Anime that depict the life of an Otaku

Looking for anime that show the life of an otaku? Where the protagonist or various characters are or play the role of a real-life otaku? In this article we will see the best anime about otaku.

Today we are going to see several anime where the characters watch or discuss about anime, games and other hobbies that make them big addicts and face problems in social life and at school.

What are otaku anime?

Do you know what is one otaku? This Japanese term is used to refer to people who are addicted to things, especially anime, games, and manga. In the West this term is used to refer to anyone who likes anime or even things from Japan.

We also made a video below that explains in detail the meaning of Otaku:

In Japan, an otaku is one who faces lines to buy products related to his favorite works, collect objects, cosplay and participate in events such as Comiket.

There are also those otakus who live isolated in their room playing and watching all day. In this article we separate some anime that show otaku characters and the lifestyle they lead.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku

They are mandatory anime for all those who consider themselves otaku to watch. Today we are going to talk about the best anime about otaku culture.

Most otakus are gamers in some form, whether playing some visual novel or eroge. That's why some game-related anime are on this list. Hope you like and share this article. xD

The best anime about otaku life

Ore No Imouto Ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai

The anime is called oreimo and translated as "there's no way my sister could be that cute". It tells the story of an otaku girl addicted to erotic games and mahou shoujo anime.

Despite the theme seeming adult, the anime does not present ecchi nor adult conversations, he is drawn to comedy and romance and has a story that grips from beginning to end. NO MY TOP 10! 

Animes that depict the life of an otaku
Oreimo - My Little Sister

Genshiken

This anime shows the adventure of a club of otaku college students. During the course of the anime, you witness the growth of the group, the formation of bonds between the characters and also club activities such as group outings to anime and manga events.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku

WataMote

This comedy anime shows a girl who is quite popular in dating games, but who is a real failure in real life. All of this was a result of her otaku lifestyle, the anime shows her failures in trying to relate and change her life.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku
Anime Oreimo, Genshiken and Watamote

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

This anime shows a normal young student who meets a talented and perfect girl. He found out that she is an otaku addicted to anime and manga and the 2 become friends, where the main character tries to keep her secret and supports her in the problems that arise.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku
Images from the anime Nogizaka Haruka, Lucky Star and NHK ni Youkoso

Lucky Star

Lucky Star tells the story of a group of 4 students, each with a unique personality. The main character is lazy and addicted to anime and video games. The anime is full of references to the otaku world and other anime and manga.

NHK ni youkoso

This anime is focused on one character hikikomori that faces great difficulties in society. The anime is captivating and inspiring, it helps to understand the problems and fight against them.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku
NHK ni Youkoso

Denpa Kyoushi

"Denpa Kyoushi" is an anime and manga about Kagami Junichirou, a lazy genius obsessed with otaku culture. Forced to leave his reclusive lifestyle, he becomes an unusual physics teacher, using methods inspired by his otaku passion to teach and motivate his students.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku

Hanebado!

"Himouto! Umaru-chan" is a comedy that revolves around Umaru Doma, a perfect student at school, but a lazy otaku at home. Her older brother, Taihei, struggles to deal with her two personalities. The series portrays the contrast between the exemplary school life and the obsession with video games, anime, and manga, showing the hidden side of otaku culture and the duality of behavior in different environments.

Characters and chibi and super deformed anime

Thetaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Wotakoi)

The anime follows the story of Narumi, a yaoi otaku, and Hirotaka, a hardcore gamer, who start dating. The series explores the complexities of romantic relationships between people with intense otaku passions.

List of anime available on Amazon Prime

Animes about Otaku Industry

Below we are going to recommend anime that have some relation or highlight a little bit of the culture and industry such as Light Novels, Mangas, and anime production.

Bakuman

This anime shows 2 friends who are dedicated to becoming famous mangaka and receiving TV adaptation (anime) of their works. A captivating and inspiring work that shows the universe of manga and anime from a different perspective. PERFECT! 

Animes that depict the life of an otaku

Shirobako

"Shirobako" is an anime series that offers a realistic and detailed insight into the Japanese animation industry. The story follows five young women who are striving to achieve their dreams of working in anime production.

They face various challenges and typical industry obstacles, such as tight deadlines, creative pressures, and the struggle to balance personal life with work demands. The series is a tribute to the passion and dedication required to create anime.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku

Eromanga Sensei

"Eromanga Sensei" explores the world of light novels through the life of Masamune Izumi, a high school student and light novel author. His world is shaken when he discovers that his anonymous illustrator, "Eromanga Sensei," is actually his reclusive sister, Sagiri.

She became reclusive after the death of her parents, finding refuge in anime. The story unfolds around the complicated relationship between the siblings, their passion for writing and illustration, and their interactions with other authors and fans of otaku culture.

Hitorigoto - claris - Eromanga Sensei

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata

"Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata" follows the life of Tomoya Aki, an otaku who dreams of creating the perfect dating game. He recruits several girls from his school, each with unique abilities in art, writing, and music, to help with his project. The anime delves into the creative process of bishoujo games (dating games), highlighting the difficulties and dedication required, while also exploring the social and romantic dynamics within the group.

Animes that depict the life of an otaku

Denki-Gai at Honya-san

"Denki-gai no Honya-san" is set in a manga store, where the employees are all otakus with their own quirks. The series provides a humorous look at the experiences and daily life of working in a manga store, from managing manga releases to serving customers with unique tastes. The interactions between the characters reflect different aspects of otaku culture, including cosplay, collectibles, and anime events.

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Fantasy and Supernatural Otaku Anime

Blood Lad

"Blood Lad" follows Staz, a powerful vampire and leader of a district in the demon world, who is secretly an otaku obsessed with Japanese culture, especially anime and manga. When he meets Fuyumi, a human girl, and she turns into a ghost, his journey to bring her back to life begins. The series mixes supernatural elements with otaku humor, exploring the clash between the demon worlds and Japanese pop culture.

No Game No Life

"No Game No Life" follows the siblings Sora and Shiro, invincible gamers who are transported to a world where everything is decided by games. They use their intellect and gaming skills to challenge the laws of this world and achieve their ultimate goal. The series is a celebration of gaming and intelligence, with references to otaku culture and games, highlighting strategy and wit over brute force.

Tips for becoming a mangaka - practice or talent? Editors and inspiration

Chaos;Head

"Chaos;Head" revolves around Takumi Nishijou, a reclusive and paranoid otaku who finds himself involved in a series of mysterious events and brutal crimes. He struggles to distinguish between reality and delusion, often taking refuge in his world of anime and games. The series explores themes of isolation, mental disturbance, and the thin line between reality and fiction in the otaku universe.

Other Animes involving Otaku

Below we will leave a list of more anime that have some relation to the otaku universe:

  • Otaku no Video;
  • SKET Dance;
  • Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!;
  • Oregairu;
  • Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun;
  • Gamers;
  • Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta;
  • Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai;
  • Danna ga Nani o Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken;

anime otaku characters

Many other anime of various genres have many references and characters that are otaku. I will leave a small list with the most otaku characters and the name of the anime they are present. We will not include characters that already appear in the previous anime from this Post...

  • Kouta Hirano (Highschool of the Dead);
  • Yoshiteru Zaimokuza (Oregairu);
  • Souta Takanashi (Working!!);
  • Gakuto (Prison School);
  • Walker Yumasaki (Durarara!!);
  • Daru (Steins;Gate);
  • Shimura Shinpachi (Gintama);
  • Kae Serinuma (Kiss Him, Not Me);
  • Renge Hoshakuji (Ouran High School Host Club);
  • Tamako Arai (Barakamon);
  • Yukiko (Nijiiro Days);
  • Gabriel (Gabriel Dropout);

List of Novels and Manga about Otakus

To end the article, we will leave a complete list of manga that talk about otaku culture. There are many, some may even have won an anime adaptation and we don't know. Thanks for reading the article, we appreciate the shares and comments.

  • The World's Greatest First Love: The Case of Ritsu Onodera
  • Welcome to the NHK! (Light Novel)
  • Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
  • Princess Jellyfish
  • Bakuman
  • Otakare Fujo Kano
  • Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
  • Genshiken
  • Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend (Light Novel)
  • A Drifting Life
  • Kingyo Used Books
  • Genshiken: Second Season
  • Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend
  • Love Stage!!
  • Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Light Novel)
  • Welcome to the NHK!
  • Still Sick
  • Blend S
  • Himouto! Umaru-chan S
  • Otaku no Musume-san
  • Outbreak Company
  • Ikusaba Animation
  • Koi wa Nanairo Shichihenge!?
  • Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to
  • Asatte ni Kiss
  • Lucky Star
  • Himouto! Umaru-chan
  • Maniac Road
  • 2.5 Jigen Kareshi
  • A Zoo in Winter
  • The High School Life of a Fudanshi
  • Tashiro-kun, Kimi tte Yatsu wa;
  • A Pair of Otakus
  • Denki-Gai no Honya-san
  • Dojin Work
  • No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!
  • Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: On the Train+Pilot Films
  • Shinozaki-san Ki wo Ota Shika ni!
  • Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to 2
  • Akihabara@Deep
  • Tonari no Kashiwagi-san
  • Reiraku
  • My Wife Is Wagatsuma-san
  • Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga
  • That Was Good
  • Kaichou-kun no Shimobe
  • Dramacon
  • Penguin Musume Max
  • Comic Studio
  • Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend - Egoistic Lily
  • Megane to Koi to Aoi Tori
  • Sound of My Voice
  • Akihabara Fall in Love
  • Genshiken: Return of the Otaku (Light Novel)
  • Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
  • Sonna Koe Dashicha Iya!
  • Omae o Otaku ni Shiteyaru kara, Ore o Riajuu ni Shitekure!
  • Shoujo Nemu
  • 23:45
  • Danna ga Nani o Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken
  • Ikebukuro Hatsu, Zensekai Yuki!
  • Fudanshi-kun's Honey Days
  • Koibito Kakin
  • Aoi Destruction!
  • Gouin Sakka to Makeinu no Hatsukoi
  • Hadaka no Taiyou
  • Comic Party
  • Sairuiu
  • Spoiler Wars
  • Jitaku Keibihime Terrass
  • Daydream★Nightmare
  • Ani-Com
  • Ore ga Fujoshi de Aitsu ga Yuriota de
  • Comic
  • Metal Heart
  • Ore no Kirai na Tsugaisama
  • Insufficient Direction
  • Ikenai Mousou Fudanshi
  • Penguin Musume
  • Anata no Jinsei Hikiukemasu!
  • Moekoi
  • (G) Edition
  • Fudanshi Baby
  • Manga Dogs
  • Vampire Killer
  • Pushu~ke~!! Psyche!
  • 8 Tales of the ZQN
  • Boku x Kano
  • Haruwaka
  • Yuri Danshi-kun
  • Choir!
  • Akiba Romance!
  • Next Door Honey
  • Ubunchu!
  • Happy End o Shinjiteru
  • Maid wo Nerae!
  • 0 kara Hajimeru Manga Kyoushitsu
  • Comiket Douwa Zenshuu
  • Oshi ga Watashi de Watashi ga Oshi de
  • One Piece: Copy-ni no Kobiyama - Urifutatsu Nagi no Daihihou
  • Koisuru One Piece
  • Ai… Shirisomeshi Koro ni…
  • Amazing Stranger
  • Fudanshi Kakumei
  • Comic-ban Sekai no Denki: Ishinomori Shotaro
  • Tezuka Osamu: 21-seiki wo Design Shita Manga-ka
  • Fujiko F. Fujio: Kodomo no Yume wo Egaki Tsuduketa "Doraemon" no Sakusha
  • Edu-Manga: Osamu Tezuka
  • Otaku and Mr.Taoist
  • Pastel Memories
  • Fudanshi-kun's Citrus Days
  • Deng Bang
  • Pen Love
  • Doujin Katsudou, Hajimemashita!?
  • Doujin Katsudou no Susume!
  • Kusare Joshi!
  • Yahari Otaku de Machigainai;
  • Dakara Otaku wa Yamararenai;
  • Chuugoku Yome Nikki
  • Empire of the Z
  • I Like Gay Manga, So What?
  • Mangaka-san Irasshai! R's Bar: Mangaka no Atsumaru Mise
  • Ichigo Switch!
  • Uchi no Kore ga Kore na mon de;
  • Himouto! Umaru-chan SS
  • Metamorphose no Engawa
  • Motokare ga Fudanshi ni Natte Orimashite;
  • Himouto! Umaru-chan G
  • Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san
  • Outbreak Company (Light Novel)
  • France Nikki
  • Bakuman. (Light Novel)
  • Kami Eshi Nisshi
  • Dead or Animation
  • Tokusatsu Gagaga
  • Kare to Kanojo no (Otaku)²
  • Ichikyuu Kyuupeke
  • Comic Master J
  • Shimekirisama ni Oyurushi o
  • Omae o Otaku ni Shiteyaru kara, Ore o Riajuu ni Shitekure! (Light Novel)
  • My Yaoi-Con 2011 Report
  • Naisho no Mangaka Tonari no Yutori-san
  • Love & Catastrophes
  • Chanto Kaitemasu kara!
  • P.S. Triple
  • Tonari no 801-chan
  • Anime Tenchou

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