My Lovesick Life As A '90s Otaku

Ah, the '90s. A time of dial-up internet, questionable fashion choices, and a burning, all-consuming passion for anime.

And, well, let's just say my pre-teen/teenage self was deeply, irrevocably, and hilariously in love with a whole cast of 2D characters.

My Heart Belonged to the Screen

Forget Leonardo DiCaprio; my heartthrob was Trunks from Dragon Ball Z. That lavender hair? That brooding intensity? Forget about it! I was GONE.

My school notebooks were plastered with images I painstakingly printed out from the early internet. Imagine the horror of waiting 10 minutes for one grainy picture!

And don't even get me started on my desperate attempts to emulate his (frankly impractical) Saiyan armour using cardboard and duct tape.

Sailor Moon Obsession: A Love Supreme

But my affections weren't limited to just Saiyan princes. Oh no. Sailor Moon held a special place in my heart (and my fashion choices).

I genuinely believed I could transform into Sailor Mercury if I just practiced enough. I spent hours perfecting the pose and muttering the incantation in front of my bedroom mirror.

Spoiler alert: I never did. But hey, a girl can dream, right?

The Trials and Tribulations of Fandom

Being a '90s otaku wasn't always easy. Imagine trying to explain to your classmates why you were so obsessed with a show where girls transform into magical guardians.

Most of them were too busy listening to the Spice Girls (no shade, I loved them too!) to understand the nuances of Moon Healing Escalation.

But I didn't care. I had my friends (mostly online, through grainy chat rooms), my bootleg VHS tapes, and my unwavering devotion to all things anime.

The Quest for Merch

Oh, the merchandise! Or rather, the severe lack thereof. Finding official anime merchandise in the '90s was like searching for the Holy Grail.

It involved scouring obscure comic book shops, begging relatives to bring back souvenirs from Japan, and spending my entire allowance on imported manga.

I remember once finding a tiny Sailor Moon keychain at a flea market. I clutched it like it was the Hope Diamond!

Looking Back with a Smile

Looking back, I realize how incredibly dorky I was. But you know what? I wouldn't trade those awkward, lovesick, anime-fueled years for anything.

My obsession with anime taught me about different cultures, sparked my imagination, and connected me with a community of like-minded weirdos (who I still consider some of my best friends).

So, to all my fellow '90s otaku out there: let's raise a glass (of Ramune soda, naturally) to the days of dial-up internet, bootleg tapes, and unwavering love for our 2D crushes.

We were gloriously, unapologetically, and utterly obsessed. And it was awesome.

And hey, at least I had good taste in animated characters, right?