Nico Nico Douga culture and its effect on anime openings
Oh no– don’t let the title give you the wrong idea. This won’t be some long, drawn out essay. This is just something I’ve noticed.
It seems this season some shows are looking back at the fanbase for certain amounts of inspiration. Rather, the people who make these things are probably fans themselves. Openings in particular have been stellar, and some of the best pieces are those that draw upon Nico Nico Douga for inspiration. The Kannagi opening is reminiscent of a Miku video, Rosario + Vampire Capu 2’s opening is a clear homage to iDOLM@S videos, and both Jigoku Shoujo season 3 and Goku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei have very MAD movie inspired opening numbers.
This dialogue between fans and creators is really cool. It’s nothing new to anime, though– it’s been happening since the 1980s with things like Project Ako– but the advent of new internet culture gives creators more wacky things to make reference to. I mean, look at Pani Poni Dash– the understanding of most of those sight gags and such is dependent on knowledge of Japanese internet culture.
These kinds of references also put the creators on a more personal level with the fans. When referencing anime, you’re referencing something else that another creator at your same level has made. However, when referencing an internet meme, you’re putting yourself on the same level as an average fan, telling them, “yeah, we’re just like you.”
I just think that’s neat.
I think this generation of OPs is highly effective from a marketing standpoint, too. 90 seconds of footage is perfect for youtube/niconico viewing, and unlike a trailer, you don’t have an announcer tripping over an awkward summary of what the show is about- the OP speaks for itself.
Reading an interview on Ryo Moto today, he commented that he started to publish doujinshi only after he went pro after graduating college, not before.
So there’s that venue as well. Plus the usual mail bag and what not.
Watch the first couple of OPs of Penguin Musume Heart. Apparently at least one of them were done by Nico Nico users. :P
Well Penguin Musume heart aired on Nico, so.