I was around nine or ten when I first saw anime. A Japanese family moved in next door, and I became friends with their children. The son was around my age, and the daughter was a couple of years older. They had some DBZ stuff on tape, so the first thing I ever saw was a raw DBZ movie. They had to pause it frequantly to tell me what was going on. At that age I really didn't care too much about the plot, but I just knew it was interesting.
After they moved a few months later (I was told their Dad had worked for an upstart Japanese company, whos American branch failed, and he got transfered back), I never forgot them or Anime. At that point I didn't see much of anime for around a year. Then I got some Robotech tapes for my Birthday from my Uncle.
It'd be a couple more years until I ran into DB again, this time the first series, in its initial TV run, back to back with Sailor Moon, which I admit is one of my favorite series (Yes, a man admits it, I also like pink, SO THERE!
).
After that I found the Sci-Fi channel showing anime movies for a week on some sort of special promotion thing hosted by a chick in Cosplay of some sort. Though, at that time, I didn't know what Cosplay was. During this, I saw Akira and Galaxy Express. I was happy to see more Anime.
After that, I had my goal to find more. By this time by Robotech tapes had long since burnt up, I watched them too much. I'd also been in to Comic Books for along time, and I decided to give them up, and focus on Anime. Later I found out about Manga too, so Anime and Manga became my new, permanant, hobby.
In the years that followed I kept watching Sci-Fi channel on Saturdays, they shown Anime movies. Here is where I first saw Tenchi Muyo, which is still one of my favorites. I immediatly fell in love with how cute Ryo-Ohki was, and actually asked my Dad if I could attempt to mate a Cat and Rabbit (I'll leave out the weird looks he gave me for the months to follow).
After Sci-Fi stopped showing stuff, my only way of getting anime was to buy it. I was a young teenager with no job and a poor allowence. So, I made a deal with my folks to use my allowence to pay for more Cable, giving me access to Toonami. I eventually got a income and started buying DVDs. The era of Toonami has long since passed its prime.
As I sit here, having been an Otaku for a long 11 years, I must admit, it has its ups and downs, but I don't think there are ANY better people in the world than fellow Otaku.
Last year was my first con, Kumoricon 04. It didn't matter that I didn't know anybody, everyone just GETS ALONG, because we all have the same interests. I don't honestly think theres a better time than sitting back with some friends, talking about some anime and manga, or watching/reading it together.
I love being an Otaku, even if it is expensive alot of the time.
Wow, did I ramble on or what? LOL.
