Interview With The Webmistress

Well, an interview with one of the best-loved entertainers in the web site business. You have no idea how overjoyed I was when she agreed to it. Just like to say a special thank you to Meri for allowing me to conduct this interview. 

Seexy:  What made you want to become a webmaster, or in your case, a webmistress?
Meri: Becoming a "webmaster" was never my original intent.  Way back in the day, I just wanted to make a web page.  At that point, I had not even heard of the word "webmaster".  But I guess I realized I had become one at some point along the way...I just don't know when.

Seexy: What do you think of the fact that you are almost certainly the most well-known female webmaster in the DBZ community?
Meri: I'm in awe and weirded out by that fact at the same time.  I think it's great that my work is being recognized, especially as a female.  Although, being a
well-known female in the DBZ web community has its downsides, but it's a good learning experience.  Sometimes I wonder why people think it's such a big
deal to talk to me.  I'm just a college student with a web page.  ^_^  But if people like my work, then I'm glad.
 

Seexy: Why choose Trunks to be your favourite character? Which features do you see to be most prominent about him?
Meri: I think he became my fave character because of his tragic past and sweet personality.  No one in DBZ is like him.  He has a vulnerability about him that no one else in the series has, but a lot of strength and courage at the same time.  I love the fact that he had such a horrible past (or future,
hehe), and yet he's one of the few characters that really has his head on straight.  He's an admirable guy.  Plus, the fact that he's an anime hottie helps, too. ^_^
 

Seexy: Did you have any other sites before the Temple O' Trunks? If so, please explain what was on them.
Meri: Nope, the ToT was my first site, although originally, the ToT was a sub-section of a lame-o page I made called "The Otaku Sister's DBZ Section".  That page never went anywhere, but I decided to continue working on the ToT.

Seexy: Which part of the site do you enjoy maintaining most?
Meri: I LOVE making Screencaps, so I really enjoy making images for that section.  I also have tons of fun making Music Videos, and of course, the Feature Films are always nice to work on.  Oh yeah, I also like the Doujinshi and Fan Manga sections...those are always fun to add to.

Seexy: What is your opinion on page pirates? Personally, I can't stand them.
Meri: I think they're lazy and will never get anywhere in the world of the web.  That's all I gotta say about 'em.
 

Seexy: Fan dubs - Good or bad thing? Do you think that it is really detracting
from Funimations profits?
Meri: I think they're both good and bad.  If people get them from the actual fansub distributors who don't make any profit, then I think it's ok, because they're "by fans, for fans".  However, I disapprove of bootlegged fansubs.  It pisses me off, because where I live, I see LOTS of illegal fansub distributors.  I almost yelled at one guy in the mall once, who was selling illegal fansubs *right* across from Suncoast Video, where people could go and purchase the
DBZ DVD's or video tapes perfectly legally.  That's just a moral issue for me.  As for detracting from FUNi's profts?  I USED to think fansubs did, but now I'm sure that fansubs wouldn't stop the company from rolling in dough.
 

Seexy:  On the subject of Funimation, what is your opinion on them? Do you prefer the Japanese episodes to the English ones?
Meri: I have nothing against FUNi.  If not for them, I wouldn't have gotten into DBZ all those years ago.  I dislike some of the things they do, but I don't waste my time bitching about something that's not gonna change.  I just take it as it is, and enjoy it.  I mean, if it was *exactly* like the original version, it would be boring.  I like some of the changes they make, simply so I can laugh at them.  While I do enjoy watching the dub, I definitely love the Japanese version a lot more. ^_^
 

Seexy: Your music videos are superb! How long do they take to make? Do you enjoy making them? Which, of the ones you made, did you enjoy making most?
Meri: Lessee....generally, music videos take me a few hours to make.  Usually about5 total  hours or so, if I know what I wanna do.  I love making them, especially when good inspiration hits me. Oh my....I have many favorite videos!  Right now, my top favorites are "Bye Bye Bye: Trunks vs. #17 & #18", "I Want Someone To Love", "DBZ is Too Sexy", "Vogue: Strike a Pose", and "Trunks: Heart of Sword".  Those are my definite all time fave ones.
 

Seexy: What gives you the inspiration for the music videos that you make?
Meri: My inspiration comes to me when I'm really, really, really, bored. ^_^ Or when I'm in my car and I hear a song and think "hey, this would make for a really cool video". Yeah, that's pretty much it. :)
 

Seexy: Do you watch any other animes regularly? If so, then what are they?
Meri: Oh god, I watch a crap-load of animes!  Do you want a list?  Ok, you asked for it!  Other than the Dragonball series, I love:
Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, Slayers, Fushigi Yuugi, Kimagure Orange Road, Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Trigun, Kodomo No Omocha, Marmalade Boy, Evangelion, Gundam Wing, Rurouni Kenshin, Flame of Recca, Bakuretsu Hunters, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tenchi Muyo, Tenkuu no Escaflowne, Urusei Yastura, Nadesico, Video Girl Ai, Pokemon, Card Captor Sakura, and most Miyazaki movies.  I know I'm forgetting some stuff, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head now.
 

Seexy: Have you seen Dragonball GT? If so, then what is your outlook on it?
Meri: I've seen a handful of GT episodes.  I think it's pretty cute, but I like Dragonball and DBZ much more.
 

Seexy:  Do you think that Planet Namek is over-rated, or deserving of its top spot upon the DBZ throne?
Meri: Well, plenty of sites have things that Plant Namek offers, but their dedication and hard work shines through, so I don't think it's all *that* over-rated.  ^_^  Whatever it is they're doing, they do it well, and it's working.

Seexy: What is your favourite fan fic?
Meri: Well, I don't really like fanfics that much, and I haven't read all that many, but the one that really stands out in my mind is one of the first fanfics I ever read called "Matutinal Encounter" by Katchan.  It's a story all about Trunks and Juunanagou, and the first time I read it, it blew my mind...it's incredible.
 

Seexy: How long (On average) do you spend on the site per day?
Meri: Hmmm, some days I spend as little as a half hour on it, and few days I'll spend as much as 2 hours working on it.  It depends on what kind of content I'm putting up on any particular day.
 

Seexy: Where do you get the innovation and inspiration for most of your sections?
Meri: I get inspiration from many things.  It could come from something I saw from another source that I think might be fun to add to a web site.  Or sometimes people I know inspire me.  And sometimes, being really bored helps me think of new ideas for sections. ^_^
 

Seexy: Do you think that the swearing, and violence in Japanese DBZ should  really be edited out? Is it really anything that youngsters have never heard before?
Meri: Definitely.  I think that stuff should be edited out for television broadcast, but of course, there should be uncut stuff for us older folks (which there is, thank god).  As for stuff that youngsters never heard before....let me tell you a story.  My mom is a kindergarten teacher, and kids in her class like to "play DBZ".  That pretty much consists of running around and beating the shit out of each other, which is something my mom won't stand, so she won't let them "play DBZ".  My mom knows a lot about DBZ, due to my obsession, so she kinda knows what these kids are talking about and doing when they play, but she won't tolerate it when kids are whacking other kids stupid.  Now, I'm assuming this is the edited version these kids are watching.  If somehow they saw the original, who knows what could happen. :P  I think the show should be edited for their sakes.  Save the children from themselves, gosh Damnit! :P
 

Seexy: What is your favourite attack?
Meri: By far, all of Gotenks' attacks, especially the Galatic Dounuts Attack!
 

Seexy: What is your view on Bulma's constant hair styles? Stupid or cool?
Meri: I love the way she always changes her hair!  Bulma is a woman of innovation, even if sometimes her hair styles look a little stupid.  She always has something new to look at, and that's cool.

Seexy: And finally, what do you think should be done about the dumping of atomic waste, and the three-eyed fish? Should it become an Akira Toriyama manga?
Meri: Er...atomic waste?  Yeah, waste for everyone, I'm all for it...riiiight......*runs far far away*.

Seexy: Erm....yes, she said that she had a...er...doctors appointment...heh...heh...cut the tape already!