What is it with nerds and anime?

[Sark]

I just love how two people got so offended they completely failed to understand the post. Are you that insecure?

Nerds with a disproportionate love of anime. An excellent question. I suppose to an extent, being gamers we have an understanding that medium doesn't dictate quality. Anime, which is essentially Japanese cartoons, appeals to the same group who understand that just because something is a video game, it can be on the level of narrative equal to a good book or television series.

A large proportion of people grew up with anime, being the cartoons that were watched by everyone. In my case, Dragonball Z, was watched by everyone. We nerds though, we were the ones who really loved it, so I suppose you can say that we didn't adbandon the medium, as we are all to some level the kids that never really grew up.

 

[Hexenwolf]

There are plenty of other types of media that have good stories, what is attractive about anime in particular?

And what makes it less attractive to others? Non-nerds like story too after all.

I believe it's the sheer volume of stories that are easily available.

To clarify though, you do realise that liking anime automatically makes one a nerd though don't you?

Hahaha... No I didn't quite make that connection, though would handily explain the connection.

It's sort of circular logic though isn't it? Is it that nerds like anime? Or is it that liking anime makes one a nerd? What if you found a jock that liked anime? Hell, my mom likes Inuyasha, and she is by no means a nerd. I feel that the question still stands...

 

[ward.]

I'd say it's liking anime that will make one a nerd, while other things can also make one a nerd.

It's possible that your mom is a nerd though and it's an issue of "the times" that stopped her from progressing down the path of poindexter-ism.

 

[JackKrauserFtw]

What is it with people not understanding that different people like different things?

What is it with people missing the point?

...

I'm not saying people shouldn't like anime. I am simply curious as to why. More specifically, why a particular kind of person seems to like it more then others. That's all.

BOOM THREADSHOT!

That sums things up nicely.

See above. Same goes for you.

Judging by your avatars, you two might be able to shed some light on this...

What does it matter?

Should we make a thread asking why some people like women with blonde hair and others prefer red?

Sure, if you don't know why, go ahead and ask

 

[EvilMaggot]

I like magic and tech. Anime's the only medium that blends the two well at all.

this.

im a g33k and i like anime because it gives me violent cartoons just kidding i just like some of the stories and some are a total mindfuck... like "Death note"

 

[blackguard89]

Hmm...
Well, I for one watch anime and read manga.I dunno really, it's just that the stories seem more compelling sometimes, and the funny situations are veeeeery funny in an anime or manga than in classic DC / MArvel comics(well except Deadpool, now that guy was/is/will be funny for evaaaar =)) ) or the cartoons for that matter.
Also in my case they just brought with them a whole new perspective on a story, like the good guy is not always the good guy.Read the Berserk manga, it will disturb your mind .
Also don't mistake me for a fanboy.I still hate JRPG's because they focus more on story than gameplay.Or disregard that I hate almost anithing produced by japan, except a few titles.
I also reaaaaaalllly hate Metal Gear.The last game can't decide what it is, movie or some sort of excuse for a game......LIke Yahtzee said, Hideo Kojima can run for the president of the universe with his scripts.

In the end I guess you could say it's just a matter of personal prefference .
I am not a nerdy guy, I go out, have fun with my friends, play many games, well at least what my PC allows me to , because it's preety old, and hey, if you don't like anime or manga, that is your problem, i never try to convince people on forums with threads like "OMGZ, BLEACH RULLZ, You NABS Bleach and NAruto is so l33t".So if you don't like it you don't , if you do you do, that's it.And I know you said you were not trying to criticise, but I still feel like you have categorised me.
Also the hardcore fans, as one would say are called otaku's, i think.
Anyways, im not complaining, but please express yourself better.Otherwise people will bash your thread, taking it as a personal thing.
I for one understand what you said in your first post.

 

[TheHecatomb]

Perhaps anime simply attracts the sexually frustrated, which is why both nerds and the Japanese like it.

 

[General_Potatoes]

I dunno to me anime is easier to understand than most tv shows like home and away (aussie show), Glee (incredibly crap) and some other drama shows who'd names i dont want to mention.

 

[Casual Shinji]

What is considerd "anime"?

Japanes animation covers a lot of different genres, from 80's and 90's kids shows like, Peter Pan no Boken, The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, to the usual popular teen high school stuff like,...almost everything post-2000.

 

[Les Awesome]

what is it with fat americans and tv

 

[Gigano]

Maybe it's more the other way around, and people are defined as nerds by significant parts of society when among other things they like Anime? Co-relation is hardly strange if one concept helps form the other...

Anyway, you'll usually have to take the road less travelled to find the stuff less sold on main street. And with it being in animated form, be more open to alternatives to the western social convention that animated stuff is for kids (which Pixar is by now butchering with their multi-level stories though).

I like magic and tech. Anime's the only medium that blends the two well at all.

This as well, also on a more general level. Mixing up different themes and genres, and doing it well to boot, seem to be one of the strengths of the medium, and something rarely found outside it. Even when the result of it becomes weird beyond imagining, like To Aru Majutsu no Index[footnote]You should watch that one if you haven't already Naheal, aside from it being entirely based around blending high-tech "science" (espers) and magic its liberal approach to theology would be right up your alley.[/footnote] it's usually novel enough to be worth watching just for that.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I think the art style of anime has a lot to do with its popularity. Compared to a real human being, most anime characters have incredibly large, expressive eyes with exaggerated highlights. For whatever reason, it seems like humans are hard-wired to regard such an appearance as "adorable." Hell, even western animation often falls back on this style when drawing cute cartoon animals like kittens and puppies. I think it sparks a kind of paternal, protective care in us, as it reminds us of babies, who often regard the world in wide-eyed wonder.

On a broader level, anime is intriguing to westerners because it's a reflection of the Japanese culture. Art imitates life after all, and eventually life starts to imitate art. Artists can't help but draw upon their own life experiences as inspiration for their work, and Japanese animators come from a culture that is often very alien to us westerners. As a result, anime often has a peculiar quality to them that is hard to put into words, but is distinctly Japanese in origin. It's like western viewers are able to briefly submerge themselves into the collective unconscious of the Japanese culture in a way that textbooks can never convey. It should be worth noting that it works the other way around as well. Many Japanese are fascinated by western animation. I've heard that Disney characters in particular are very popular in Japan.

I myself am rather picky when it comes to anime. I adore Fruits Basket and I enjoy many works from Studio Ghibli, but I haven't had that much exposure to it as a whole. I tend to shy away from many action animes like Dragon Ball Z (the story often makes no sense and nobody realizes that they could stop their opponent from finishing that five-minute-charge super beam by JUST HITTING THEM) or shows that rely on female sex appeal (since the majority of the characters look like they're underage).

 

[PurplePlatypus]

I think it?s probably because the things a person does that typically earn them the label of nerd do things that give them a greater chance of exposure to things like anime. For instance if you go on a forum to discuss certain types of hobbies. I think it has to be a hobby that is with some form of media; music, games, books etc... At some point, if you?re discussing these things, then other forms of media are going to come up in conversations including cartoons.

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

There are plenty of other types of media that have good stories, what is attractive about anime in particular?

And what makes it less attractive to others? Non-nerds like story too after all.

I believe it's the sheer volume of stories that are easily available.

To clarify though, you do realise that liking anime automatically makes one a nerd though don't you?

Not nessecarily a nerd, but geek is almost 100% definite, nerds are more along the line of singular obsession in my experience... Geeks are more of a well rounded culture, also... I for one would never consider anyone a nerd unless they proved themselves to be one through being so damn boring and singular in topical purpose through conversation that i could not stand them... I would admit to being a geek though, but i would put myself more in the loves his car and works on it all too much, and plays pc games a bunch kinda geek than a pen and paper rollplay end geek. generally more attracted to tech than fantasy overall... yes i have watched several anime series' and for the most part they tend to be pretty good... but then again i almost never bother to spend time watching things much, hell don't even have cable, cut it off cuz i never watch tv.

i would speculate that it has to do more with the "accepted social norm" that said person subscribes to, if they've been brought up within a collective group of people who would consider watching anything animated past the age of say 12 to be a bad thing then chances are they have no desire to do so. i would put it down to differences in upbringing and social interaction during one's life. peer pressure always leaves a mark whether you resist it or not, just a different shape and size of mark.

my words are now OVER!

 

[Jonesy911]

Anime isn't a genre, it's a treatment applied to a genre. The problem is that the general public does not understand this. You cant really say Death Note and Gundam are the same genre but most "normal" people would (because they don't know what the fuck they're talking about), which is why they ignore the genre as a whole.

 

[credop]

What is it with people not understanding that different people like different things?

What is it with people missing the point?

...

I'm not saying people shouldn't like anime. I am simply curious as to why. More specifically, why a particular kind of person seems to like it more then others. That's all.

BOOM THREADSHOT!

That sums things up nicely.

See above. Same goes for you.

Judging by your avatars, you two might be able to shed some light on this...

What does it matter?

Should we make a thread asking why some people like women with blonde hair and others prefer red?

Then do it and stop trying to cause an arguement which doesn't need to exist?

OT: Uhhm, i think that anime + Nerdy =complete is starting to become less and less true. I love some anime, and i hate others. It's difficult for people who don't watch it, (and i think people who do will back me up here), to understand that not all anime is the same. I like FMA and Deathnote, but i can't stand bleach. Yes, i am a nerd, i'll open my heart and tatoo it on there. I love being a nerd! but i don't think you can say there is real reason. It's like asking, why do all chavs have low IQ's? They just do. We just do.

 

[Darktau]

I like stories, anime has stories.

I imagine it's a similar situation for most other nerds.

^Basically this for me, but I question the whole "nerd" thing, it may so happen that people branded as nerds watch it, but I hang around with basically everyone at my current school so... ?

what is it with fat americans and tv

This made me laugh

EDIT:

Anime is kiddie porn. I'm a troll about a lot of stuff, but this stuff is just wrong. /run

It appears your a troll about this as well

 

[Estarc]

I think a better question would be "What is is with 'normal' people and dismissing an entire medium of visual entertainment out of hand?"

 

[Harlemura]

Could be it spreads between nerds, in a sense.
Talking Over Xbox Live or somethin', as nerds do, and one says "Hey have you seen this anime?"
"No, I haven't. I shall watch it."
And then he watches it.
"This is quite good. I'll tell my friends about it next time I'm on Xbox Live or somethin'."

Or something like that.

 

[DSK-]

Okay, before I say a single thing, allow me to offer a disclaimer. I really shouldn't have to, but we all know how much some people love to get offended. This query is not intended as a criticism of nerds or anime. It would be very hypocritical of me to say nasty things about nerds and I don't know enough about anime to criticise it properly.

Right then, now that's out of the way...

I was browsing this here off-topic forum when I spotted yet another anime-related thread and a thought occurred to me.

Why on earth is anime significantly more popular among the nerdier communities than among the general population? Come to think of it, anime has become a part of the nerd stereotype alongside things like comic books (sorry, "graphic novels"), Star Trek and video games.

If you ask a nerdy person about anime they will almost certainly know what it is, will probably have seen at least one or two and might be something of a fan. If you ask a non-nerdy person about anime, they might know what it is, there is an outside chance they will have watched some and they will almost certainly not be a fan.

Why is this? What is it with nerds and anime?

So that means that because I watch anime I am nerdy? interesting. I don't consider myself nerdy, I just like being entertained by anime instead of the drovel on TV. I'm not offended, by the way

OT: People will always be more knowledgeable with the things they have been subjected to or have an interest in. It's the same when people at school/college/university discuss their experiences in COD:MW2 or BF. An example could be: "I managed to get my 6th kill in Favela and call in my Precision Airstrike and it increased my K/D". Someone who hasn't played or even knows about the game in question will wonder what on earth they are talking about.

I hope that helps