Lonely Tonight? Get Yourself an Animated Boyfriend!

Jess - NYU — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:41:08 +0000

Sometimes, when it’s Friday night and everyone you know is out but no one thought to invite you along and that guy across the hall who seemed interested yesterday just hugged another girl in the threshold of his room and then closed the door — you just wish there was a way to create the perfect boyfriend and feel better about yourself.

Well, technology hasn’t reached the point where cyborg robots that look like Christian Bale can be bought for your enjoyment, but it has gotten one step closer with Webkare (“web boyfriend” in Japanese).

Suddenly all the rage in Japan (“over 10,000 members just 5 days after its release on September 10, racking up 3.5 million page views in the same time frame”), Webkare is a social networking website that combines instant messaging, profiles, role playing, and virtual dating.

In typical Japanimation style, the 4 “boyfriends” you can choose from are cute in a skinny, 12-year-old, slightly flamboyant, animated way — although it’s not just ‘tweens who are logging on. According to TechCrunch,”52% of members are Japanese females in their twenties, with thirty-somethings accounting for 18% of the user base.”

We’re not sure what to make of this — even though we have been this desperate before. What do you think? Random and weird, or just what the doctor ordered for lonely girls everywhere?

Brit Brit ‘Breaks The Ice’ With Animated Sci-Fi Weirdness

Jess - NYU — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:00:01 +0000


You know, usually I totally love me some Japanimation.
I'm not big into cartoons for adults, but you gotta admit that some of the stuff they do is downright crazy.  Totally LSD-infused and straight up weird.
And every once in a while, I love me some bubblegum pop music, too.  I'm not afraid to say that I turn on some Britney Spears before a night on the town.  Electronic voices, heavy breathing, hooks that burn themselves into your brain forever...it's all good.
But apparently, Japanimation and Britney Spears together equals boring confusion.
Brit's new video for "Break the Ice" is totally animated, but besides the one line the lead character (who's supposed to be her, I guess.  But I mean...who are we kidding?)  lip-syncs, the animation and the song look like some 12-year-old made a YouTube fan video of their favorite cartoon.  I mean, the sh*t doesn't add up.  Brit's music is anything but edgy -- and the weird, sci-fi spy Japanimation is definitely out there.
I don't know.  Take a look.  Maybe you think the synergy is perfect.
As for me, I'm still not convinced Ms. Spears will ever have that comeback.

CollegeCandy » japanimation

Lonely Tonight? Get Yourself an Animated Boyfriend!

Brit Brit ‘Breaks The Ice’ With Animated Sci-Fi Weirdness