Why is anime so popular with Escapist readers?

[DEAD34345]

Anime is known as a "nerdy" thing to watch, much like playing video-games is known as "nerdy". Since the people on this site like to play video-games despite the social stigma that still exists, it stands to reason that they would be open to enjoying anime as well. Of course the reason they actually watch it is that they enjoy it, just like anything else, but the reason you find many people on a gamer's site enjoying it is that most gamers have already realised that things society looks down upon can still be good.

This site's acceptance of (or obsession with?) My Little Pony is an obvious example of this.

 

[itsausernamewhatofit]

The question is, why isn't anime this popular with everyone else.
And yes, Code Geass FTW

 

[internetzealot1]

Anime is like TV, but exciting. Also mostly free on the internet.

 

[Josh Horton]

Because there is nothing better to do in life then watch the same plot/story retold in many different forms of anime which try to call themselves "Original" but instead can be reverted to really early forms of anime all in which, suck. And when Anime actually develops a good ending, they have to ruin it by extending it even more.

TL;DR

All anime are the same.
They all suck.

There ARE a lot of anime that have the same concept and story lines but with different characters that have similar traits to hundreds of other characters from hundreds of other anime. But then there are the anime that have everything unique to them with the exception of voice actors and physical attributes (Due to same artists). I've watched hundreds of anime and there are ones that I will watch over and over, then there are ones that I avoid like the plague because of what you stated. And yes there are anime that have the whole, "We're done! Psyche! Here is another season or three!!", thing but there are the ones that KNOW how to end it and leave it at that.

In short I agree and disagree with you.

 

[ChocoFace]

Because some of it is really good.

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

Mines from a graphic novel, does that count?

 

[GodofCider]

I've noticed something uncanny as well.

Many of the posters I encounter on this site enjoy video games...odd.

 

[Ice Car]

Jesus, I've just never understood why Anime has appealed to me... Though I do find that anime images can make great avatars.

NO THIS AVATAR IS NOT FROM ANY ANIME BEFORE YOU ASK

 

[Ice Car]

I like anime because it's actually good, unlike most American television (imo). If I had the BBC channel, I'd watch that too. The only American shows I'll watch are certain Travel Channel shows and Futurama.

Wait wait wait. Not even HBO, that channel is like the beacon of scripted drama in the modern age, it just does things SO well. I absolutely can't wait for the day they choose to start a sci fi show on that channel.

I actually don't like a large majority of shows on HBO. Stopped paying for the channel way back.

 

[Choppaduel]

I don't really understand it. The cultural difference is too much for me. Also, I just simply prefer US art style to Japanese art style.

If I had to guess why its so popular here... perhaps its because some people who spend a lot of time on the escapist don't fit in well with North American culture and think that Japanese culture is more for them (despite knowing that japan tends towards the xenophobic & they wouldn't fit in any better there)

 

[Torrasque]

Because gamers understand anime, and there are alot of gamers on Escapist?
/shrug
Mine would be of anime, but I've been Torrasque for 4 years of WoW, xbox, etc., so I'm just used to people calling me Torr.

 

[deathbydeath]

to me, it's just a genre. some people are obsessed with genres.

 

[tobimaro]

I personally like anime, but not all of it. There are shows that I find incredibly boring. I remember one show when I was into watching fansubs on video tape, and there was a show in which we stopped the tapes because it was so boring (fantasy mecha that was very boring even after watching the entire first episode). I personally cannot stand horror shows (but I do not like horror in any form). I really do not like any of the Dragonball shows. And Evangelion is a show that I will never watch again after the movie End of Evangelion; I have not seen any of the reboot of Evangelion.

Now, I do like a lot of anime. My favorite show is Urusei Yatsura. I liked Kimagure Orange Road so much that I bought the series back in the laser disc era (and had to track down a player just to watch it). I even attended a Roger Ebert film festival some years ago when two versions of Metropolis were shown (one the silent era classic with orchestra, the other the anime based on Osamu Tezuka's manga, which was shown in the original Japanese).) And I will also give a positive review of Ruroni Kenshin (see my avatar). I also suggest tracking down the anime Demasita! Powerpuff Girls Z. Yes, I am not kidding.

There are all kinds of anime. Some may be of your taste, some may not. I do like watching anime.

(Just do not get me started on the whole subs vs dubs argument.)

 

[Nabirius]

I'm guessing there is more than a little overlap between gamers and anime nerds

 

[LittleChone]

Anime helps boost the confidence of the socially deprived.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

The Escapist is full of nerds.

Nerds like anime.

Duh.

That. But I'm the rare breed of nerd that doesn't like anime, D&D, WoW, magic, etc.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

The Escapist is full of nerds.

Nerds like anime.

Duh.

You Win logic FOREVER. /No sarcasm

The Escapist is full of nerds.

Nerds like anime.

Duh.

But Disney Robin Hood is still better.

Nyeh, I prefer Lion King better.

 

[GingieAle]

Nerds generally love anime.
Nerds also generally love video games.
The Escapist is generally a site for video games.

I'll let you put 2 and 2 together.