Always wanted to know if you're an Otaku? Check the rules below to see if you meet the requirments ^_^

1.	Watches anime to the exclusion of all else
2.	Thinks about anime constantly
3.	Falls in love with an anime character
4.	Introduces elements of anime into role-playing games
5.	Knows all the words to anime soundtracks even though he doesn't speak the language or know what they mean
6.	Dreams in anime, rather than lifelike
7.	Thinks up crazy schemes to introduce mainstream anime into the US via prime-time TV
8.	Wonders how all the girls at his college would look in sailors suits
9.	Reflexively curses in Japanese, rather than English
10.	Compares live girls to anime and finds they don't measure up
11.	Spontaneously breaks into anime song as he walks from place to place (the Ranma theme song, especially)
12.	Feels the world would be a better place if everyone had hardsuits
13.	Is ashamed to admit how much money he would give for a 33-S buma
14.	Thinks up dance moves for the disco music from BGC 1
15.	Considers Lum a "babe"
16.	Considers Godai and Karinin-san the Japanese Romeo and Juliet
17.	Tries to modify a used car to look like a black Griffin, complete with ram plate
18.	Screams the name of an anime character during orgasm
19.	Names his children after characters
20.	Creates a list of "you know you're an otaku when..."
21.	Has no interest in american culture
22.	Has a Rumiko Takahashi shrine in his house
23.	Has a voodoo doll with Carl Macek's face on it
24.	Breaks the kneecaps of people who call them "cartoons"
25.	Misses the first 30 seconds of Star Trek because he is trying to find subtitles to read

You've seen them on the street, in the comic stores, at conventions. You can't quite put your finger on it, but there's something... well, "not quite human" might be too strong a phrase, but there's definitely something odd about them. Maybe it's the laundered-into-illegibility Priss and the Replicants t-shirt. Or the tiny Totoro zipper pull toy dangling from the ubiquitous backpack. Or maybe it's the word "otaku" emblazoned in Japanese on their lapel pin.

Congratulations. You've just spotted your first specimen of a fannish species known to scientists and sociologists as otaku no anime (or manga) hardcorus, the hard core Japanese animation/comics fan currently breeding in record numbers in this country.

By itself, the word "otaku" isn't inherently bad. It's actually kind of neutral. It's when you use it as a noun-- and not as a non-gender-specific second-person pronoun, which is how nice people use it-- that you risk being labeled as one of the otaku zoku, the "tribe of the otaku" Japanese parents tell their kids they'll turn into unless they hit those books and develop some normal hobbies. Laws, yes....

In some ways, depending on what you masquerade as in your "real" life, being fingered as an otaku can be worse than being outed. Jobs have been lost. Careers ruined. And the worst part is, once you've been slapped with that scarlet otaku "O," chances are no self-respecting Japanese will ever be seen with you in public again.

What's a poor otaku to do? If you're like most anime/manga otaku in the world today, you go underground. Wa-a-a-a-y underground. So underground even your own poor disappointed mother couldn't find you. American anime/manga otaku are lucky-- because their breed is still relatively few in number, scientists have yet to alert the general populace as to their existence. Of course, after all the blatant exposure anime and manga are getting in the media these days, your best bet is to keep a low profile and hope everyone assumes the character on your shirt is something from Speed Racer.

If you've ever thought seriously about moving to Japan to teach English for a year, you're at risk. If you've ever caught yourself swearing to work harder on your Japanese, if only to order sushi, you're susceptible. And god help you if you start reading rec.arts.anime.

Welcome to the Otaku Nation!!!

One easy way is to take this this test. Read each statement seperately. Give yourself the indicated amount of points if that statement is true for you. If it's qualitative and you are not sure, give yourself the points if it's more true than not true.

Reality Breakdown

• If you dream about your favorite anime or manga, give yourself 2 points.
• If the dreams are regular, give yourself 1 more point.
• 2 points if you've been an active character in a recent anime/manga-related dream.
• 3 points if you try to purposely induce these dreams.
• 1 point if the dreams you have tend to be sexual in content.
• 2 points if you've had wet dreams you can remember about anime or manga.
• 1 point if you've ever waken up yelling the name of a anime or manga character.
• 0 points if you'd like to have anime-based dreams, but can't seem to.
• -5 points if you didn't answer 'yes' to any of the above.


• 2 points for accidently addressing someone with the name of a character they look like rather than their real name.
• 2 points if you've ever done cosplay.
• 1 point if you've done cosplay recently.
• 3 points if you did cosplay and a performance in front of a public audience.
• 1 point if the performance was in japanesse.
• 2 points if you won an award.
• 4 points for dressing up as a character of the opposite sex.
• 6 points if people actually didn't realize your real sex.
• -1 point if you haven't ever done Cosplay.
• -1 point if you made fun of someone who did.


• 1 point for wishing you were a certain anime or manga character.
• 3 points for wishing your girlfriend/boyfriend was a certain anime or manga character.
• 5 points for actually believing you are a certain anime or manga character.

Shows

• 1 point for seeing "Otaku no Video".
• 3 points if you liked "Otaku no Video".
• -1 point for each Disney film you have sat through.
• -5 points if you liked any Disney film.
• -5 points if you like a recent Disney film (Little Mermaid on)

Public and Appearance

• 2 points if you own shirts or clothes with anime or manga characters on them
• 2 points if you wear them regularly
• 3 points for openly admitting you like anime or manga to a non-family member.
• 2 points for openly admitting you like anime or manga to your girlfriend/ boyfriend.
• -1 points if you avoid people wearing anime or manga clothing.

Habits

• 3 points for pulling an anime all-nighter.
• 1 point if it was all the same show.
• 2 points if you yell "baka" at least once every few days.
• 2 points if your class notebooks or general notes have anime-style art in them.

Internet

• 2 points if you use 'the internet' regularly.
• 2 points for using an anime-based nickname.
• 1 point for mentining anime in your .sig file.

Social

• 1 points if you have belonged to an anime/manga club.
• 3 points if it was a tightly-knit circle.
• 2 points if you knew every member.
• 3 points if you were an officer.
• 5 points if you had to drop a class for reasons related to anime or manga.
• 2 points if you discuss anime or manga while eating.
• -1 points if you belonged to a club in the past, but left because you disliked it.
• -2 points if you actively shun people from an anime / manga club.


• 2 points for being at a con where you bought some anime / manga.
• 2 points for ever going to a solely anime-based con.
• 1 point if you liked it.
• 1 point if it was the best thing you did all week.
• 1 point if you stayed up all night.
• -4 points if you freaked out and had to leave early.

Health and Body

• 2 points if you often get bloody noses when looking at cute boys / girls.
• 1 points for knowing a martial art.
• 2 points if it's japanesse and not karate (Kendo, iajitsu, ninjitsu, etc.).
• 1 point for dye-ing your hair.
• 4 points if you dye it an anime off-color (pure white, pink, bright red, green, blue, violet, bright silver).
• 1 point for having anime-style sideburns.

Scoring
less than 0 points: No need to worry.
0 - 5 points: Questionable. Proceed with caution.
5 - 10 points: Not Conclusive. Maximum limit by coincedence alone.
11 - 15 points: Borderline. You are beginning to show signs of Otakudom, but it is by no means a serious problem (yet).
16 - 20 points: Typical. At this level, you are a "mainstream" or "typical" Otaku.
21 - 25 points: Fanatical. At this level, you are more "Otaku" than most Otaku, or an "Otaku among Otaku."
more than 26 points: Disturbed. Seek psychiatric help.