Mada Mada Da Ne

Banners up fellow anime otakus!!! Those who were unfortunate enough to view the garbage of an episode of Jessica Soho Reports last night should realize by now that what that misinformed, unbelievably stupid show did was a total insult to say the least to all anime fans out there. First of all, let me start of venting this incalculable fury by saying that I, once upon a time, had respected that overweight journalist for "researching" her material before airing it on nationwide tv. I take it back. That buffoon just takes hook, line, and sinker whatever her researchers feed her without bothering to verify the data.

For those who may have missed that God-forsaken episode, the show featured "hentai animes" and actually blamed the stuff for spurning abnormalities in the sexual and psychological development of children, especially teenagers. To pump things up a bit, Jessica Soho conducted an interview with a supposed "otaku" who collected anime dvds and such. For the love of Inari-sama, that pig interviewed a hormonally imbalanced idiot whose idea of anime was that it was "cool" to watch because of the "great drawings." I could have puked right there and then.

First off, Jessica Soho lumped anime into two major categories, the "hentai" stuff and the "cartoons," claiming that the "wholesome" anime is supposed to be for kids. Ok, the worst thing about nosy people is that they never seem to leave enough alone. What the hell did anime do to them anyway? Anime has been in existence for decades, even before we knew that it was called anime, and that includes hentai anime. Why should they now pick on it as a reason for the sexual abnormalities of isolated perverted individuals? Anime is not "cartoons," for the gazillionth time! Japan has refused to call it "cartoons" specifically because the cartoon term was a Walt Disney creation to separate kiddie shows from adult ones. Anime was never intended for kids because of its intricate plots, realistic portrayals of situations, intense characterization, and soulful views of relationships. That’s what separates it from "cartoons" albeit it is portrayed in "animation" style and not with live actors. Even the most mundane anime like Dragonball Z and Akazukin Cha Cha have complicated storylines that would put Grimm’s Fairytales to shame.

Second, not all hentai animes are about fucking each other’s brains out. Even the most bizarre hentai anime has a storyline that could actually be a good plot for an otherwise "wholesome" anime if it were not for the head-banging sex and stuff. Of course, the fact that that perv Jessica Soho interviewed had donut dough for brains by categorizing Alice Academy as hentai didn’t exactly clear the already muddled waters. Anime is being misunderstood enough as it is without her throwing in more mindless confusion. If she considers the necessary love scenes in anime as hentai, then woe befall Nobuhiro Watsuki for even creating Seisouhen or Ken Watanabe for even thinking of animating Basilisk. If I were Watsuki, I would be carrying a deathscythe right this moment to butcher GMA’s so-called top journalist for mercilessly murdering my life’s work, reducing it to lower that snake’s spit. Seisouhen even proclaimed to all viewers to watch the movie with "all their hearts." Little did Watsuki know Soho was blaming Kaoru’s unconditional love for Kenshin as a source of neurotic disorder in today’s teens.

Third, I am a journalist myself and isn’t it one of the basic tenets of "responsible journalism" that you always have to get both sides of the issue before presenting the same and present the sides in equal proportions so that the public can decide for themselves which side is actuall valid? Then why did that hog interview a hormonally crazed perv and failed to solicit the opinion of the other true-blue anime otakus who do not let their sexual organs think for them?

Lastly, I would like to point out that last night’s episode of Jessica Soho Reports really stabbed at the very heart of the otaku culture. We, who work so hard to promote anime to the already jaded and misinformed world are being slapped so hard in the face. Anime is not just a hobby for the otaku. It is our religion, our way of live. We live and breathe anime because it is reality as "it should be." We know the characters not just as "cartoons" but as parts of our lives. I grew up with Yuusuke, fell in love with Kurama, admired Kenshin, was protected by Rekka, laughed with Ranma and Onizuka, tried hard to be like Yankumi, understood from the depths of my heart Takemoto’s feelings, fought long and hard with Kira, Asran, Ichigo, and the Sanzo-gumi, played and cheered with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Eichizen, and the entire Seishun and Shohokou Academy, cried with Mitsuki, felt at peace with Tohru, and created so many memories with all my other anime friends. I came to understand life’s beauty, love’s magic, and friendship’s strength because of anime and I want to share all these truly wonderful things with those who would just give up without even trying. I have made it through a lot of difficult times because anime was there to show me that it’s never over until you say so, hence the title "Mada,mada da ne." My life is not without its proverbial potholes but I walk that path with an optimistic mind and loving heart because anime has taught me that my happiness lies in conquering my own self.

GMA once declared itself an anime nation, but GMA betrayed us otakus. Now, GMA is handing us over for a death sentence. This is beyond cruel. We cannot take this lying down…not anymore. Anime has given me and my brother the chance to believe that dreams are not mere illusions but shadows of reality that only need to be given substance. We have been living our dreams and we live to share those dreams with our fellow otakus and those who have not yet seen the light. We will not allow irresponsible people like Jessica Soho and GMA to snuff the flames that kindle our dreams. Kenshin always said a person is strongest when he lives for others and lives to protect. I endear all my fellow otakus to help protect the otaku culture and the anime nation from the new devil that has risen. THIS IS WAR!