Site Meter Anime Fans Online » Blog Archive » Sexy Genshiken rant.

Sexy Genshiken rant.

by Jason

I’m going to review the anime version of Genshiken. Before I do that though, I need to make a slightly different post. This is just a rant about the differences between anime and manga versions of a story. I’m sure you’ve heard ‘em before and I’m sure you’ll hear ‘em again.

My problem isn’t with the anime itself. I’m not bothered by much of the translation from manga to anime. Even the translation from Japanese to English is blameless. It’s probably not even a big deal, but for some reason it bugs me. It has to do with packaging and labels.

If you read my review of the manga you might remember a little forward to the article. If you haven’t read it, well, here it is.

This manga is set in college. That means there will be story elements suitable for college age kids. So it’s recommended for older readers. The back of the book says 16+. That sounds about right to me.

That’s all well and good, so what’s the problem? Well, the anime that I’ve seen so far is pretty much the same as the manga. However, the age recommendation is different. According to the back of the DVD cover for Genshiken volume 1, the recommended age range is 13 and up.

Wha-huh?

The gap between 13 and 16 years old can be pretty wide. That’s why I find it hard to believe that kids who watch DVDs are so much better equipped to understand the humor in Genshiken than 13 year olds who read the manga.

Seriously, who decided the age to put on the back of the DVD? Did they watch any of it? Do sexual references not count if it’s not a graphic depiction?

Sure I can understand “13 and older” if there are only a couple of jokes about porn. There are way more sex jokes than that. Half of the humor in Genshiken is in some way sex related. This is a story set in college after all. I wonder, would they rate Animal House as a 13 and older DVD?

, , , , , ,


Leave a Reply


About Anime Fans Online

Anime Fans Online isn't just about anime and manga. It's about the culture that surrounds it. Fansites, cosplay, conventions and even food. Being an anime fan isn't just about watching cartoons, it takes you much deeper. AFO would like to go with you.

Anime Fans Online Author(s)
    » Jason

Special Interests Channel Posts

  • GotBack GetBackers
    You might remember me complaining about getting a GetBackers volume that was bound wrong. Then I posted an update with TokyoPOPs response to an e-mail my girlfriend sent. If you don't remember, or [...]
  • Ouran Host Club Part 1 DVD Review
    I've recommended Ouran High School Host Club before, multiple times. I've even given away some pretty cool stuff trying to get the word out about this show. I even recommend the manga. Since I [...]
  • Have A Great 2009
    Happy New Year Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year. 2008 could have been better for me, but it could have been a lot worse too. I'm thankful that I was able to be a part of Anime Fans [...]
  • Genshiken Box Set Trouble
    Hot on the heels of my discovery that I'd gotten a bootleg from Amazon, I found out that the Genshiken Box Set I received might be defective. I made it through the first disc just fine, but halfway [...]
  • Amazon Wish List Surprise
    A few days ago I wrote about some of the cool anime stuff I got for Christmas, and about how Amazon's wish list feature helped me to receive said coolness. Since then I've started to open up and [...]
  • Would you pay for anime?
    I'm writing about this again thanks in part to some of the very opinionated posts I've read about the upcoming subscriptions over at Crunchyroll. Along with the supportive comments there are a lot [...]
  • Anime X-Mas '08
    Comfort and joy, with a side of peace on Earth, is all well and good. This blog is about anime, so I'll be sticking to the gift giving aspect of Christmas. This year I received quite a bit of anime [...]
  • Post Christmas Post Coming
    Just wanted to let you know that I'll be back to the site shortly. I've got a short break before the new year, and a birthday in January, so I should be able to get a few reviews up. After all of the [...]
  • GetBackers Misprint Update
    Just a little update on the GetBackers misprint I was unfortunate enough to get hold of. After I told my g/f about the situation she decided to send an e-mail to TokyoPop about it, just to make [...]
  • Wild Ones Manga Volume 4
    Story Satchie keeps getting more and more popular with the Yakuza guys. Now Rakuto has another rival in Koh, whose dad is the head of a clan from Osaka. Koh is determined to make Satchie [...]

Hot Off The Press

  • Friday Night: What's on TV?
    No one hates to be home more than me, but when you have to be home it is always good to know just what's on TV. Am I right? I really hate to flip through the channels aimlessly and then miss the [...]
  • The Smoltz Era Coming To An End in Atlanta
    If someone told me last month that John Smoltz would ever leave Atlanta and consider the possibility of playing in another uniform, I would have laughed at you.Now it looks like one of the mainstays [...]
  • Pelicans Dropping From the Sky for Reasons Unknown
    This is rather unsettling. I ran across this article today about brown pelicans literally falling from the sky along the Pacific Coast. And no one knows why...yet. Some scientists are initially [...]
  • The View January 9th Recap: Tom Cruise
    Today on The View, in this episode that was taped Thursday, all five hosts were present. They were all wearing black and white and pretty dressy. Barbara said it was by accident, but Whoopi said [...]
  • WWE Press Release on Staff Lay-offs
    WWE has issued this press release of laying off 10% of staff: WWE Reduces Staff by 10% January 9, 2009 STAMFORD, CT– January 9, 2009 – World Wrestling Entertainment® today announced a 10% [...]
  • Rocco Baldelli Signs With The Red Sox
    I am not one to really laud players on other teams, but I'm glad that Rocco Baldelli is still playing baseball and playing for his "hometown team" (unlike some other pinstriped individual who we all [...]
  • Five questions: "A Father Dreams"
    Five questions about last Sunday's episode -- "A Father Dreams" -- still rattling around in my brain: 1. Have the Walkers ever given a party when nothing bad happened? Apparently as long as [...]
  • Critics Choice Awards Winners
    The nominees for the Critics Choice Awards were announced last December 9th and the live presentation aired last night, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Dev Petal of Slumdog Millionaire [...]
  • New ‘Dangerous Encounters’ Explores Loss of Crocodile Habitat
    Another new episode of Dangerous Encounters is on tap for this Saturday night.  In this episode, Dr. Brady Barr is racing to the aid of Africa’s giant Nile crocodile.  And when they say [...]
  • Daddy Guilt
    It happens. I know that mommy's have it, and started the phrase, but we get it to. Maybe not to the same extent and maybe not over the same things, but we do get the Daddy Guilt from time to time. If [...]