by society as normal people! They are! So- they will get a place for otakus in the world! THEY WILL BE OTAKUS OF OTAKUS- THE OTAKINGS! (ota-king, the king of otakus)
Kubo and Tanaka and all their friends build a company-Grand Prix. This produces garage kits. (they'll explain what garage kits are if you don't already know, in a thing called Portrait of an Otaku) These eventually lose their popularity and he loses his job. Him and Tanaka meet up again, and build a brand NEW company- Giant X! This company is a total success, they make home-made films about a magical girl. They build... OTAKULAND! (god, how I'd love to go there...) It's really very inspirational, and otakus are recognied as the normality!
The Portrait of an Otaku is really funny. They interview long-time otakus, and ask them questions like-Do you costume play (Cosplay)? and other really funny things. There's this one guy, and he's playing a hentai game on a computer. The girl's name is Hiroko, and she is.. almost naked. They ask him if he's ever thought of having sex with a real girl. Answer? Isn't Hiroko cute? He's obsessed with sex. So, when was his first experience? Uh.. he's still a virgin! ^________^ It's cute.
Storyline
4/5 No plot, hardly! But it was great! It got a little hard to follow, because of the interruptions-Portrait of an Otaku!
Character Development
5/5 Not really any, but wasn't needed!
Plot Depth
5/5 Made ya think a litte, but not a WHOLE lot...
Music
5/5 Very cute music!
Sexual Content
4/5 Talk about it, and Hiroko is shown topless with her hand between her legs (you perverts, too bad for you! Nothing else is shown, she's bending over)
Nudity
4/5 Hiroko.. -_-()
Violence/Gore
5/5 I don't think there was even any at all.
Animation
5/5 Very good for the early early eighties!
Profanity
5/5 A little swearing, not much, though.
Overall goodness
5/5 Very funny! But I would not say to see it unless you are an otaku and have seen lotsa anime. Otherwise, it won't make sense and you'll think it's probably pretty stupid!
Totals: 47/50, very cute and funny!
TOTALS PUT TOGETHER: 46/50, or hee hee! We loved it and WE RELATE, MAN!
***We rented this from Comic Junction, subbed and unedited.***