[OT] Why is Anime so popular???

[astralpwka]

oh... btw... I'm Goku!!!

<a href="http://tsr-corp.com/test" target="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://tsr-corp.com/test/goku.jpg" alt="I AM GOKU!!!" border=0></a>

 

[EricNoah]

Anime is one of those things I don't "get", like pro wrestling, sports on TV, beer, reality TV, and SUVs. There's just literally no attraction for me, no spark of interest that makes me want to have anything to do with it. Kinda weird! Of course D&D is something a lot of people don't "get" either. And then there's Richard Roeper, who didn't "get" Fellowship of the Ring... So I guess I know the feeling of liking something and having others say, "Meh..."

 

[Apok]

My own personal feelings lie along the same lines as Tsyr's. Trying to figure out why some people like anime is like trying to find out why some people like Chuck Norris flicks or Indy movies or vanilla ice cream or liver or... I think you get the idea.

It's all about personal taste. There is no magical equation that you can solve and go, "A-ha! So that's why people watch it!" Some people just like it and others don't. Given what you mentioned about not liking Lodoss War but loving Mononoke Hime and Akira, I'd say you just fall into the category of those people who like things that are well done. Meaning, you like high-quality anime with deep storylines. Absolutely nothing wrong with this, it just means that some types of anime aren't going to appeal to you. You can apply the same logic to movies, music, TV, foods, etc. Anime isn't special or unusual, we just want to think it is.

Why do I like anime? I dunno. I just do, and that's good enough for me.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

What Tsyr said.

Except I do like some anime for the sexy girls. But I watch some standard movies just for the sexy girls in it. I'm shallow like that, and proud of it.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I really got hooked on the Zoids series. Other fave movies are Street Fighter and Vampire Hunter D. I think I might have been diturbed by Wicked City... (shudder...)

I really iked the zoid series where they just drive aorund, and have zoid competitions. (I want to see a new season of this) the zoid series with some revolutionary war thing going on I don't like, but maybe it's something I should give a chance. It just seemd to Gi Joeish.

 

[Sixchan]

I don't really know why I like it. I guess its because there's a different way of doing things in Anime. An Anime Comedy is done Completely different to an American Sitcom. It's really the same for any Genre. The only time I've ever been truly horrified by any Dark Drama was in Evangelion (Particularly the scene where the Dummy Plug is used). The only time I've ever come close to Vomiting watching something was During [tLot]Overfiend. Somehow, Animes have more power over me.

 

[Utrecht]

Celebrim,

Thanks - that was kind of what I was after - and seems to coroberate what I was seeing....

Again, this is not to slam those who like Anime. After all, I like Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears while recognizing for what it is.....

 

[Xarlen]

I would say that the reason a lot of anime is Lame, is because a lot of the stuff that comes Here is lame. There really isn't a whole lot of *good* anime that's been translated for American viewing.

Records of the Lodoss Wars, yes. Princess Mononoke, Yes. Ninja Scroll, Yes. Cowboy Bebop, yes. Uh... What else?

I was turned off to Anime because basicly I couldn't find any *good* anime. But what else is there? Then I started getting my hands on some anime straight from Japan, that's subtitled.

For instance, a show about an organization in Japan that hunts down Witches (Craft users who use magic in detrimintal fashion towards society; ie criminals), called Witch Hunter Robin. It's very good.

Then there's Princess Tutu, which has an interesting take on magic, where a writer of a book dies, before he finishes, and thus magic starts bringing the story to life, to make it run its' course, because stories are magic.

All it takes is sifting through the crap to get to the gems. Like any other median. There are a few good sit-coms (Signfeld anyone?), and a few others, but the rest are just... ungodly.

As for Anime=Porn, um... Has anyone checked out comic books? Those women have huge hoots, skimpy outfits, and still do superhero stuff.

Anime Production Studios do all genres, from action to romance to fantasy to porn. Sort've like Warner Brothers putting out a lot of various genres of movies.

 

[Sixchan]

Also, anime is underground, gothy, taboo, and well 'naughty'. It is therefore hip to like anime and wear anime related articles in order to firmly place yourself in a particular subculture. But in my experience, more people like anime than actually watch it. And more people say they like it than actually like it. Most people who do like it, have a small selection of anime that consider 'the good stuff', and tend to snear at those whose selection is different than there own. This may or may not be related to the nostalgia thing I just mentioned.

IME, Anime isn't always so cool. Almost anyone who I try to enguage in a conversation about Anime tells me bluntly to Shut Up, or that I'm really, REALLY wierd. Of course, if I talk about Akira Specificly, I am more likely to be shouted at, because almost everyone I know has seen Akira, and almost everyone I know LOVES Akira. And I can't fathom why. I thought it was Boring.

 

[maddman75]

My name is Maddman, and I'm a former Anime hater. But some good people in the nuthouse talked me into watching Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Now I'm all better!

Seriously though, if you're one of those people (like I used to be) who sees the DBZ commercials and says "What's the appeal of THAT?" take a look at VHD. The thing looks like it took place inside a Rembradt. Good story as well. I need to get around to watching Lodoss and Cowboy Bebop too.

But I can't take all of it. I tried watching Slayers, but it was too much. Too stylistic, to the point of being distracting. I like a more realistic feeling.