Definition of waifu, and brief history of the term
“Waifu.” Dictionary.com. Mar 1, 2018. https://www.dictionary.com/e/fictional-characters/waifu/

Animesuki forum using the term “waifu” in 2006
TamaNeko. “Mai waifu ~desu.” Animesuki Forums. May 21, 2006. https://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=566857&highlight=waifu#post566857

Animesuki forum using the term “husbando” in 2007
Eidolon Sniper. " now claim Lockon as my husbando." Animesuki Forum. Oct 29, 2007. https://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=1227051&highlight=husbando#post1227051

AnimeNation article covering the history of moe
Oppliger, John. “Ask John: What is Moe?” AnimeNation News Blog. Jan 30, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627215652/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2004/01/30/ask-john-what-is-moe

AnimeNation article further covering moe anime and the history of moe
Oppliger, John, “Ask John: What Are the Defining Moé Anime?” AnimeNation News Blog. May 28, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150521195124/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2012/05/28/ask-john-what-are-the-defining-moe-anime/

Compehensive book about what “moe” is, and source for a lot of this video
Galbraith, Patrick W. “The Moe Manifesto.” Tuttle Publishing. Apr 25, 2017. https://www.amazon.ca/Moe-Manifesto-Insiders-Worlds-Gaming/dp/0804848882

Book about the history and terms of otaku culture
Galbraith, Patrick. W. “The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider’s Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan.” Kodansha International. Feb 28, 2014. https://www.amazon.ca/Otaku-Encyclopedia-Insiders-Guide-Subculture/dp/1568365497

Book about manga and otaku in general
Thompson, Jason. “Manga: The Complete Guide.” Del Rey. Oct 9, 2007. https://www.amazon.ca/Manga-Complete-Guide-Jason-Thompson/dp/0345485904

Paper generally about how fictional characters are percieved and Japan
Galbraith, Patrick W. “Exploring Virtual Potential in Post-Millennial Japan.” University of Tokyo. Oct 31, 2009. http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/articles/2009/Galbraith.html

Book about the history of otaku culture and how it became focused on characters
Azuma, Hiroki. “Otaku: Japan’s Database Animals.” University Of Minnesota Press. March 25, 2009. https://www.amazon.ca/Otaku-Japan%C2%92s-Database-Hiroki-Azuma/dp/0816653526

Video interview about moe and its perception
Pause and Select. “An Interview with Patrick W. Galbraith ➜ What is Moe(phobia)?” YouTube. Jul 27, 2017. https://youtu.be/75gNr8b2Ey8

The market for moe merchandise being deemed worth 88 billion yen in 2005
Macdonald, Christopher. “Moe Market Worth 88 Billion Yen.” Anime News Network. Apr 25, 2005. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-04-25/moe-market-worth-88-billion-yen

Hideaki Anno discussing Rei vs Asuka, and how people have latched on to these characters
Green, Scott. ““Evangelion” Creator Hideaki Anno Discusses Rei Versus Asuka.” Crunchyroll News. Apr 14, 2017. https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/04/14-1/evangelion-creator-hideaki-anno-discusses-rei-versus-asuka

Evangelion on the list of highest grossing franchises, at $16.3 billion
“List of highest-grossing media franchises.” Wikipedia. Accessed May 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220501193405/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises#$10%E2%80%9320_billion

The history of Kyoto Animation
kViN.“The Evolution Of Kyoto Animation: A Unique Anime Studio And Its Consistent Vision.” Sakuga Blog. Aug 25, 2018. https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2018/08/25/the-evolution-of-kyoto-animation-a-unique-anime-studio-and-its-consistent-vision/

TV Asahi poll of most popular anime of all time (in 2006)
Macdonald, Christopher. “Japan’s Favorite TV Anime.” Anime News Network. Oct 12, 2006. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-13/japans-favorite-tv-anime

K-On being responsible for guitar sales in Japan
Ransom, Ko. “K-ON Partly Credited for Historic Electric Guitar Sales.” Anime News Network. Apr 12, 2012. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-04-12/k-on-partly-credited-for-historic-electric-guitar-sales

Translated interview with Katsura Hashino and Shigenori Soejima
Trans. M. Kirie Hayashi. Translated by Moylan, Matt. Paulsen, Ash. “Persona 3 Official Design Works.” Udon Entertainment. 2012. p130-136. (Transcript from Megatengaku). https://megatengaku.wordpress.com/readings/interviews/persona-3-official-design-works-interview/

Interview with Horikoshi about his characters being curvy and sexy
Peters, Megan. “‘My Hero Academia’ Reveals Reasoning For Heroines’ Curvy Designs.” Comicbook.com. Mar 29, 2019. https://comicbook.com/anime/news/my-hero-academia-manga-anime-designs-female-curvy/

Interview with Fujimoto about him liking strong women in his manga
“Fujimoto Tatsuki and Samura Hiroaki Interview.” Sword Translations. Jan 30, 2021. https://swordtranslations.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/fujimoto-tatsuki-and-samura-hiroaki-interview/