What does Otaku mean?

To sum it up "otaku" is just the japanese word for obsessed-fan; whether it be anime, manga, gundams, trains... anything really LOL. It's considered weird and almost scary in Japan and there have been many attacks of anti-otaku violence. In the western world, fans have sort of lightened the term because of the popularity of anime and manga culture. An otaku in Japan might be way different from a western world otaku.
Most fans in the western world learn the word and refer to themselves as one because of their love of anime, so much so that the Japanese have a strange belief that all foreigners MUST be peppy otaku's. In a way, it's a bad thing and a good thing.
Some people also get mixed up between an "otaku" and a "hikkikomori" and vice-versa (sometimes ~.~). Being an otaku can turn you into a hikkikomori but some Japanese even see the two terms as one and the same. A hikkikomori is the homicidal, locked-up in their room, closed-off type that everyone seems to connect with liking anime. This is where the otaku name becomes bad.
So, in short, being an otaku would be okay so long as it doesn't turn you into hikkikomori
^_^

I'm just guessing here, but I think an otaku is someone who's obsessed with anime and/or manga. Konata Izumi is a good example of an otaku.

Someone who's obsessed with anime and manga.

I heard that it was bad to be an otaku though.

otaku is a person thats obsessed with anime and manga and everything kawaii ^_^

Someone who is obsessed with something (something usually considered underground and/or geeky in America) or a character from it, to the point at which they are almost homicidal. When I "something", I mean that while otakus are most often associated with anime and manga, it can also go for video games, comic books, underground cartoons, etc. That's all I know.

An otaku is someone who is obsessed with anime and manga, locks himself in his room all day watching/reading it and barely does anything not anime-related. In Japan it had a very bad meaning at first, but the last few years it wasn't that bad anymore...
I guess it's safe to call yourself an otaku now ( ^ - ^ ), since I'm one too.

Otaku originally meant something like you obsessed over it a lot, like your specialized in it. But now it means someone who's REALLY into anime or manga. Like super into (posters, figures, books, the dvds, cosplay a lot...etc)

One who is totally awesome.

Otaku is extremely negative in meaning as it is used to refer to someone who stays at home all the time and doesn't have a life (no social life, no love life, etc)
Usually an otaku person has nothing better to do with their life so they pass the time by watching anime, playing videogames, surfing the internet (otaku is also used to refer to a nerd/hacker/programmer)
ELSEWHERE: Out of Japan is the term "Otaku" used in the meaning of hardcore fan of anime and Manga. Many of anime fans call themselves otaku despite knowing it's meaning in Japan.

Please don't call yourself an otaku, especially in front of real Japanese people, which you most likely never meet.

Otaku in Japanese is a bad word it means...you are really obsessed with something like super obsessed, A lot of American anime fans have adopted this word as a good word to show they pride in anime but if you really love anime and the Japanese culture i wouldn't be calling yourself and Otaku...

Ummm.. Am feeling bad that why u r asking this and anyone's not answering ... so i'll give u the answer to ur recentr question .... but i think it's correct ... becuase it's an answer i'm giving on my own ^^" .....

why is it bad to calling urself an " OTAKU " .... I think if u say ur an Otaku in front of a japanese or something , they'll offend u ... like " This person says she/he's an otaku .... By the recent answers u can see japanese are offended by Otaku's , so they might go against u and do something ^^"

So i guess that's helpfull ^^

otaku means your ........

Someone who really loves anime, manga, and all. They don't care about anything else, but that. Also they usually are weak and ugly, but My friends and I are strong and beautiful. *winks* *others faint*