Genshiken
Genshiken (げんしけん) is a Manga of Kio Shimoku, as well as a series animated. The history reports the activity of a group of students member of the club of study of the modern visual culture (現代視覚文化研究会 Gen dai Shi kaku Bunka Ken kyūkai, Genshiken ). It is acted in fact of a club of Otaku pure and hard, fans of mangas, animates, video games, and all the others activitées to which can devote the otaku. The characters are interested in particular in one animated fictitious, named Kujibiki Unbalance.
The 1st volume of Genshiken left in French in the editor Kurokawa on May 10th, 2007.
The series animated include/understand 12 episodes, and 3 OVA reporting the history of Kujibiki Unbalance.
Contrary to what had been announced with the Comiket 69, a springtide of Genshiken is not planned for October 2006. Moonphase announced that the project consists of a new series on Kujibiki Unbalance, independent of Genshiken. However, the rumor of a springtide of Genshiken was not contradicted, and the recent update of the site tends to think that a second season could be diffused with the autumn.
Synopsis
Genshiken is rather unusual because there is no intrigue with propement speaking. The accent is related to subjects not having or little importance for somebody of " normal" , i.e. a non-otaku, but vital for the otaku. The series shows progress of two individuals: Sasahara Kanji, a member in power of Genshiken not yet completely a otaku, and Kasukabe Saki, a non-otaku hopelessly trying to make leave his/her buddy the club.
Each episode generally presents a facet of the activities of Genshiken. For example, we will find episodes where the members of Genshiken go to the ComiFes, with Akihabara, in the room of Kosaka, or with a Cosplay. The episodes not presenting the activities of Genshiken practically always relate to Kasukabe Saki, showing how it tries to include/understand, for finally rejecting, the world otaku. Genshiken treats all these aspects of the otaku on a corrosive and humorous tone, in which one feels a mixture of criticism and admiration.
There exists nevertheless a discussion thread in all the series, implying Kasukabe Saki, which is not a otaku but attends the activities of the club regularly. In a certain manner, we can say that it is it the main character of Genshiken.
Animate
- Season 1
- Year of publication: 2004
- Many episodes: 12 * 24 minutes
- Studios: Media Factory, Palm Studio
- OAV (?)
- Year of publication: 2006
- Many episodes: 3 * 24 minutes
- Studios:
- Season 2
- Diffusion: autumn 2007
- Many episodes: 12 * 24 minutes (6 episodes left at present - November 18th, 2007)
Staff
- Directing: Ikehata Takashi
- Design: Kinoshita Hirotaka
- original Work: Kio Shimoku
- Script: Yokote Michiko
Characters
Saki Kasukabe
Boyfriend of Kohsaka. She is not a otaku, and generally does not like to be implied in the activities of the otakus, but Kohsaka brought it to Genshiken. First president de Genshiken then forced it by blackmail to join the club. Saki saved the club of closing on an occasion, and also helped has to save it one second time, because it was at the origin of the threat. At the end of the twelfth episode of animated, which corresponds about to the fourth chapter of the manga, it becomes obvious that although it is not more otaku that it was not it at the beginning, it starts to include/understand the member of Genshiken and get along well with everyone in the club. By many aspects, it is the main character of animates and the first volumes of the manga.Although she was violently opposed there to the commencement of the series, Saki was finally pushed to make cosplay by cosplayeuse regular group, Ohno, this one being falls ill following a water seal that Saki had thrown to him above. It cosplayé Ritsuko Kubel Kettenkrad de Kujibiki Unbalance, even if it did not include/understand its personality. However, when it has surprised a person in the forefront with an hidden camera, trying to film underclothing, it violently denounced it, which corresponded perfectly to the personality of Ritsuko. This saved to him besides the competition.
Makoto Kohsaka
Pretty and nice, it is one of the more otaku of Genshiken. He likes the plays hentai, and is unbeatable with the video games. It PERT never its cold blood and mouse constantly, revealing its running character. However, it can also be incisive, for example when it manages to convince Saki to make cosplay. Although in general it always does not show it likes really Saki.
Mitsunori Kugayama
Although it is hesitant when it is expressed, it draws well. However, it misses the motivation to carry out a Dōjinshi.
Harunobu Madarame
Fan of Gundam, otaku until the end of the nails, pet peeve of Saki and second president de Genshiken. It shows much leadership and of initiatives, even before being officially appointed president, and it seems to be at the origin of all the exits or events to which the members of Genshiken go. It seems to develop small weak for Saki, at least when it cosplay " Ritsuko Kubel Kettenkrad" of Kujibiki Unbalance.
Kanako Ohno
Last arrival with Genshiken. It has a large turn of chest and broad gluteus, which often embarrasses it. It cosplay much, and seems to appreciate to carry the costumes manufactured by Tanaka (for its greater pleasure). It is close to Saki. It fétichise the men walls of animates and manga. It ends up leaving with Tanaka.
Kanji Sasahara
Disavowing at the beginning its nature of otaku, Sasahara ends up being accepted and is in its place among the members of Genshiken. He likes plays PC hentai, but he does not have a computer at the beginning. At the end of animates, and of the fourth volume of the manga, Madarame-kun resigns of its president's function and names Sasahara its successor. Its first decision is to increase the activities of the club, by producing dōjinshi for next Comiket.
Souichirou Tanaka
Fan of the manufacture of models and costumes. He knows all the tricks to manufacture a costume " mettable" inspired of one animates or a manga, where the designs are sometimes far away from reality. He ends up leaving with Ohno, which admires and carries its costumes. He also manufactured the costume which Saki carried when it cosplayé, and was able to determine its measurements by seeing it only once in bathing suit.
Other characters
Keiko Sasahara
Little sister of Kanji, with the lifestyle kogal. She cracks obviously for Kohsaka, with the great displeasure of Saki. She even tried to become a otaku and became at a certain point after having seen some ones of the dōjinshi of Ohno.
Shodai Kaicho
Shodai is first president de Genshiken. It is very calm, very furtive, moving without nobody noticing it (what frightens Saki particularly), although it seems inoffensive with the first accesses. It seems to have a wide knowledge of the university and its students, although it denies to have posed cameras hidden. He was president de Genshiken since so much a long time that he does not remember it more; elements would indicate that goes up at least up to 1987. It leaves its position of president to write his manuscript of thesis.