One of the great things about the increasing affordability of video technology is that it makes the tools of media production available to anyone who is interested. This democratization of technology allows members of subcultures to turn into amateur anthropologists, training their cameras on themselves and investigating their place in the overall culture. The documentary Otaku Unite! is an attempt to do just that, examining the history and current state of anime/manga fandom in the United States. While the film is obviously intended for a popular audience, it can have some value for those of us researching what it means to be a fan of a foreign media like anime.

The film first tries to deal with the etymology of the word otaku. Often translated as “geek” or “nerd,” the word otaku can still carry with it baggage from its Japanese origins. Dave Merrill, organizer of Anime Weekend Atlanta, fires the opening salvo on the term by declaring that being an otaku is not a positive thing. From there, the documentary examines how the word came into usage in Japan and how it has come to mean something different in the US. More often than not, “otaku” is bandied about as a badge of honor and a way of identifying with a select group of like-minded fans.

Otaku Unite! then discusses how anime is different from Western animation and briefly examines the history of Japanese animation in the United States. (According to the documentary this history of US anime began with the broadcast of Speed Racer, overlooking the original black-and-white stylings of Astro Boy.) I found the segment on early fandom to be one of the more interesting sections of the film. For example, animation historian Fred Patten dates first organized anime fan activity to May 1977, making it a few months older than I am and predating the majority of current self-described otaku. Older fans relate brief tales of how hard it was for anime fans “back in the day” because professionally translated videos and manga (and even fansubs at first) did not exist. The film then lends a sympathetic ear to Carl Macek who relates how he had been threatened by fans unhappy with his work on the Robotech epic in the mid-1980s. Before discussing anime conventions, Otaku Unite! mentions the spread of fandom in the wake of the Internet, including a look at anime web pages (and featuring a brief graphic of AnimeResearch.com).

The documentary gives a history of US anime conventions and takes the viewer behind the scenes at Anime Weekend Atlanta. There are interesting scenes of cosplay as well as footage of Emily and Robert DeJesus’ wedding at Anime Central. The best part of this section is that it demonstrates the shifting demographics of anime fandom, something to which I can personally attest. The film ends on a positive and inclusive note, advocating an accommodating attitude toward varying levels of involvement in the anime community. (We don't all have to be uber-otaku.) Yet some of the speakers warn against the medium becoming too popular, and against anime being produced for American audiences (a trend we have begun to see recently), losing what makes anime and manga unique.

My biggest problem with the film is that it does not quite seem to know its audience. Before the ending credits roll, a call to arms streaks across the screen, declaring “The time to unite is now! Otaku Unite!” This would seem to indicate that this is a documentary for otaku, by otaku. And yet much of the information contained in the film was not particularly revelatory for me, nor would it be for most people involved in the anime community for a significant period of time. In term of content, then, Otaku Unite! seems like it is intended for an audience not already familiar with anime and anime fans, yet the viewer is sometimes addressed as if s/he were already an otaku.

In spite of this flaw, Otaku Unite! is a wonderful summation of anime fan culture and practice. It is fun to watch, and the editing and the music keep the film flowing along at a quick clip. Director Eric Bresler should be commended for this valuable look at anime fan culture in the United States.

For further information on the film, check out the Otaku Unite! website (they seem to have great taste in music) or the film’s IMDB listing.