Why is Anime so Popular?

I like anime because I'm not a huge fan of realism. Oh, it can be good in places, but the extent to which it's used in most live action entertainment can get a little dull for me. In anime, however, even relatively realistic series often have more over-the-topness, fantasy elements, and/or general weirdness than live action usually gives you.

Um,if anybody wants someone to recommend an anime series for them, there is the recommendation thread.

Ghost In The Shell is pretty good for anyone who like science fiction, and its pretty westernize IMO. But its not really a good representation of how anime is, since I heard its pretty obscure in Japan.

Edit : That chart has some old anime, but I also seen some 2008 titles in there. I think its a guide to anime that has made an impact in anime fandom.

edited 1st Aug '11 9:44:56 AM by kalandra

The chart usually has older anime because most of those have "stood the test of time", in that they are generally agreed to be enjoyable and recommendable even after the hype for them has died down. And even then, what the hell are the standards here for old? Most of those series are post 2000, I can think a few older series that I'd remove some of the ones there for.

Even if I'm not a fan of many of the series there, I recognize the list as a good effort. One thing I would criticize is the Sports section, it seems like it's trying too hard to be as long as the others and reaches out to some pretty dodgy stuff like Prince Of Tennis.

Also, while I'm at it, Signed gonna Sign.

^I agree with your first point. I also would consider anything past 2000 to not be 'really old'.

The most popular genre in America is Shonen. Its a pretty wide genre of anime which can range to Pokemon to Death Note.

Which is not by any means Bad, unlike what most people on these forums think.

I like anime (as well as animation in general) because they're very successful at creating worlds where weird stuff happens, along with the fact that they are the best source for my favorite type of stories, "realistic ones with a little bit of fantasy".

What initially drew me in the days of Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z before school was the emotions. Shit got real. People fell in love. Main characters died. This was unheard of in TMNT or GI Joe. Batman: the animated series and Disney's Gargoyles were worthy attempts, but pale in comparison.

Something that grew on me later was the music. There are some really good soundtracks out there(FLCL, Panty and Stockings)

So you're all saying that despite the fact that Anime can come off as quite surreal and fantastical, the themes and characterization is generally better and more mature than Western Animation?

...?

Are those qualities supposed to contradict each other? Surreal/Fantastic vs. Better/Mature?

I always went by the "fantastic=better" logic since I have a preference for fantasy.

Allow me to clarify. While Anime may have somewhat surreal animation and fantastical elements, the characterization and plot is usually more developed than Western Animation.

It depends on the series really.

Like anything else, huh?

Generally speaking, I believe so. If only because most non-film western animation are gag series (thus with little focus on plot or character). Japanese gag series are not completely unlike American gag series. The difference is that most of their mainstream series are not purely based on comedy (or evolve past it at some point).

There is another reason for anime to be popular, I believe. It is its variety. There is all kinds of genres and concepts in anime. But most western animation is comedy (be it for adult or children). At most it will be an action series (probably based on comic books). Meanwhile you can find anything in anime, including powerful dramas and psychological series.

edited 1st Aug '11 9:39:17 PM by Heatth

x4: Yes.

edited 1st Aug '11 10:23:15 PM by burnpsy

I guess it also helps that I grew up with anime, so it stuck. I don't know jack about western animation besides the ones I don't like (like Family Guy), South Park, Futurama, and Avatar. Live-action TV is limited to comedies like How I Met Your Mother and That 70s Show. Films are something I've just recently begun to get involved with a few years ago. That's why I pay so much attention to it, even if I don't watch it as much as most anime fans do.

edited 1st Aug '11 10:28:45 PM by PrinterThorn

Before I respond to the OP, I've gotta say I totally thought this thread would've been started by starts with an S.

I think nime is so popular because it's the kind of dark and gritty animation that western animation has MOSTLY (but NOT entirely) been missing since The '90s.

That and there seems to be an increasing amount of Cuteness Proximity, chibi-related or otherwise.

Simple Answer escapism

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Analysis/Escapism

edited 2nd Aug '11 8:27:02 PM by FallenLegend

I think people like anime because it's a medium. People like cartoons, people like comic books, people like books and poetry and TV and movies and visual novels. Anime is hardly different from any of those. It's a medium; there's no single reason why anime is popular, it just is. It's like asking, "Why is TV so popular?" They're both silly questions. There's nothing about anime itself that would make people totally hate it, it's the individual shows and such that make it what it is. Anime just has a unique reputation because of its specific art style, the fact that it's Japanese (and therefore non-American/non-Western), and also because of hentai.

edited 2nd Aug '11 10:29:39 PM by Five_X

not always the case
but ive seen tons of people who used it as an escapist medium
i just watch it for the art and entertainment

This goes for nearly every work. That would explain why fiction in general is popular, but not anime specifically.

What I like about anime: Powerful emotions and concepts in fantastic settings.

As for anime that you might like I will list my reference pool.

A'int I helpful?

In no particular order.

• Baccano and Durarara
• Code Geass
• Samurai Champloo
• FLCL
• Cowboy Bebop
• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
• One Piece
• Beck
• Full Metal Alchemist
• Yu Yu Hakusho

edited 3rd Aug '11 4:29:32 AM by toalordsothe

A lot of good reasons have already been said, such as Japan's lack of Animation Age Ghetto, which is a large factor.

For me personally, when I think of why I like manga/anime I contrast it to its American equivalent: the comics industry. Comics are generally corporation controlled, with one comic having several different writers over the course of its run, which generally makes a mess out of the continuity, which really turns me off from comics. Manga is writer controlled, and thus generally has a clear beginning, middle, and end, with plot arcs and a more coherent continuity (One Piece is a great example of a continuity focused manga).

Also, most comics are about superheroes in a Standard Superhero Setting, complete with all of its cliches. I have grown to hate superhero genre and cliches, although the recent movies have done reasonably well, with some either justifying or averting the cliches. Manga has its own cliches, but not only do they explore more genres, they also mix genres. And comic characters are generally decades old and are continually rebooted to present day (just look at all the different takes on the character of Batman), while manga and anime characters are continually being created.

Then there is television. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was only in the past decade that plot arcs were used for shows other than soap operas, and I think there are still a lot of shows that are mostly episodic. That, and most shows today seem to be either about doctors, lawyers, or police procedurals, none of which appeal to me; or reality shows, which I hate. I don't even watch TV anymore unless my parents are already watching something or if a movie I like is on.

edited 3rd Aug '11 1:46:56 PM by shiro_okami

Personally I liked it for a while and still enjoy it. But that doesn't mean that I exclude anything that isn't anime. I enjoy animation in general so really the nationality of it doesn't matter much to me.

I think anime became popular because it was a different shift compared to other animation. It also appeals to different age groups even older ones.

edited 3rd Aug '11 6:40:30 PM by MalevolentMask