K-ON! “Empty Fetishism – Is Reality That Bad?”

Still love K-ON!

I didn't even know there was a manga! I'mma go give it a read.

"It’s the same sort of grotesqueness you see at a maid café."

Wait wait wait.. did no one touch on this? Maid cafe = grotesque? Cute girls serving you in maid outfits and calling you 'master' = grotesque, but guro = totally hot?

I think this guy's head is just screwed on wrong.

So terribly sorry it's not all about jiggling boobs and panty shots.

So terribly sorry it's not all about guns, dismemberments and explosions.

So terribly sorry I can enjoy a lighthearted show about friends who like to hang out together and play a bit of music.

And no, it's not the same thing as a maid cafe (similar in some ways, different in others).

I don't have to be stressed over the latest cliffhanger (or if the next episode is going to finally let this end). I don't have to be annoyed by poor (or incomplete) animation. I don't have to be frustrated over nonsensical plot directions, or the utterly, frustratingly stupid decisions the characters make in the name of advancing the 'plot'.

It's light fare. It's simple. It's enjoyable. Perhaps it's not for you. That's perfectly ok.

"Capitalise on the original!" -- You know what? I think that's exactly what KyoAni did. First volume sales sure seem to make it look that way.

I've been watching anime for about 15 years and have seen (and bought) just about every type of series that's come out. I know there are people that love Yuu Watase's works; I wanted to gouge my eyes out by the end of Ceres the Celestial Legend (and only finished it because I'd paid good money for the DVDs), telling myself at the end of every disk that it couldn't possibly get any worse (I was wrong). On the other hand, I adore Serial Experiments Lain, but have several friends who can't get past the first episode. Surprise, surprise -- different people have different tastes.

What's different about K-On compared to various other slice-of-life or moe-style series is that there was such a strong convergence of people who all liked it. It's in the top 10 of first volume sales now, isn't it? What did it manage to do right, despite all the naysayers and critics like Azuma?

It's not just 'moe', because that's been a sales spec for anime for the last 10 years. It's not just slice-of-life, as those actually tend towards the lower end of popularity (and may relate to the harsh negativity directed towards it by all the people who don't like that style of show). The music aspect is unusual, though not unique.

I have a few thoughts myself, but they're too vague right now to really put into words. Perhaps later.

Sorry Hideo, that yours all sucked and wouldn't sell.

The truth from the very guy that pioneered it. Although the other shameful truth is most otaku will ignore him and keep being hypnotised.

Have our standards fallen so low? Where'd the good stuff go?

Damn, I gonna have to see thia anime. I luv me some fetishism. No scat, right? I ain't into that.

bhahaha... i can see the anti k-on force is having another troll comrade with exactly the same butthurt: "why the hell k-on! is so popular".

just like a loser football player that blames the referee, anti k-on force blames the society, and now this guy blames the reality.

K-ON was a good break inbetween all the mindfucks and hyper-violent depressing stuff I was watching (chaos;Head,Welcome to the NHK,Sayounara Zetsubou Sensei,Elfen Lied) I didn't really find any of the girls especially cute. I did find it funny though and a real plot would've been a bit rediculous because they're a school music club in extremely light (not serious) show (saving the world, fighting evil, and solving the mystery don't really work) even a battle of the bands would've tensed it up too much. I just enjoyed the light comedy and character situations. I came in expecting nothing and left with a good experience. Of course come in expecting epic greatness and you will leave with disappointment (I find that's always true with me) it's relaxing not having to focus on details. P.S. He must love Queen's Blade (RIDICULOUS EVERYTHING) or hate it (HUGE BEWBS) I couldn't even finish the first episode (left when hand-hair woman squeezed acid out of her tits with her hair shaped like hands

So... I heard that basing a show on moe is a bad thing.

Why is that?

Mecha is allowed to be a Genre. Stupid ass fuckers will watch Mecha just because it's Mecha.

"ZOMG GIANT ROBOTS, THIS GIVES ME WOOD, I MUST WATCH IT. I WISH I HAD A FUCKIN' GUNDAMUUU!"

Why am I not allowed to watch a show because it's full of moe? Your logic is flawed assholes. (Anti-KON! Crowd that is.)

Anonymous said:
So terribly sorry it's not all about jiggling boobs and panty shots.

So terribly sorry it's not all about guns, dismemberments and explosions.

So terribly sorry I can enjoy a lighthearted show about friends who like to hang out together and play a bit of music.

And no, it's not the same thing as a maid cafe (similar in some ways, different in others).

I don't have to be stressed over the latest cliffhanger (or if the next episode is going to finally let this end). I don't have to be annoyed by poor (or incomplete) animation. I don't have to be frustrated over nonsensical plot directions, or the utterly, frustratingly stupid decisions the characters make in the name of advancing the 'plot'.

It's light fare. It's simple. It's enjoyable. Perhaps it's not for you. That's perfectly ok.

"Capitalise on the original!" -- You know what? I think that's exactly what KyoAni did. First volume sales sure seem to make it look that way.

I've been watching anime for about 15 years and have seen (and bought) just about every type of series that's come out. I know there are people that love Yuu Watase's works; I wanted to gouge my eyes out by the end of Ceres the Celestial Legend (and only finished it because I'd paid good money for the DVDs), telling myself at the end of every disk that it couldn't possibly get any worse (I was wrong). On the other hand, I adore Serial Experiments Lain, but have several friends who can't get past the first episode. Surprise, surprise -- different people have different tastes.

What's different about K-On compared to various other slice-of-life or moe-style series is that there was such a strong convergence of people who all liked it. It's in the top 10 of first volume sales now, isn't it? What did it manage to do right, despite all the naysayers and critics like Azuma?

It's not just 'moe', because that's been a sales spec for anime for the last 10 years. It's not just slice-of-life, as those actually tend towards the lower end of popularity (and may relate to the harsh negativity directed towards it by all the people who don't like that style of show). The music aspect is unusual, though not unique.

I have a few thoughts myself, but they're too vague right now to really put into words. Perhaps later.

Yeah Pal, like you don't want to stick your penis in every girl of the show...

Shut up Mr. "I can enjoy a lighthearted show about friends who like to hang out together and play a bit of music" that's bullshit my pedo comrade.

truth

Stop QQing, you faggots. He's right.

has some logical points but the point of the matter is that k-on is still popular. what do you expect from a moe blob anime? the guy is being a bit harsh probably because he has read the original.

I highly disagree with him but "Is Reality That Bad?" can only be answered with a big YES.

OMG MY thought EXactly! finally we are starting to muster some anti-k on forces. we are really only attracted to it coz the characters in k-on are all made for almost all the common type on fetishes. yui-moe-kawaii, mio-moe-tsundere,ritsu-moe-frisky,
azusa-moe-loli,thinkbrow-moe-mature.

Bitter, sober, lonely and jealous jiji... how sad.

Come on, let's face it, the real problem here is that Hideo Azuma is just pissed off because the characters have tits. If this was some nice, wholesome loli he'd have never said a word.

probably a taiga supporter in that 2ch moe battle

Hideo Azuma just became my hero.

"Is reality so unpleasant for the people making and watching this show?"

Why, yes--yes it is.

I hope that answers your question, Mister Azuma.

there's nothing wrong with k-on, except that it is very popular.

"popularity hurts many butts"

truth be told.

I've only watched half of K-on! and I don't find it bad. Sure, not a prize winner, but it's relaxing(in my opinion).

I also just watched first two episodes of Bakemonogatari, and I'm not convinced about its epicness yet, what the sales(and lot of comments under its article) are supposed to be showing.

So I fail to understend all the flaming K-on! gets, which had similar sales.

Tl;dr If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Yes, its that bad.
K ON is not empty, its perfect, anything more would be too much, K ON has everything it needs for perfect moe.

Finally, the last person on Japan with a common sense has spoken.

Lol I'm the father of lolicon and a mangaka and that gives me the right of criticize a show even though I've only watched half of it all.

You're not my father :>

the second season is called " k-ON Shinchan"

Nothing special on the anime
Nothing good about it
its better than lucky star
but that doesnt mean anyhthing
being better than one of the worst animes ever it still can suck big time

i have always been against this anime and others
and galdly agree with him

Interesting.
I wonder if more Japanese blogs have a dislike for K-On! the Anime. I will have to agree with him.
And how is telling people to "support the Manga", a form of Jealousy? Did you guys miss that or something?

Check out how the girls act in the Manga, compared to how they act in the Anime. It is like a 180.

Yui is less of a moron, Mio isn't as irritating, Mugi is actually seen more, and playful. Ritsu acts more or less the same. But I felt that the Anime really chopped up some of their original personalities.

I am not sure why people compliment the animation for Keion... I found it rather weak. All the girls look the same, expect for their hair. Their bodies are rather deformed, they have tiny feet and hands. Basically KyoAni dropped detail for frame rate. And notice how every time a girl plays an instrument, there is an extreme close up, and scene panning.

I will admit that K-On! is a cute anime, heck, my fav chara is Ritsu. But I wish there was more to it. Which is odd for me to say, since I LOVE Strawberry Marshmallow. I guess because Strawberry has charm.

the father of lolicon complains about how bad a reality of people loving blatant and plain moeness? i dont get it. is a reality where men root for underaged girls any better?

Hideo Azuma is a pretty cool guy. eh trolls every k-on fan with a few lines and doesn't afraid of anything.

And for some idiots out there, yes a manga can be better than the anime. In the manga, you don't hear the music (which is nowhere near a masterpiece anyway, especially if you dislike the genre), you don't have to listen to the moeblobbing voices (30-year-old women pretending to be schoolgirls, or little boys), and unfunny slapstick jokes (which often happen pretty quick in the manga, and you can read it at your own pace, or just skip altogether). Yes, a 4koma can lose its charm when animated. And the brilliant Aria is not a 4koma. That does not say k-on sucks, it could be even better than the manga, but it's certain that people suck for saying the anime is the same as the manga. There isn't an Adaptation Award for nothing.

I thought it was an enjoyable anime but nothing special. What I prefer is how people are getting butthurt and calling him jealous. Oh please, that's even more pathetic.

Yeah K-ON! is a epic fail for me... But "THIS SHOW IS ONLY FOR MOE FANS" and i respect that.

Peace my brothers

If your show doesn't have character development, the least it can have is some solid comedy, but K-on fails at that too.

Butthurt "father of lolicon" is butthurt. Again, Pot, meet Kettle.

I get the feeling that watching K-ON is a bit better than watching guro or people eating themselves literally in an unsexual manner, atleast I hope..

He has it right, the anime was a far lesser work than manga is. But I am myself biased as a manga otaku, so I will always believe the original work to be the best work.

Hahaha people here react exactly like Twilighttards when their favourite book is criticized.

YOU'RE ALL

EXACTLY
LIKE
TWILIGHT
TARDS

I know i liked K-on, and I disliked Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu. Both are really popular and both are targeted at different people.

So, my opinion or your opinion is just that, an opinion. If you don't like it, then, that's your problem.

We all have experienced butt-hurt(ardor de cola), me was with suzumiya, many of you with k-on. I don't see anything wrong with that.

The good thing is that you can choose what to watch. My motto is: You don't like, then don't watch it, it's a waste of time.
That being said. All hail k-on!!(of course those who like it). Haters... just hate it and hate us, we don't care.

-Rul Prez Silvent(yeah! that's me!!)

At least K-On! was better than Seitokan. Alas, anime business is just that, a business. Watered down, shallow shit will continue to sell because of its marketability and its ability to appeal to the masses.

K-ON is terrible and you should feel terrible for liking it.

It is the complete opposite of a well-written story-- it abusively uses hackneyed anime tropes (two beach episodes? Fucking seriously?), has characters with less depth than Lucky Star, and has zero character development or meaningful dialogue throughout the breadth of the series. I've seen sitcoms that have more of a direction than this piece of shit and honestly, everyone knows that sitcoms are the epitome of lazy storytelling. At the end of any given sitcom, everything is neatly tied up and the status quo is once again restored. K-ON doesn't even get that far; the status quo is never challenged and each and every episode is a trip through creative purgatory.

Don't get me wrong, I fucking love loli. The only reason why I could even stomach a few K-ON episodes is due to the fact that all the girls in this show were shiny and cute. I don't think that shows which feature loli main characters must necessarily be absent of story. Look at anything by Miyazaki or even stories like Dance in the Vampire Bund. Just because your main characters are cute doesn't mean your dialogue and writing have to suck.

K-ON is pretty much everything I hate about anime today: blatant fanservice covering a virtually non-existent plot. Though honestly, the fact that something like K-ON could be as popular as it is says more about the fanbase than it does about the writers.

I don't think you really need a reason to like something. If you like it then something psychological and emotionally is affecting.

I think those who criticize other people their interest and what they likes are just hypocrites who want to show they are somehow "better" than other by having this long ass-empty reason why this and such is better than that and these...

Couldn't agree more. K-On is shallow. I cry at todays anime because the old feel that made me fall in love whit it is gone. The stories suck compared to what it did, the ability to move you emotionally is gone. All it appeals to is peoples lust. I want to see a new anime with a good story, that you can see logic in, not like most where there suddenly were a stronger race, man etc. Also, I would love for a real lovestory where the guy is NOT a dense idiot, but a normal person. Logic must be a part of a good anime.

I thought the whole show was suppose to capitalize on the heartwarming pleasantness of the manga.

Well, I enjoy both my life and K-On immensely. So I think he's wrong.

hmmm...

he does have some points there

"Prolific"? Who the hell is Hideo Azuma and why should we care?

Kinda agree with this guy

"Capitalise on the original" this is true

Now, I have taken a look at his own profile at the otehr Wiki and found that he used to be an alcoholic mangaka - causing his work to be at least 10-year hiatus from 1985 (the last Golden year of Azuma-Sensei) to 1995.

You can take a look at his manga "Disappearance Diary" which show his own experience when he becomes alcoholic mangaka - and have been pushed to the edges of Japanese society ... Almost become homeless ..

http://z.about.com/d/manga/1/0/4/P/-/-/DDiary_500.jpg
http://manga.about.com/od/fanfareponentmon/gr/DisapDiary.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Azuma

Mio Akiyama is cute and completely moefied full stop.

It is so popular and sucessful because sad ass otakus love anime music, what is this anime about? music, otaku nature causes them to buy all music related materaials then BAM. Otaku's are always the biggest loser in the industry

I can't say it was as good as people made it out to be at first...
But I enjoyed it for what it was.
I don't think it was fetish-ruled as it was just... cute, slice-of-life...
And frankly, I enjoy slice-of-life.
It even took me back into the whole "I remember when..." since I lived in Japan at one point and went to school there.
It's much different than in the states and this is just so reminiscent of my daily activities with my fellow High school art club members. ^^

What was even better at this was Sketchbook ~Full color's~, though.
That was already a casual, slice-of-life anime with the most reminiscent atmosphere...

The flower only is beautiful but doesn't have the meaning either.
There are people that like it and that dont like it.

lol!
exactly the same old formula!

started --> stopped in the middle --> "it's nothing"

"It has no gags, no humour"

Has he been watching the same show I have? Pretty sure I found plenty of funny stuff in the first episode alone.

"no nonsense"

Exactly what in the show actually makes sense then? And why is that such a bad thing?

"no ero

What did he expect? That the girls would join Mugi in some sort of orgy and duke it out who would be the 'true' one for her?

"no guro"

Right, I guess Mio should've just stabbed Ritsu to death when she bullied her. Or at least hit her with a very sharp object, causing her to bleed profusely and die from it.

"and no story"

Four (and later five) girls want to form a band and have fun together. What more did he expect?

"nothing. It’s nothing but petty fetishism."

If he means that it appeals to a specific audience, then I agree, but I don't think this show pretends to be anything it's not in that regard.

"I read the original manga by Kakifly, it wasn’t a bad little 4 panel manga, pleasant and heartwarming. Capitalise on the original!"

This I don't get. The anime has taken probably 95% of its content directly from the manga, hardly anything was seriously changed. So how is it possible that he hates the anime, yet likes the manga when it's both pretty much the same thing?

I agree. K-ON is nothing but a moeblob.
The music is rubbish too.

I can read a little Japanese, but I can't make out the second letter in the OP pic. Someone care to explain it to me?
First one is a "pu", second one no idea.

Well I found it enjoyable, yes typical anime but still enjoyable, just wish it was longer.

I am disappoint. The title he does not deserve.

I tried watching K-ON but stopped half way into the first episode, no story, no dialogue, no characters no nothing. Watching it is like staring into a well.

Contrast to Bakemonogatari. Interesting story, razor sharp dialogue, great characters.