Why do so many people obsess over anime?

[ribonuge]

I'm just trying to understand why there seems to be so many people with an obsession over anime. I've watched things like Akira, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Ghost in the Shell amongst a few others but I just don't get the obsession. Aswell as that there seems to be many people who obsess over Japanese culture. I'm not condemning any of this (I quite like some anime myself), but I just don't quite get what is so ridiculously great about anime and Japan.

 

[grimsprice]

They think it makes great porn.

Thats all i can come up with. Although DBZ was bitchin sweet.

 

[Mushroomfreak111]

My own theory about this subject: Maybe people just like it more than you?

This one wins...

 

[ribonuge]

My own theory about this subject: Maybe people just like it more than you?

Hmm you're really onto something there. I just wanted to know what the craze is about. If you like something so much you should be able to explain why.

 

[masher]

I guess it's just an opinion. It's like asking "why do so many people like to read books?" or "watch movies?". I've always liked Cartoons growing up, and now, I guess I just found better - In my opinion - animations. I guess I also like how you can branch out more with something that's animated than you can with something that's "live-action". Like I said though, I think it's just an opinion or something like an acquired taste.
And no...it's not "all about the porn".

 

[Julianking93]

They think it makes great porn.

It does.

And for the same reason anyone obsesses over anything else.

 

[RagnorakTres]

Well, I can give you my reasons.

1) Anime allows me access to a great number of genres and styles, allowing me quite the selection of watching/reading material.

2) Japan's culture is many hundreds of years older than American culture, which often strikes me as rude, crude and distasteful.

3) My parents hate it.

 

[Dark Knifer]

That would be asking me why I like system of a down so much. Because I think it is the most awsome thing to ever exist.

 

[God's Clown]

I'm just trying to understand why there seems to be so many people with an obsession over anime. I've watched things like Akira, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Ghost in the Shell amongst a few others but I just don't get the obsession. Aswell as that there seems to be many people who obsess over Japanese culture. I'm not condemning any of this (I quite like some anime myself), but I just don't quite get what is so ridiculously great about anime and Japan.

Think of something that you are obsessed with, absolutely love. Be it breasts, or books, or w/e. It is the exact same thing.

 

[Frankydee]

I'm guessing it's like being one of those sorts of people who are really into rap and hip hop and really into the "gangsta" culture. People like myself don't really understand how anyone could really be into that sort of thing but we're not really expected to.

That's the best way I can explain.

 

[DarkPanda XIII]

For me it's the plots, not because of how unusual they are, but how unusual they are with interesting characters placed into them.

Darker than Black was probably the title that still made me stare in a light daze, but only because it was quite interesting.

Heat Guy J was another that followed a unique idea with an odd arrangement of characters.

 

[Pyode]

Why do some people obsess over WoW?
Why do some people obsess over Star Trek or Star Wars?
Why do some people obsess over Mac or PC?
Why do some people obsess over Halo or CoD?

For everything in life (and especially in nerd culture) there will always be fanboys.

There is no right or wrong answer to why you like/dislike something. It's an opinion and cannot be supported or disputed imperially, so I really don't see the point of this thread.

 

[WrcklessIntent]

Its just what they do. You know how many of us obsess over games well you just have to understand that people have different tastes and may like some things that don't make sense to others

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Well, I can give you my reasons.

1) Anime allows me access to a great number of genres and styles, allowing me quite the selection of watching/reading material.

2) Japan's culture is many hundreds of years older than American culture, which often strikes me as rude, crude and distasteful.

3) My parents hate it.

Number three's reason enough for me.

 

[Seldon2639]

Eh... It's not really considered any better or worse than any other form of media. Go talk to some film majors, or anyone really deep into film as art stuff, and you'll run into the same kind of rabies.

Add to that the fact that the proponents of anime tend to see it as one of the last bastions of good storytelling and characters remaining, where western cinema has largely given up on overarching plots, or complex characters and stories. It's seen as a more mature storytelling forum.

That, of course, ignores the unbelievable crap that gets churned out in Japan, and even the crap that gets translated. I see it as any other form of media: it has the capacity for both fantastic stories, and characters who draw you in (Full Metal Panic, D.N Angel, Nadesico, ect.), and the capacity for complete shit (Almost anything with a card-game tie in).

 

[A random person]

Spoiler: Considering how this site handles the subject, I must post this image.

Anyways, for me it started out as a general preference for animation over live action that I still have. I would elaborate on the path I took to being an anime fan (it was kinda on-off for a while), but I'm lazy so I'll say it was a mixture of my brother and internet influences along with Shonen Jump manga. As for my obsessiveness, I just get obsessive with things (you should have seen me with Sonic the Hedgehog).

Also, I like the tropes and art styles; the former is indicated by my Nanoha fanboyism.

 

[ribonuge]

Well, I can give you my reasons.

1) Anime allows me access to a great number of genres and styles, allowing me quite the selection of watching/reading material.

2) Japan's culture is many hundreds of years older than American culture, which often strikes me as rude, crude and distasteful.

3) My parents hate it.

Yes, I can see your logic quite clearly indeed. Especially number 2.

Think of something that you are obsessed with, absolutely love. Be it breasts, or books, or w/e. It is the exact same thing.

Yes breasts are good... and so are books. But as a medium I wouldn't obsess over any one book. Some books I like some I don't. I wouldn't obsess over any one pair of breasts either - some are good, some are bad. Although I see your point.

I actually feel like some old fart being like "Why are all these youngsters so interested in their crack pipes..? I just don't get the youth of today."