Anime and Gaming

[DeadSpaced]

This is something that's been on my mind for a while, so I figured I'd just ask:

I have a lot of gaming friends that just so happen to really be "into" Anime, I'd venture to put the number at at least 75%, and I, for the most part, abhor it. Now before anybody tells me that I'm just not "watching the right stuff" or so on and whatnot, I've been exposed to a wide variety of it, and only the feature film stuff (Ponyo, etc) that doesn't go on for 1,200 episodes appeals to me.

What I want to know is if anybody else out there has noticed this corollary between the two, and has a good idea for why, at least for me, they appear to be quite mutual interests. Alternately, are there other gamers out there who, like me, don't quite "get" Anime?

 

[Weaver]

I like some of it, but it has to be good. I can't tolerate even the "okay" stuff.

 

[Syphous]

All of my gamer friends hate anime. I don't care for it either, except Cowboy Bebop and even half of those episodes are lame.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I believe it's escapism. There are very few western 'adult' cartoons that can fulfill that need. Anime, like video games, can tell an amazing story in such a way that simply can't be ( or won't be) replicated in film.

Me? I prefer video games but I do like the occasional anime.

 

[Urgh76]

1 game will tell this story forever... Megaman from 8, up and from X4 up

 

[LupusDei]

I like both but I can't watch trash like Naruto or Bleach.

I like darker animes, theres just something that really suits for me.

And I love gaming o/ *salute*

 

[Zipa]

Im a gamer and can't stand anime.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

The reason gamers like anime is because it is a form of entertainment that has the good and bad spectrum. It is escapism, just like video games; and just like with video games, mainstream status is just out of reach.

To say "I abhor anime" is tantamount to abhorring movies, television, music, books, etc. because it is a medium just like all of those.

Some people simply do not see the appeal, and that is fine.

 

[DeadSpaced]

Saying you don't like anime, is saying you don't like tv shows or movies. Because that's exactly what it is, it's animated movies and tv shows. So please, stop saying you dislike it just because you haven't seen the right one yet.

I'd wager to say that Anime, despite being quite an encompassing category, is a bit more honed in than "tv shows and movies." In addition, I don't think it's unreasonable to say "I don't like what I've seen so far" when you aren't making an absolutist statement like, "I will NEVER enjoy Anime," especially when you've at least been exposed to a reasonable amount of material.

Just some thoughts.

 

[L4hlborg]

I usually don't get most stuff that comes out of Japan. It's not really the fact that it's from Japan that bothers me, more of the overall obsession of being really really weird. Not that that's always a bad thing, but making sense every once in a while doesn't hurt. And yes I have watched more than one episode of something. I actually used to watch and read lots of Japanese stuff a couple of years back.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I love games and anime but Naruto and Bleach can go fuck themselves, need moar dark stuff!

 

[VmKid]

I've recently found that people who bash Anime are more often than not misinformed and are basing their hatred off of stereotypical anime attributes (Many of which that can be traced back to Speed Racer: Fast talking, poor dubbing, etc.) and the fact that animation as a whole has grown in the eyes of the public, similar to how videogames are treated, as a kiddie medium.
Personally, I enjoy Anime because there seems to be a wider variety of more mature shows (as opposed to children's shows, not "mature" as in porn) then western animation, where there are shows such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park. However, I, as a citizen of the internet, can understand why gamers tend to bash the style: The fans.
Many of the fans can get a bit obsessive, and it can be very annoying. I consider myself a more "casual" fan, i.e. I don't go around wearing Death Note t-shirts or anything, but I can still appreciate the show (although I admit I've never seen it, beyond a YouTube clip).
I've found at most two forums that Anime fans visit without getting bashed to death. This one, and another one which I shall not name because it would probably be advertising.

 

[DeadSpaced]

If anything else, I think Anime fills a void for adults or those who want to watch something animated that is "adult-oriented."

And to be honest, I think both American and Japanese studios have yet to deliver particularly well on this topic. American shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons still hover around "fart and belch" territory, while Japanese have been known to veer into slightly more...disturbing topics (granted, not all do, but the reputation, even if undeserved, is present).

And...that's why I watch Archer. (Any other Archer fans here, by the way?)

 

[drbarno]

If anything else, I think Anime fills a void for adults or those who want to watch something animated that is "adult-oriented."

And to be honest, I think both American and Japanese studios have yet to deliver particularly well on this topic. American shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons still hover around "fart and belch" territory, while Japanese have been known to veer into slightly more...disturbing topics (granted, not all do, but the reputation, even if undeserved, is present).

And...that's why I watch Archer. (Any other Archer fans here, by the way?)

*Puts hand up*

anyway, for me I just try to view anime with an open mind, granted, there are some I won't watch (naruto and all that) simply because I don't want to, and I would also rather watch particular anime if I gain an interest into it, not if someone is ramming it down my throat saying "You must watch this! It's the best thing evar!"