Gigguk
{{Short description|Thai-British YouTuber (born 1990)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = Gigguk
| image = File:Gigguk at SMASH 2022.jpg
| image_caption = Gigguk at SMASH! 2022 in Sydney, Australia
| birth_name = Garnt Maneetapho
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|05|31|df=yes}}{{cite tweet |user=GiggukAZ |number=1134407011427323905 |title=It's my birthday, but I don't need any presents so send me your best memes. |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=29 May 2021}}
| birth_place = Brighton, East Sussex, England{{cite tweet |user=GiggukAZ |number=316729399602991105 |title=@Brandon2469 I was born and bred in Brighton, England. So yes I am |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=29 May 2021}}
| nationality = {{hlist|British|Thai}}
| location = Tokyo, Japan
| education = University of Bristol (MEng)
| occupation = {{hlist|Podcaster|YouTuber}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Sydney Poniewaz|2022}}
| channel_handle = Gigguk
| years_active = 2006–present
| genre = Anime
| subscribers = 3.61 million
| views = 624 million
| associated_acts = {{cslist|The Anime Man|CDawgVA}}
| silver_button = Y
| silver_year = 2013
| gold_button = Y
| gold_year = 2017
| module = {{Infobox Twitch streamer
| subbox = yes
| channel_name = Gigguk
| years_active = 2011–present
| genre = {{Flatlist|
- Gaming
- Just Chatting}}
| games = {{Flatlist|
}}
| views =
}}
| stats_update = 1 April 2025
}}
Garnt Maneetapho (born 31 May 1990), better known as Gigguk, is a Thai-British YouTuber and podcaster who is known for his comedic rants and reviews on anime and otaku culture.{{cite web |title=Top 30 Anime of All Time According to Gigguk |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2021/11/23-1/recs-top-30-anime-of-all-time-according-to-gigguk |website=Crunchyroll |access-date=23 January 2022 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123160120/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2021/11/23-1/recs-top-30-anime-of-all-time-according-to-gigguk |url-status=live }} He is affiliated with the Kadokawa-backed agency GeeXPlus.{{cite news |url=https://ofb.biz/safari/article/856.html |title=A Normie's Haphazardly Ordered Guide to an Often-Overlooked Art Form |last=Powell |first=Dennis |date=8 April 2021 |publisher=Open for Business |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212521/https://ofb.biz/safari/article/856.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Kelts |first=Roland |title=GeeXPlus brings anime YouTubers to Japan |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/02/03/general/geexplus-brings-anime-youtubers-japan/ |newspaper=The Japan Times |location=Tokyo, Japan |date=3 February 2020 |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524065531/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/02/03/general/geexplus-brings-anime-youtubers-japan/ |url-status=live }}
Career
Maneetapho created his YouTube channel, then called "The Anime Zone", in 2006, using the online pseudonym "Gigguk," a nickname by which his family called him.{{cite web |last=Rowland-Dixon |first=Taye |date=5 October 2018 |title=Verge Meets: Gigguk |url=https://vergemagazine.co.uk/verge-meets-gigguk/ |access-date=25 May 2021 |publisher=Verge Magazine |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525091456/https://vergemagazine.co.uk/verge-meets-gigguk/ |url-status=live }} In 2012, he created parodies of popular anime, starting with Rebuild of Evangelion into the EvAbridged series.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbr.com/anime-abridged-series-more-popular/ |title=10 Abridged Series More Popular Than The Actual Anime |last=Trinos |first=Angelo Delos |date=20 March 2021 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=30 May 2021 |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525112920/https://www.cbr.com/anime-abridged-series-more-popular/ |url-status=live }}
From 2012 to 2016 Maneetapho was a member of the PodTaku podcast alongside co-hosts Tristan Gallant (Arkada), Holden Bremley (HoldenReviews) and Jeanne (xDisturbedJeans).{{cite web |title=PodTaku – Episode 00: The Holden Encyclopedia |url=http://www.glassreflection.net/podtaku/podtaku-episode-00/ |website=glassreflection.net |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202032900/http://www.glassreflection.net/podtaku/podtaku-episode-00/ |archive-date=2013-02-02 |language=English |date=2012-07-02 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=A Goodbye to PodTaku |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPAG_KOgG1g |website=YouTube |access-date=3 March 2024 |date=2016-01-10}}
During 2017, Maneetapho retired the "Anime Zone" moniker for his channel, now just called "Gigguk". In February 2018, Maneetapho presented the Best Comedy award at the 2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards, alongside YouTuber LilyPichu, at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Los Angeles.{{cite news |last=Pohara |first=Aron |date=9 February 2018 |title=Crunchyroll Anime Awards Update!! |url=https://wethenerdy.com/crunchyroll-anime-awards-update/ |access-date=25 May 2021 |publisher=We The Nerdy |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525115336/https://wethenerdy.com/crunchyroll-anime-awards-update/ |url-status=live }}
In November 2019, Maneetapho, along with YouTuber Sydney Poniewaz (Sydsnap), moved to northwestern Tokyo, Japan to begin working as an influencer for GeeXPlus. The effort was to help promote/introduce anime and Japanese culture to the rest of the world through his content.
In February 2020, Maneetapho joined alongside Connor Colquhoun (CDawgVA) and Joey Bizinger (The Anime Man) in creating and hosting a weekly audio and video podcast called Trash Taste, where they discuss anime, manga, otaku culture, and their experiences while living in Japan.{{cite press release |url=https://www.fccj.or.jp/event/live-podcast-event-trash-taste-japan-based-youtubers |title=Live 'Podcast' Event: Trash Taste: Japan-based YouTubers |publisher=Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan |location=Tokyo, Japan |date=17 June 2021 |access-date=3 July 2021 |archive-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629051549/https://www.fccj.or.jp/event/live-podcast-event-trash-taste-japan-based-youtubers |url-status=live }}{{cite AV media |author=日本外国特派員協会 オフィシャルサイトFCCJchannel |date=17 June 2021 |title=Live 'Podcast' Event: Trash Taste: Japan-based YouTubers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBNfE9fPBHI |access-date=3 July 2021 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cite magazine|last= Varcoe|first= Fred|date= 6 June 2021|title= Three men in a pub|url= https://www.fccj.or.jp/sites/default/files/2021-06/06-June-2021-Number1Shimbun-v6.pdf|magazine= Number 1 Shimbun|location= Tokyo, Japan|publisher= Foreign Correspondent's Club of Japan|pages= 13–15|access-date= 3 August 2021|archive-date= 6 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210606085819/https://www.fccj.or.jp/sites/default/files/2021-06/06-June-2021-Number1Shimbun-v6.pdf|url-status= live}}{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Mike |date=Winter 2021 |title=The Trash Taste Podcast |url=https://metropolisjapan.com/dec-2021/ |pages=22{{ndash}}25 |magazine=Metropolis Japan |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Japan Partnership Inc. |access-date=16 January 2022 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220064727/https://metropolisjapan.com/dec-2021/ |url-status=live }} The first episode was released on 5 June 2020 with new episodes available on YouTube and major podcast platforms every Friday.{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2021/02/09/issues/new-trends-j-vlogging-allow-diverse-range-views-japan/ |title=New trends in 'J-vlogging' allow for a more diverse range of views on Japan |first=Patrick |last=St. Michel |newspaper=The Japan Times |location=Tokyo, Japan |date=9 February 2021 |access-date=17 May 2021 |archive-date=2 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302102917/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2021/02/09/issues/new-trends-j-vlogging-allow-diverse-range-views-japan/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://sumikai.com/nachrichten-aus-japan/kadokawa-holt-anime-youtuber-nach-japan-um-dort-zu-leben-und-zu-arbeiten-266870/ |title=Kadokawa holt Anime-YouTuber nach Japan, um dort zu leben und zu arbeiten |trans-title=Kadokawa brings anime YouTubers to Japan to live and work |language=German |last=Ziegler |first=Michael |date=2 February 2020 |publisher=Sumikai |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215049/https://sumikai.com/nachrichten-aus-japan/kadokawa-holt-anime-youtuber-nach-japan-um-dort-zu-leben-und-zu-arbeiten-266870/ |url-status=live }} In August 2020, Maneetapho participated in a chess tournament hosted by Chess.com for anime YouTubers.{{cite web |url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/tournament-arc |title=Tournament Arc |publisher=Chess.com |date=7 August 2020 |access-date=30 May 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210092327/https://www.chess.com/article/view/tournament-arc |url-status=live }} Reaching the finals, Maneetapho beat fellow Trash Taste co-host Connor Colquhoun.{{cite web |last=Copeland |first=Sam |title=Protaganist Vanquishes Villain In Tournament Arc |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-anituber-tournament-arc |date=11 August 2020 |publisher=Chess.com |access-date=25 May 2021 |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020161818/https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-anituber-tournament-arc |url-status=live }} In July 2021, Maneetapho successfully defended his title in Tournament Arc 2, hosted again by Chess.com.{{cite web |author= |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-07-16/anime-vs-fighters-battle-for-10000-chess-prize-in-tournament-arc-2/.175184 |title=Anime Vs. Fighters Battle for $10,000 Chess Prize in Tournament Arc 2 |date=16 July 2021 |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719063933/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-07-16/anime-vs-fighters-battle-for-10000-chess-prize-in-tournament-arc-2/.175184 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Pedro Pinhata |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/tournament-arc-2-gigguk-wins |title=Gigguk Crowned Tournament Arc 2 Champion |date=26 July 2021 |publisher=Chess.com |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802170536/https://www.chess.com/news/view/tournament-arc-2-gigguk-wins |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Maneetapho's parents are from Thailand, and he was born and raised in the United Kingdom. He is a practicing Buddhist, and has served as a monk twice in his life, once when he was a teenager and once as an adult.{{cite AV media|author=Trash Taste Highlights|date=August 10, 2020|title=Garnt Used To Be A Real Monk|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXCrkHseHN4|access-date=July 3, 2021|publisher=YouTube}} Maneetapho became engaged to fellow YouTuber Sydney Poniewaz on 12 April 2019.{{cite tweet|user=GiggukAZ|number=1116730610305859585|title=She said yes; Waifus are real guys.|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}{{cite AV media|last=Poniewaz|first=Sydney "Sydsnap"|date=May 5, 2019|title=How Did Gigguk Ask Me To Marry Him? (Answering Your Questions)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrHYsnHxlzg|access-date=May 30, 2021|publisher=YouTube}} On 5 June 2022, they were married at a ceremony in the UK.{{cite tweet|user=GiggukAZ|number=1533746368363339776|title=Mr and Mrs.|date=June 6, 2022|access-date=June 6, 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5720216/ Gigguk on IMDb]
Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol
Category:British expatriates in Japan
Category:English video bloggers
Category:English people of Thai descent
Category:Mass media people from Brighton
Category:YouTube channels launched in 2006