Why Old Otaku’s Notebook?

Why Old Otaku’s Notebook?

Because anime didn’t start with streaming.

When I was a kid in the 1980s, I didn’t even know I was watching anime. Weekday afternoons meant shows like Voltron or Tranzor Z—heavily localized, dubbed, and packaged as just another cartoon. Only later did I discover their Japanese roots. By the time Toonami hit Cartoon Network, I had already logged years as a fan, but suddenly anime was out in the open, and everyone knew the difference between an American cartoon and Dragon Ball Z.

Fast forward to today. I’m fifty years old, and anime has been with me nearly my entire life. It has been a comfort, a curiosity, and often a conversation starter. So why this blog, and why call it Old Otaku’s Notebook?

Why “Otaku”?

I know what some of you are thinking: “Why would you use the word ‘otaku’ when it still carries such a negative stigma in Japan?”

That’s a fair question. In Japan, otaku isn’t just “anime fan.” It can carry the sting of social withdrawal, obsession, or even pathology. It’s a label that can feel more like an insult than a compliment. However, in the West, fans have long embraced the word, often adopting it in the same way others have reclaimed terms like “geek” or “nerd.”

For me, otaku acknowledges immersion. I’ve been steeped in this world long enough that anime has shaped not just my taste, but my perspective. I don’t wear the word as a badge of shame, but as shorthand for “someone who has walked with anime a very long time.”

So yes, I know the word’s baggage—but I’m using it deliberately. And as an old otaku, I’m claiming it with a grin.

A Different Vantage Point

The anime fandom has changed dramatically since I first stumbled upon it. Once upon a time, if you wanted to watch a show, you either caught it on a lucky broadcast, tracked down a VHS tape—usually at a Suncoast store at the mall, or knew a friend of a friend who copied fan-subbed episodes. Today, everything streams instantly—sometimes even simulcasts the same day it airs in Japan.

That’s a gift, and I don’t begrudge the younger generation their easy access. However, it also means that the context, patience, and sense of discovery I grew up with often get lost.

This blog isn’t about gatekeeping—anime belongs to everyone who loves it. However, it is about perspective. I want to add my voice as someone who remembers when anime wasn’t mainstream, and who still thinks there’s value in slowing down, reflecting, and asking what we might learn from the stories Japan tells.

Who This Is For

While anime fans are certainly welcome here, Old Otaku’s Notebook isn’t written specifically for the already converted. Instead, I’m writing primarily for outsiders—people who might be curious about this Japanese phenomenon but don’t know where to start, or who wonder what all the fuss is about.

Maybe you’ve heard your kids or grandchildren talking about anime, or you’ve noticed it’s everywhere these days but don’t understand the appeal. Perhaps you’ve tried watching a show or two but felt lost in the cultural references, or you’re simply curious about why this medium has captured so many hearts across the globe.

My goal is to serve as a cultural translator, helping explain not just what anime is, but why it matters—why millions of people around the world have found something meaningful in these Japanese stories. I want to bridge the gap between the anime world and everyone else, making the unfamiliar accessible without losing what makes it special.

The Trouble with Modern Fandom

Every generation of fans brings its quirks, but I’ve noticed a few trends among younger viewers that deserve some gentle pushback.

• Pearl-clutching. Many series include tropes or story elements that don’t line up with Western sensibilities. That doesn’t make them wrong—it makes them Japanese. I aim to help readers appreciate these moments within their cultural context, rather than dismissing them outright.
• Shipping wars. Pairings can be fun to imagine, but sometimes fandom turns the conversation into all shipping, all the time—missing the author’s intended themes.
• Context blindness. Too often, viewers treat anime as if it were simply an American show drawn in a different style, rather than art created within a unique cultural, historical, and even spiritual framework.

I won’t scold. However, I will explore these issues, always with the hope of enriching the conversation.

Faith and Storytelling

I also write as someone whose faith informs my approach to watching anime. I don’t mean every post will be a sermon, but my worldview affects how I interpret stories—where I see beauty, redemption, or even warnings. Anime, like all storytelling, is ultimately about what it means to be human. And that’s something my faith constantly draws me back to.

What to Expect Here

So what is Old Otaku’s Notebook going to be?

• Essays and reflections on both classic and current anime.
• Cultural context that highlights how Japanese history, folklore, and values shape the medium.
• Commentary on fandom, sometimes critical, but always constructive.
• Personal notes, because anime has been a companion in my own life journey, and I suspect it has been in yours, too.

The tone will be conversational, not academic. Think of it less as a lecture hall and more like sitting at a table with a pot of tea, talking about why a particular scene or character hit you right in the heart.

Closing Thoughts

So here we are: Old Otaku’s Notebook—a place where anime is appreciated with patience, context, and affection. I’m not trying to compete with the fast-paced news blogs or the endless stream of reaction videos. I’m just an older fan who still finds joy in these stories—and who believes they deserve to be seen for what they are, not just what fandom makes of them.

This isn’t just my notebook. It’s an invitation. Please pull up a chair, share your thoughts, and let’s talk anime.