Ten major works that have had a major impact on the Chinese otaku community and industry this century [Anime Affairs of Chinese Otaku].

My name is Hundred Yuan Kagoyamo, and I am here to introduce you to all things related to the otaku situation in China.
As this is the first article of 2021, I would like to take a look back at the history of otaku-related activities in China to date.

Although Japanese animation entered China in earnest in the 1980s, it was not until the mid-2000s that the activities of the otaku class in China began in earnest, so it seems that the major influences related to the "otaku" side of things, and more easily understood, are mainly works from the turn of this century.
For this reason
The ten most influential works of this century on Chinese otaku and creators in the otaku-related industry
I would like to introduce some works that I think are (or were) important in the history of Chinese otaku.

For this edition, we have chosen works based on their influence rather than on their popularity, so it does not necessarily mean that the work was the most popular in China at the time. For example, if there is an overlap between "Naruto", "Bleach" and "Gintama" in terms of popularity and fan base, we will choose "Gintama", which had a great influence on Chinese domestic anime, over "Naruto", which was overwhelmingly popular in China at the time. The "Gintama" series was also chosen.

In addition, since the selection was mainly focused on the "Chinese otaku community" and "two-dimensional industry," we did not include works such as "Ghibli Anime" and "What's Your Name," which have already had a great impact on Chinese general society and have already been highly praised in various places. I am sorry to say that I have summarized the films in this section. I am also sorry to say that I have also left out "Hatsune Miku" because I have focused mainly on her works.

I apologize for the lengthy preface, but here are the works that have influenced Chinese otaku in this century, in rough chronological order.

Genshiken

Genshiken" is a work that presented the image of an otaku to young Chinese people, showing them what an otaku is, what an otaku is supposed to do, and how they are supposed to enjoy themselves, and is said to have had a very large impact on the process of forming the image of an otaku in China.

As I remember, "Genshiken" was a guidebook for Chinese otaku in their search for the image of the otaku, and the image of the otaku they received from this work gave birth to a movement to become various types of otaku.

In China in the mid to late 00s, when the foundation for otaku activities did not exist, everything was in a state of exploration, and otaku were being explored in the face of various confusions and obstacles. Among the "otaku activities" of the time, some people tried cosplay, which seemed like a relatively affordable way to get started, while others took on the challenge of producing coterie magazines and even utilized the university's printing plant to try to give it shape.
There were also others who actually achieved circle participation in Japan's Comiket, which at the time was seen as a symbol of otaku activities, and university clubs that realized the holding of events in China.

The image of the otaku and otaku-related activities conveyed through "Genshiken" would go through several more steps and complications before reaching the current excitement of the two-dimensional industry and the otaku field in China, but it was the first step toward otaku culture in China and the first step toward answering the question "What is an otaku? Genshiken" is a work that cannot be avoided when discussing the history of otaku in China.

Incidentally, in addition to "Genshiken," other works that influenced the image of otaku among young Chinese at the time include "Comic Party," which presented an image of doujin creative activities, and "Lucky Star," which depicted how otaku material was handled and how to appeal as an otaku.

Full Metal Panic? Fumofu.

Full Metal Panic? Fumofu " is a work that served as an introduction to otaku for Chinese otaku.
Unlike the more serious "Fumofu," the main character, Sosuke Sagara, is a well-trained professional soldier who lacks common sense, and his peaceful school life is a comedy in which he causes disturbances. This combination of themes was very easy to understand for the Chinese youth of the time, and combined with the quality of the work, it was accepted as a work that everyone could laugh at and enjoy.

This is due to the fact that in China, education on national defense is provided enthusiastically, and military training is required at elementary, junior high, high school, and university levels, as well as the large amount of military-related news and content that they are exposed to on a daily basis. This is a situation that makes military topics much more accessible and common than in Japan.

Full Metal Panic" was a work that Chinese young people could smoothly enjoy even if they did not have the knowledge or sense of an otaku. It is said that "Fumofu" was valued as "an anime that cannot be recommended to anyone" and "an anime for otaku to show to non-otaku.

Incidentally, the influence of "Full Metal Panic" can also be seen in China today. For example, the term "black technology" is used on the Chinese Internet to refer to a wide range of things, such as "science fiction technology," "amazing programs," and "cheat tools," and is said to be based on the "black technology" used in the "Full Metal Panic" series.

The term "black technology," which spread from "Full Metal Panic," has come to be used in Chinese otaku circles for science fiction settings and science technology in the settings of other works, and its ease of use has led to its widespread use by Internet users and companies in China. The word has become established as a modern term in China because of its ease of use by Internet users and Chinese companies.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED / Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY

Mobile Suit G undam SEED" and "Mobile SuitGundam SEED DESTINY " laid the foundation for the current popularity of Gundam in mainland China. Prior to "SEED," Gundam had a certain level of name recognition, but there were not so many fans who were attached to the works.

Today in China, the popularity of the so-called "Space Century" Gundam series is high, especially among enthusiasts, and it is said that there are many fans of works such as "Z," "UC," and "08th MS Platoon. However, the basis of Gundam popularity is the SEED series, with the main character Kira Yamato and Freedom and Strike Freedom becoming "the first Gundam for Chinese otaku.

In addition, the "traditional" hobby of modeling in China really took off with "SEED," and combined with the popularity of Gundam in mainland China, led to the popularity of Gundam plastic models and their status as an otaku hobby. The popularity of the characters has also led to the development of a female fan base and demand for secondary creations for women.

In recent years, Gundam content has lost some of its momentum in China due to the generational change of otaku and the shifting popularity of the genre, and the current generation of otaku in China sometimes treats Gundam as "the work of an older generation.
However, Gundam as a standard genre and Gundam plastic models as a standard hobby remain the same, and there is no doubt that Gundam and robot animation have become a topic that sticks in the mind.

Incidentally, I was studying abroad in China when the SEED series aired, so I was unable to watch it in real time, but it seems that there were quite a few people who were following the works that had entered China through non-regular channels at the time.
At a social gathering between Japanese and Chinese students at the university where I was studying abroad, the topic of "Gundam SEED" was discussed, but naturally there was no consideration for spoilers, and I personally remember it as the first anime work that I was spoiled by a Chinese person.