Over the past several years Anime has become one of the mainstream mediums of entertainment.
More or less the influence they have made on this generation cannot be left unsaid. From Kim K. dying her hair pink like Darling In The Franxx to the star-studded cast of Gen: Lock—you cannot ignore the popularity of Anime.
All this is due to the strong fanbase of Anime all over the world. However, this fanbase is pretty much divided over the terms and names they are called right now.
There are three terms that are being thrown around the web, otaku, weeb, and weeaboo. It’s fine if you are unsure of what these terms even mean. In this blog, I will explain it all!
To understand the continuous discussion over what is a weeaboo and otaku, you must first understand that weeaboo is a made-up word from the English-speaking internet, but otaku is a genuine Japanese word.
Is Otaku and Weeb the same?
No—otaku and weebs are not at all same. Although both terms are used as derogatory remarks against Anime fans.
Otaku is practically the Japanese equivalent of nerds or geeks—people with a particular infatuation with a fandom such as Anime or Manga. In comparison, the west uses the term weeaboo for a non-Japanese person with an obnoxious passion for things related to Anime or manga.
Who is an Otaku?
An otaku is a Japanese person of any age who is obsessed with something to the point where it meddles with their social abilities or causes financial distress, simply taking over their entire life.
You can be an otaku for almost anything, including Anime and Manga, idols, video games, and even trains, military memorabilia, and robots. The only difference between that and a casual fan is that an otaku’s entire existence revolves around it.
They use it to escape the harsh realities of everyday normal life, such as having a full-time job or attending university, or because it helps them feel accepted, complete, or loved in some way.
History of the term ‘Otaku’
The term “otaku” in the US and in Japan has an intriguing story. In Japan, it was coined in its fandom usage by Nakamori Akio in the magazine Manga Burikko in 1983. Originally, it was used as a derogatory term to mock Anime lovers and other nerds.
In Japanese, “otaku” is a distant second-person pronoun. In Japanese, there are no suitable medium-formality 2nd person pronouns instead, people are frequently addressed by name.
But fans meeting strangers at conventions and other events required some pronoun, so they started adopting the odd term “Otaku.”
In Western Anime fandoms in the 1990s, 2000s, and early 2010s, the term “Otaku” was commonly used to characterize Anime enthusiasts.
What defines a Weeb?
Weebs, short for weeaboo, are non-Japanese people who are obsessed with Japanese media. Their interest is typically centered on being an obsessive fan of their favorite Manga or Anime, manifesting as a devotion to things like their waifu or character crush.
Weebs may also grow to admire other aspects of Japanese culture and attempt to incorporate the language, rituals, cuisine, and even fashion into their own lives.
Weebs are infamous for frequently mispronouncing Japanese words. While even casual viewers can learn the meaning of common terms from Anime, weebs make it a point to incorporate them into their everyday speech.
Weebs frequently add these phrases into their day-to-day conversations, such as
- “Daijoubu” (Alright or Are you alright?)
- “Nani” (What?)
- “Yare yare” (Good grief or Oh bother)
- “Onii-chan” (Big brother)
Weebs are prone to butchering their pronunciations in addition to ignoring the grammatical form and arrangement of these words.
Weebs can have a maddening obsession with Anime, You’ll see them buying body pillows dying their hair in different colors, and even marrying their waifus. Some weebs have an extremely unhealthy obsession with being with their favorite character.
They have distorted imaginations of things. The following stories will make my point clear:
- Report: Teen Commits Suicide After Seeing His Favorite Naruto Character Die
- Parents Call for Ban on Anime After Suicide of 15-Year-Old Boy
These news stories are evidence that an unhealthy obsession with Anime can lead to much more damage than we expect. These are dark stories and, as crazy as it appears, it’s all true. Nothing is made up or exaggerated.
Is Weeaboo short for Weeb?
Weeaboos was then eventually shortened to weeb.
Weeaboo arrived later in the mid-2000s. Mostly used on the Internet to mock western Anime fans enamored with the Japanese language. Some admirers called themselves otaku but were scorned as weeaboos instead.
Is Otaku a Weeb?
Otaku is a Japanese term for someone who is infatuated with their activity (something like anime, manga, or video games, but it can be all manner of things).
A wibu, weeb, or weeaboo is a pejorative nickname for someone who is only superficially interested in Japanese culture.
Otaku is a much broader term, as it can refer to anyone who is a fan of technology. Wibu, on the other hand, refers to a specific type of individual who idolizes certain parts of Japanese culture.
Is it possible for someone from outside Japan to be an otaku?
Technically, otaku is a term employed to describe a Japanese person. There’s nothing wrong with calling yourself an otaku; nonetheless, there are existing words in English that can be used.
Nerds and geeks are great English equivalents to otaku.
The belief that being a fan of something mostly Japanese automatically qualifies you as an otaku is erroneous. For example, simply because you like anime doesn’t make you an anime otaku. It would be far more appropriate to refer to oneself as an anime nerd.
If you are a serious fan of Japanese culture, you are a Japanophile, not an otaku or even a wibu. Japanophilia is defined as a respect and love of Japanese culture, people, art, and history, and it is an excellent way to represent oneself.
Difference between an Otaku and a Weeb
| Areas | Otaku | Weeb and Weeaboos |
| Origin | Japanese word | Derived from the pejorative term Wapanese. (a wannabe Japanese) |
| Demographics | The nerds or geeks of Japan. They may obsess over Anime, Manga, idols, or Dramas. | People who are not Japanese but they imitate and are obsessed with Japanese media |
| Obsessions | Anime or Manga is the most common example, although it can also refer to a variety of other interests. | Also includes Anime or Manga, as well as other parts of Japanese culture. |
| Typical Characteristics | They are usually introverted, have poor social skills, and are a homebody. | Absent-minded, can be obsessive when discussing their hobbies. Can have eccentric fashion sense. |
| Implication | The term is usually derogatory in Japan and neutral elsewhere. | The term is generally insulting outside of close friend groups. |
What is an Anime Enthusiast?
Anime enthusiasts, in my opinion, are simply folks that watch Anime to relax and unwind. They merely like Anime as entertainment, just like Spongebob and other late-night television shows.
They are not absorbed into the culture. They don’t show their fondness for Anime in their social lives, but if you ask them about it, they will react with their extensive knowledge of Anime. Individuals don’t always notice Anime fans because they’re just regular people in the real world.
Hence Anime enthusiasts might not have a lot of Anime merchandise, such as posters, action figures, T-shirts, and so on. They only watch Anime occasionally. But don’t dive too much into the culture.
What is the difference between a Weeb and an Anime fan?
An Anime fan is just your regular human being with good taste in movies and shows. They have a list of good Anime recommendations and just watch it subjectively. Weebs watch Anime for a life purpose. They consider it everything and can spend a lot of money on buying merchandise to validate themselves as an Anime lover.
Anime enthusiasts will not get offended by your views on a certain Anime or a show they love. They will take the criticism with a cool head and have a friendly discussion over it.
Whereas, weebs can get offended by any criticism over Anime or Manga. They may imitate Anime or Manga so much which can hinder their personal and professional growth.
Anime enthusiasts do not obsess over a character, and they never get the post Anime depression. Because they watch it as a mode of entertainment or a binge-watch.
Weebs can get very sensitive after ending an Anime series or a Manga. Their mood and personality will depend completely on the Anime they are watching right now.
Conclusion
- An otaku is a Japanese person who is obsessed with a certain thing be it Anime, Manga, artifacts, tech, etc. Whereas weebs or weeaboos are non-Japanese people having a self-destructive obsession with Anime Manga and anything related to it.
- Being a weeaboo, or weeb, in general, isn’t a good thing. It conveys a sense of disrespect for the culture that the individual claims to adore. It’s a superficial, slightly grotesque fandom.
- An Anime enthusiast on the other hand is a person who has the healthiest relationship with this entertainment medium.