I’ve studied Japanese for a few years. I studied in Japan for half a year. It’s been two years since I stopped studying Japanese in school, though I still try to keep up with things. My Japanese has more than a few holes in it, and I don’t get enough practice speaking these days.
And all this time, I have been an otaku.
The otaku in the Japanese classroom is considered by some to be one of the most unpleasant aspects of taking Japanese classes. I don’t really believe this to be true, because the real culprit isn’t being an otaku, it’s having no actual desire to learn the language. Even if it’s not something you plan to pursue well into fluency, throwing around baka and sugoi doesn’t benefit anyone.
That said, I believe anime CAN help you learn and improve your Japanese. Being an otaku does not put you at a disadvantage. It does not impede your education as long as you know what to watch out for.
Do not take the words spoken in anime as any indication of what is formal or even informal or friendly speech. A lot of anime does not try to accurately portray Japanese society, but rather tries to reflect upon it. There’s really no steadfast rule here. You basically have to learn how to filter out anything that is too unusual, or to learn it but to keep in mind that it’s unusual.
Learning vocabulary also falls into this category. You have to take what you learn and refine it. For example, memorizing special attacks and technique names alone won’t help you in any normal or academic situation, but I think they can give the aspiring Japanese-learning otaku and introduction to the difference between on and kun readings, as well as kanji compound formation.
The best way to put it perhaps, is to say that if you have the drive to learn the language, any usage of it no matter how odd can benefit you as long as you let it and know how to let it.
Oh, and I don’t think anything needs to be said about reading raw manga and learning from there.
OGIUE MANIAX 
Some people do say that reading Japanese is harder than speaking it… with the sheer number of kanji that’s usable. Then again, some manga and other literary works have furigana for those who are unfamiliar…
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They say that, somewhere out there there is someone who is your clone.
And I think I’ve found that person.
Everything you’ve said in your blogs I completely agree with, but I only found this blog thanks to our shared mistress,
Ogiue Chika.
I recently just finished Genshiken, watched both anime and the OVAs, and it’s driving me crazy there is no more. Why did they stop at the end of season two, WHY!? Was seeing the kiss scene between Sasahara and Ogiue too hard to accept?
Granted, I don’t recall ever seeing them kiss, but that is besides the point.
In your three part Why I like Ogiue posts, I felt like I was reading my own words. It’s completely true. Those darn eyes are vexen. Her personality, how’s she’s drawn, her struggles, there is something about her that even I can’t shake off.
It pains me to admit she’s just a character drawn by someone.
But still.
I know I sound crazy, but here I thought I was the only one around to share this odd passion and ideas, but I believe I’ve found an equal!
Be expecting to see my replies more on this BRILLIANT blog of yours, and hopefully, make a friend!
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I believe that having anime as your only motivation for learning Japanese will probably cap your limit as to how much you will learn. One should eventually have more motivations and love for the language and not just rely on anime.
And personally, I find reading much easier than speaking. I can read mangas and understand the storyline, but I can’t hold a proper conversation yet.
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Now I want to know if OguieNme/Cacti is also a dude!
I’m curious as to where you studied Japanese in Japan.
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