Kara Dennison
August 3, 2024 
In 1991, Gainax—the studio known for Gunbuster, Evangelion, and Gurren Lagann (to name a few)—debuted the two-part OVA Otaku no Video. Equal parts parody, mockumentary, and love letter to fandom, this series follows two fanboys as they strive to transcend otakudom to become “Otakings.” And now, AnimEigo is bringing the classic back to BluRay!
While AnimEigo crowdfunded an “Otaking Edition” 2018 (and this writer had a role in its production), this new release will make the OVA available to an even broader audience. If you’re not familiar with this classic, let us show you why it’s a must-watch!
Stranger than Fiction
Otaku no Video is, among many other things, a highly fictionalized documentary of its home studio, Gainax. It’s a rags-to-riches story of two fanboys who fight against the odds to achieve anime greatness. In actuality, Gainax started as a group of art college kids with funding, but the hard work and aspiration are all true.
Intercut with these fictionalized accounts are live-action interviews, which the new BluRay release will let you watch or skip. These self-effacing parody bits range from a cosplaying businessman to an American fan who is slightly (read: very) mistranslated.
References for Days
As mentioned above, this writer had a role in the previous Otaku no Video BluRay release. That role was on a team of several other anime experts, documenting every reference in the two-episode OVA. And the list was so long that a printed version wouldn’t fit in the case!
References range from the obvious to the obscure. Scan the crowd for familiar cosplays. But also keep an eye out for the absence of the moon in “future” segments. This is a reference to British sci-fi series Space: 1999—a series much loved in Japan! How many references will you be able to catch?
The Joy of Fandom
As much as Otaku no Video takes the occasional swing at fandom, the call is coming from inside the house. The humor is self-effacing rather than aggressive. And, in the end, Gainax—sorry, “Giant X”—makes good on all their fanboy dreams and more.
It’s a loving look at the hobby we all share and the art form we all love, from a heavy hitter in the industry. So keep an eye out and be sure to pick it up when the new BluRay release drops this October!
From retro to modern: meet the YouTubers dominating the summer anime season!
