Poll: Why do YOU like anime?

[Muffinthraka]

I wrote my Independant Study Module on anime at Uni, and I got a 2:1 (the equivilent of a B), the title was "Feminism in World Cinema; Feminism in Anime and Disney. I passed and now have a degree in BA Hons Media Studies and English Literature.
I am giving this information partially to show off (^_-) and also to show that I have studied anime (and manga) from a critical perspective and have researched the topic heavily.
The first anime I ever saw was Patlabor, I saw it advertised in a Space Precinct comic (yep, we're going back a long way). A few months later I saw that it was being shown on BBC1... at 2 in the morning, so I taped it. I appreciated how the movie didn't talk down to me (although I appreciate that the series is Shonen) and it is still my favourite movie.
But why anime, firstly there is the way anime portrays characters, comedy and action that is very different to the western style (although anime is based on western styles, the large eyes that are an icon of anime can be clearly seen in characters like Betty Boop and disney, manga actually adds to the realism), there is also the obseession with cute (kawaii).
To be quite honest anime takes the saturday morning cartoons, comics and Disney style and then takes it beyond the age category, allowing for a current young fanbase to become a future older fanbase.

 

[ChoklateShyt]

just as alot of people have said, its just another thing that people tend to like. its like saying why do u like football? and if u say "OH! CUZ ITS MAAAANLYYYY!" then i feel sorry for you u empty shell of a human being who only cares about his appearance. the correct answer is, becuz its FUN. if you play football to look manly and not enjoy the football part of it, thats like taking a crap and putting it in ur mouth and swallowing it becuz a friend dared you to and you didn't wanna wuss out becuz ur MAAAAANLYYYYY. run-on sentence......

Other people like it because it makes great porn (apparently).

yes apparently to many peoplez, it DOES make great porn. have you ever seen an authentic japanese video store? picture an everyday video store with everday videos. Now put an endless pit of pornography next to it. Now multiply that by the thousands. Now multiply THAT by every city in Japan. If it was possible, you can probably masturbate ur life away with this amount of porn. Im talkin 24/7 no sleep no eating.

 

[Darth Pope]

Because contrary to what seems to be the general consensus here, there are some animes out there with very intriguing stories.

 

[Dalisclock]

Anime tends to take more risks, try then live action TV or movies, I've notices, and sometimes they succeed amazingly(Though the live action Death Note actually worked suprisingly well, despite the adaptations they had to make).

I've yet to see anything like Either of the Ghost in the Shell series in a live action format. I once tried to tell someone about Ghost in the Shell, and summerized it(badly) as "Like 24, but without the filler, soap opera elements or the stupidity"

Of course, like anything else, 90% of anime is crap. The trick is finding the 10% that isn't.

 

[Dalisclock]

Evangelion

These shows of a way of being profound. I like that.

Well,I've never seen another show that combines Jewish Mysticism, Mental Illness and Giant Robots so well before.

 

[Hollock]

well i gusse when i do like a anime it's for the same reasons i like live shows. but I'm not crazy for the series that are 100% action like alot of anime people i personally know.

 

[DarkRyter]

Everyone has their reasons for liking.

I guess because, well, there are genre's for just about FUCKING EVERYBODY.

You like Giant Robots, we got you covered. You like schoolgirls, we got that too. Cardgames? Ninjas? Pirates? Psychopomps? Aliens? Psychological Thrillers? The Zodiac? Fetishes of all kinds? Giant Robots AND Political intrigue? Wolfgirls and economics? Transvestites? Battling Tops? Dating Sim addiction? Making Manga? Mahjong?!

Spoiler

[http://img156.imageshack.us/i/mahjongc.jpg/]

We got it.

 

[PrimoThePro]

It's entertaining.
Why do like shows with real people?
Because you find it entertaining.
That's why.

^ This

Anyone who watches anime because it is anime should stop wasting their time, go to a few fansites, look at a few GIFs, and be done. I only watch ones that are not stupid, assanine, or outright "(Insert name for emo main character) goes on an adventure at age (Insert teen ot tween age here) to be awesome"

The ones I do like spark originality at how they handle their subject.
Full Metal Alchemist
Ghost in The Shell
Cowboy bebop
Big-O
Samurai Champloo
DUAL! (A japanese take on "Robojox" XD)
Trigun (Wasnt TO much a fan, but it had its moments)
Death Note (some really hardcore messages in this one as well as a VERY interesting story idea)

But to me much of anime that is released is just too... stupid to be blunt. Naruto... (Yes I watched the subbed Japanese version) Now usually I am shouting at ninjas who wear all black, do magic, and have super human abilities because real ninjas were just more political assassins and that was it... But come on! FUCKING ORANGE!? A Ninja is wearing fucking or- AND BLUE!? AND PINK!? And fish net!? COME ON! And why does their training consist of arena fight- WTF!? This takes place in modern day!? ugh... my head hurts....

its like- its like your in my soul!!!!! that list of anime hits me where i live!!!! i as well hate naruto, but i would also add to your list bleach. and damn straight about death note.

 

[Adaephon]

Because there's something for anyone, its not all one genre its a full medium on par to books and cartoons and movies and live action TV. I mean I hate Cowboy Bebop and Evangelion and Elfen Lied but I love Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Baccano and Elemental Gelade, not every anime is going to be loved by everyone. Saying that you couldn't get into anime because you didn't like Bleach doesn't really hold up as an argument, it would be like me saying all Hannah Barbara sucked because I didn't like the Banana Splits or that I don't like live action TV because I hate The Young And The Restless, its a fair argument that you don't like Bleach, one show, but it can't be used against the whole medium.

 

[Custard_Angel]

Yes. I'm complaining about the atrocious quality of one MAJOR style of anime. I also discounted the non violent types and pornographic types, so what else is there? What kind of David Lynch-esque avant-garde anime could possibly convey meaning or non-shambling significance?

major? im guessing your talking about the good vs evil motif. but that doesn't apply to only anime, almost all hollywood action movies use good vs evil as well as most western cartoons (e.g. transformers, g i joe) yes there are other narratives that differ but then the same can be said of anime hence Howl's Moving Castle

if your looking for something with a good narrative watch "Monster" the anime: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3750

or Death Note.

EDIT: or stick strictly to Studio Ghibli

The good and evil narrative set is horrible no matter what medium. Transformers sucks, as does GI Joe, as does ANY anime of the same theme. The medium doesn't change the fact that the theme sucks.

Also, Death Note is invalid as evidenced by the fact that it contains teen angst as motivation. Fuck. That. Shit. Wow a book that makes people die. How interesting.

Just because you like it doesnt mean the rest of the world has to. I like chemistry but nobody else does. Oh well. I dont try to force people into studying chemistry... 95% of the world will go through life not even knowing what the basis of organic chemistry is.

 

[DoW Lowen]

I usually just like high quality anime, I mean those with relatable (is this how you spell the word?) characters, a developing plot and good graphics. I'm not a fan of the shows where their heads grow at enormous sizes and everybody is hyperactive and horny. Which is why my favorite shows are Saiyuki, Kenshin, Trigun, Orphen, Cowboy Bebop and Escaflowne. Voice acting is a big deal for me especially if it's dubbed which is why I love David Matranga and Steve Blum.

 

[Airbear101]

The only anime i watched was when i was a wee lad, like pokemon, yugi oh, and the like. But today it weirds the fuck outta me. The only anime i actually enjoy is afro samurai.

 

[Gigaguy64]

I never cared to watch any anime. Actually, I watched like a minute and 30 seconds from Bleach and just couldn't take what kind of crappiness it was.

That explains a lot. After the first 18, skippable-if-you-know-what's-going-on episodes, it gets awesome. And a minute and 30 seconds isn't even enough to get through the theme song...

the theme songs dont get awsome till the 2nd season as well.
go watch a full season or two then pass judgment.

 

[Kingsman]

Fan of everything but romance manga, which can burn and die in a pit for all I care.

Why do I like it... Iunno, it just seems much more dramatic than most of the cartoons made in the states, and therefore it can appeal to a larger number of age groups.

 

[captainwillies]

The good and evil narrative set is horrible no matter what medium. Transformers sucks, as does GI Joe, as does ANY anime of the same theme. The medium doesn't change the fact that the theme sucks.

Also, Death Note is invalid as evidenced by the fact that it contains teen angst as motivation. Fuck. That. Shit. Wow a book that makes people die. How interesting.

Just because you like it doesnt mean the rest of the world has to. I like chemistry but nobody else does. Oh well. I dont try to force people into studying chemistry... 95% of the world will go through life not even knowing what the basis of organic chemistry is.

true but at the same time i don't go bursting into chemistry labs saying "CHEM SUCKS AND UR ALL FA**OTS FOR LIKING IT". just because the world likes something doesn't justify your hate for it.

 

[Custard_Angel]

The good and evil narrative set is horrible no matter what medium. Transformers sucks, as does GI Joe, as does ANY anime of the same theme. The medium doesn't change the fact that the theme sucks.

Also, Death Note is invalid as evidenced by the fact that it contains teen angst as motivation. Fuck. That. Shit. Wow a book that makes people die. How interesting.

Just because you like it doesnt mean the rest of the world has to. I like chemistry but nobody else does. Oh well. I dont try to force people into studying chemistry... 95% of the world will go through life not even knowing what the basis of organic chemistry is.

true but at the same time i don't go bursting into chemistry labs saying "CHEM SUCKS AND UR ALL FA**OTS FOR LIKING IT". just because the world likes something doesn't justify your hate for it.

The hell...?

I didn't burst into anyones room and lay a barrage of hate down.

I went into an OPEN forum, found a topic asking my OPINION on the matter and stated MY position.

I didn't run into some anime convention screaming "Naruto can eat a dick!" (which he probably could).

 

[NeutralDrow]

..I honestly don't know how to respond to this.

Your supposed 'polite'-ness is boils down to essentially 'I'M A FANBOI AND DIDN'T READ THE POST AND BASE MY OPINIONS ON THE POLL OPTIONS'.

To each his own, but I'm curious as to why people seem to like anime so much. It's like..cartoons that look like they were made by 6 year olds that have Asian (Japanese to be specific) eyes, and extremely graphic violence.

Ofcourse, that's just what I get from it.

And again, to each his own, everyone has a different taste in what they watch.

My apologies. I read the poll options and half of your post, and jumped to conclusions. This sort of thing pops up very (very) often, so I reacted much worse than I should have.

I'm guessing your not sarcastic, and I thank you for not being retarded about it. And I should apologize for calling you a fanboi, which kinda detracts and contradicts what I meant by my OP.

Nope, no sarcasm. I was in the wrong. Still...thanks for apologizing about the "fanboi" comment. That was making it a little harder.

So...you're complaining about the atrocious quality of one style of anime, but you're deliberately ignoring anything else that doesn't fit into one set style?

Your opinion is misinformed.

Yes. I'm complaining about the atrocious quality of one MAJOR style of anime. I also discounted the non violent types and pornographic types, so what else is there? What kind of David Lynch-esque avant-garde anime could possibly convey meaning or non-shambling significance?

Cat Soup?

Also, the non-violent ones are a little numerous to discount entirely...

As opposed to all that well-written live action porn consumed by people who have sex regularly?

You've got me there. All porn is a joke. Wow. My opinion stands.

Granted, by my definition, once it has enough plot, it ceases to be porn. It's how I justify most of those eroge...

Of course they do. If they're close enough to brush you with their nipples, they've probably already tackled you to the ground for just that purpose.

lol wut.

Spoken like a true virgin. Go out there, try it and report the findings. Go out and do it 50 times. Maybe a couple of them gave a good response because its their particular fetish. Oh wow. It doesn't work.

If a girl is burning with desire, its definately not because you gave their nipples a little tweak.

Get some experience and then make the claim.

Oh, also... Did I just offend an otaku? Sweet.

...I either need to work on my delivery or choose my audience better. I was trying to joke that a woman close enough to brush her nipples against you would probably already be driven mad with lust, and thus doing it deliberately.

 

[Spatzist]

Good characters can have big breasts, I suppose. It doesn't change the fact that it's a stupid marketing tool to get teenage boys to watch the shit. It doesn't change the fact that it deters people from watching the medium (especially girls) just as it does with video games. It doesn't change the fact that it's childish and needs to stop.

I really wish they'd cut down on that. Not only is it admittedly distracting, but it results in a split in the fanbase- those in love with the character, and those obsessed with her rack. And the relationship between these two groups tends to be... strained, to put it lightly.

As for what I like about anime? Pretty colours! Oh, and I find listening to Japanese to be oddly therapeutic. Pretty much all the other reasons I personally like it have already been said multiple times by others.