Anime Popularity

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

Lately as I have been browsing the Escapist I've noticed an enormous amount of anime threads

Now, I'm not saying anime is bad, but I just find it strange why almost every gamer I know loves anime when frankly, I find it kind of disturbing. At this point I would like to point out that I am not talking about children's cartoons such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, nor am I talking about creepy japanese porn, I'm talking about M-rated stuff.

Also note that I was brought up in Australia where we rarely get anything anime (unless we have Austar) and I just can't shake the feeling of anime being a cartoon, which makes it rather disturbing when I see someone get stabbed or shot in the face. Think of it this way: Your watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and Spongebob and a customer are in a heated argument at the local Krusty Krab when all of a sudden Spongebob pulls out a rather large revolver and blows the customer's head to peices. That's how I find it disturbing.

So what do you think? What makes anime so special for you? And how do I get the image of cartoon slaughter out of my head now?

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Cartoon slaughter is hilarious!

You're telling me that Tom and Jerry haven't been secretly trying to kill each other? They smash each other with mallets for god's sake.

Itchy and Scratchy (yes, I know it is a sub-cartoon) are the same because they're a direct rip off.

I grew up with Anime, so I've always liked it. I think what we have to learn here is:

Cartoons fight. It is just, in the magical world of Anime, some of them actually die.

 

[Caliostro]

It's rather obvious, there's common ground.

You play videogames to fulfill fantasies real life won't allow. You watch anime to vicariously live fantasy worlds and scenarios real life won't allow.

I find it kind of obvious that there would be overlap.

 

[wolfy098]

No it's nothing like that GOOD anime has context THATS why it's different to SpongeBob killing someone randomly

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

... You know, your example would be pretty freaking awesome.

But yeah, I think a lot of people get that. It's the same thing as most non-gamers and video games.
To them, video games are for children. The idea of some of them being about violence and mature themes is kind of disturbing.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

eh, can't say of what I've seen of it I like. I dunno, there was samurai champloo, and that was pretty cool, but anime storylines are extremely uninteresting to me, and I'm not really into the whole erotic cartoon thing, so it really just boils down to the action sequences, and in most animes that constitutes a very small amount of the whole formula.

 

[Kurokami]

Lately as I have been browsing the Escapist I've noticed an enormous amount of anime threads

Now, I'm not saying anime is bad, but I just find it strange why almost every gamer I know loves anime when frankly, I find it kind of disturbing. At this point I would like to point out that I am not talking about children's cartoons such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, nor am I talking about creepy japanese porn, I'm talking about M-rated stuff.

Also note that I was brought up in Australia where we rarely get anything anime (unless we have Austar) and I just can't shake the feeling of anime being a cartoon, which makes it rather disturbing when I see someone get stabbed or shot in the face. Think of it this way: Your watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and Spongebob and a customer are in a heated argument at the local Krusty Krab when all of a sudden Spongebob pulls out a rather large revolver and blows the customer's head to peices. That's how I find it disturbing.

So what do you think? What makes anime so special for you? And how do I get the image of cartoon slaughter out of my head now?

If you've got the spare time and are willing, could you please watch the first 3 or 4 episodes of Death Note and then report back. I'd like to see if anime still remains such a cartoony experience. I really can't comprehend why people have such hard times accepting anime as a serious medium as much as real life movies.

 

[Reklore]

Cartoons are the same as other mediums. Movies, books, video games, comics, each of them have kiddie stuff and adult stuff, cartoons are no different.

 

[xavierxenon]

Lately as I have been browsing the Escapist I've noticed an enormous amount of anime threads

Now, I'm not saying anime is bad, but I just find it strange why almost every gamer I know loves anime when frankly, I find it kind of disturbing. At this point I would like to point out that I am not talking about children's cartoons such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, nor am I talking about creepy japanese porn, I'm talking about M-rated stuff.

Also note that I was brought up in Australia where we rarely get anything anime (unless we have Austar) and I just can't shake the feeling of anime being a cartoon, which makes it rather disturbing when I see someone get stabbed or shot in the face. Think of it this way: Your watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and Spongebob and a customer are in a heated argument at the local Krusty Krab when all of a sudden Spongebob pulls out a rather large revolver and blows the customer's head to peices. That's how I find it disturbing.

So what do you think? What makes anime so special for you? And how do I get the image of cartoon slaughter out of my head now?

If you've got the spare time and are willing, could you please watch the first 3 or 4 episodes of Death Note and then report back. I'd like to see if anime still remains such a cartoony experience. I really can't comprehend why people have such hard times accepting anime as a serious medium as much as real life movies.

Why must everyone refer to Death Note whenever anime is mentioned, it's nowhere near as good as everyone says (much like halo, buts a different matter) but I see what you mean.

On a different note, its good to see how he actually states quite valid reasons, rather than saying something ridiculous like "Anime is shit because it is" which I hear too often.

 

[wolfy098]

Why must everyone refer to Death Note whenever anime is mentioned, it's nowhere near as good as everyone says (much like halo, buts a different matter) but I see what you mean.

^This^
Trigun and Ranma 1/2

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Generally I don't get anima popularity either, mainly because 95% of it is shit. Never had any problem with cartoon violence at all (Tom and Jerry is awesome), it's just that most of the time I don't like the art style, all the voice actors are whiney little sods (this may just be in the translation) and the show is just bad all round.

Of coarse there are exceptions. I thought Spirited Away was genius.

 

[Kurokami]

Lately as I have been browsing the Escapist I've noticed an enormous amount of anime threads

Now, I'm not saying anime is bad, but I just find it strange why almost every gamer I know loves anime when frankly, I find it kind of disturbing. At this point I would like to point out that I am not talking about children's cartoons such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, nor am I talking about creepy japanese porn, I'm talking about M-rated stuff.

Also note that I was brought up in Australia where we rarely get anything anime (unless we have Austar) and I just can't shake the feeling of anime being a cartoon, which makes it rather disturbing when I see someone get stabbed or shot in the face. Think of it this way: Your watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and Spongebob and a customer are in a heated argument at the local Krusty Krab when all of a sudden Spongebob pulls out a rather large revolver and blows the customer's head to peices. That's how I find it disturbing.

So what do you think? What makes anime so special for you? And how do I get the image of cartoon slaughter out of my head now?

If you've got the spare time and are willing, could you please watch the first 3 or 4 episodes of Death Note and then report back. I'd like to see if anime still remains such a cartoony experience. I really can't comprehend why people have such hard times accepting anime as a serious medium as much as real life movies.

Why must everyone refer to Death Note whenever anime is mentioned, it's nowhere near as good as everyone says (much like halo, buts a different matter) but I see what you mean.

On a different note, its good to see how he actually states quite valid reasons, rather than saying something ridiculous like "Anime is shit because it is" which I hear too often.

Death note to me is the best choice because it takes place in a realistic environment and touches on relatively deep moral/philosophical themes, so when it comes to taking him out of the mind frame of "this is just a damn cartoon" I think this'd work best. Apart from that I can't think of many animes that I've enjoyed quite so much. (as for me asking him, I really just want to see if conversion is possible at all)

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

To them, video games are for children. The idea of some of them being about violence and mature themes is kind of disturbing.

Dear god! I've become the very thing I hate!

 

[Thaius]

Think of it this way: Your watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and Spongebob and a customer are in a heated argument at the local Krusty Krab when all of a sudden Spongebob pulls out a rather large revolver and blows the customer's head to peices. That's how I find it disturbing.

This excerpt embodies one of the greatest flaws in modern film culture: cartoons have been dumbed down in everybody's mind. I'm not getting mad at you, I'm just noticing a misconception that plagues our entire culture.

You know why I like anime? Because it's not freaking Spongebob. Because Japan understands that just because it's animated doesn't mean it's kiddy, or stupid. They know that animation can be used to tell a serious, dramatic tale with deep themes and intense situations.

Anime has its origins back when Hollywood was getting real big. Japan was upset because it wanted to make movies too, but the economy didn't allow for the big-budget films that Hollywood was pumping out. So they animated their movies. Do you see this? Anime was film for them. The entire medium. No one said "Well I want to make a crime drama, but I guess I can't because all we can do is animation." They did what they could with what they had while we were over here animating irrelivant, mindless crap.

Edward Elric, the protagonist from Full Metal Alchemist, is no Spongebob. He is a kid with a horrific past, and dreams for the future. A complex character who holds himself responsible for all the terrible events that have plagued he and his brother. He experiences overwhelming joy, crippling fear, unrelenting pain, unending loyalty... is this not subject matter fitting for a serious drama? Why should the medium of animation hold this back from being as serious, and fittingly violent, as it is?

All I'm saying is that seeing Spongebob shooting people might be disturbing, yes. But that's because Spongebob is typical of American animated characters: he is nothing more than a stupid excuse for lame, thoughtless attempts at humor. Anime, on the other hand, is film. It is art. It is no less credible as storytelling than live-action movies. The sooner our culture can understand the potential of animated features to do so, the sooner we will stop drowning in mediocrity and stereotypes and start seeing film taken to its artistic limits.

I would recommend checking some out: maybe you could see what I'm saying and understand it all a bit better. I would recommend Death Note (psychological thriller), Full Metal Alchemist (fantasy/drama/action), and Clannad (drama/comedy/romance). These three will give you a pretty well-rounded perspective on what kinds of stories animation can tell, and how it can tell them.

 

[Valiance]

I just think these forums should have an anime subforum.

I'm sure it'd get plenty of attention.

 

[wolfy098]

To them, video games are for children. The idea of some of them being about violence and mature themes is kind of disturbing.

Dear god! I've become the very thing I hate!

No you are quite obviously open to debate thats what makes you diffrent

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

Think of it this way: Your watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and Spongebob and a customer are in a heated argument at the local Krusty Krab when all of a sudden Spongebob pulls out a rather large revolver and blows the customer's head to peices. That's how I find it disturbing.

This excerpt embodies one of the greatest flaws in modern film culture: cartoons have been dumbed down in everybody's mind. I'm not getting mad at you, I'm just noticing a misconception that plagues our entire culture.

You know why I like anime? Because it's not freaking Spongebob. Because Japan understands that just because it's animated doesn't mean it's kiddy, or stupid.

Anime has its origins back when Hollywood was getting real big. Japan was upset because it wanted to make movies too, but the economy didn't allow for the big-budget films that Hollywood was pumping out. So they animated their movies. Do you see this? Anime was film for them. The entire medium. No one said "Well I want to make a crime drama, but I guess I can't because all we can do is animation." They did what they could with what they had while we were over here animating irrelivant, mindless crap.

Edward Elric, the protagonist from Full Metal Alchemist, is no Spongebob. He is a kid with a horrific past, and dreams for the future. A complex character who holds himself responsible for all the terrible events that have plagued he and his brother. He experiences overwhelming joy, crippling fear, unrelenting pain, unending loyalty... is this not subject matter fitting for a serious drama? Why should the medium of animation hold this back from being as serious, and fittingly violent, as it is?

All I'm saying is that seeing Spongebob shooting people might be disturbing, yes. But that's because Spongebob is typical of American animated characters: he is nothing more than a stupid excuse for lame, thoughtless attempts at humor. Anime, on the other hand, is film. It is art. It is no less credible as storytelling than live-action movies. The sooner our culture can understand the potential of animated features to do so, the sooner we will stop drowning in mediocrity and stereotypes and start seeing film taken to its artistic limits.

I would recommend checking some out: maybe you could see what I'm saying and understand it all a bit better. I would recommend Death Note (psychological thriller), Full Metal Alchemist (fantasy/drama/action), and Clannad (drama/comedy/romance). These three will give you a pretty well-rounded perspective on what kinds of stories animation can tell, and how it can tell them.

While I can see what you mean, I must admit I haven't seen too many animes, and the ones I have seen have been quite rediculous, with massive swords and giant wierd creatures complete with terrible lip-syncing, so you can understand why I remain skeptical, but I will watch some of those series you suggested.

 

[orangebandguy]

I'm not really into anime, I guess I don't understand most of them.

 

[wolfy098]

While I can see what you mean, I must admit I haven't seen too many animes, and the ones I have seen have been quite rediculous, with massive swords and giant wierd creatures complete with terrible lip-syncing, so you can understand why I remain skeptical, but I will watch some of those series you suggested.

Bad dubbing it the main reason I don't believe in god