![[Discourse] A Wedding Gown for “Their” Idol: Love Live, male audiences, and idol culture](https://i2.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Love-Live-2.jpg?resize=700%2C393&ssl=1)
“Idols as hope” is an inspiring setup. That is, until it’s undercut by the notion of “idols as product.”
Main Content
Features
![[Perspectives] Nerdy Talk and New Frontiers: My wandering ramble on coming out in the anime fandom](https://i2.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Samantha-Coming-Out-Header-001-20180311.png?resize=750%2C420&ssl=1)
[Perspectives] Nerdy Talk and New Frontiers: My wandering ramble on coming out in the anime fandom
Hi everybody! My name’s Samantha. I’m a gawky, geeky trans girl who loves video games and anime, and secretly I’m a little bit of a metalhead. I’m 33 years old, and I spend my days working as a software engineer. I had a different name up until a few days ago, but it’s dead now. Please be kind and don’t bring that up, ‘kay? I’m just Samantha now. Thank you!
On top of my software engineering work, I also serve as the editor-in-chief at Anime Herald. I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing people at the Herald over the past eight years, and they’ve become like a dear family to me.
Columns
![[AniFemTalk] How can we support independent creators?](https://i0.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DbZZ48tVQAAbaGS.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1)
[AniFemTalk] How can we support independent creators?
The last-minute cancelling of FanCon, a convention specifically designed for marginalized fans, left a lot of creators and exhibitors in the lurch. You can find ways to support at least some of them here, but we want to extend our reach further. We need your help!
![[Links] 11-17 April 2018: Kase-san OVA, Best Couples, & Kyoto Sekai University’s Malian President](https://i0.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/best-show.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1)
[Links] 11-17 April 2018: Kase-san OVA, Best Couples, & Kyoto Sekai University’s Malian President
This week: the Kase-san OVA, the best couples, and Kyoto Sekai University elects the Mali-born Oussouby Sacko as its president.
Podcasts
![[Podcast] Chatty AF 50: Michiko & Hatchin Watchalong – Episodes 7-12](https://i2.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/atsuko.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1)
[Podcast] Chatty AF 50: Michiko & Hatchin Watchalong – Episodes 7-12
Part 2 of the 4-part watchalong of Michiko & Hatchin with Amelia, Vrai, and special guests Lizzie Visitante and Jacqueline-Elizabeth Cottrell! We talk about coding of desirability, particularly regarding thinness and whiteness; swoon over Atsuko, and discuss women in competition (or not).
![[Podcast] Chatty AF 49: Michiko & Hatchin Watchalong – Episodes 1-6](https://i0.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/michiko.jpg?fit=300%2C167&ssl=1)
[Podcast] Chatty AF 49: Michiko & Hatchin Watchalong – Episodes 1-6
Part 1 of the 4-part watchalong of Michiko & Hatchin with Amelia, Vrai, and special guests Lizzie Visitante and Jacqueline-Elizabeth Cottrell! They talk about the cultural context of the series, the fraught issue of on-screen portrayal without diverse casting, and whether the show accurately captures the culture of life in Brazil.
![[Review] Wotakoi: Love is Hard for an Otaku – Episode 1](https://i1.wp.com/www.animefeminist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/7ec795cb2063a110e29fecdee36d884a.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1)
