This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
created by Wolfie Toutomoutochan
In 1993, Robert Hayden created something he called "Geek Code." This was a way for geeks to "announce their geekhood." Since then, many projects have spun off from Geek Code, including Moonie Code and DBZ Code. These were ways for people to show their love for particular anime series and characters. But when I saw this, I thought "This lets you talk about one series, but what about the whole range of anime and manga?" That's when I started working on Otaku Code.
Otaku Code is a way for fans of anime and manga (usually called "otaku") to convey their likes and dislkes in a condensed and difficult to read format. That's right, it's difficult to read (unless you're really good at it), but it conveys a lot of information in about five lines of text. Otaku Code is based on Geek Code (www.geekcode.com), which covers a wide range of things, such as politics, computers, and Star Trek. In version 5.5 of Geek Code (called Gnu Geek Code), Otaku Code is considered a "plug-in."
Now, down to the nitty-gritty of Otaku Code. It's probably been about 3 years since I updated the code, and I look at it as being a mess. One of the reasons it needs updating is that a lot of new series have come out (when I wrote a new code block for myself, I had to add at least 4 new series that I just fell in love with). But aside from that, I see a lot of symbols in here that either need to be clearly applied or culled. I have the feeling that people aren't using them because they're stuck in the middle of paragraphs of text. I have changed these modifiers quite a lot in the new version.
Yes, this means you're all going to have to write your code blocks again. Sorry.
Here I will thank Dunno001 and Andrew Turner for their invaluable help. Dunno001 gave me a long list of titles and suggested codes and code changes. He also alphabetized the list (which I should have done in the first place). I feel like he half wrote this thing. Andrew Turner wrote the CGI decoder for the code (which you'll find at http://turner.mikomi.org/otakode.cgi) and spent a lot of time changing the script and suggesting revisions to the code that would make it easier to process. arakune, Per Hedbor, and Riesz Fenrir also provided much help and suggestion.
Instructions
I've tried to leave Otaku Code very flexible. The way I've done this is by suggesting things that you could do. I've also done this in places where I've made changes, by explaining certain things that I've changed. I do believe that the changes are for the best, but if you really want to go back to the old way of doing things then you can feel free. Of course, there are certain things (such as titles and some Otaku Describers) that I've changed. In those cases, I have not left a record of the change, and I suggest using the new codes.
Otaku Describers
Otaku Code is divided into two main sections, Otaku Describers and Series. The first section describes your feelings about and familarity with different aspects of fandom, while the second is simply a list of titles. The Describers are always listed in lowercase letters, while the series are always in capital leters (I changed the few titles that had some lowercases mixed in).
Symbology
+,-
Indicate your opinion of something.+++ would be very
good, while --- would mean you hate that thing. Generally, having
no symbol next to it means you either have no opinion, or a very
vague good opinion of it, depending on the item.
>
In Geek Code this indicated a "wannabe"
variable. In Otaku Code it's sort of the same thing, but usually
you put this next to a series that you would like to see. In that
case the qualifier would indicate how badly you want to see it. I
suppose you could also use this for things like merchandise.
Examples: EVA>+++ (I want to see Neon Genesis Evangelion
because I've heard it's one of the best anime out there);
mc>++ (I really wish I had some anime merchandise).
?
Indicates no knowledge about a category. Most of the
Otaku Describers have one already, but I thought that I would put
it in here in case people wanted to use it (especially since I
removed it from the series category). You can put it after any
Describer that confuses you, or series that you didn't understand.
%
You
can use the "%" symbol to say that you haven't seen all
of a particular title. In the interest of brevity, I decided that
it might be best if we didn't all say how much of a particular
series we've seen. I suppose you can if you really want to, using
the old system (DBZ%+/++ I have seen some of DBZ/I think it
rocks!).
:(
This code indicates that something isn't available
in your area. For instance, you might live in a place where there
are no conventions. You could even live in a place where there is
no anime (but that would just be sad beyond words). In that case,
you place the ":(" modifyer after the Describer, such
as: con:( (conventions are not available where I live) or ds:( (digisubs
are not available where I live).
g
Placing this symbol after a series that has a game
based on it (or is based on a game) makes the code about the game
instead. For example PKMg+ (I have played the Pokemon game and
liked it.
m
Like the g symbol above, this makes a tag about
manga instead of anime. EXAMPLE: INUm+++ (I have read the
Inu-Yasha manga and think it is one of the best manga out there)
#
Placing this symbol after a series marks it as the
series (or one of the series) that got you into anime. You could
also use it for manga by combining tags. EXAMPLE: SM++# INUm+++#
The Sub vs. Dub debate has been raging since the beginning of time (well, at least since the beginning of Otaku). It has been fueled by things like the horrible DiC dub of Sailor Moon, the transformation of Cardcaptor Sakura into Cardcaptors, and then the wonderful dubs of Fruits Basket and Spirited Away.
s+++
I refuse to watch dubbed anime
s++
I almost never watch dubbed anime
s+
I prefer to watch anime subtitled, but will watch a
dub if it is good
s
I will watch anime either way
s-
I prefer to watch dubbed anime
s--
I feel that subtitles detract from the visual nature
of the film
s---
I refuse to watch subtitled anime, no matter how bad
the dubbing is
s!
anime is best raw, like sushi
s*
most of
the subbed anime I watch has a lot of typos and grammar mistakes
s?
Anime comes subtitled?! Like foreign movies? I
thought it was all in English!
Fansubs are a hazy issue. They're easy to get in New York City (sometimes for a ridiculous sum of money) or over the Internet. Fansubs are videos of anime that have not been released in the US, subtitled by fans for fans. In order to be as responsible as possible, you should pay either nothing for them or only enough for the video and you should buy the commercial release when it becomes available.
fs!
I am a fansubber! Don't mess with me or I'll flame
you in the credits of something
fs+++
I think fansubbers are gods that walk among us and I
refuse to buy commercial releases
fs++
I think fansubbing is an excellent way to get anime
that is not commercially available and have quite a few of both
fs+
I own or have seen a few fansubs but I'm hazy about
the legal issues
fs
I have no feelings about fansubbing
fs-
I don't think fansubs are a good idea, they take
away from the creator's profits and infringe upon their rights
fs--
I refuse to buy fansubs because they are illegal and
immoral and I would rather watch the commercial stuff
fs---
I would turn in anyone I caught with a fansub to the
proper authorities
fs*
some fansubbers have better products than the
professionals
With P2P programs becoming popular, and Internet connections getting faster, more and more fansubbers began releasing their product in digital form. The major advantage to that is that is you don't have to pay a cent for the anime. The disadvantage is that you need a fast connection, unless you have friends who can download it for you. Digisubs used to be looked down upon, but recently their quality has gotten better--as good as videos and approaching that of DVDs.
ds!
I am a digisubber! Don't mess with me or I'll flame
you in the credits of something
ds+++
Digisubs are the wave of the future! They're better than videotapes
ds++
Digisubs are great!
ds+
Digisubs are great...most of the time
ds
Well, maybe if they've fixed the problems with quality...
ds-
No thanks, I'll stick to my videos
ds--
Ugh, how can you spend your time squinting at a computer screen? This stuff is horrible!
ds---
Digisubs are just bad fansubs, shown in little boxes on computer screens. Don't make me turn you into the cops for having them!
fs*
I am a fansubber who recently started releasing my work in digital form.
fp! I have produced a fan parody
fp$ I have produced a fan parody and had it shown at a convention
fp> I wish I could produce a fan parody!
fp+++ I love fan parodies and have seen tons of them
fp++ I have seen a few fan parodies
fp+ I have seen one fan parody
fp I haven't seen any fan parodies but might be interested in doing so
fp- I have no interest in seeing fan parodies
fp-- fan parodies aren't funny
fp--- hey, aren't they technically illegal? I should turn thise people in!
ml! I routinely get over 1000 e-mails a day and personally run more than one list
ml+++ I am a member of more than three mailing lists and run at least one
ml++ I am a member of at least two lists, I get over 100 e-mails a day
ml+ I belong to a mailing list
ml I have not joined any mailing lists and I'm not sure if I want to or not
ml* I am a born lurker and rarely contribute myself, but enjoy watching others talk
ml- I was on a mailing list but didn't like it
ml-- ML's mean too much e-mail. I can't keep up with them
ml--- E-mail is for losers
m+++ I learned Japanese just to read manga and now can read even the most technical of writing
m++ I read either translated manga or raw stuff with translations on the Web.
m+ I read some translated manga
m I haven't read manga
m- I don't like manga much
m-- I really don't like manga
m--- I hate and despise manga, it should be destroyed
m* Manga is readily available at low cost in my native language/I am Japanese or have read Japanese all or most of my life
m$ isn't english-translated manga so expensive?
j+++ I am a native speaker of Japanese
j++ I am fluent in the language because I have taken it in school
j+ I know a few words but have not taken the language formally/I am now taking it but aren't very good yet
j I know words like anime and manga, but still might refer to mangas or ninjas in a sentence
j- I don't know any japanese, at all
j-- I don't know any japanese, nor do I want to
j--- The Japanese bombed us during WWII, why would I want to learn their devil language!?
j! all the japanese I know comes from anime
o+++ I am a true otaku, never leaving my house and spending every waking moment in front of a screen. I prefer people in 2 dimensions.
o++ I don't go out much and spend a lot of time watching anime
o+ I have a large number of anime tapes but a fairly normal social life
o I have a normally active social life
o- I am usually not home on fridays and saturdays
o-- I thrive on other people and feel uncomfortable home alone
o--- HA! LOSERS!
o/hd I am Hitoshi Doi (one of the great anime experts)
o/le I am Lawrence Eng (our SEL guru)
a+++ I have seen almost every anime title, including many that never made it to the US
a++ I have a large number of tapes and have seen even more
a+ I have a few tapes and have seen a fair amount of anime, most titles that people might mention I know or have seen
a I have seen some anime but not a lot
a- I own no anime and have seen very little
a-- All the anime I have seen was aired on television in my native country
a--- I have seen almost no anime, with the possible exception of Robotech
a? You mean they're not made in America?
mc+++ The average Japanese child does not have as much anime merchandise as I do, I practically swim in the stuff
mc++ I have an awful lot of anime merchandise and can probably reel off a list of the stuff I DON'T have
mc+ I have a fair amount of anime merchandise, some of it hard to get
mc I might have some anime merchandise, but not much
mc- I have absolutely no anime stuff
mc-- I don't know where to get anime stuff
mc--- I don't want any anime merchandise. It's all overpriced import stuff.
mc$ I sell anime stuff on my website or on E-Bay
mc? There's anime merchandise?
cd+++ I quite possibly have every piece of anime music ever recorded
cd++ I have quite a large collection of anime music
cd+ I have a few anime cd's
cd I might have an anime music cd
cd- I don't care for anime music
cd--I really dislike anime music
cd--- Ugh! That music disgusts me! Get it away! Get it away!
cd* All my anime music is on my computer
con! I have helped run a convention
con+++ I attend conventions whenever I can and love them
con++ I have attended a few conventions
con+ I have been to one convention
con I have never been to a convention but might like to go
con- I don't like conventions
con--- I really don't like conventions
con--- Conventions? Get a life, people!
cos+++ I am always in anime costume
cos++ I enjoy cosplaying and do it often
cos+ I have dressed up at least once as an anime character (perhaps for Holloween)
cos I have not dressed up in anime costume
cos- Something about dressing up as an anime character disturbs me
cos-- I think most anime costumes look terrible and don't like the idea of dressing up
cos---
fic! I have written large quantities of fanfic
fic* I have written at least one fanfic
fic +++ I have probably read most of the fanfiction available
fic ++ I have read a fair amount of fanfiction and enjoyed it
fic+ I have read some fanfiction
fic I have no opinion of fanfiction
fic- I have never read fanfiction before
fic-- I don't think fanfiction is very good
fic--- If you want a story, see the originals, otherwise, hands off those characters!
art! I have drawn large quantities of fan art
art!* I *would* have drawn large quantities of fan art, but can't draw well
art* I am learning to draw anime characters
art+++ I love fanart and seek it out like a maniac
art++ I look for fanart and collect it on my computer
art+ I like fanart
art Fanart's okay
art- I don't like fanart.
art-- I very much dislike fanart. Most of it's not drawn well.
art--- Ugh! How can you do that to those characters? That looks like it was drawn by a five year-old
va+++ I know every voice performer for every series and worship them like deities
va++ I know a lot about voice performers
va+ I know some things about who does what voices and think the performers are great
va I know nothing about these people
va- I don't want to know anything about these people
va--Anime is best dubbed so we can get english voices
va--- Down with voice performers! Kill them all!
va$ I am a voice actor in an anime series
va* (with modifiers) Comment refers to English performers
You can also modify them with "+" or "-" to say how much you like them (as with the series). I suppose if you wanted to you could add the "m" and "g" tags to make them refer to games or manga.
Series
NOTE: Some of the title abbreviations have changed, if you wish to update your code, please be aware of this.
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Assembling your Otaku Code
Once you've finished going through the code and deciding where you stand on things, you're ready to assemble and display your Otaku Code block. If you would like to attempt to create a Net-wide standard, you should follow this format as closely as possible. But really, you should do whatever you want; the only real instructions I give you are to put the version number (the new version is 3.0) and to put the Describers first and the series second (since the series take up the bulk of the code). What follows is my own personal Otaku Code. I've attempted to use every aspect of Otaku Code possible, just to show you how lovely and versatile it is.
Sample otaku code:
*---OTAKU CODE V3.0---*
o+ s+ fs++ ml+++ m++ j+ a++ mc+ cd con! fic*+ art* h*
AKR+++ AVG+++ DGM++ EXS+++ FY++ EVA+++ KK+++
PTL++ SEL+++ ELF++ PPY++ HNG%++ KNE++ FMS%++
KOD+++ CHO+++ SM++ SF2++ KG++ PTT%++ FB+++ RBH+
*---OTAKU CODE V3.0---*
Licensing and Distribution
While doing a search online for Otaku Code, I came across a website with a copy of almost this entire page. I asked my friends for advice, and they suggested that I obtain a license for the project. So, I've done that. I ask that if you want to copy Otaku Code in its entirety that you please ask me, or at least tell me that you're going to do it. You can e-mail me at wolfie_toutomoutochan@hotmail.com. The code can be attributed to Wolfie Toutomoutochan.
If you would like to add a trait or series to the code, please don't do it yourself, as this will only make things confusing (especially when later we have to fill in the same information and it may or may not match). Please e-mail the author at the above address to suggest any changes, corrections, or additions. If you feel that Otaku Code is a dead project and you would like to revive it, you should e-mail the author for permission.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
This work is © 2001, 2004 Joseph Zygnerski