Genshiken (2004)
Sasahara Kanji is a college freshman who decides to join a student society to share his hidden thoughts on manga, anime and gaming. As he participates in club activities such as visiting dojin shops and anime festivals he opens his mind and resolves that he will make his way into the otaku world.
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Episode 1 - The New Chairman's Ambition
Release Date: 2007-10-10hings are looking up for Sasahara as the Genshiken secures a spot among the dōjinshi vendors at the next Comifes, but the devil is in the details as they quickly need to figure out the finer points of actually making one. An unexpected relief comes when Ogiue actually volunteers her services (if in limited quantities), but will the new President have what it takes to stand up to the other obstacles in their way?
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Episode 2 - Meetings are Disastrous
Release Date: 2007-10-17It's nearing the end of July, and with the deadline for finishing their dōjinshi looming, all the club has to show are the two pages drawn by Ogiue. With Kugayama's continued lack of material pushing the deadline (and Sasahara's patience) to the limit, it looks like they'll have to put aside their differences (and their sleep cycles) to get things done on time.
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Episode 3 - One Hot Summer's Day
Release Date: 2007-10-24The day of Genshiken's participation in Comifes has arrived, and they are finally set to take their place as a vendor. But despite (or because of) Haraguchi's "blessing," sales are initially slow. Ohno's arrival (in cosplay, naturally) seems to change their luck for the better, but things really get underway with a surprise appearance. How Kasukabe will react to it, however, is another matter entirely.
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Episode 4 - Are You Two Going Out?
Release Date: 2007-10-31Ohno likes Tanaka, Tanaka likes Ohno. Both however are too shy and lacking confidence to make a first move. With the rest of Genshiken in a state of concern and confusion over their relationship, Ohno confides in Kasukabe her anxieties and Kasukabe suggests a possible approach that may give both of them the courage to confide their affections.
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Episode 5 - Madarame, the Incumbent Sex Slave
Release Date: 2007-11-07Ogiue catches Sasahara and Madarame in an unintentionally-compromising position, setting her fujoshi imagination alight with various slash pairings between her fellow club members. She may have just found the inspiration to make a dōjinshi for next summer's Comifes, but her sketch of Sasahara gives Saki other ideas.
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Episode 6 - Problematic Hobby
Release Date: 2007-11-14Genshiken is making preparations to go to the upcoming Winter Comifes as a group, but when the other members invite Ogiue along, she adamantly refuses. That doesn't stop her from appearing anyway in the guise of her high school persona to buy all the latest yaoi dōjinshi, but things get complicated as she (literally) runs into the rest of the club.
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Episode 7 - Graduation Syndrome
Release Date: 2007-11-14Graduation time is finally upon Tanaka, Kugayama, and Madarame, and with it come emotional reflections on the past three years for the club. The presidential torch is passed on, and a Kujibiki Unbalance OVA finally gives closure to the first season, but what about Madarame's job hunt? And for that matter, what will become of the Genshiken under President Ohno?
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Episode 8 - Cos-ken
Release Date: 2007-11-28It's the beginning of the school year, and Ohno is planning out her first year as the president of the Genshiken. How will the club change under her cosplay management? Also, Ogiue learns that she's accepted to Comifes and tries to work up the courage needed for her debut. But will the newest iteration of the club sink or swim, and will Kuchiki be Ohno's nemesis, or her unlikely savior?
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Episode 9 - It's Always Raining During Job Hunts
Release Date: 2007-12-05Sasahara's job search is not going as well as he'd hoped; at every turn, his negative portrayal of himself and uncertainty over his own beliefs make companies balk at hiring him. Meanwhile, Kousaka's absence is starting to get to Saki, while Ogiue struggles to draft her Comifes dōjinshi without any interference from Ohno's fetishes. But could Kuchiki be on to something about Sasahara and Ogiue?
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Episode 10 - Otaku from USA
Release Date: 2007-12-12As Ogiue continues her preparations for Comifes, now a few days away, friends of Ohno's from the US show up unexpectedly to come to convention as well. While the foreign otaku ways of Angela and Sue shake up the (somewhat) peaceful clubroom, perhaps Angela is the "sensible" one when it comes to understanding the feelings of others.
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Episode 11 - Real Hardcore
Release Date: 2007-12-19As Comifes starts, Sasahara help Ogiue set up her doujinshi booth. Angela cosplays with Ohno in the costumes Tanaka made for them, while Sue wonders around the convention. Sue eventually obtains one of Ogiue's doujinshi books, and ask her to sign it, claiming it is "real hardcore." At a bathhouse, Ohno wonders why her plan to make Sasahara and Oguie a couple is failing. After Comifes is over, Sue and Angela leave to go back to the United States, with Ohno shipping the massive amounts of doujinshi to them later.
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Episode 12 - What Lies Ahead
Release Date: 2007-12-26Failing continually at his job interviews, Sasahara begins to lose sight of what he's working towards. He finds himself settling to apply for any available opening, and ends up on the brink of giving up altogether. It takes some harsh words and tough love from the rest of Genshiken to convince him to try one more time. And for that matter, how are the other members making out?