Genshiken
| Genshiken | |
|---|---|
 The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture | |
| Original Manga | Kio Shimoku |
| Director/Artist | Takashi Ikehata |
| Format | Anime (TV), Manga |
| Made By | Palm Studio, Asiadou, ARMS |
| # of Volumes (manga) | 9 (Complete) |
| Episode Length | 25 minutes |
| # of Episodes | 12 (Season 1), 3 (OVA between seasons), 12 (Season 2) |
Contents
Genre
Sum it up in a Sentence
Kanji Sasahara joins a club for otaku at his college, making new friends and learning about otaku things.
Main Description
Genshiken follows the lives of a group of college students drawn together by their shared hobbies, and the trials and adventures associated with being otaku. The story begins with the introduction of Kanji Sasahara, a shy, confidence-lacking freshman who on club day at university, decides to join a club he would actually enjoy, Genshiken. Over his four years at Shiiou University, Sasahara comes to accept himself for who he is and loses the inhibitions and guilt he once felt and associated with otaku culture, becoming an enthusiastic clubmember, and for a time, a capable club president. As the story of Genshiken progresses, focus is also placed on Saki Kasukabe, a determined non-otaku who initially struggles to drag her boyfriend out of the club, and Chika Ogiue, a self-professed otaku-hater who feels a deep-seated shame and self-loathing toward her own interests and hobbies.
During the course of the series, the reader bears witness as the group grows in its cohesiveness over time, and bonds form between the characters as they begin to see themselves as more than fellow club members, but friends as well. In this context, club activities such as group outings, the biannual pilgrimage to Comifes, and even simply hanging out in the clubroom, allow the characters' complex relationships to grow into friendship, infatuation, and at times, even love. While a few of them never quite see eye-to-eye about their interests or the lives they lead, they are held together by the bonds of friendship that they share
If You Liked This, You Might Like...
- Comic Party
- Otaku no Video
- Welcome to the N.H.K
- Honey & Clover (Slice of Life anime)
- Lucky Star
- Kujibiki Unbalance (spinoff from Genshiken)
Personal Opinions
Keyboard Kid
Genshiken is a show that you'll probably enjoy if you've been into the depths of anime, manga, and games for a while. The characters and their relationships are realistic but stereotypical, and the humor is great. There's a ton of references, but Genshiken doesn't rely on them for humor. The second season of the anime isn't quite as good as the first, and the manga is just way better than the anime. If you're reading this wiki, and you haven't seen/read Genshiken... well, you probably should.
Links
- Official Genshiken Homepage (Japanese)
- Wikipedia Entry
