What is so great about Anime?

[Glaive_21842]

Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Great anime, bad choice for a newcomer.

Try Ergo Proxy, more suited to a western audience (the girl of my avatar is from this one).

Not sure about Ergo Proxy...i haven't seen that one yet, but i do have to agree with the Evangelion statement. The show is a bit too mindfuckish to be used as an entry point. I'm still recommending a Studio Ghibli film...

If you insist on Evangelion, at least sit through the first disk. That should be enough to tell you whether or not you'll care about the rest, but just know that most of the really good shit happens in the second half of the show.

 

[Texas America Murphy]

Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Great anime, bad choice for a newcomer.

Try Ergo Proxy, more suited to a western audience (the girl of my avatar is from this one).

Your avatar looks like the girl from Evanescence got into a car crash with a supply truck from hot topic and the paramedics couldn't separate the two.

NGE Update 3:

I really like how they're acknowledging the exceptional logistics required to build this underground base and this giant robot and stuff. That's really cool world building. Plus this art design is neat.

Also, the father of the main character is easily the most interesting and engaging character thus far. I hope we see a hell of a lot more of him.

Goddamnit kid just get in the damn robot. Your dad probably doesn't love you because when he asks you to do simple shit like "get in the damn robot" you respond with a nervous breakdown.

 

[Jaranja]

Don't feed the troll, lads. Anime is a medium, not a genre.

 

[Glaive_21842]

I really like how they're acknowledging the exceptional logistics required to build this underground base and this giant robot and stuff. That's really cool world building. Plus this art design is neat.

Also, the father of the main character is easily the most interesting and engaging character thus far. I hope we see a hell of a lot more of him.

Oh you will. You definitely will.

oh, and glad to hear there's something that caught your eye ^_^.

 

[Wintermoot]

some fans are taking it too far,the dressing up is generaly accepted in closed groups but talking half japanese and half english is frowned upon is you see people do this please punch them in the face and ask them to speak english, Naruto is considerd a bad anime and if you are interested in GOOD anime I would recommend something short like Cowboy Bebop. Naruto is popular because people like "ninja,s" and girls like something to drool over (wich is the same reason girls like Twilight) so keep your mind open and look for something decent and whatever you do: DO NOT BECOME A NARUTARD OR WEEABO

 

[nicholaxxx]

I would say that it's because you were watching shitty anime, but then you listed 2 that I liked, haha. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[Ciran]

Dear Nerds, explain to me what the heck the deal with Anime is.

A little bit of background before we collectively explore this artistic train wreck you call ?Japanimation.?

I?m a film student at the University of Texas. I have never seen an Anime before yesterday. I like to think that I give everything I watch a fair shake. Hell, I even watched an Irani film once. Now, my girlfriend Leanne is a member of our school's anime club, which meets every Friday night. Normally I don?t go with her because my JROTC usually meets on Fridays, but last night I was free because it was Christmas Eve (and its Winter Break), and my girlfriend invited me to have an ?Anime Christmas? with her and her friends who live in the area.

So I walk into the living room and there are these girls dressed up in these weird costumes and stuff. One of them runs up to me and shouts something like ?Cowiie Desi.? So I?m put off, but still determined to see what the big fuss is about. DVDs go in the player and I?m treated to what my girlfriend tells me is the most popular Animes.

First off we watched Naruto. I?ve seen German Art House cinema that made more sense than this. I guess it was about Ninjas, but they were all wearing orange jumpsuits? At no point did any of the plot make sense or any of the characters develop.

After that we watched two episodes of Code Geuess. It was like walking into a Mexican soap opera midway through the plot. Everyone was pulling gambits and double gambits and Russian reversals. I didn?t know who was betraying whom, and I don?t think those cardboard cutouts did either. Also, why is Britain invading Japan? We already did that!

Finally, we watched an episode of this thing Guren Lagan. It felt like I was six years old and watching Power Rangers again. You?d think this would be a compliment. A sort of return to youth. But even at 6 I was doubtful of the artistic validity of Power Rangers. Also, the fact that every character on that show was sexually attracted to a 12 year old girl is incredibly disturbing. Is this okay in Japan?

Some basic research reveals that these shows are some of the most popular Anime both here and in Japan. Why is it so popular? What is so great about these shows? I?m so confused. Nothing anyone does makes any sense, the characters are all cliches, and nothing ever actually happens.

I couldn?t help but notice that virtually half the people on this board of some sort of Anime character as their avatar, so obviously people here love it and its popular. But for all my education I cannot possibly comprehend why people call this ?art.? I was hoping that maybe y?all could enlighten me. There must be something I am missing

Edited for spelling.

No, not really. When is anything that's immensely popular with the general population the best that any genre or artistic venue has to offer? Naruto is the only one of those mentioned that I've ever seen even a bit of and I agree, it was, well, crap in all honesty.
Now, if you try some of the Studio Ghibli films (you might also want to try Samurai Champloo) and still don't like it, well, maybe that specific genre is not for you. Most anything about film or any artistic venue is subjective and maybe your tastes do not mesh with that offered by anime.

 

[Texas America Murphy]

Don't feed the troll, lads. Anime is a medium, not a genre.

Fine. It might not be a genre but it sure as hell isn't a medium. A medium is a fundamental way of experiencing thing. Anime is falls under "moving pictures," along with movies and and TV.

If I upgrade it to meta-genre status will that make you happy and stop calling me a troll?

 

[Bakuryukun]

ugh. This kind of thing bothers me, the "I don't get what's the big deal about ______" especially when someone seems keen to just watch 3 anime's and then confidently write it off as not art. If you already don't like it, then most likely are NEVER going to understand why people like it. I could actually contest that the characters in Naruto never develop even though I don't really like Naruto that much, but that would pretty much be a waste of time, considering you've already essentially made your decision about the subject. Something that strikes me as funny is that you took the 3 most popular anime, but then as a film student I would think you'd know that most popular does NOT mean best by any stretch of the imagination. If your going to give anime a shot don't half ass it, that doesn't do anyone any favors.

If it ain't your cup of tea I wouldn't sweat it too much, but at the same time don't belittle the whole medium just because it's not to your liking. (especially after taking such a small sampling)

also laughing at people who like anime (or for being a fan of anything for that matter) is imo really childish behavior, even if you give people full permission to reciprocate.

Popular doesn't mean good, but it does mean culturally relevent, and it does means that its an indicator of what the culture that watches it does like.

Also, you're pinning a whole heap of stuff on me that I never said or indicated. You look like you just copied and pasted your stock anime defense on me without regards for context. I haven't made my decision on the subject. I am not being childish and I am not laughing at people.

It's just a little puzzling when I take three shows that maybe arn't the best, but do seem to do a good job representing anime as a whole and they wind up making no damn sense.

Yeah, I wasn't talking to just you, that's why I didn't quote you, sorry for your confusion. Anyways all of the anime you chose were all action anime, there are different genres within anime itself, but the way your presenting it anime itself is a genre, this essentially makes any debate between you and someone else completely useless because the baseline of the debate itself is shaky at best, so I'm just going to quit here because really, it's a fruitless endeavorer.

Though really, I only have one reason I myself watch anime: I find it fun to watch, whether it's silly, over dramatic, and cheesy, or actually mature and serious, It's fun. Can't ask for more than that

 

[Wintermoot]

Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Great anime, bad choice for a newcomer.

This, basically.
Also, if you're going to watch Evangelion, watch the whole thing. Please.

also dont try too watch it in one sitting (it left me in a bit of a depressed state)

 

[Fraught]

The problem is that y'all are confusing medium with genre. Medium is a form of presentation. Anime I guess would be a subset of film. I hear they also do comics.

Genres can be argued for though. Genres and the individual works of art in it can be argued on a serious critical level. "Its just a medium" isn't only wrong, it's a cop out.

So live action cinema is also a genre, since it's a "subset of film", right? That means that I can just watch the "movie movies" (Disaster Movie, Epic Movie, Vampires Suck etc.), and declare that live-action cinema completely sucks, because it's just flat-out stupid, the characters don't act like normal human beings to the situations they're put into, the special effects are the worst shat ever shat out of a butt, the writing is absolutely horrible, it relies on way too many references that are stolen from other movies to justify writing a real joke, and instead try so hard to make the audience joke just because "Durr, its funny becuz is from nuther ppularr movie" and the plot events are so off the wall, stupid and the plot itself goes through so many absolutely unbearably mindblowingly stupid progressions that it boggles the mind?

Also, what the hell was up in Vampires Suck, where the girl turned into a hamburger, and the "vampire" ran at her with the stupidest sound effect this side of the galaxy and jumped at her, only now she was that girl again?

The whole genre of live-action cinema, RUINED!

All in all, just because you're studying film at a university doesn't give you a pre-set higher ground in this argument. There are better shows in the anime "genre", there are better features in the live-action "genre", and there are worse.
Everybody has a different opinion on something, including anime.

Some like the epicness of Tengenn Toppa Gurren Lagann, you don't. They enjoy it, remember it, love it. Get great memories from it. You think it's stupid, and reminds you of Power Rangers, which you didn't have much reverence for before.

There are animes out there more suited to you. There is to everyone. It's the same viewpoint I have on perfection. Nothing, or no one is perfect, because features something (or someone) has that one considers "perfect" is something the other just doesn't "like". I don't judge reviews on movies pretty much at all, because, for example, I really enjoy watching stupid American comedies that usually net ratings below 20 on Metacritic.

You think they're "objectively" bad, I say that "subjectively" I like them. Objectivity is a very dumb concept overall.

 

[Ace the Demon]

Your avatar looks like the girl from Evanescence got into a car crash with a supply truck from hot topic and the paramedics couldn't separate the two.

NGE Update 3:

I really like how they're acknowledging the exceptional logistics required to build this underground base and this giant robot and stuff. That's really cool world building. Plus this art design is neat.

Also, the father of the main character is easily the most interesting and engaging character thus far. I hope we see a hell of a lot more of him.

Goddamnit kid just get in the damn robot. Your dad probably doesn't love you because when he asks you to do simple shit like "get in the damn robot" you respond with a nervous breakdown.

Whiny kid or fairly realistic approach to a kid being told to go to war. I'm pretty sure most 15 year olds wouldn't be fine if their dad turned up out of the blue, told them take up a gun and go fight for their lives.

 

[albinokid66]

The way i got truely into anime was realising its potential as a genre. When I first watched Ghost in the Shell and Akira I realised how much the story has 'influenced' (not using the words such as 'copied' or 'ripped-off' as that is not true) many original western films-and I am going to use the overused example of 'The Matrix.'

If you are a Film Student (Which I am aswell) or atleast appreaciate a well crafted and told (Yet not offtenly coherrant) story you may realise what these animes have to offer.

In conclusion I feel the main thing people Don't realise about anime as a medium or genre or whatever is that the themes used in some 'serious' animes require alot of personal interpretation to find as-more often than not- they are not presented to the viewer as coherently as you maybe you are used to in other forms of 'art' (No offence intended)the main basis and small details of the story are normally hidden behined the crazy visual apperance of the anime.

P.S. The 3 animes you watched are hardly the absolute pinacle of a well crafted story

 

[Konaerix]

It seems to me as if you've already closed your mind off of the subject, so whats the point of you asking in the first place?
Also, my argument is pretty much the same as everyone elses. Its a wide and varied medium for entertainment, just like books and movies. Some people like it, some people don't.

 

[Mynop]

Personally I like the stories they have, even though there are dozens of similar kinds among them.
They still all have their own characters, own plot twists, own art style and they come to an end at some point.
That is one really grand point for me because I like good stories, and that is the main reason why I like anime & manga, and the second thing is that they usually continue where the previous episode ended and are usually around 24 episodes per series, but of course there are series that are longer or shorter but that's besides the point.

There are millions of us humans around this planet and I'm just one person who likes anime for these reasons.
So think about this, there are a lot of other people who like anime or manga because of their own reason and only they can tell you why they like anime so much.
After all, it's like asking why you like some movie that others don't.

 

[Darktau]

Your avatar looks like the girl from Evanescence got into a car crash with a supply truck from hot topic and the paramedics couldn't separate the two.

NGE Update 3:

I really like how they're acknowledging the exceptional logistics required to build this underground base and this giant robot and stuff. That's really cool world building. Plus this art design is neat.

Also, the father of the main character is easily the most interesting and engaging character thus far. I hope we see a hell of a lot more of him.

Goddamnit kid just get in the damn robot. Your dad probably doesn't love you because when he asks you to do simple shit like "get in the damn robot" you respond with a nervous breakdown.

Haha, i remember reading a comic of "If Shinji wasn't such a pussy" It made me laugh.

Umm, I got myself into anime at age 15, heres how it went.


1) Watched Naruto
2) Watched Death note, decided Naruto was rubbish
3) Watched numerous other series, Code geass, death note and full metal alchemist being some of my favourites. (Aimed at slightly younger audience, with death note being the anime aimed at the oldest of the bracket)
4) Watched Ergo Proxy, much more adult in theme than any of the other series I had watched. (Probably one of the most artistic)


If I had to recommend an anime to someone much older than me I would have to say Ergo Proxy has the most artistic appeal.

Most complex yet followable storyline: Geass/Death Note
Most friendly to newcomers: Fullmetal alchemist
Anime that made me feel like a little *****: The ending of clannad

Basically the reason I watch anime is because it is just TV but with alot more depth in the story. Oh and evangelion, to me at least, is watching the psychological progression of a few people a bit younger than me faced with, simply put, many challenges.


If you got this far well done, I wrote this as I went along >.<, its a ramble.

PS. Heres my list + ratings, don't really think it will apply to you, but it will help filter out the rubbish ones. (7 is borderline don't watch)

http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Darktau&show=0&order=4

EDIT: If you seriously just "don't get" why people like anime, you probably won't be convinced into it very easily. People tend to like it or not. I guess it depends if you view it as an Animated Movie or a Japanese Cartoon.

 

[astrav1]

What is so great about Movies and video games? There might be nostalgic value, comedy, or an Identification/Desire with or to be one of the characters. I will say that it is an aquired or required taste, like Steambot Chronicles.

 

[Darktau]

Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Great anime, bad choice for a newcomer.

This, basically.
Also, if you're going to watch Evangelion, watch the whole thing. Please.

also dont try too watch it in one sitting (it left me in a bit of a depressed state)

Ooh I did that, it's odd isn't it? Though I felt much better about going to school the following day.

 

[UrbanCohort]

Eh, Bleach, up to episode 60-something is a solid beginner choice. School Rumble is pretty tame, if you're into comedy, but it's still a full serving of everything anime. Uh...you could also wing it, that's what I did.

Kind of depends on what you're into. Anime requires a certain allowance for ridiculous physics or preposterous story exposition, like many video games (don't be surprised if they suddenly and repeatedly leap to "end of the world" conclusions at the drop of a hat).

And this isn't to say that you should just sit back and accept that Heroine X will fall in love with Hero Y (classic anime example). You're well within your rights to stare blankly/stop watching/rage at the anime when the pants arbitrarily come off.

I dunno, there's a lot of turnover for me, a lot of the anime I considered to be the most epic thing ever two years ago...well, I occasionally take another peek at them and think they're alright but pretentious (4 E.G.: Samurai Deeper Kyo - "Can you hear it...the voice of the wind" = want to tear my eyes out at the pretentiousness).

Thanks for reading (or not reading) my rambling kind of post.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Asking what so great about Anime is like asking what so great about cartoon (US, French or any other non Asia animation) in general. Before you accuse me for comparing anime to a cartoon show, what it as what so great about animation?
I guess you could try to project an animated show that you love but in anime form. Ok that wouldn't help but in general we like anime show for either character, setting, action, comedy etc which is pretty much the same for another other non anime shows.