Why do you like anime?

[HeySeansOnline]

Anime Is a broad term, a very broad term. Granted for every Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya and Neon Genesis Evangelion there Is a Bamboo Blade. Now I think you're mostly referring to the batshit insane sort so I'll focus on that.

They provide something different, when I just want a nice crazy action packed storyline I'll start up an anime. If you can get past the obsurd ideas there are classic elements underneath. Sure Trigun Is about a plant running around a desert planet ... but enderneath Its a very good character piece/western. Now some stuff Is just crazy, Neon Genesis Evangelion while a good show, will leave you scouring wikis to find out what the fuck you just watched.

So I suggest try a few series. Every medium has something you might like, I'm not saying you have to like It, but It's a very broad genre with something decent for you probably.

 

[Azure Sky]

So I suggest try a few series. Every medium has something you might like, I'm not saying you have to like It, but It's a very broad genre with something decent for you probably.

Going to psudo-disagree there.

Anime is more of a sub-format of visual media housing all the different genras of standardized visual media (maybe more) as opposed to being a genra in and of itself. And just like its live-action counterpart, has its strengths and weaknesses that come with the format.

 

[Okuu_Fusion]

I never really thought about it... It never seemed important to know why I like anime... I just simply do...

And thats all you really have to know...

 

[DefunctTheory]

I like some animes for two reasons.

Interesting visuals.

And interesting ideas.

Most animes have poor dialect (Even before translation), ridiculously large amounts of teenage angst (Even the 'Adult' animes), and poor character development (Characters only seem to change in short, five minute spans, using the rest of their time to boringly repeat the same behavior). Kind of like the average American TV show (Which is why I never understood the 'Anime is better than American cinema' thing).

But, just like everything else, you occasionally get a gem. I recently got into Hellsing OVA, first because of the visuals (Gorgeous), and than later because of the underlining question no one ever asks, but everyone is constantly asking: If you stoop so low to defend a ideal so Holy, are you still righteous? Or are you every bit of a monster as the things you fight against?

 

[comet5002]

Um...no offense, but this is kind of like asking people "Why do you like horror movies", or "Why do you like basketball", or "Why do you like brussels sprouts". Why does anyone like anything? It's a personal preference purely based on each individual's subjective opinions.

I like anime because I like it. I like shonen and shoujo, I don't know why I like it, I just do. I also don't like soap operas and I do like murder mysteries. I like football and not baseball. Etc etc.

I'm not trying to make fun or anything...it's just that this is kind of a silly question.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I have nothing against anime, but my perverted mind always thinks of porn when I try to watch them. It's a curse, really.

That's understandable, to be honest. I don't watch porn and I think the same. There's an attempted rape in the either first or second (can't quite remember) episode of Death Note, there's panty flashes all over the place in Neon Genesis Evangelion, some guy in Chobits kidnaps Chi and tries to make her touch herself in front of a camera. Of course, when she does, she reboots
And when watching Ninja Shrolls, I had this strange feeling, 'you know, I think this is an 18 for a reason...' and yes, he raped her! Or I think, I looked away at that point.

Anyway, when I look past all... that creepy stuff, I find it interesting and sometimes quite cutesy. The part in Chobits that I explained is only the really creepy part, the rest of it is quite cute.
Bought Panda! go Panda! in Cex too. It's so cute. ^^

 

[delet]

Maybe it is just my personal taste showing through but is it just me or is there a better good vs crap ratio in anime as opposed to non animated media?

Now that's where you're wrong. As a whatever-the-hell-you-are-that-isn't-Japanese, you can pick and chose what anime to watch and pretty much make sure you filter out all the shit. You can take recommendations from those who have watched more or better things and you can heed advice from those who have watched horrid anime.

 

[Azure Sky]

Maybe it is just my personal taste showing through but is it just me or is there a better good vs crap ratio in anime as opposed to non animated media?

Now that's where you're wrong. As a whatever-the-hell-you-are-that-isn't-Japanese, you can pick and chose what anime to watch and pretty much make sure you filter out all the shit. You can take recommendations from those who have watched more or better things and you can heed advice from those who have watched horrid anime.

Little bit of yes, little bit of no.
Maybe I am just lucky and haven't stumbled across too much in the way of bad...

 

[Eduku]

Yeah, I think anime is way too broad to ask why someone likes it, like asking why you like movies, or television.

I guess the only answer I have is that it entertains me. For a more specific answer, I'd need a more specific question.

 

[aaron552]

I hope you're not applying "relateable and likeable" to Evangelion. I wouldn't group Evangelion and Clannad together, either.

Actually am applying relateable and likeable to Evangelion. Shinji is one of the most human characters I've ever seen in an anime (I'm one of the few people who think he's a really great character). And you must not have seen very far into Clannad...

Actually, it's the opposite: I've seen all of Clannad (and After Story). I ragequit Evangelion because of Shinji. Clannad is nowhere near as depressing (or confusing) as Evangelion. They're not even the same genre.

Besides, how is Shinji relateable or likeable? He's pathetic. Perhaps you find that likeable. I find it mildly disgusting. If it wasn't for Shinji's whining, I probably would have enjoyed Evangelion a lot more.

 

[Nannernade]

I like them because of the action or comedy within them, the great dialog, and the fact that when the japanese are reading them they actually make it seem like they are into in unlike when the americans fuck it up by making it extremely obvious they are just reading from a script.

And no offense but complicated? What do you mean by that?

 

[Garrsus]

well it is the only place you can do this

Spoiler: warning its a bit gory

also it can be awesome in many ways

 

[BaldursBananaSoap]

I don't like it. It seems that there are two types of anime: Those sparkly pink haired Japanese school girl ones made for sad fourteen year olds but watched by people much older for some reason, and the "deep" and "mature" ones which pretty much translates to horrible emo characters and everything being dark and gritty. It's like they're saying "LOOK! Look at us! This a very mature show for very mature people! Just look at the whiny characters wearing all black because this show is not for kids no sir!"

Also, they seem very poorly written and the Cartoon Network facial expressions like the "Oh my god I'm so happy look at this red bit on my face that means I'm happy my writers were too stupid to build my emotions into the dialogue so stare at this" and the whole "giant mouth" thing are fucking horrible. Oh yeah and anime like DBZ and One Piece drag out 30 seconds worth of content into two epiodes, probably because the writers for both are shit.

 

[Seldon2639]

I don't like anime.

Don't get me wrong. I loved D.N Angel, Full Metal Panic, Ouran High School Host Club, and a slew of other anime.

But I don't like anime writ large. The problem with asking whether someone likes "anime" is that it's roughly equivalent to asking if someone likes "television". It's too general; it's an entire medium. There's some great anime, emotional anime, anime that makes me cry or laugh, feel good or feel bad. And anime itself doesn't do that better or worse than anything else.

It's worth noting that anime is better than a lot of western series, because western series tend to be episodic, and expecting to be longer-running, where anime expects to be a half-season - two seasons (usually) at most. Anime is forced to actually create an entire narrative in the time it expects to have. Largely because all of the costs are upfront, they know how much they can make.

But, there's also good and bad. Full Metal Panic is just fantastic, with great characters, development, arcs, all of that good stuff. Dragon Ball Z is pulp. The difference is between The West Wing and WWE. In western television, I like The West Wing, I hate WWE.

See how it works?

 

[rex922]

i usually just need a time sinkhole and anime is just that

 

[rokkolpo]

because it's fun......?

why do you like gaming, watching tv.

 

[GodofDisaster]

To be honest I moved onto anime, because I really can't stand today's TV.

I like it for it's humor, action, storyline and even general silliness.

I'm willing to give most shows a try and will watch everything, from action, slice of life to even shoujo anime.

Although right now Fairy Tail is starting to become a favourite the soundtrack, the characters and even the story arcs are all excellent.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I don't like anime as a group, but I like certain anime series and movies because I simply appreciate good fiction whether it's anime or not.

le snip

Actually no, you're missing 2 important types here; the proper mature anime, as in not emo bullshit (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kurozuka, Grave of the Fireflies to name some) and the fairytale-like work of Studio Ghibli.

 

[DSK-]

I'm not too sure. Anime is entertaining and interests me in general (it's also 'acted' a lot better than some of the stuff on TV ). I wouldn't say I was fanatical over it though.

 

[Hap2]

Philosophical reasons for one part, stimulating my thoughts and my imagination. I am an artist, so I really appreciate the craftwork involved in creating a compelling original series that in turn inspires my own passions. And there is the simple fact is that I enjoy watching what I watch. My favourite series is probably G Gundam, for its over-the-top, not to mention fun, action, writing, and philosophical messages. Who could resist such a brilliantly awesome and tragic character like Master Asia?

By the way, I disagree with labeling anime as a genre, as it is ignorant on many levels. Anime after all, like paintings, photography and other art forms, is a medium, not a genre.