Last Updated: 30 July 2009
Authored by: oOgA, Webmaster of The Banzai! Effect
Contents:
- About The Site & The Team
- Our Writers’ Profiles
- Version History
- The Forums
About The Site, Me & The Team
The Site
The Banzai! Effect was officially launched on 1st Jan 2009 as a site to promote and also introducing multiple aspects of Japanese culture. Covering almost everything from the local event coverages, latest anime and figurines updates to gaming and even interesting news on the net.
It all began from a small personal site of anime blogging in 2007 – Anime Banzai! which was hosted on Animeblogger servers, I decided to grow it further into a team blog site which was gradually welcomed and attracted some very good writers who joined us. Providing reviews to anime episodes and exploring the so called “otaku world” branded by many. It was also a ground for new bloggers who want to have a taste to blogging to write and experience.
Partings were eventual and with a handful of good writers, I got a domain of my own and that’s how The Banzai! Effect began.
About Me (Alias: oOgA)
Residing in the tiny hot island of Singapore, I am pretty much just like a normal person you see down the streets. A diploma holder and planning for further studies. I specialize in the field of I.T. support and also pretty much into hardware and gadgets. It was a additive plus that I was able to understand the basics of how Wordpress and other content management systems work and hence, I was able to cater an existing theme to suit the site’s needs.
Well, this is pretty much about me, my favorite anime genres have narrowed recently perhaps due to age (^^) and also the lack of time due to work. I am more into sci-fi, horror and suspense and comedy type of animes, exceptions do occur but one of main criteria to watching a good anime is always its soundtrack.
Blogging is not a new thing to me, my first blog began in 2001 and picked up skills in both programming and also content planning. Most importantly are the group of people I get to know along the way
About The Team
The Banzai! Effect started with a handful of key members from Anime Banzai! that helped to grow the site. They are nutcase23, Setsukyie and Jellokun. In short, a Singaporean, a Malaysian and a States guy. Nutcase23 prioritizes his figure coverages while Setsukyie has a talent in his musical instruments. Jellokun started his own podcasting – The Banzai Beat which he hosts on his site can also be found our site as well, which is perhaps one of the key element of the site as his content and views are based as a person living in the States.
Along came other guest writers, some were good in their aspect writing, one was into drawing manga strips, last but not least we have some good photographers in our team.
About nutcase23
I started my foray into the blogging business by joining Anime Banzai! on the 26th of December 2007 so you could say I was oOgA’s Christmas present of sorts. I started out with simple anime reviews and gradually moved on to events coverage and figurines. With the official launch of The Banzai! Effect, I followed oOgA as part of his team to this site, assisting him in minor site design (not site coding) and arrangements and whatever he deems me worthy of doing as well as contributing my own articles.
I mainly blog about Singapore-based events and my figurines, which is a hobby jump started by oOgA and has been raping my wallet ever since. I focus mainly on articulated figurines, preferring figmas and Nendoroids and often pose them in scenic photos or attempt to weave a story using a series of still photos or by means of a standard comic portrayal such as 4koma. It is a rather time consuming hobby that often competes with my university commitments. I am currently a member of the NUS CAS or National University of Singapore Comics and Animation Society which is very active in the local Singapore scene.
By most standards, I’m relatively new to the anime watching scene, having only really started at about 2006~2007. I watch pretty much anything though I favor comedy and slice of life. I have a few favorites such as Lucky Star, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu and the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series, all which I collect figmas of. I also enjoy shows like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Code Geass, Kanon (2006), CLANNAD and have recently become a Vocaloid fan as well.
I maintain an active presence in The Banzai! Effect, dannychoo.com and its associated figure.fm, tsuki-board.net as well as local forum vr-zone’s OtakuCafe section of which TBE has co-management.
Alias: Setsukyie, Setsu
Role: Episode Reviewer (Anime Banzai!), Editorial Writer, Anime News Writer, and Everything Else
Likes: Anime (of course), this includes Comedy, Romance, Action, Harem, and KyoAni anime. Other likes include playing guitar, piano, video games, and MOAR ANIME!
Dislikes: Just like my senpais here, I hate purely fanservice show. Comedy-purpose fanservice is welcomed though. ^_^
5 of my Favorite Animes: Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (obviously), CLANNAD, Death Note, Ouran High School Host Club, Honey & Clover
About Myself?: Hi ya. I’m a 15 year old kid who has a passion for anime, just like all of you here. Been actively watching anime for about 2 years now, and counting. My love for anime have led me to start learning Japanese, play visual novel, learn to play anime music (guitar, piano), and eventually started blogging. In other words, anime is a big part of my life, and I’m here to share my love for anime. So, continue to support us and Haruhi demands you to spread the words of The Banzai! Effect. ^_^
Guest Writers (Not In Order)
- TP
- NewGeekPhilosopher
- Hexlord
- Shiro
- Kozato
Version History (Site Development Milestones)
v2.0
- new theme template changed
- added social networking tools
- closer integration of internal writing tools
- official logo and watermark introduced
- tag cloud removed
- video player moved
- nested commenting is now possible
v1.1
- added and rearranged tabs.
- removed sidebar category spoilers
- moved video to the sidebar and rearranged sidebar layout
- updated video player
- added wp-cumulus tag cloud
- new categories added
- blogroll rearranged and moved
v1.0 (along with beta testing)
- Official launch of the site, forums
- Updated wordpress and various plugins
- Site added to blog aggregators
- Random banners introduced
- Tabber introduced
- Featurific plugin added and header customization
- Fixed bug that affected sidebar title visibility
- Fixed a IE6 issue that affects site alignment
- Added various new categories to organise the site
- Changed gravatar and various picture icon sizes.
The man who started The Banzai! Effect and Anime Banzai! (discontinued), took an avid interest in blogging and also photography. Integrating his interests with the likes of Japanese pop culture, he starts out his path on the blogging world 
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Saber & Mato Sakura Beach Queens Ver. / 3,230 yen / Wave
Akimiya Mio / 6,314 yen / FREEing
ex:ride.006 - Minibikes / 1,360 yen / FREEing
At the risk of sounding like a foolish jackass, Two arms, two legs, a nose and a mouth? Jesus, do something original for once.
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
> Evangelion is a direct rip off of Ender’s game It is *no such thing*. Show your sources for this bizarre claim. I have done a tremendous amount of reading about NGE, going through most of the English and a fair number of Japanese sources, and I have yet to see a single significant connection which could justify an expression like ‘direct rip off’. This seems to just be a reflection of your own ignorance. > Mushi-shi is just a re-hashing of Shinto fairy tales Indeed? Let’s try an easy one, then: which Shinto fairy tale is being rehashed when the protagonist loses his eye? _Mushi-shi_ is as about as much of a rehash as _Princess Mononoke_. > I still think K-on is way more meaningful. Than _Evangelion_ or _Lain_? o_0 > The moe thing is describing real adolescent struggles that are unique to Asian cultures (mostly the ones influenced by Japan), and it has not been done in western story telling. That’s a very narrow view of moe. The 2007 winner of the Anime Saimoe Tournament – and thus grade-A certified 100% moe – is Rika from _Higurashi_. What does being brutally murdered again and again have to do with the ‘real adolescent struggles’ of Japanese girls? Something like _Love & Pop_, or _His and Her Circumstances_, I would understand. But _Higurashi_‽ Non! _K-On!_ is as much of a realistic portrayal as, say, _Genshiken_. The latter is at least honest about what group it is pandering to. > I do know art, and K-ON is a work of art. Excellent use of the bald assertion there. Yeah, it’s art – just like the little doodle I did on my notepad is art. We’re all special in our own special way.
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
> In fact, I think it might be the cure. Anime sales in Japan is at an all-time low. Interest in anime has been dropping. Shows like this spark interest and draw attention to Japanese animation. This is, at least, a factual question that can be discussed. I disagree; one of the signatures of _Evangelion_ was that it drew in countless people who would not have otherwise have been interested, and that was in spite of, rather than because, of any moe element of Rei Ayanami. Moe, I think, narrows anime to a ghetto. It’s *creepy*. Offputting. (I think of myself as a hardcore anime-fan, and I still had tremendous trouble watching through _Kanon_ and _Clannad_ because when the character designs were not wretched, the moe thing was still unnatural – even though they are very good series.) Non-anime fans can easily see how it borders on lolicon and is heading for forbidden territory. The sentiments are not at all reciprocated. It’s a narrow subject-matter. Anime should not be a genre, like moe; it should be a *medium*. Moe becomes an ever more involuted self-concerned – dare I say ‘masturbatory’? – genre. A good series should point outward with new possibilities; not inwards with ever more cliched permutations on a few characters and situations, ever more hostile to non-fans.
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
>Show your sources for this bizarre claim This is what I’m talking about. you people are self absorbed ass holes, who have no understanding of the medium your a supposed to be a fan of. I did show a source! you chose to engorge that, and then you have the audacity to say *I’m* the ignorant one! **IT’S THE SAME EXACT STORY** I’ll let you in on another clue to how narrow minded you are. Every single mechwarrior anime/manga, the whole god damn genera, everything from Gundam to Cad Gard, everything comes from [Ender's Game](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game) (<— Click on the link to see a summery of the book. then you have to read the article. you can use your mouse wheel to scroll down.) That’s not some opinion. That’s art history. The entire sub-genera of mechwarrior shit, even Strike witches, all come from that one original story. >Indeed? *mua ha ha, indeed. I’d say old boy* What the hell does that mean!? you realize the inclusion of the question mark makes no sense, not to mention it’s just another example of you being a pompous, superficial little dick. >Mushi-shi is as about as much of a rehash as Princess Mononoke. **EXACTLY!** Princess Mononoke is, in fact, a rehashing of Shinto fairy tales. do you not know what the word rehash means? [here's another link for you](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rehash) The said part is that Princess Mononoke is a great story, but you probably didn’t appreciate any of it’s depth Maybe moe is the wrong term to dicribe what I saw in K-ON, but that is exactly what I was asking Kicken. All I got from him and you has been narrow minded bullshit! You people don’t know what depth is. All you do is reed your blogs written by other superficial children. You just pretend to have an appreciation for these stories, but all your discussing is the surface dressing! That’s why people laugh at you and call you nerds. Get out of your parents basement and get some perspective you pathetic child!
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
> I did show a source! You did not. You linked to Wikipedia. To an article which says nothing about any anime influences. Tell me, how is the entire mecha genre inspired by _Ender’s Game_ – a novel which was translated into Japanese in **1987**, almost a full decade after the first _Gundam_ (which was itself predated by nearly a decade by _Mazinger Z_)? For that matter, there is not one single mecha in _Ender’s Game_, unless it’s rather different from what I remember. > IT’S THE SAME EXACT STORY Oh yes, because _Ender’s Game_ is all about following the 1950s _tokusatsu_ and _kaiju_ formulae of fighting the monster of the week, only to subvert all those conventions and wind up becoming a psychological deconstruction of the characters to help them grow up. Yes, that’s _Ender’s Game_ alright. Never mind how NGE elements can be clearly seen in series like _Space Runaway Ideon_ (aired before the *English* novel of _Ender’s Game_ was released) or _Gunbuster_ (nary an _Ender’s_ element to be seen). > The entire sub-genera of mechwarrior shit, even Strike witches, all come from that one original story. Bull. Utter bull. Funny how all the histories and critical appraisals and even reality itself fail to mention or allow this theory of yours to work. > Princess Mononoke is, in fact, a rehashing of Shinto fairy tales Which one? Go on, I’ll wait. While you’re at it, you can tell me which tale that _Mushi-shi_ episode was based on. Actually, I’ll make it easier for you: show **any** episode which is a retelling of a particular fairy tale (and not just borrowing and vastly changing an obscure _kami_). > Get out of your parents basement and get some perspective you pathetic child! ‘What the hell does that mean‽ you realize that ad hominem makes no sense, not to mention it’s just another example of you being a superficial ignorant little dick.’
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
> I disagree; one of the signatures of Evangelion was that it drew in countless people who would not have otherwise have been interested, and that was in spite of, rather than because, of any moe element of Rei Ayanami. I’m not saying moe in general draws attention, I’m saying *any* interest or popularity is good for anime in general. Whether it be moeblobs, mechas, dramas, ecchi, action or slice of life. I find it hard to believe a person interested in anime would be a fan of just one type of show. I can enjoy a moeblob or mecha show myself, but prefer dramas. But if it weren’t for Evangelgion, I would have never discovered anime at all. Let alone the genres within.
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
> I disagree; one of the signatures of Evangelion was that it drew in countless people who would not have otherwise have been interested, and that was in spite of, rather than because, of any moe element of Rei Ayanami. I’m not saying moe in general draws attention, I’m saying any interest or popularity is good for anime in general. Whether it be moeblobs, mechas, dramas, ecchi, action or slice of life. I find it hard to believe a person interested in anime would be a fan of just one type of show. I can enjoy a moeblob or mecha show myself, but prefer dramas. But if it weren’t for Evangelgion, I would have never discovered anime at all. Let alone the genres within.
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
=^..^= RT @Muzachan Reading: SOY’B’ 2010 Mega Cosplay Coverage http://bit.ly/ds5SEi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
>You people don’t know what depth is. All you do is read your blogs written by other superficial children. You just pretend to have an appreciation for these stories, but all you’re discussing is the surface dressing! That’s why people laugh at you and call you nerds. >Get out of your parents basement and get some perspective you pathetic child! And *we* have the narrow vision, eh?
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
>And we have the narrow vision, eh? I don’t get it (not that anything you’ve said makes much sense) are you asking for confirmation? are you beginning to catch on? I’ll try to help you with a visual analogy You and gwern have an understanding of story telling that goes as deep as [this kids understanding of sword play](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhrAB8WMsx0)
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
“K-on!” Nendoroid Azusa! Moe x3 ~ http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/nendoroid-nakano-azusa-by-good-smile-company/
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/wonder-festival-2010-winter-highlights/ ~amazing and cute figurines at Wonder Festival 2010!
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reorganized and Added more photos for Wonfes2010 Winter – http://bit.ly/aJVWwH #Wf2010w #Wf2010 #japan #otaku #figma #nendoroid
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
消失長門だと！？可愛いじゃねえか #wf2010w RT @thebanzaieffect: Reorganized and Added more photos for Wonfes2010 Winter – http://bit.ly/aJVWwH #Wf2010w
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
ねんどろルッキー二ちゃんと出るんだよね？ あと、東方ねんぷち３人目は射命丸なのか
http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/wonder-festival-2010-winter-highlights/
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
同人アニメの進化も凄いなあ RT @thebanzaieffect: Kinema Kan Touhou #AMV PV – http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/nutcase23/kinema-kan-touhou-amv-pv/
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
How did I miss hearing about this? Microsoft Ends Xbox Live For Xbox http://bit.ly/99z17t
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Oh my god… Beach Queen Konata’s face is just HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGG http://bit.ly/aKxzfq
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Ah, Wonder Festival. I want to go to there. http://bit.ly/aG16FS Are there any SF Bay Area hobby/kit/figure shows? I feel deprived.
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Azunya~n XD RT @animefigures: Nakano Azusa by Alter: Nakano Azusa / 5440 yen / Alter http://bit.ly/a4dyfY
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
i would buy it, just to support Max Factory – RT @thebanzaieffect: se.kirara Eroge by Max Factory Is Free http://bit.ly/9Pa8xN
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Yummy RT: @thebanzaieffect: New Post: 3D Video Output Exposed on PS3’s 3.20 Debug firmware http://bit.ly/c6Fl81 #ps3 #playstation #3dgaming
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
whoohoo!! RT: @satoutanaka: RT @thebanzaieffect: New Post: K-ON! 2nd Season Gets A Date http://bit.ly/9Lpchf #anime #k-on #keion #otaku
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
OH MAN!!! Mark it on your calendars, April 6 as K-ON day on Twitter > K-ON!! 2nd Season Gets Date http://bit.ly/9Lpchf #anime #k-on #keion
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
！！RT*@thebanzaieffect New Post: Hiiragi Sisters’ Cycling Trip: Alternate Worlds http://bit.ly/9Q8Hva #photography #singapore #travel #figma
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
love plus va a tener manga!!! http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/love-plus-gets-manga/ ahora si, love plus is too real #loveplus
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Fin with Figmas: Hiiragi Sisters’ Cycling Trip — Alternate Worlds. http://bit.ly/dAEbrb (@thebanzaieffect)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Fanta MOO MOO White! http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/fanta-moo-moo-white/ Fanta de leite?! E com zero calorias?! #nojo
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
らしいですね。。RT*@satoutanaka RT @thebanzaieffect: New Post: Haruhi Gets New Novel? http://bit.ly/bWO0lI #haruhi #novel #otaku
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
ねーよｗ QT @thebanzaieffect: ついに「涼宮ハルヒの驚愕」が発売されるか？http://bit.ly/bWO0lI #otaku #haruhi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
its still not over yet.. RT @thebanzaieffect: New Post: Haruhi Gets New Novel? http://bit.ly/bWO0lI #haruhi #novel #otaku
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Haruhi 2012
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
情報はやっｗそしてハッシュタグまでｗ QT @thebanzaieffect: New Post: Angel Beats! PV #7, Songs Announced http://bit.ly/bqljxs #anime #otaku #angelbeats
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
でもそんなの関係ねぇ！
…あれ? あの小島じゃないの？ (-_-;) RT @BlogLinkJapan Kojima Joins Twitter: http://bit.ly/96nB82 #JBlogs
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Angel Beats 2nd PV > http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/angel-beats-pv-7-songs-announced/ cant wait for april ♥
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
WANT! GET! RT @lovely_lemonade: [The Banzai! Effect] Nendoroid Tainaka Ritsu – Drum Smashin’ Awesome http://bit.ly/9WW4pA / @thebanzaieffect
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
AHAHAH! so THIS is what causing the ps3 glitch http://j.mp/daAZsF the ps3 actually thought 2010 was a leap year psssh
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
高島屋ってシンガポールにもあるの!? RT @thebanzaieffect: New Post: Anime Showdown Fair In Takashimaya
Singapore http://bit.ly/bE5Du6 #singapore #otaku
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
@ Ngee Ann City!RT @thebanzaieffect: New Post: Anime Showdown Fair In Takashimaya Singapore http://bit.ly/bE5Du6 (cont) http://tl.gd/e29c8
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
I really wish I have this. It’s just so adorable. LOL http://bit.ly/atBSPK
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Essa BOLOTA do Playstation, parece um sorvetão. http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/playstation-move-unveiled/
This comment was originally posted on Twitter