Got this from

Just thought I'd do this and get a little new on the page.

Question #1: What is the earliest anime you recall seeing?

I believe the earliest animes I remember were many of the children's series that were imported here and dubbed in Finnish during the 1980s and early 1990s. These included - among others - Nils Holgersson, Tao-Tao, Mitsubachi Maaya no Bōken, Around the World with Willy Fog, and of course Moomins (namely Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka, not the earlier Shin Mūmin). And there was also Samurai Pizza Cats that I watched in German, and didn't understand a word of it (not that it mattered) in addition. These were my earliest anime, though at the same time I didn't know they were anime at the time (or really what "anime" even was).


#2: What series got you into anime/manga?

Neon Genesis Evangelion. Before that I had seen anime I didn't know was anime (like Moomins), then seen various series and movies that were interesting in their ways (such as Tenchi Muyo, Guyver, Golgo 13, Robotech), and then silly anime I didn't think too much of as anything more than so laughable it was fun to watch (Dragonball Z in particular with its fights that just never ended). So when I started watching Eva (I was fresh out of the army back then) I didn't expect much from a series that seemed like just another one of those Japanese cartoons with big robots and stuff. I think I even missed the first episode entirely, and just caught the last part of the second. But that glimpse seemed interesting, and I watched the third episode in full. And then the next, and the next, and the next, and soon found myself excited to wait for the next episode to come the following week. And when it started to move toward the whole psychological and surreal aspects in the midway point, I was pretty much hooked. This experience made me want to explore deeper into this whole Japanese anime thing and opened my eyes, so to say, toward a lot of really good and often original storytelling that I hadn't been aware of before. And it's also kind of funny going back to those old series I saw as a young child and pick out all kinds of faintly Japanese themes often found from anime at large (like issues of life and death, or a more poetic way of depicting the stories) that doesn't really exist as much in the more straight-forward Western animation.


#3: How long have you called yourself an otaku?

I've never called myself an otaku. I prefer not to label myself as being this or that really. I'm just Jani who has several different interests, of which anime and manga just happen to be one of. I don't really feel the need to call myself with a definition like that.


#4: What is your very favorite anime/manga?

I would have to say Evangelion. I've seen a lot of anime (or read manga) that I like very much, but Eva will always have a special place in my affections for the reasons outlined in question 2.


#5: What anime/manga character would you marry?

That's always a hard one to answer, and I often try to steer away from trying to say something like this - past the idea, of course, that these are not real people to begin with! Most anime/manga characters are fun to read about, but seriously would be hard to live with... and that includes several of my favourite characters as well. I really don't know. Maybe someone who would be as normal as possible. No shojo girls, or hyper girls, or tomboys, or... I think maybe Mai Tokiha from Mai-HiME would be a good one, since she's friendly, kind, considerate, but largely isn't someone who gets on your nerves when exposed to for longer durations at a time. She's pretty rooted to the ground and doesn't go for the big gestures that can get a little too much to take over time. Yeah, Mai would probably be one of the better choices.


#6: Have you ever been to a convention?

No. There have been some around here, but I have never ended up going to any. Maybe one day I should.


#7: Have you ever cosplayed?

Heavens no! I'm not that much of an exhibitionist to even dream of putting on some weird get-up and parading in front of other people in it. I'd be too embarrassed.


#8: Can you speak japanese?

A few words and phrases here and there, but I've never learned the language in any way, so I couldn't hold a conversation in Japanese even if I tried.


#9: Have you watched any hentai?

Yes, though not much, and nothing too extreme. Agent AIKa and Najica Blitz Tactics is about the most hentai I've ever went. Panties, panties, panties...


#10: Do you like yaoi?

No. Not at all. I don't frown on the genre itself, but I really don't find any appeal in seeing two guys romantically together, no matter how clean it is. Not my thing at all.


#11: Yuri?

The total opposite of yaoi to me. Yuri is just pure WIN! Two girls together. That's like the best thing ever!


#12: Are you a lolicon?

Nope. I don't really find any appeal in really young girls. Except for comic relief, and that's usually only marginal anyway.


#13: Dub or sub?-

Subs, most definitely. I have a real abhorrance toward most dubs for the simple fact that many - even very well produced ones - tend to sound awkwardly weird most of the time. For one the mixing is often flat and thus uninvolving. It's as if the voices are pasted on top of the animation instead of being integrated within the character mouths, creating an effect that sounds like the characters aren't even talking themselves, thus distancing the voices from the characters to a detrimental degree. Also the acting often lets down many dubs. When listening to the original voices, it seems like the actors are really living the emotions and becoming the characters. They don't just read the lines, but truly vest themselves into the parts (though of course there are still good voice actors and bad ones all the same). Dubs often tend to sound more like the actors just reciting their lines without the emotion, and which when combined with haphazard mixing, can come out as really bothersome. There are exceptions, but not many.


#14: How much money would you pay to spend a day with a real mangaka?

None. I'm not that starstruck to spend my day with a mangaka (or a celeb or anything else), let alone pay to do that.


#15: Do you like fan fiction?

Yes, and I write it myself, but it's not always easy to find good ones. But yeah, I do enjoy a good fanfic.


#16: Do you consider youself a weeaboo?

A what?


#17: What anime object do you wish were real?

...The GunBuster?


#18: What would it take to make you stop being an otaku?

Assuming I'd call myself an otaku, if I simply lost interest in anime and manga. Or that some other interest would supercede it or lessen its grip. Otherwise I doubt my interest would ever really end unless I was forced to by death.


#19: Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star?

I haven't read/seen Lucky Star (outside of a few clips), but Azu is one of my favourites so I think the choice would be an easy one to make no matter which way it was.


#20: Strawberry Panic or Marimite?

Haven't seen either.


#21: Anime or manga?

I like both. Usually the original work is the best, but I like adaptations too. From a logistical standpoint, anime is easier to watch since there's usually a set limit episodes and how much effort and expense one needs to give it, while manga can get hard to collect, read or find due to the extensive amount of books one has to find (even 20 books can be a lot compared to say 6 DVDs). And I know there are scanlation sites to read most interesting manga, but I prefer reading manga in book form. I'm also an advocate of adaptations that are not the same as the original. While similarities are good to maintain in a series (characters most specifically and certain plot points), I also find it more interesting to get two different versions of the same story. After all, what's the point in reading a manga and then watching an identical anime? I prefer having different approaches so an adaptation doesn't become somehow redundant, with the caveat that the adaptation actually is good in its own right (or even betters the original). Many others don't agree with me on this, I know, but that's what I think.


#22: If you have kids, would you name them after anime characters?

No way. It'd be too fanboyish to do something like that. And that applies to both weird character names as well as regular Japanese names. I live in Finland, so I'd prefer a properly Scandinavian or European name instead of a Japanese one. I'd name a pet after something like this, but not my own child.


#23: Desu?

Küss?