Why We Watch... Anime

What is so bad about anime?

Mikey: I am going to come out and say it, though maybe I will mumble it a bit: I like anime. Not all anime, but a wide variety of it. There is a lot of stuff out there and no one likes everything of a certain genre. Even bacon products. Baconnaise is gross.

If someone heard me say, "I like anime," without knowing what I look like, they would probably assume I'm a chubby guy that wears Sailor Moon shirts that are way too small for him. Trust me, this is not the case; all my Sailor Moon shirts fit just fine. I am a normal looking guy that can fit into a variety of crowds. Yeah, I am dorky/geeky/nerdy at times, but eh, who isn't?

Not only are the fans of anime stereotyped, but so is the anime itself. The word anime triggers thoughts of Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon. These shows have their place, but not all shows or movies are like this. When I was much younger, I watched a few of them, but there is way more to the genre than that. Of course, this is a cartoon, and things are going to be a little bit more fantastic, but how is that so different from the CGI used in movies like Avatar? The good and the bad thing about anime is that there is so much of it. There is probably something out there that you will enjoy. Then again, there is a lot of crap to filter through that you may not enjoy.

So how do I get you to watch? Well, maybe you need to get past the fact that this is a cartoon, or that themes in the stories are a little weird. Some of the best anime, in my opinion, is only a couple of steps away from the Disney animated features of old. A hidden castle in the sky isn't a big leap from a prince beast that talks to a clock, a teapot and a candlestick. If you have never watched anything anime, I would tell you to check out anything by Hayao Miyazaki, and if that is too broad for you, check out Howl's Moving Castle or Spirited Away.

If you have dabbled into anime it really depends on your own tastes. I like action so I am all over the show Cowboy Bebop (there is also a sick musical track through out the show and movie). I really encourage you to give anime a chance and if you want a more specific recommendation ask someone or even myself. If I haven't seen something I will just netflix it.

Mattie: Anime culture has definitely been stigmatized here in the US. I feel as if there was a big surge of Japanophilia within specific circles of people in the 90's, and the stereotypes and stigmas of that subculture have, for whatever reason, carried over until now. A lot of people probably don't make the distinction between casual anime fans, hardcore anime fans, and complete Japanophiles. Somehow, if you like a little anime, you're that guy (or girl...).

At the same time, the internet has become an expansive and ubiquitous monolith. The internet's tendrilous grip extends far and wide; as it has become more entwined with our everyday lives, more people seem to be finding many once-strange things culturally acceptable, anime included. Miyazaki's films have even found moderate success in the States...