UlasanAnime.com – This is a long-form comment intended for a blog post discussing how individuals approach watching and writing about anime. The author feels compelled to contribute their perspective, acknowledging the good work done by the original poster, Chaos-kun.
The core of the author’s reflection revolves around their personal relationship with anime and writing. Unlike some bloggers who might prioritize writing about anime, the author states they watch anime first, and writing emerges as an integral part of that experience. Their engagement with anime fandom, whether for specific titles or the broader community, significantly shapes their viewing habits.
This influence is likened to how the viewing environment, such as a dedicated theater room with a good TV and sound system, can enhance the anime-watching experience. The author suggests that the engagement with anime is a reciprocal process, where input significantly impacts output. A long-standing observation for the author is that anime viewing in the West often occurs in a decontextualized manner. They draw a parallel to watching a comedy about an indigenous African interacting with a Coke bottle in the 1980s, noting that a similar detachment can occur when Western audiences engage with Japanese animation.
The author’s aspiration is to not only have the option to re-contextualize their anime viewing—by understanding references, Japanese fandom interactions, and anime’s role in Japanese life—but also to enjoy anime for what it is, with or without this context. Ultimately, the pursuit is understanding, though they acknowledge enjoyment of classics like Star Blazer or Robotech, stating they don’t wish to stop there.
Employing an analogy of an “anime diet,” the author distinguishes between simply digesting the nutrients of what one consumes and being able to articulate the nuanced flavors and sensory experiences of the food. The latter is what drives their writing about anime; when an anime is exceptionally good, the author feels compelled to process the experience afterward. The former represents the intrinsic enjoyment, educational value, or thematic depth of the viewing itself. This distinction, they believe, contributes to the enjoyment of various forms of entertainment, including B-movies.
Therefore, the author finds enjoyment in both aspects of anime consumption. While acknowledging the existence of “crap anime,” guilty pleasures, or pure enjoyment, they would watch such content if it suits their disposition and available time. This brings them back to the “Africans and Coke bottles” analogy, where some may critique the nutritional value of a certain food, while others praise its taste and lightness. The author suggests that this is akin to choosing a light beer—a personal preference that shouldn’t be dictated or forced upon others, much like opting to watch late-night TV anime.
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However, for the long haul, a different approach is necessary. A balanced diet is presented as the crucial factor differentiating a fleeting obsession from a sustainable lifestyle. Having been part of fandom for a considerable time, the author has witnessed individuals enter and exit for various reasons. Some may experience burnout, which isn’t always negative. Others, by finding a balance and comfortably integrating their anime hobby into their lives, continue to engage with anime as if it were still 1989. The author refrains from judgment, emphasizing that individuals must self-assess to make appropriate decisions. This rational decision-making, they posit, is only truly possible when one is deeply engaged long-term and possesses a comfortable detachment from the subject.
The author then reflects on a friend who has invested significantly in a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system and numerous terabytes of storage, much of which is dedicated to BakaBT seeds. They question the underlying purpose of such an endeavor, not to judge, but to highlight the potential for exceeding a point of balance. Coming from someone who primarily downloads fansubs only to delete them after watching, preferring to spend money on anime merchandise over additional hard drives, this level of dedication seems somewhat foreign. Yet, the author also acknowledges that their own spending on anime goods, which can be costly in their region, might be seen as a drain, whereas a NAS is a practical utility.
This leads to a discussion about physical media. The author expresses a lack of enthusiasm for US DVD/BD releases, with the exception of Aniplex and certain NISA boxes. They perceive these releases as “POS” (piece of shit), contrasting them with the value of Japanese R2 Fate/Zero BD sets, which they could resell for a fraction of the purchase price because they are perceived as finely crafted collector’s items. This contrasts with the majority of R1 releases, which the author describes as poorly crafted wannabe collector’s items, a context they believe is overlooked by Americans.
This contextual background informs their technical process for creating anime screenshots for their writing. When capturing from Crunchyroll (CR), the author utilizes the “view in dedicated window” feature, pauses at desired moments, and screenshots the window (at 720p). These screenshots are then pasted into a Photoshop file with a predefined selection that precisely crops the video area. The main challenges in capturing CR streams include locating the streaming file and avoiding accidental inclusion of the timestamp pop-in. While CR watermarks may appear, the author has ceased to be concerned about them. Occasionally, they might disable subtitles on a case-by-case basis.
This method is described as laborious compared to using hotkeys for frequent screenshots or employing automated programs. Consequently, the author ensures they watch episodes at least twice before writing an episodic blog post, as they already know which scenes they intend to capture. They admit to not engaging in much episodic blogging on their current platform, as this single aspect can impede their blogging momentum. In the past, when they did engage in episodic blogging, they primarily used a camera, referencing their past Xam’d posts.
After capturing, the author uses basic Photoshop features for “save for web” and performs resizing or cropping as needed. They note that this method is effectively unusable for Funimation’s streams. The author humorously points out that even with a suitable file format, capturing still takes a considerable amount of time because they overthink the process, which paradoxically aids their thinking time for writing about anime.
Ultimately, the author’s motivation for blogging about anime stems from a desire to express specific ideas, observations, or noteworthy details. Without such a catalyst, they find it pointless to simply offer an opinion. They require context, a narrative, or a gut feeling to drive their writing. The most conducive anime for blogging, for the author, are those shows that inspire these elements upon completion. When ideas flow easily, screenshotting becomes straightforward, and the words seem to write themselves. These are the anime they tend to write about, as they help overcome the obstacles to fully enjoying anime. Conversely, shows that do not spark ideas or are difficult to watch and comprehend are typically not written about.
As a side note, the author expresses admiration for anime bloggers who demonstrate thoughtfulness and dedication in their writing, considering them “good people.”
The author’s approach to watching anime has evolved over time, influenced by changes in the anime industry, technological advancements, and shifts in their own life. Their writing style reflects these changes, though often in ways not immediately apparent in a typical, consumer-oriented blog post. This can make their writing seem like inside jokes to themselves, requiring a deeper understanding. The anime fandom has grown younger and more vibrant, while the author feels they have matured. Compared to their younger self, they are now more focused on appreciating anime for its intrinsic qualities rather than its surrounding elements, having moved beyond initial enthusiasms. Ironically, this shift involves a fine line between worrying about the act of blogging and ensuring they have something meaningful to say.
Despite this focus on deeper meaning, the author is not immune to practical concerns. Currently, their primary worry is a defunct Sony receiver that failed shortly after its warranty expired. The HDMI inputs are malfunctioning, and they are hoping to acquire a low-end replacement at an affordable price. The author admits to not placing a high value on sound systems, though they acknowledge their interest in this aspect of their anime viewing habits is likely higher than that of many others.
Consequently, the author’s annual introspection series will be postponed until the following week, as they intend to focus solely on “The Idolm@ster” in their writing.
