A chronological history of the anime blogging community – Ver. 2008!

A somewhat accurate portrayal of the anime blogging community

I definitely cannot imagine a time that the anime community was a small group of friends, but there was a time in Internet history. This is perhaps just a little tribute of sorts toward all the anime bloggers who have contributed to the growth of this anime community. Despite the various conflicts we have, where we often sling some mud shots at each other and flame each other for good trolling fun, we are still part of this overarching genre of blogging.

I am sure that I have overlooked many huge blogs that deserve to be part of this little history describing the short history of the anime blogging world. It is for you to inform us. If you are wondering, the terms are based on Everett Rogers’ diffusion of innovations. I decided to revive this entry to update on the events of 2007. So hopefully, if there are any glaring mistakes, comments are welcome as usual.

Lastly, there is a shameless fanboy plug for Os’s new initiative. I am always a mega fanboy lurker of Os’ blog, and his revival = Impz happiness. Nuff said, let’s move on to more srs bsns.

The pioneers – 2003 and before?

Oh, worship the venerables~

The almost non existent anime community was in its infant stage. Then, Nowhere Anime Blog (now Hop Step Jump!), Tokyo Jupiter 2 screenshot limit, Moyism and Memento were perhaps some of the few people who bother to deal with an anime blog. Danny Choo, probably the biggest anime/Japanese blog in the blogsophere in English, is born way before anything that resembles an anime blog. Anime blogs are not that popular, as people are still using websites and fan-based forums for discussion. Some blogs that are somewhat inactive now were extremely popular then, namely blogs such as Momotato Daioh, We are Mizuho, YSP: Duh, Chizumatic and Jascii also pop up during this period of time to cover on a genre that was off the beaten track. I mean, there was no such thing as Narutards and trolling was almost unheard of.

Of course, we could always start with our pioneer in siscon-logy, Mr Stripey. On other genres, Satire is definitely a favorite with Anime on my mind Derailed with Darry being created during 2002. He is also the creator of the now defunct Blogsuki. Nonetheless, it was accurate to mention that this period of anime blogging represents a new blogging community, as there was very little variety and innovation in anime blogging. However, it was an important foundation that would be swiftly followed by other bloggers in the next era, the innovators. The pioneers did play a very important role in shaping what is to come.

The innovators – Around 2004

The benevolent elders, the kind teachers and the ones that will kick your arse too

This was the era where some of the biggest blogs in our small community were born. This strong list of anime blogs include the wildly popular episode summary blog, Random Curiosity. This period was perhaps marked by prevalent episode by episode blogging. Many of these blogs have benefited from their early entrance to the blogging community to gather a strong fanbase. I nearly forgot to mention Lupus’s favorite anime blog resource for episodic reviews, Cinnamon Ass that started in April 2004, as well as one of the blogs that motivated me to start, Sea Slugs! Anime Blog. News blogs are a premium due to the lack of huge interest, but Heisei Democracy was holding the fort for up to date news.

On a more local context, this was also the period of time when Singapore’s biggest anime blog, DarkMirage, appeared to the Internet shores to present his views about almost anything under the sun. Darkmirage’s sharp and insightful entries, coupled with a propensity for brutally honest arguments, made him immensely popular for those who are looking toward intellectual hatred.

Animeblogger.net was also growing with the huge blogs such as Kurogane’s Anime blog, Bluemist’s anime blog and Matthew’s Anime Blog that are born in 2004. Thanks to the efforts of Maestro, the head honcho of animeblogger.net, it is the birth of many such anime blogs in the community. It was noted that despite the growing anime community, there was still little repetition in information. The community, despite the entry of a few more blogs, have not grown that much. Filling in this vacuum of space has not been experienced in this year as yet. However, it is simply a sign of things to come.

The early adopters – Around 2005

Power packed, and ready to kick some nice butt!

This was perhaps the third wave of anime blogging. Episode by episode analysis of series was still popular, and perhaps the main type of blogging that we have in this genre. Examples of popular episodic blogs that had been created during this fast growing period of time included Star Crossed Anime Blog, Batezi Anime Blog, Heterochromia and Chotto Matte . The birth of Anime Nano also symbolizes the birth of BasuGasuBakuhatsu Anime Blog, written by the founder Hung.

With the growth of the community, we also started to see diversity, as bloggers find their niche in terms of editorials, news, cosplay and figurines. New bloggers are try to bring something fresh into the blogging world. We had bloggers that break away from pure episode by episode coverage of series and ventured into different realms of writing. Examples included Beta-Waffle, Wakaranai, the defunct Hopeless Sensei, Hige vs. Otaku, and Anime Life that dealt with editorials more than the run-of-the-mill episode summaries. Despite its transformation to more contemporary blogging in recent months, JPmeyer’s 見ないで! 恥ずかしい… is a runaway success in the infusion of theory and anime during its early days.

Of course, how could we forget the number 1 lolicon in the anime blogging community, Lolitron’s birth in January 2005 as well as our extensive news anime blog in Moetron ☆. Also of great importance is Hashihime, the likely pioneer of seiyuu blogs. The other side of the Hontou ni’s blog, Hontou ni sou omou, believer of all onee-sama characters, is also born in this very year. 2005 represents the year to lead on to the great explosion of blogs in 2006 and 2007.

The early majority I- 2006

Anyone remember the gems of 2006?

2006 represents a critical point in our history where many of the upcoming blogs appeared to our anime blogging shores. Anime blogging has somehow caught on with the increased readers of blogs for insights. First up must be Ex-Fansubber Hitorigoto, where the hater of everything Naruto and stupidity appeared first in animeblogger.net, before running off to Jpmeyer for love. 2006 also marks the birth of four mega stars in figurine blogs (of each, only two remain active in blogging figurines). They are namely Riuva run by the tripleman, Happy Soda, 望み – What is that you desire? and Tsubaki of Anime desho desho. On the emphasis of Singapore, The Fool’s progress and Bj0rn brought the Little red dot’s view point of anime to the world.

Likewise, episodic blogs continue to dominate the anime blogsophere due to its appealing nature to many users, with Novastorm Anime Blog, Retsgip’s Anime Blog, Anime Blog ga Arimasu and Anime Diet among the many anime bloggers joining the fray. Episodic blogging is an old favorite, and there is always space for people to cover the blogs. However, the above blogs attempts to give a new twist to the episodic summary blogs.

Editorial blogs are also growing with prominence in 2006. Many blogs are filling in the gap of thoughts and insights on anime themes infused with various themes. These blogs include The End of the World, the intelligent controversy blogger of Omo and anime|otaku. Many of them continues to blog, capturing their audience with food for thought.

With the growth of the anime blogosphere, there is bound to be trolls who hate everything and anything. Essential for controversy and excitement among bloggers, Cory from Renegade Anime Blog, the barely legible ORZ-ing Drm, Baka-raptor and the I-hate-anything-against-me Lolikit are born for this purpose. They make mincemeat of anyone, and attempts to introduce pure hatred. Whether it is good or bad for the blogosphere is really up to debate. However, they have lighted up the blogosphere with a term known as dorama. It’s quite fun to be caught in it.

In terms of culture and differentiation, The Anime Blog and Welcome Datacomp carves a trend of anime news, while J1m0ne’s blog deals with more seiyuu love. Azure Flame also has Karura’s brand of hard gay and yuri jokes in her many random entries about how all anime are actually yaoi or yuri. Of course, team blogs are also on the rise, particularly THAT Anime Blog (yes, whoring itself is good) earning the irk of many bloggers with its laissez faire approach of bloggers, but also setting the trend of more team blogs in the anime blogosphere. The biggest anime-based comic blog also appeared in 2006. The name? Mistakes of Youth and also the erotic reviews of Onii-chan no Ecchi. It has been a good year for anime blogging.

The early majority II – 2007

The babies that are becoming adults of their own

To state that 2007 is the true birth of anime editorial blogs is perhaps not an understatement. 2007 gave birth to two huge blogs that championed itself as think tanks of anime blogs. They are The Animanachronism and Cruel Angel Theses. Owen S from Cruel Angel These also set up the initative of the Anime Blogging Collective, a group of bloggers with the goal to promote and improve the blogsophere. However, they are not alone. In search of Number Nine, Ani Nouto, Drastic my Anime Blog, Furu Anime Panikku, Ogiue Maniax, That’s Not Kanon, Mega Megane Moe and Far away no where are editorial blogs having a strong view on things and brings a somewhat “journalistic” culture into our blogosphere. It has been a boon for all readers who wanted something new, something insight and something worth thinking.

Mission to Deep Space, or currently known as Mou Yamete! continues the legion of nice eroge reviews alongside Onii-chan no Ecchi. Joining the small group of satire-writing fans include Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Anime Blog and Daijoubu. It seems like craziness is part of a good plan to success, and it is clear that the two blogs have created their own niche to make themselves work well. News blogs are also present in small numbers, with Alafista and A geek by any other name surviving well.

Of course, without any dispute, the episodic summary genre continues to receive well-distinguished blogs who tries to carve their niche in this well-populated group. They include Scrumptious Anime Blog, When Anime Past Meets Present, Atarashii Prelude, Tenka Seiha, and Subculture Anime Blog. The last two garners a bit more attention by hitting the raw episodic blogging scene, a sub-genre that is usually occupied by Memento and Random Curiosity. Needless to say, they have benefited from providing accurate and interesting tidbits to readers fast.

Team blogs such as Anime Banzai – アニメ万歳, zeNIME, Borderline Hikikomori as well as the wildly popular Epic Win Blog immediately comes to mind. Team blogs are on the upswing due to the various advantages of team blogging. Entries appear more often, with more diverse views presented in the blog compared to a single author blog.

2007 is a year of expansion for many blogs. It is perhaps a time where some bloggers have questioned whether a case of congestion has taken place. However, from the creation of these many blogs carving their own niche and mark in the blogosphere, the answer has to be a resounding no. Innovation within blogs are continuing to be experienced, and there continues to have more room for newcomers to enter this little anime blogging sphere.

Are you part of history? Do you think you should be part of it?