From what I understand. In 460 words or less.
The Difference Between “Otaku” and “Weeaboo”
July 14, 2016
5 Comments | 
Anime, Articles | Tagged: Anime, definition, otaku, weeaboo | 
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Posted by Actar
World Uniform Operation Itsuki and Yuri!
April 21, 2016
Finally! the World Uniform Operation Heartcatch Precure! series is complete! Also, say goodbye to the horrible watermarks~
Click for a couple more pics after the jump!
1 Comment | Figure Photo Reviews, Figures, Merch and Stuff | Tagged: figure, heartcatch, itsuki, megahouse, operation, precure, tsukigake, uniform, world, yuri | Permalink
Posted by Actar
Why I Couldn’t Watch an Anime I Loved Anymore
March 6, 2016I present to you translated, a manga by a Pixiv artist that’s been making waves on the internet! A very interesting commentary on anime fandom and anime appreciation.
Enjoy!
3 Comments | Translation Projects | Tagged: criticism, objective, pixiv, review, subjective | Permalink
Posted by Actar
I am Now on Facebook (and MyAnimeList)
December 4, 2015Yes. After years of trying to steer clear of social media, I’m actually going to give it a shot. (^.^;)
Currently, I’m still experimenting with the type of content I’ll post there and I’m also thinking about how to differentiate it from my blog. Essentially, what I’ll be posting there are updates, random musings, show reviews, opinions and even small loot posts. Stuff that I feel are important, but not important enough for a long blog post.
My blog will still be for longer, more well thought out opinion pieces, articles and loot posts – the kind that anyone can come back to and won’t be lost in a sea of updates. However, I’ll be sure to link all new blog posts from my Facebook account as well.
Please don’t hesitate to drop by and say hi and don’t be afraid to send a friend request!
http://www.facebook.com/actar.raikit
You can also follow me on MyAnimeList! I’ve been a member for a very long time and I update it very, very, religiously. My favorite anime, my favorite characters, what I’m watching, what I watched, it’s all there!
2 Comments | Actar's Life, Updates | Tagged: Anime, facebook | Permalink
Posted by Actar
World Uniform Operation Tsubomi and Erika!
November 30, 2015
HeartCatch Precure! is one of my all time favorite Magical Girl series and my favorite series from the Precure franchise. I’ve been waiting ages for the HeartCatch girls to make an appearance in the World Uniform Operation line (a brilliant name, being a pun on World Domination Operation) ever since MegaHouse started making their way through the various Precure franchises.
Tsubomi and Erika are absolutely gorgeous and look simply magnificent together with the figures of their transformed counterparts, also produced by MegaHouse.
See several more pics after the jump, including more of Cure Blossom and Cure Marine!
Leave a Comment » | Figure Photo Reviews, Figures, Merch and Stuff | Tagged: Anime, blossom, cure, erika, figure, hanasaki, heartcatch, kurumi, marine, megahouse, operation, precure, pretty, school, tsubomi | Permalink
Posted by Actar
Why the Kamen Rider Gaim Toy Line is So Grape
November 16, 2015
Being a Kamen Rider fan for many years, I’m no stranger to the fact that the franchise is just one big toy commercial. However, to succeed in its endeavor to sell toys, both the show and the toys need to be good in their own right and play off each other’s strengths and unique characteristics. On top of that, in order to keep the long-time fans buying, innovations and improvements must be made to keep things fresh and updated.
In my opinion, the 2013/2014 Kamen Rider series, Kamen Rider Gaim, is a phenomenal show. Whether you love it or hate it, we can’t deny the fact that it took the series to new heights and took a concept as silly-sounding as Fruit Samurai and turned it into something serious, epic and mature – a series full of intrigue, twists and high-stakes that even non-Kamen Rider fans could enjoy. Hardly surprising, if you ask me, considering it was written by none other than Urobuchi Gen, famous for his other works including Saya no Uta, Psycho-Pass, Fate/Zero and Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Yes, that Urobuchi Gen.
However, I don’t think that the show’s success can solely account for the 390% increase in toy sales and a total revenue of 10 billion yen over the course of the series run. No. If you ask me, the toys had a part to play as well. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at various aspects of both the show and the toy line to see why it’s just so ingenious.
WARNING! There are spoilers for the show within this post! While there aren’t any plot spoilers, the various forms and abilities for a number of the Riders are discussed!
5 Comments | Articles, Figures, Figures, Merch and Stuff | Tagged: analysis, arrow, baron, dj, driver, energy, gaim, genesis, gun, kachidoki, kamen, kiwami, line, melon, musou, rider, ryugen, saber, sengoku, sonic, toy, zangetsu | Permalink
Posted by Actar
Dynamic Change Shin Getter Robo Figure Photos!
November 1, 2015
Man, I just can’t get enough of this amazing figure! Even after my video review, I couldn’t stop playing around with it. Here are even more pictures I shot of the figure in each of the three modes!
1 Comment | Actar's Reviews Episodes, Figure Photo Reviews, Figures | Tagged: change, dynamic, figure, freeing, getter, perfect, photo, pose, robo, shin, transforming | Permalink
Posted by Actar
Redefining and Recontextualizing Moe: A New Dimension to Sexualized Cuteness
October 27, 2015
After getting approval from my supervisor and head of department, I present to you my honors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Japanese Studies at the National University of Singapore.
I decided upon the topic of moe for my research as it has been a very hot-button issue in anime fandom for quite some time. I hope my paper will give you a clearer understanding of the concept, why moe might be far more useful and essential to the otaku than you might have realized and why moe isn’t insidious and does not spell the death of anime. Also discussed are gender issues and virtual child pornography.
ABSTRACT
By adopting a cultural studies approach, this paper seeks to redefine and recontexualize moe. This paper argues that moe is used as a coping mechanism by the otaku to reclaim agency and remain connected in a more individualized society as opposed to a tool that legitimizes the subjugation of women in society and homogenizes anime. This is done through the possession of fictional characters via the creation of dôjinshi, attending events and going on pilgrimages to the real-life settings of their favorite manga and anime. In addition, because moe is an element of the kawaii art style, it is separate and distinct from the other elements of an anime, allowing creators to retain creative freedom while simultaneously catering to the otaku and appealing to a wider demographic. Instead of being exploited by producers, the kawaii art style facilitates the production of character merchandise that the otaku purchase and use to aid them in reclaiming agency and connecting with fictional characters and other otaku.
Continue to the full text after the jump. If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to link to this post! (^o^)
7 Comments | Academic Papers, Anime, Articles | Tagged: Anime, consumption, cultural, database, japan, kawaii, moe, narrative, olympics, otaku, studies, virtual child pornography | Permalink
Posted by Actar
Super Robots are Cool
October 14, 2015
What is being an otaku about? It’s about the cool and the hot. Cool Robots and Hot Girls that is.
Hot. You get it? You see what I did there? Because hot is like to burn, which is moeru 燃える in Japanese, which is a homonym of moeru 萌える, to bud, which is where moe comes from? Yeah… I didn’t think so.
Anyway, here is a blog post featuring some random pictures I took of three different super robot figures that I bought over the past half-a-year that I never got round to posting. Namely, Gunbuster, GaoGaiGar and Aquarion. Enjoy.
2 Comments | Figure Photo Reviews, Figures | Tagged: aquarion, bandai, chogokin, figure, gaogaigar, goldy, gunbuster, marg, nono, noriko, of, review, robot, soul, super, toy | Permalink
Posted by Actar
HeartCatch Precure! Novelization Chapter 1 – The Birth of Cure Moonlight
October 11, 2015
Ladies and gentlemen! I am finally finished with the translation of the very first chapter of the HeartCatch Precure! Novelization!
As a huge, huge fan of the HeartCatch Precure! series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this novel when it was announced and I knew I just had to take a crack at translating it. I have to say that this was quite the experience for me. I have translated doujins, manga and fansubbed anime before, but this was the first time I’ve ever tried translating a novel. Also, I would have loved to have gotten this out faster, but this is a one-man project and I don’t have a digital copy to work with. So, please don’t be too harsh with me with regard to the formatting and stuff, because I know I still have a lot to learn. If you find any mistakes in grammar and stuff, don’t hesitate to inform me and I will update the document accordingly. For what it’s worth, I hope I did a good enough job. (^.^)
At this point in time, I’m not sure if I’ll be continuing with the next chapter as it ends on a great note (there are 5 chapters in total with end of the second chapter leading into the anime series). I guess I’ll wait for the responses or see if anyone else is going to pick it up. Do tell me how you enjoyed the story so far! I had a blast myself. It really allowed me to appreciate Yuri’s character in the main series so much more!
Be warned, as this first chapter is a prologue to the main series and revolves around Cure Moonlight, there will be spoilers for the show!
Click to read:
Chapter 1 – The Birth of Cure Moonlight
Edit 1: Changed Sabaak to Sabaaku.
11 Comments | Translation Projects | Tagged: Anime, heartcatch, light, novel, precure, translation | Permalink
Posted by Actar
Actar's Otaku Life 
