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Stupid reasons for not liking anime that you've heard

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Sabbo Since: Jan, 2001
#126: Mar 13th 2011 at 11:41:30 PM

[up][up] Islam and Mormonism in the "Eastern Religion" section? O_o

Islam is slightly more borderline, sure, but Mormonism was founded in America. And they were both based on Christianity (albeit to very different degrees).

Minelaugh Since: Mar, 2011
#127: Mar 13th 2011 at 11:51:16 PM

Back on topic, folks.

The stupidest reason I've heard is, like most people here, that it's supposedly for kids, and they refuse to even try out the much more mature series under the assumption that animation = happy fun kids show with rainbows and ponies.

MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#128: Mar 14th 2011 at 12:16:06 AM

All right, I'll save the anti-Americanism for another time.

(In my area, the Book of Mormon is usually in with the Bibles. Tao is all over the place though—I found Tao Te Ching in "Philosophy" and "The Book of Chuang Tzu" in Classics)

Anyway, dumb reasons for hating anime... Well, one I don't think I mentioned the first time is the attitude that anime is a "fad" that "all the cool kids are into," like it hasn't been around for decades or something. In general, I hate people who react badly to something just because its in vogue (though I realize that's a hypocritical stance to take, considering). Then again though, outside of Japan it probably is a fad.

edited 14th Mar '11 12:16:35 AM by MoeDantes

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Wicked223 from Death Star in the forest Since: Apr, 2009
#129: Mar 14th 2011 at 7:52:17 AM

To be fair, most of the shows that anime fans hold up as being mature are actually pretty juvenile.

You can't even write racist abuse in excrement on somebody's car without the politically correct brigade jumping down your throat!
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#130: Mar 14th 2011 at 8:05:42 AM

Yeah Sabbo. At first I thought it was just some mistake, but the books remained in that location for weeks and new books on the subject would be moved there at times. Islam I can understand a bit more, but Mormonism...really? Maybe it's due to lack of shelf space?

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
KousakaKirino Otaku Surrogate Since: Jan, 2011
#131: Mar 14th 2011 at 8:07:21 AM

^^ Thank goodness for things like Clannad then.

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kyun Since: Dec, 2010
#132: Mar 14th 2011 at 8:08:58 AM

If you want to give your friends an example of a mature anime, show them Clannad. But that may spoil a LOT.

Anarchy just a medicine seller from Perak, Malaysia Since: Jun, 2010
just a medicine seller
#133: Mar 14th 2011 at 11:10:03 AM

I think the problem is that Western countries tend to see anything animated as being for kids, and so most anime/manga licensed in Western countries are those targeted towards kids/teenagers, i.e. the shonen/shoujo demographic. Anime/manga targeted towards more mature demographics, i.e. josei/seinen, tend not to get exposure. It's a bit better online, but shonen/shoujo manga definitely dominate in terms of what gets scanlated and exposed to English-speaking circles.

Belian In honor of my 50lb pup from 42 Since: Jan, 2001
In honor of my 50lb pup
#134: Mar 14th 2011 at 11:14:08 AM

[up][up][up] My mom works at a bookstore and the primary reason for that split is that the company can't decide what section to put them in. They have the same problem with a authors that combine romance, mystery, and fantasy in most of their books. The same author could be in three (or more) different parts of the store even though the books they write are quite simular.

...and this really should have been addressed in the Lit section, but o-well.

Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#135: Mar 14th 2011 at 1:32:18 PM

Ah. So it's more them just not knowing how else to organize them. That makes sense.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
ShayGuy Since: Jan, 2001
#136: Mar 14th 2011 at 1:40:48 PM

If you want to give your friends an example of a mature anime, show them Clannad. But that may spoil a LOT.

Clannad excels at what it is, which is basically a soap opera. But if that's not what people are looking for, they're not going to be interested. Moreover, it's long — 48 half-hour episodes, and it takes more than thirty to get to the part that really distinguishes it from other anime in the genre. For them to sit through that much is a lot to ask if they're not a fan to begin with — you're basically gambling on the (admittedly good) Fuko arc to hook them.

Instead, I would suggest a Satoshi Kon movie. Probably not Paprika unless they loved Inception, but Millennium Actress is nearly a sure thing, and Tokyo Godfathers is about as approachable as anime movies get. Perfect Blue can wait until after they've managed to separate the medium from the demographic in their minds.

Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#137: Mar 14th 2011 at 1:41:55 PM

[up]Plus, if you want folks to watch Clannad, you'd better hope they're OK with weapons-grade moe. Not everyone is.

edited 14th Mar '11 1:42:45 PM by Iaculus

What's precedent ever done for us?
Musicalcroc Since: Nov, 2009
#138: Mar 14th 2011 at 1:43:56 PM

[up]But is moe a familiar concept to those who are unfamiliar with anime in the first place? (though I agree that not everyone is used to uber-cuteness)

Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#139: Mar 14th 2011 at 1:50:23 PM

The exact Japanese term for the phenomenon? Probably not. But if you're using Clannad to show people how anime can be mature, you're likely to have some difficulty getting past the legion of doe-eyed schoolgirls with the cutesy mannerisms.

I'd advise testing your potential audience's moe tolerances first with something a little milder.

edited 14th Mar '11 1:50:46 PM by Iaculus

What's precedent ever done for us?
kyun Since: Dec, 2010
#140: Mar 14th 2011 at 1:59:46 PM

[up][up]Moe is not a term non-anime fans know at all. I certainly didn't until I had it force fed to me through Lucky Star.

Yeah they may be put off by "why that one girl poorly-disguises herself as 6 of Tomoya's potential Love Interest s". :P

MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#141: Mar 14th 2011 at 4:59:50 PM

Clannad excels at what it is, which is basically a soap opera. But if that's not what people are looking for, they're not going to be interested. Moreover, it's long — 48 half-hour episodes, and it takes more than thirty to get to the part that really distinguishes it from other anime in the genre.

To be fair though:

1) Soaps are fairly popular in the U.S. (there's even a cable channel dedicated to them)
2) The first half of Clannad is actually fairly complete in and of itself, so you can stop there if they're not interested enough to continue into After Story.
3) "Getting to the part that distinguishes it from the rest of the genre" might not be an issue to people who aren't that familiar with anime's take on the genre to begin with.

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Sporkaganza I'm glasses. Since: May, 2009
I'm glasses.
#143: Mar 16th 2011 at 5:07:24 PM

That's not an answer, that's a tautology.

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.
WORLDTree Since: Dec, 1969
#144: Mar 16th 2011 at 6:51:14 PM

"It's generic"

Especially considering "Generic" is part of a Generic Log of complaints nearly everyone falls back on to describe something they don't like, as if every show needs to have 50 subversion in every episode and go out of it's way to tell you "THIS IS A DECONSTRUCTION HAHA ARE YOU FEELING THE INTELLIGENCE!"

sabrina_diamond iSanity! from Australia Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: LET'S HAVE A ZILLION BABIES
#145: Mar 16th 2011 at 8:37:42 PM

One of my older friends freaked out recently because of their inhumanly 'big googly eyes' and declared, "How can you take this show seriously when their eyes looks so childish and biiiiggg compared to the rest of their face?" and I was like cool

In an anime, I'll be the Tsundere Dark Magical Girl who likes purple MY own profile is actually HERE!
Anarchy just a medicine seller from Perak, Malaysia Since: Jun, 2010
just a medicine seller
#146: Mar 16th 2011 at 8:41:30 PM

^You kidding? Has your friend ever watched Disney? Looney Tunes? I mean, look at fricking MICKEY MOUSE.

sabrina_diamond iSanity! from Australia Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: LET'S HAVE A ZILLION BABIES
#147: Mar 16th 2011 at 8:44:15 PM

Most of my school friends are not really familiar with anime and are more in tune with western tv shows and local Soap Operas [up] I feel like I'm the only one in my class who watches anime sometimes. Only one person I know regularly watches online anime with me and that is my mum. So when I introduced one of my school friends to anime, that was her reaction. I haven't asked her whether she watches Disney cartoons/Looney Tunes though, must ask next time

edited 16th Mar '11 8:46:57 PM by sabrina_diamond

In an anime, I'll be the Tsundere Dark Magical Girl who likes purple MY own profile is actually HERE!
MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#148: Mar 17th 2011 at 1:36:23 AM

Well on the other hand, if her complaint was "how can you take this seriously" then using Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse as counterexamples might not be a good idea.

I mean, you're not exactly supposed to take them seriously.

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Anarchy just a medicine seller from Perak, Malaysia Since: Jun, 2010
just a medicine seller
#149: Mar 17th 2011 at 1:45:14 AM

What about BAMBI EYES.

Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#150: Mar 17th 2011 at 5:00:27 AM

To be fair, I can see the excessively oversized eyes of, say, Key Visual Arts falling into the Uncanny Valley for some people. I was cetainly struck with a touch of unnameable, crawling horror when I decided to give Clannad a go.

What's precedent ever done for us?

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