Aye, a basement dwelling nerd is a basement dwelling nerd regardless of where they are located on the planet, and are looked upon the same way. Otaku are no exception.
Otaku refers to men who prefer computers, games, anime, manga over forming real relationships. It includes obsession with cartoon or fictional girls, but includes more antisocial obsessions than anime girls.
Anime features prominently in Japanese and other Asian cultures. Nothing wrong with that, but not healthy (or creepy, if you prefer) to fixate on fictional females rather than forming relationships with real people.
The problem lies in the behavior of the anime consumer, in other words.
Not a fan myself. I live in Asia and see these characters, and the anime style, everywhere. It strikes me as juvenile and sometimes fun in a marketing context. Would strike me as creepy if someone told me they were in love with an anime girl.
No, that’s not what otaku means. Otaku can be completely disconnected from Anime, and if it is about Anime then it does not have to be connected to girls. The other way around liking the detective series conan or ghibli movies doesn’t make somebody otaku, just like enjoying a Disney movie doesn’t make you a cartoon nerd.
If you read what I wrote you will find I did not equate otaku with anime. I wrote that otaku includes obsession with anime girls. It can include other things too. I don't know what point you mean to make.
Anime features prominently in Japanese and other Asian cultures. Nothing wrong with that, but not healthy (or creepy, if you prefer) to fixate on fictional females rather than forming relationships with real people.
The problem lies in the behavior of the anime consumer, in other words.
Not a fan myself. I live in Asia and see these characters, and the anime style, everywhere. It strikes me as juvenile and sometimes fun in a marketing context. Would strike me as creepy if someone told me they were in love with an anime girl.