You know, that's it exactly. So much of anime is untranslatable visual cues. Another big thing for me is speech patterns, since I watch all my anime subbed rather than dubbed. I'm getting speech patterns in a language I know maybe six words of. That's a huge stumbling block when I'm trying to write dialogue. The exceptions, I've noticed, are things I've read manga for. Like I feel pretty comfortable with the speech patterns of the cast of Fruits Basket, but if I tried writing for, say.... Revolutionary Girl Utena or Urotsukidoji, I'd be at a loss.

I try to stay as true to the original medium as possible when I write fan fiction. And the original medium is one that doesn't generally translate well. It has to be changed in some manner, to write it well.

Thank you, so much, for your input!