Also known as: おたく, オタク, オタ活
A person obsessed with any subject, whether anime, manga, Comics, entertainment, Video Games, electronics, Toys, trains, vehicles, weapons, History, etc.
The term started as a derogatory term in Japan during the late 70s towards anti-social people who are highly fixated over a particular subject or person, but has since evolved (in the West mostly) to imply a cool, eccentric individual with particularly unique hobbies or interests. However, depictions of generic otaku as an "unhealthily obsessive fan" stock character remains in widespread uses in media (especially in Japan). In the West, otaku are often conflated with Western nerds, to the point of the term being used as a synonym, but each have their own specific differences socially and culturally. For the purposes of Danbooru though, they are one and the same.
Tag what you see: The tag is only applicable if the image shows their otakuness/nerdiness.
Examples
Notable characters
- Aida Kensuke (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Daicon Bunny Girl (Daicon)
- Hal Emmerich (Metal Gear (Series))
- Hashida Itaru (Steins;Gate)
- Helen (Ready Player One), Toshiro (Ready Player One), Samantha Cook, Wade Owen Watts (Ready Player One)
- Uchida Mamoru (Perfect Blue)
- Izumi Konata (Lucky Star)
- Kubo Ken, Otaking (Otaku No Video), Tanaka (Otaku No Video) (Otaku No Video)
- Kuroki Tomoko (Watashi Ga Motenai No Wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera Ga Warui!)
- Madarame Harunobu (Genshiken)
Related tags
Specific kind of otaku
- Fujoshi / Fudanshi (Yaoi fans)
- Himejoshi / Himedanshi (Yuri fans)
- Oshikatsu (Idol and character stans)
- Otaple (Otaku couples)
- Wapanese (Foreigners obsessed with Japan)
- Yumejoshi (Self-shipping women)
Otaku Merchandise
- Acrylic Stand (Object)
- Character Charm
- Character Doll
- Dakimakura (Object)
- Figure
- Game Console / Game Controller
- Gaming Chair
- Glowstick
- Itabag
- Manga (Object)
- Model Kit
- Poster (Object)