Iteru

I head Anime so this is a tl;dr

Today is the anniversary of when I became one of the heads of Anime, in a Provisional Co-Heading position. I was offered the role from Musashi, who wanted to focus on Admin duties. With Dogasu heading the section for around 4 years at that point, and my predecessor doing such a good job in the section and out of it to be made Head Administrator, it’s a really tough act to follow with big boots to fill.

Honestly, I think I’ve got one of my feet somewhat comfortably in the left one and the other one just isn’t fitting. This time next year we’ll see if I’ve got it in there okay, or torn right through the end of it.

With that in mind, overall I’ve enjoyed being Co-Head of Anime. It’s a section that if it was a human would be diagnosed with multiple personality disorder; some days it’s hilarious, some days it’s serious, some days its furious and others it’s just in its own little world (after snorting a couple of lines of cocainefangasm). It’s kinda influenced me. There’s been this recurring issue though that is:

How do you solve a problem like Best Wishes?

Though it’s not a problem with the show itself, it’s how you solve the rifts it has. Dent vs Iris, DP vs BW, quick pace vs slower pace, more captures and less showcasing. People generally seemed quite comfortable in DP (okay, maybe others and I trolled a bit :P) but for BW there’s a lot of differing opinions and people get annoyed. I think it’s safe to say that’s the right boot. We’ll see if the new rules help in that regard, or at the very worst, pray the next saga doesn’t have such mixed opinions.

Regarding the left boot I think that’s the day-to-day responsibilities of being Co-Head as well as more of the behind-the-scene decisions like reformatting the section and thinking of new things to do. There’s not really much to elaborate on that, and the things that I could do are mainly non-public at the moment. I’d say the most successful thing was the Season 2 Current Events forum. We really wanted to give a lot more breathing room for everyone to talk about it and I think it worked out great. Definitely going to suggest another similar forum for when the first bit of info about the next saga is revealed. I’ve got another big project that I really want to propose to you guys and I think a lot of you will like it but the timing needs to be right for it to be effective. Fans of one of the older sagas will like it a lot ;] (and no it’s not my own personal favourite one :P)

So because probably no one has read the above and mainly wants to see what I’ve wrote about some select people, here we go xD The following mean the most to me as a Co-Head:

- The guy obsessed with Maylene’s feet. May you find the answer you seek…somewhere else.

- The BW2 Animated trailer. I’m sure you will cause many realistic expectations of the Anime for years to come.

- N. Somehow you are the answer to Best Wishes’ problems and need to arrive asap.

- The ageing process. Satoshi when you become 11 I cannot wait for the big amazing changes it will bring to your character.

Okay, here are the real ones xD

@Musashi; For being the one who decided to take me on as a mod in the first place and felt that I could Co-Head. It’s weird because looking back to when I was first active in Anime in 2010 because neither of us thought I’d ever be a mod of the place xD When I did become a mod though you had already started planning changes for the section and I remember being sorta nervous in case my comments or ideas were bad but even for the ones that weren’t utilised you were always really supportive and took the time to read them, as well when I wasn’t sure of what to do for a post. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to have accepted the Co-Head position if it wasn’t for being able to have learned how to be a good one off of you. It’s definitely not stopped there though; with you being my immediate boss of sorts I still discuss with you a lot both Anime-wise and whole-forum wise and I enjoy almost every second of it.
@Dogasu; I can’t think of anyone else who has done as much for the fandom as you have. I can only but wonder what would happen if we didn’t have someone who could clear up confusion caused by the language barrier of the Japanese airings or someone who wasn’t so knowledgeable about new product releases. I don’t think they’d nearly be enough of a section as there is to Co-Head with you gone and I really hope I’ll be able to Co-Head with you for another year or so.
@CommanderPigg; The one who made the suggestion for me to be hired. Most people know that I guzzled the Chanpagne before modship or Co-Headship, so I’ve always had a lot of fun working with you and having you as a friend. While I don’t work with you directly in Anime anymore, I really enjoyed it when we did and know that you have a lot of great ideas for what can be a very eccentric side of the Anime fandom. Outside of direct modding activities, I’m really glad that I have someone I can talk to if it just isn’t a good day and/or I’m feeling stressed and I couldn’t ask for anyone better in that regard.
@garrison-san; My fellow British Anime mod. You are really hard-working and incredibly reliable. I can’t think of anyone else that I can count on more and I was both so proud and grateful for the amazing job you did heading Anime for me in my reduced activity for the start of Season 2. When the time comes for me to resign as Co-Head (or get fired, who knows :P) I know who I want to succeed me. I’m just hoping I don’t need to resign because of West Nile disease.
@Hellion; Who ever thought that we’d be Anime mods? xD I remember you started off modding in War Room and then someone on Anime left (I think it was either Pigg or Puppet) and because of all the great ideas you’d been suggesting Musashi said she thought you’d be a great choice to fill the void, and you were! I don’t think anyone else can make as much of a convincing post as you can for staff related matters and when you were given the reigns for War Room, you and other new heads made me start to sweat drop a bit with the new standards of heading that was arising.
@Aestivate; The first person I had the pleasure of hiring myself as Co-Head. Musashi and I were like “Aesti is really sane, calm and level-headed” and then you turned out to be the complete opposite with your passion and dedication to making sure that people were treated fairly and that some of our users who don’t have much of a place to feel welcome could do so in the Anime section and Bulba as a whole. I couldn’t have been happier that my first overall impression was off in a good way. I still really have no idea how you manage to study medicine, volunteer, have a social life and mod the forums all at the same time. A lot of other people including myself would be curling up in a ball in a corner by now and I think it’s amazing that with so much on you’re still so successful in everything that you do.
@Insanish Danish; I always hear people say that heading Anime must be one of, if not the, most stressful sections to head and honestly they could not be more wrong. Heading Shipper’s Paradise, heading Chef’s Chateau, moderating Romance Advice, modding Anime… how the hell do you do that? xD I think you might be one of the most resilient people I’ve ever encountered and I feel so lucky that Anime has someone with so much versatility and pure stamina for modding.
@The Puppetmaster; I hate you for ditching my section. Never talk to me again You weren’t on Anime for very long and I was soooooo excited when you got picked as I wanted to warp you into my own creation er saw a bit of myself in you um thought you were going to be one of the most promising hires and a sort of rival to hurristat xD Though for the short time you were part of the Anime staff I remember you were really enthusiastic and you has this energy that was really motivating. Someday you will gain an interest in the show again and come back… someday.
@Sheep; Another one who I didn’t get to work with as much as others. I don’t know if you remember your original moderator application back in 2011 but one of the most noticeable things about it was how honest you were and said things that many of the other applicants would fear of letting slip lest we terminate their application immediately. Modship isn’t all fairies and rainbows, and it can be really hard to speak up during the bad parts but I was really pleased whenever you said what you didn’t like and how you thought it could be improved because it showed that you really cared and wanted the place to be better. I hope that’s a trait that I’ll be able to utilise fully one day.
@Hidden Mew; My new mod! I’ve barely had much of a chance to work with you as you’ve been staff for around 2 weeks now but I’m really impressed so far with the new things you’re willing to work on and your attitude towards debating. I know a lot of the users respect you in debates and really appreciate that you have the ability to mutually come to a close on a discussion. I’m really excited to see how your modship goes and I’m really pleased with your progress on the staff so far. Definitely hope both you and I will be on the staff this time next year.

@All the mods: Thank you for putting up with me :P I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you guys if I couldn’t come to you for advice or just some fun people to talk to. I think the social side of modship has really helped me survive as Co-Head and if/when I leave the staff I’d love to still talk to you all; you’re just that amazing.

@Anime posters: I really wanted to make some individual messages here but I made the silly mistake of starting this on a Saturday and other things coming up but to sum it up short you guys make the section and the best times I’ve had here on Bulba are spent fangasming over characters, the latest episode news and having debates over episodes or characters. I’ve been a part of the community with you guys for around 2 full years now and I’m really proud and grateful to say that they were years thoroughly enjoyed.