America's Greatest Art-taku?

I'm a little behind on my blogging, so this post is 1 of several that I'm hoping will be published over the next few days!  The April 7th episode of "America's Greatest Otaku" focused on the core quality of "Imagination" and emphasized the belief that "Life is short, but art lasts forever," a paraphrasing of a Hippocratic quote.  To reinforce this belief, the Otaku 6 were challenged to paint a mural.  While working on this project, the  Otaku 6 met several different artistic people, including Matt Booth, the owner of "Videodrome," dubbed "one of Atlanta's greatest movie rental places."  Sharing the same name as David Cronenberg's cult classic, Videodrome  (http://www.videodromeatl.com/)  offers pretty much everything and anything to tickle your movie nerd fancy.  Another person that crossed the path of the Otaku 6 was Cynthia Kado Shannon, the lead instructor-or godan-at the Shingetsu Kyudo Kai (http://www.shingetsu-kyudo.com/), a school dedicated to the study of archery.    Day 2 of Week 7 was spent learning about the art of Puppetry.   After meet-ups with Jeremy Underwood-who serves as curator of exhibits for the Center for Puppetry Arts (http://www.puppet.org/) -and Theodora Skipitares-a contemporary New York Puppeteer,  the gang slearned about the  bunkaru, or the traditional Japanese Puppet Theater.  Sounds like fun to me!   And, of course, you can't talk about puppets without mentioning Jim Henson, one of the greatest puppeteers who ever lived!!!!!  Without Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) ,  great Muppets such as Kermit the Frog, Big Bird,  Elmo, and duo Bert & Ernie (my childhood faves!)  would not exist!!!!!!!! OK!   I'm getting weepy with nostalgia, so I guess it's time to move on to Week 7, Day 3 & Day 4!  Team D & D (Dre Jean Jacques & Diana Hsu) sojourned to New Orleans and discovered the Japanese poetic form haiku!  The pair visited the New Orleans Haiku Society (http://www.neworleanshaikusociety.blogspot.com/) and discovered an Otaku Hot Spot in the Boutique Du Vampyre (www.feelthebite.com), owned by Marita Jaeger!   The crew met up with 2 other artistic individuals-New Orleans stained glass artist Sarah Segovia & clothing designer Lady Angelique-before finally introducing AGO contender Greer White!!!!!  What makes White believe herself to be America's Greatest Otaku????  Maybe it's her aspiration to be an artist!  Or it could be that she is an avid cosplayer!  But then again, several people could argue that they cosplay as well!  So, maybe it's the fact that Greer White loves Para Para dancing!!!!!!!!  Or it could be the fact that she has attended anime conventions-Mechacon (http://www.mechacon.com/)  in particular-and cosplayed as characters such as Momo Adachi from "Peach Girl" (I've seen that anime!) But then again, what anime fan hasn't done that???  So, does Greer White have what it takes to be "America's Greatest Otaku?"  Only time will tell!!!!!!  In the meantime,  Meera  Jogani & Dominique Kruse (Team Mangaloids)  visited Chicago, Illinois to find other contenders who think that they have what it takes to be "America's Greatest Otaku!" It is in Chicago that they discover an Otaku Hot Spot in Wizard World. Wizard World is a producer of pop culture and multimedia conventions across North America that markets movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming platforms, comic books and graphic novels. It has the rights to the names, marks, domains, customer lists and production rights for a portfolio of pop culture and multimedia conventions (http://www.wizardworld.com/).   Chicago is also where AGO viewers were introduced to business owners Phil Schlaefer (www.comiccollectorshop.com), Xavier B. Hamilton (www.thegrandillumination.com), and Steve Oertel  (www.galleryofink.com).   Finally, they introduced another AGO candidate, Chicago's Miss  Ryan Zanfei!  She makes a very cute Sweet Lolita, loves making accessories, and illustrates manga, but does she deserve to be "America's Greatest Otaku?"  If you can equate Lolita Love with Otaku Fandom, and add it to the fact that she runs her own website (http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=95549&op=new&body=2) ,  then,yes,  it is very possible for Ryan to win the coveted  title. of "America's Greatest Otaku!"   To close out the Chicago visit,   Team Mangaloids visited with Masato Takai, the Manager of Mitsuwa Marketplace (www.mitsuwa.com) and Jillian Marcus, Chicago's AGO candidate!  Among Jillian's qualifications are her career as an Otaku baker and her aspiration to be an anime editor!!!!   And, like many other, anime and manga fans, she cosplays (as "Lucy" from Elfin Lied).  But if merely cosplaying was enough for someone to be declared "America's Greatest Otaku," then I'd definitely have a shot at the title!    "Life is short, but art is long," as is this blog post!!!!!!!! May the art of anime live forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!