Explain Anime to an outsider

[Marik2]

SNIP

and then this comes along and screws up all comparisons.
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18500000/Panty-Stocking-anime-18530759-500-283.gif
artstyle changes so much in the show, I don't think comparing western to eastern animation even matters at this point.

Good ol Panty and Stocking.

Maybe we should give out invites to the psg group here?

I can't help but feel that this video alone just reinforced a bunch of anime stereotypes that the people in this thread were trying to get away from...

The anime is in itself a huge parody of west and east stereotypes.

Doesnt take itself seriously at all

 

[Ragsnstitches]

It is 50% shameless high school and sci-fi stereotypes, 20% tentacle rape, 25% crap and 5% awesome beyond awesome.

In that bold exaggeration, there is an undeniable truth. I'd say its more 30% crap and 15% tentacle rape (or some derivative of it). 50% shameless stereotyping (I would also like to add clichés to that) seems pretty accurate.

EDIT: there is also some overlapping with crap and shameless stereotyping.

But alas, I still watch it for that rare 5%. Wishing... Hoping...

 

[ltbigjohn]

"it could only be better if it had tits and was on fire"

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

is that vampire and/or werewolf?...ouch

Ah, Hellsing:

Spoiler

For the slightly less sane anime fans.

Good old Hellsing and yet i'm still waiting for OVA 8. How about some Akira or ghost in the shell or even serial experiments lain for some mindfuck.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

SNIP

and then this comes along and screws up all comparisons.
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18500000/Panty-Stocking-anime-18530759-500-283.gif
artstyle changes so much in the show, I don't think comparing western to eastern animation even matters at this point.

Good ol Panty and Stocking.

Maybe we should give out invites to the psg group here?

I can't help but feel that this video alone just reinforced a bunch of anime stereotypes that the people in this thread were trying to get away from...

The anime is in itself a huge parody of west and east stereotypes.

Doesnt take itself seriously at all

Stll funny as hell to watch at times.

 

[A random person]

Anime is Japanese animation.

To elaborate on your other questions, it can be as weird as people make it out to be, sometimes it can be even weirder, and sometimes it's not that weird. As for why geeks love it so much, one theory I have is that many more popular series have quite a lot in common with superhero comics; people seem to like stories about super people fighting super-villains, whether they were always super or normal people turned that way. Also, there seems to be a substantial overlap between video game and anime fans and cultures (look at this, or any, gaming forum) for whatever reason.

As for some recommendations, I'll just give the boilerplate of Miyazaki films and Kino's Journey. If you're willing to go into an anime that, while not a shonen-fest, is more "anime-y," however, try Darker Than Black.

 

[Marik2]

SNIP

and then this comes along and screws up all comparisons.
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18500000/Panty-Stocking-anime-18530759-500-283.gif
artstyle changes so much in the show, I don't think comparing western to eastern animation even matters at this point.

Good ol Panty and Stocking.

Maybe we should give out invites to the psg group here?

I can't help but feel that this video alone just reinforced a bunch of anime stereotypes that the people in this thread were trying to get away from...

The anime is in itself a huge parody of west and east stereotypes.

Doesnt take itself seriously at all

Stll funny as hell to watch at times.

You got that right

And shameless plugin
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/PSG-Fan-Group

 

[masher]

There are genres, like any other media.
And they're Animated. Whether you like it or not is a matter of taste; however, no, it's -not- all tentacle rape and porn.

That reminds me, seeing your avatar is the only reason I got into Kyouran Kazoku Nikki. Just wanted to thank you for that...

so I mean dose all of it mostly conform to alot of streotypes? and conventions? is it as weird as everyone says? what is it about anime that some geeks love so much?

It depends on the genre. Shounen anime (anime made for teenage boys, the most popular are action animes like Naruto and Bleach) generally tends to meet stereotypes. If you look past that, though then you'll find way more variety than you'd expect.

Shounen-ai > Shounen.
I went there ^^

I know, but a romance like Toradora! is also shounen, but, like shounen-ai, it's no where near as popular as an anime like Naruto or Bleach, so people don't really think of it when they think of anime stereotypes.

I'm going to go ahead and quote both of you.

Yes! Kyouran Kazoku Nikki was more fun than a barrel full of monkeys, and you're welcome.
I will never forget Fukko.
And, yes, it's really too bad most Anime are completely overshadowed by Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and company. I won't argue whether they're quality or not, but there's just so much more to Anime than that select few.