In recent years, Japanese animation has been on the rise in
popularity. Variations of the style have rippled from Saturday morning
cartoon blocks to high brow art galleries in across the world. There is
anime catered for all age groups, from childhood fantasy worlds to
coming of age comedies to more intellectually complex cyberpunk and
gore. Anime and manga has carved its own niche in mainstream culture,
and while most people have a facile connection with the medium, for
others the fascination goes beyond a casual respect. For the true nerd,
the master of geek chic, anime is a hobby and a lifestyle. An anime
otaku is by definition a sedentary person, and as his room is his
castle, it must be decorated with the posters, figurines, and classic
titles in the very same way a hippie suffuses his room with posters of
dead musicians, vinyl records and the smell of incense. In order to be a
true fan of anime and manga, your room must reflect your unequivocal
taste.
One of the most popular ways to express your fandom is through models
and figurines. Many of these can be hand painted or crafted like
traditional models, and make for an excellent accessory for your desktop
or bookshelf, especially one dedicated to shelving all your favorite
Blu-ray or manga titles. Quality is better than quantity, and having
rows of adult indie manga titles such as Blame! or Homunculus reflects
highly on your theology and geometry. For children, anime toys and wall
scrolls are an excellent way to decorate the room and bring life to
their imagination. For hobbyists, many figurines and toys become
valuable collector's items, and many limited edition box sets are
available on sites like Amazon.
For some anime fans, the love for Japanese animation cannot be
expressed through simple watching and collecting. Cosplay, a portmanteau
of the words costume and play, has grown in popularity over the years,
particularly at anime conventions. This activity is even better suited
for children at Halloween, and many commercial sites offer replica
costumes and outfits along with multi-colored wigs.
However, the most important assets for any anime fan's arsenal are
the titles themselves. Once a show or manga is licensed, it is
translated and sold through a variety of major distributors. While
scanned translations are illegally available on the internet, it's
critical for fans to continue to support the artists and writer's work.
Lackluster American sales have caused many famous studios to shut down,
and the only way to truly keep innovative anime on the shelves is to
show your appreciation for the people who made it
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