'The coffee-tachi are doing their work!' by Kara
Friday, May 18, 2007 at 6:39 AM

Now, then. After doing that whole rant about fandom and entitlement, I have a weird twist on it -- what if the group of which you are a fan isn't, well, safe to be out?

Like Gainax?

Look, I really do enjoy Gainax's stuff. I do. For the most part. I loved Top o Nerae! Gunbuster, I enjoyed Shinseiki Evangelion (although apparently not as much as most people), still have a sick love for FLCL, and I'm thinking Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann is gonna turn into something really good. Those are just a few examples, even -- note that they all involve robots -- but as a rule they're a company whose work I enjoy.

But ... being a Gainax fan sometimes feels like being the parent of a teenager. You love them ... you really do ... you're very fond of them, you have wonderful memories of them ... but sometimes they do something that really just makes you wanna smack the shit out of them.

I will never, ever say that they 'can't,' 'shouldn't,' or 'aren't allowed to' do something (although drawing a picture of Yoko beating the tar out of Coco from PreCure 5 strikes me as just a hair passive-agressive). Nor will I talk about what they actually 'owe' the fans by being a major studio, mainly because they're Gainax and you're never quite sure what you're meant to expect from them. Even if I feel personally like something they've done is really freakin' retarded, I'm not under the impression that my opinion is the one that matters, or that my dislike makes it 'bad' and 'wrong' (unless I, say, see someone doubled up in pain on my hotel room floor and need to reassure him so he doesn't die and leave a stain).

I can, however, shake my head and cry over a few things they do. Like in Gurren-Lagann episode 6, where they do this.

This episode drove me to drink.

Do you ride roller coasters?

First: Yes, constantly! / On occasion / NEVER NEVER NEVER: 12%
Second: I live too far from a theme park. / I did once. / I'm the one who holds the bags while my friends and family ride.: 8%
Third: WAAAH I DON'T HAVE TIME OR MONEY FOR FUUUUUN.: 4%

Only if coerced. / I used to, but don't anymore. / I'm the one who steals the car keys while my friends and family ride.

Uncreativity Award: -10 for 'emotional roller coasters.'

Points

-- 'Not normally. I was once bribed with a 'Mork And Mindy' script to ride one once in Georgia.': +10 BILLION IF YOU LET ME BUY IT OFF YOU

-- 'Are you kidding me? I need the change in my pockets!!': +5 for every person you hit in the face with cash

-- 'I did, and I loved them... that was before they 'fixed' me.': ....... o_O

-- 'I would, and I do enjoy them, but all of my friends are too cheap to go with me cause they are boared with them. If you want to come, considered you ticket paid for.': No points, but everyone take a shot for manga-ka being bribed or invited somewhere

Correct Answer: 'As long as they don't morph into Zondar monsters right when it gets to the cool part.'

Woo-hoo. If you have been, go already!