Why do so many people obsess over anime?

[bcponpcp27]

Aswell as that there seems to be many people who obsess over Japanese culture.

This is my friend Scully. (yes that is his actual last name, and yes he does like the x-files, weird, isn't it?) It started with Anime and Manga (and porn as we found out the hard way at a LAN party), then he actually TAUGHT HIMSELF JAPANESE. I think it's cool, but I don't get it. Sweet guy though.

 

[Lewieroo0]

it all depends on your tastes in shows and cultural interests. Anime has quite a variety in types of shows and it can really differ from western shows. As a fan of anime i believe there are 3 reasons for it's appeal:

1. It's different and people might want something new

2. It's Visually appealing and impressive how they can make such smooth animations/drawings (Artistic)

3. It's creative in making scenarios/stories/characters/etc

Thats my opinion and i'm fully aware that not everyone get's into this kind of stuff.

 

[sukotsuto]

Anime is different, but it's no better than anything else people also like. I used to love anime since it was rather fresh and new a decade ago, but I kinda lost interest when I see a lot of series being uninspired and cliched. And a lot of anime fans thinking they're better than others because they like anime. I know not all anime fans are that, but it just annoys me greatly whenever I meet those elitist, self-important fans (although I reckon the same can be said for fans of other things who don't think too highly of those who do not like what they like).

In any case, the only anime I like now is... frickin' Grappler Baki, Berserk and Fist of the North Star. None of the cutesy crap for me, just pure fucking badassery.

 

[Tdc2182]

Because people like cartoons. And seeing how the U.S. Americanized all cartoons, they all suck. So anime is a good choice if you wanna watch cartoons. I don't even really like anime that much and I know why.

 

[Tdc2182]

.
And no...it's not "all about the porn".

I most strongly disagree.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

i like anime but i don't obsess over it though my shelf seems to argue otherwise...

 

[gamefreakbsp]

Well there you go right there. You watched some non-fantastic anime. If you want to see what it is all about, then watch One Piece, Death Note, and probably Full Metal Alchemist.

 

[ItsAPaul]

Most people are crazy about something, so for some people it might as well be anime. Personally I like less than 1% of anime and hate "staples" such as Bleach and Death Note to the extent that the phrase "don't even get me started" comes to mind.

PS - Yes I've seen Bleach and Death Note for more than one episode at multiple parts, and I still hate them.

 

[Censorme]

I read every reply to this thread. NO ONE has the answer yet, but I do. Funny enough, it has to do with the name of this forum.

People obsess over Anime...to escape.

To give the "Normal Fans" a break:
It became a giant entertainment genre because of the endless things you can do with animation (that would suck or wouldn't be possible to do in movies and shows with real people). The possibilities are endless, and to normal fans it's a cool alternative. I appreciate the Japanese culture, and their vast ideas for animation involving robots, demons, and boobs.

Anyways do you ever notice what the die-hard anime fans have in common? The first clue you should pick up is the most obvious, and that is they prefer Anime over most things. The beautifully drawn characters and stories appeal to them better than reality. It is an art they worship: of relations, cute creatures, action, emotion, etc. An alternative to living with bad hygiene, terrible work or family situations, and just an ugly world in general.

Admit it, Asia isn't pretty. soy sauce, slanted eyes, and bad teeth everywhere. This explains enough why they draw most of their characters as North American. The Asian (Also Mexican, African, and Brazilian) dream is practically to move to America/Europe and live the American dream of giant boobs, pretty people, pretty places, and too much food (i.e paradise).
If not go there, then at least bring the beautiful people and money back to the homeland.

To sum it up:
The people who obsess over Anime/ Games obviously love it, but most likely because they are broken souls yearning for a different world. I have yet to meet someone who is a hardcore fan who is yet "normal" in the head.

 

[Kurokami]

I liked Death Note....

Thats it. I cant get into other animes. I know some guys who are into Naturo, I think thats pretty cool too, but to be totally honest im not up to watching 400 episodes.

I hear Code Gauss is on a similar level to Death Note, if you enjoyed Naruto then I suggest watching Basilisk (the only common factor being that they both claim to have ninjas, where as basilisk is more about ninjas then naruto which is about bright orange jumpsuit wearing adhd children. (PS: I watch Naruto))

Watched 5 episodes of Code Geuss (Geass? Geuss? Geöeis? cant spell it right) and discovered that I hated it. Also, I lold about Britain having giant mech warriors and using them to control Japan. Usually Japan with the superior mech technology, ya know?

Hearing that I have to agree, but if all the commotion is correct I'll eventually get around to watching it.

In any case try basilisk, its very brutal, very dramatic and, well its more or less a Ninja version of Romeo and Juliet. (there is also the non-animated movie version called Shinobi (might be called Shinobi wars, I'm not certain)

I realize some people simply don't enjoy anime that much, but stereotypes aside, it is a medium so there should be something for everyone in my perspective.

 

[KillerH]

I would say it's the type of unique revamping to the genres that had become old and stale that anime brings to the table that make people like so much.

You could read Sherlock Holmes all over again(assuming you've read some of the works in the first place) or you could read Deathnote or Detective Conan: Case closed, just for something different.

I personally love anime, and Japanese culture. The reason I like Japanese culture is because it's a culture similar to ours, yet hasn't been bastardized over the years by pointless pop culture obsession(though they still have it there, it hasn't done as much damage).

EDIT: I forgot to mention to ignore fans of: Naruto, One Piece, Inuyasha, and Yu-Gi-Oh.(and sometimes Lucky Star, depending on the fan). They just make the rest of us look bad.

 

[Jiggabyte]

I honestly don't know. There are differences from Western stuff that I suppose appeal to fans, but for every one I can think of exceptions. I'll stick to "it's different", I guess.
Its just another way to enjoy a story (or boobies and such, if that's why you're here.) I don't get why people can be so against it. That's like hating books or something.

 

[The DSM]

Its more intresting than reality, hence why I play videogames aswell.

 

[Gigaguy64]

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

No...no it wont end well.

OT: i enjoy Anime because...

Spoiler: Long Excerpt

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.

This.

Anime is more than i could ever get from American animation, or American TV and movies for that matter.
The story's are deeper, the characters make me feel for them, the artwork is ART, many Anime's deals with topics that many people are afraid to confront.
Of curse not all Anime is like that, many Anime's and Manga's are just there to make you laugh and go WTF?(Bo Bo Bo Bo-Bo Bo BO for EX)
But that's also a reason i love it.
Anime can be serious but dosent take itself too seriously.
And even Manga and Anime like One Piece which is a Action/Comedy Manga and Anime at heart, touches on so many topics and themes and still remains good and true to its original style.