2ch believes it has successfully divided anime otaku into two distinct types:
Type A:
A person who simply enjoys “anime.”
Is proud of Japan’s anime.
Evaluates anime based on direction, voice acting, art, etc.
Hates shallow anime with no real content.
Story emphasis >>>>> Moe anime.
A recent example would Higashi no Eden. Fans of anime like Lain or Ghost in the Shell would probably be this kind.
Type B:
A person who simply enjoys “characters.”
Will watch an anime if it includes cute or beautiful characters.
Doesn’t care if story is awful, as long as the characters are of interest.
Evaluates anime based on which seiyuu are in it and what the characters look like.
Loves moe elements. Doesn’t like complex anime.
The otaku the media picks up on are usually this kind.
Doesn’t know that much about anime and so is often criticised as by Type A otaku.
However, they make much better customers than the more discerning Type A otaku.
Recently there has been a huge increase in anime targeted at Type B otaku.
People who like K-ON!, Queen’s Blade, Strike Witches and so on would be in this class.
In fairness “Type A” seems more a description of anime “fans” than anime “otaku,” as most of the irrational and obsessive characteristics generally associated with otaku seem to be absent; on the other hand, it is in the hearts of “Type B” otaku that the seeds of the moe boom were sown…
Anime lovers will inevitably have to ask “Which type am I?”
Guess that makes me the universal recipient type then.
Whos arse did you pull this bull s♥♥t out of?
AB, I guess. I like cute characters and spend money on anime merchandise when I get the chance, but the plotline of the story had always been the most important part for me, to the point where I won’t care about art style as long as the story is good. Also, I’m getting kind of tired of all the moe girls which modern anime is full of. My bisexsual soul demands more moe males, yet male moe anime gets bashed all the time, so we do not get a lot of this type. Also, I’m a fan of horror genre and I really enjoyed watching “Aku no Hana” which most moe lovers can’t stand, yet I’m a Madoka fan, so… I guess I’m AB after all.
I am so absurdly divided between these two types and, either the distinctions are incorrect or a third type needs to be added.
Type A tending toward 0 since the decline in good anime…