Details
- Episodes:12
- Format:TV
- Average Score:74
- Popularity:1388
- Status:Finished Airing
- Season:Fall 2004
- Duration:25 min. per ep. minutes
- Genre:Comedy, Parody, Slice of Life
- Country:JP
Kanji Sasahara is an introverted college freshman just looking for a place to fit in. One day, he happens to stumble upon the club known as the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture—otherwise known as Genshiken—that serves to bring the full spectrum of otaku culture together. His first visit to the club, however, does not end well as Sasahara's pride is crushed by his senior, Harunobu Madarame, and he leaves the meeting in full denial of his otaku nature. However, after befriending club member Makoto Kousaka, who turns out to be a hardcore otaku despite his looks, Sasahara becomes more involved with club activities which include obsessing over their favorite anime, reading doujinshi, and attending conventions. There, he meets other interesting people like Kousaka's vehemently non-otaku girlfriend Saki Kasukabe, who strives to turn her boyfriend into a "normal guy." While Saki struggles to understand otaku culture and her boyfriend's love for it, Sasahara finds himself enjoying his time at Genshiken, gradually shedding any denial he once had about being an otaku and immersing himself in an otaku lifestyle. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Episodes
1. Episode 1
An introduction episode explaining how Kohsaka, Kasukabe and Sasahara got involved with Genshiken; after some uncertainty, Sasahara decides to fully participate in the club.
2. Episode 2
Genshiken takes Sasahara to Akihabara for dōjinshi shopping while Kohsaka and Kasukabe go to Harajuku for clothes; Kasukabe discovers Kohsaka's hentai collection and gets an introduction on the subject from the others.
3. Episode 3
Genshiken goes on a club trip to Comifes, a large comic convention; Madarame seriously injures his hand, but pretends to be fine in the name of fandom until the pain becomes too great to bear.
4. Episode 4
Ohno is introduced as she joins Genshiken, while Genshiken takes part in a university club fair and Kasukabe's ex-boyfriend pays her a visit.
5. Episode 5
Due to Genshiken's lack of "activities" as defined by the school, the club is threatened with closure; salvation comes from an unlikely source as Kasukabe intervenes personally.
6. Episode 6
Kasukabe tries to make herself more appealing to Kohsaka by taking an interest in his hobbies by trying to learn how to play Puyo Pop Fever. Sasahara's sister Keiko also makes an appearance and calls on her brother for help.
7. Episode 7
Two freshmen take an interest in Genshiken and join them for a night out on the town. Kasukabe, however, has no intention of making them feel welcome.
8. Episode 8
Ohno and Sasahara start a plamo project and get the whole club involved, while Kasukabe learns an important lesson.
9. Episode 9
Madarame is stuck in the club room with Kasukabe and tries to strike up a conversation, running through different scenarios in his head which parody the visual novel format.
10. Episode 10
The club, along with Keiko, pays a visit to the beach, much to the dismay of some of the members; Keiko decides to compete for Kohsaka's feelings and tries to become an otaku.
11. Episode 11
Kasukabe decides the club room needs a cleanup, but an accident causes Genshiken to be banned from the university fair. As an apology, Kasukabe takes Ohno's place in the fair's cosplay contest.
12. Episode 12
The club is depressed due to their punishment of community service. Sasahara becomes the new President and proposes that the society attend Comifes as a circle.
