We had a tough time deciding whether to feature this anime blog or That Anime Blog, because we wanted to interview the smartest, wittiest, and best-looking anime blogger out there. However, since I can’t very well interview myself, we decided to go with Impz instead. All kidding aside, Impz has done a great job growing That Anime Blog, and putting together an outstanding team of writers. I hope you enjoy the interview, and perhaps you might even be inspired to join his merry band of bloggers.

Deep Thought Questions

You’ve mined both anime and the anime community for research data in your university work. How has this affected the way you enjoy and think about anime and anime fans?

I guess I will be honest to say that my view of anime fans is deteriorating. One of the major incidents related to my coursework was the ODEX incident. I was doing some reading on the blogs for my research in order to get a feel of the social atmosphere. Some of the comments stated by anime fans were downright juvenile. Still, I have seen a good share of nice and wonderful anime fans, so I guess people turn ugly at ugly times.

Nevertheless, it does get a bit sick at times when your work and entertainment revolves around an entity. That is perhaps why I have been watching much less anime than I used to. No one can do the same thing over and over again. Well, not me at least. I refuse to use the “burnout” reason, more like pre-occupied with too much work related issues. Anime is initially something merely for entertainment, and I guess I want to bring anime, a sub-genre within entertainment, as something that can be researched upon.

You have had great success in building a team blog. What methods have worked/not worked for you in recruiting great writers from your fanbase?

You mean I have great writers? I NEVER KNEW THAT! (Runs away from the Jihading Crusader, the metrosexual Extrange, Bishie-loving Briar and Angry Luppie). Well, one thing that really worked supremely well was the “That blogging contest” I held earlier. That is where I found Crusader, and I am still amazed at how I found him from the vast eternity of the Internet. Contests are always good in gathering interest, but I am not sure if I want to do such a contest a second time. Once is enough, with the amount of logistics and the difficulty of telling someone that “his/her writing is not up-to-par compared to the winners.”

It is really hard to tell whether someone will be writing frequently or not. I recruited a lot of writers as most people know, and the ones that stayed and continued to write are few. I will say that it’s generally how long the person comments, the quality of the comment, and the regularity of the comment. These can be tell-tale signs whether this would-be writer will possibly write on a sustained basis. I would love to find out from someone how to keep writers active and happy!

While team blogs might have some advantages over single-author blogs, they come with their own unique challenges. Could you shed some insight into the benefits and issues that arise from working with a team, instead of by yourself?

One thing is that the blog generally has a better chance of staying active. It sounds almost logical, but it seems to at least compensate for personal periods of busyness among individual bloggers. Another thing is the ability to have a backlog of entries when everyone is around. It’s always good to have an active blog. I remember there was a golden period when we had to backlog more than a week of writing. Oh, those days (makes the blog sound bloody darn old!).

The problem arises when no one is writing (like now, grumble). I am always troubled on how to ask my writers to try and produce something, since it feels like I am somewhat embarrassed to force them to write. It is an interest, and not a job. Still, I hate to see the blog inactive for more than 2 days. *Hint hint*

Another issue is when members of the same blog start to have differences. I am glad that the blog never has such issues, since I always tell them that all bloggers in our blog have no control over what one wants to write and say. Even when Crusader started calling everyone a f***er, I allowed him even though I strictly abhorred the use of crude language. It’s his style, and I respect him for that. I have heard horror stories of huge break-ups within a blog though, and I do not want to see that ever. I always tell them before I come in, “This is your blog, blog what you want and no one will disturb it. Treat it like your own blog.”

How do you see THAT Anime Blog growing in the next year? Do you want to have a huge team that pumps out tons of updates, or more of a focused sentai-sized team?

I would love to have a huge team but I believe that it is perhaps not the quantity that matters but more on quality. I often seek advice from the bloggers on whether a certain writer should come into THAT, even though bloggers that are already writing tends to make our choices easier.

I just realize I am beating around the bush. The answer is that I want a huge team of lolis, tsunderes and yanderes to write about anything under the sun and worship me completely. You did ask me to speculate, no? Honestly, I will hope to see a focused sentai-sized team, with everyone writing 1 entry at least every week.

Quick Shots

Have you ever been stopped in public by a fan who recognizes you from your media exposure?

I wish. I hardly have fans in Singapore (if any fans at all). Please tell me where these “fans” are supposed to be. I bet they are trying to find a green hair loli with a fetish for eating sweets rather than a slightly plump male. Sigh, that accursed trap image somehow does not seem to be moving away after so darn long.

Give us your top 5 green-haired characters.

God, this is easy. Tsuruya from Haruhi, Alice Carroll from Aria, Asa from Shuffle!, Midori from Midori no Hibi, and Yoshinoya from Hidamari Sketch. By the way, why 5? I can go to 15 at the very least!

Which is sexier: a post with eroge artwork or a post with graphs?

Unlike the scientific and manly bloggers, I find that a post with eroge artwork is sexier. Graphs just give me a bloody headache, since I deal with them all the bloody time. Seriously, what is so sexy about graphs? I do not see the need to hump a graph.

Favorite anime blog besides your own?

Still mine. Just kidding. I actually enjoy DS’s blog quite a bit, since he/she always has a very interesting twist toward certain anime themes. Don’t tell anyone, but I like to steal some of Daijoubu’s ideas for my own editorials at times. A special mention must go to TJ’s site, since Riuva is one that makes me laugh all the time from the sheer randomness.

Best part about blogging?

It must be the “Thank you for blogging” comment. Some might find it really redundant but when lurkers appear to tell you thanks, it really makes you feel appreciated. So before that TJ starts to spam “Thank you for blogging,” I really thank you for not polluting the air (well, a lame pun, but who cares!).

Worst part about blogging?

It must be the writing of the summary. I always go completely dizzy when I have to start writing one. It takes a huge chunk of time, but I do try to motivate myself sometimes. Sometimes, you do ask yourself why you write a summary that gives you a total headache after that.

Please tell me there is hazing on your blog for new team members. Do you vandalize their posts or change their displayed author name to make them feel more loved?

I never did anything. Now to think of it, new members should really have to suffer a little bit to enter the sacred world of blogging. Duh duh duh! I welcome all suggestions for the impending torture… I mean initiation of the next member.

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