Unlike the various famous otaku in Singapore, yours truly isn’t the kind of anime/manga fan that fits the bill of a Japan-centric otaku. I mostly buy DVDs whenever the series is available for consumption, and it takes about one to three years to get them, depending on the speed and the mood of the distributors. (Sony, HURRY UP WITH MY DVDS!)
(The thing about anime/manga fans, is that there’s a whole lot of subdivisions within: those that follow strictly the Japanese market, and then there are those that follow by their local distributors.)
Enclosed after the break, is my pathetic collection of both anime and manga DVDs and a newly-created animelist.net account with the listing up for all to see. (It’s still a work in progress; I’m still trying to figure out what other shows I may have watched in my lifetime.)
To be honest with you, I’ve not completed all of the series that I have shown you now. The only series that I’ve “technically” completed is the Full Metal Panic Season 1, because I’ve already watched it on VCD from a local distributor (oh heavens, censorship!).
Let’s start:
Still haven’t completed AzuDai even though I bought it in 2005. Noir became a borefest after Episode 7 (and now rethinking of watching the entire show again). Gundam Wing… Heero Yuy is <3 Genshiken is nice, but still lack that extras (still pondering on either a Kujibiki Unbalance DVD collection… or just get the Genshiken 2 series boxset if it is available).
MiniUtsu series… average. And don’t even ask why I bothered buying Ikkitousen. (If I want fighting girl-on-girl action, I would’ve opted for Tenjo Tenge.)
Blood: The Last Vampire was a purchase I bought in Japan (yes, freaking Japan!) in 2006. Still thinking of going there, but I’m going to make a running joke, that my name is probably on Japan foreign ministry’s blacklist (much like Kim Jong-Il and his sons).
The FMP: Second Raid boxset was God-send: I can’t even trust ADV with my life (although they still have commendable back catalogues I may consider buying). I’m currently watching FMP? Fumoffu!.
FINALLY ARIA THE ANIMATION! Neo-Venezia is <3, Gondoliers are <3, heck an Aria is fine too!
Planetes… Now I don’t understand why I can’t go pass the first episode, even though everybody loves the series to death. Will be on my next watching list after my current one.
This is one reason I hate Sony: RELEASE PART TWO QUICKLY! It’s been ages since they release this Part One; my patience’s wearing thin. Oh well, oldschool Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. (Impulse buy; on hindsight, though, it might force me to appreciate old-school anime shows better so that I can look past 2000-era series. Think Gundam… wait, I’ve already acquired a good Gundam series.)
Martian Successor Nadesico: also another old-school anime series. At least it’s a comedy. 
(Then my mind will say, “Then consider Vandread if you’re already liking this show.”)
Well, that’s according to my anime shows I owned right now. (My friend’s even better: he bought individual Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya LE and Lucky☆Star LE DVDs.)
Yeah, the only other figurine I had was this Animax toy figurine which I got from attending Danny Choo's Anime Blogging Workshop.
Yeah, the only other figurine I had was this Animax toy figurine which I got from attending Danny Choo’s Anime Blogging Workshop.
If you’re wondering where I get these comic/manga covers/bags/containers etc. I bought them off Daiso, which each individual item cost SGD2. (Actually, Daiso is a 100-yen sundry shop back in Japan. Considering the current climate, 100 yen is roughly SGD1.60, guess how much profit the local chain here gets for every 40 cents gained.)
The only truly authentic Japansies cover that I owned is Highschool of the Dead 学園黙示録. I am struggling to read through the Japanese text at the moment. (I’m only armed with a Japanese for Busy People I textbook, a Kodansha Furigana and a Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary.)
I’ve put up my own animelist.net list: one for anime, the other for manga. At the moment, they’re still catalogues of legally-owned series that I owned at the moment. It doesn’t mean that I only watched/read these shows/series in my 5-year hobby.
Oh well, I’m broke. I’m still not officially a full-fledged Nippon otaku (maybe a North American otaku, frankly because most of my shows are imported from the United States). Figurines are lacking, but that’s OK: majority of my money’s burnt on photography hobby.
I’m pretty sure everybody has superior collection, though. (Apologies for my sharp tongue: it’s 4:45 a.m. as I’m writing this post.)
Tags: Anime, aria the animation, azumanga daioh, blood: the last vampire, daiso comic book covers, dvd collection, full metal panic, full metal panic: the second raid, genshiken, gundam wing, highschool of the dead, ikkitousen, martian successor nadeisco, minikiku to utsukushii sekai, noir, planetes
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If it’s any consolation, that beats my collection. I collect manga mostly, and have DVDs on hold for 4 years now. Somehow, anime DVD acquisition isn’t high on my list right now. I’d love to get ARIA, Genshiken, PlanetES and AzuDai, but shipping charges are holding me back.
BTW, which Daiso did you go to? I didn’t manage to find any at Vivo and Plaza Sing. I’m using saran wrap instead. orz
@MrMayat:
It’s actually from IMM Mall (you gotta go down to Jurong East Interchange and take the IMM Shuttle Bus service). The store there is larger than the three other Daiso stores (one more is in Sembawang SC).
You missed the “shipping charge is cheap” boat in 2008. Before the economic collapse in September last year, the rates are comparative.
*Sigh* It just had to be the furthest one from home.
I sure missed out on the low exchange rate last year. I had targeted a lot of stuff too. In the end I blew it on my camera equipment instead.
@MrMayat:
Sorry to hear that. Hey, at least your expenditure is worthwhile (hey, you can’t beat having a good digital SLR to take good cosplay pictures… XD)