Why Do You Guys Like Anime?

[DeadSoldier]

I know I should be taking this to the weeaboo thread or the Sit Down, Relax, and Hate forums, but I'm not very for sure, so if this does belong to the thread or forum, then please kindly merge this thread to that thread or move it to that forum. Also, I like Fist of the North Star and the 1960s Astro Boy (but not as an anime, though).

I'm only asking since I've been seeing so many anime-related icons, videos, artworks, and all that other shit. To me, it's the most overused style in terms of artwork and animation, when everyone should just come up with there own style instead.

I would ask this on deviantART's complaint forums or anime & manga forums, but I'd rather ask here instead, otherwise I would've gotten sarcastic remarks coming from pseudo-intellectuals or asshurt Hetelia-tards, so I thought it would be safe here since you guys aren't very much of an asshole or a batshit otaku, but then again, you'd probably joke around.

So I ask you, why DO you like anime?

Is it because of the dark tones some of them have (if so, why)? Is it because they're realistic? Is it because of the character design that's really difficult to animate with all of the angles, clusterfuck and shit? Is it because they're different from western cartoons?

[Richter]

The stuff I'm a fan of is generally thought provoking and imaginative in ways that live action doesn't want to, or cannot afford to go (Ghost in the Shell etc) or simply houses some kid of magical warmth absent from any other animation you can see (Nausicaa etc). Being outside the Western sphere of film making is surely a factor in this. Not a huge watcher mind you, I have no time for entire seasons of TV. I guess the same thoughts can be applied to why I watch movies from other areas of world cinema, there are simply some things Hollywood is inept at capturing.

[Jonathan]

[Con-con]

I don't really differentiate between Japanese anime and western cartoons. If I like an anime or a cartoon, it isn't for mutually exclusive reasons. I guess if I were to pick trends in anime that can make me enjoy it, it's probably fight scene animation, ridiculous plot and battles, or deep/interesting/fucked up stories. These definitely apply for western shows though, you just may not see as much of it, or the combinations of them as often.

[Male Genitalia]

[MercuryLemur]

Warning issued to Josh for a B6 violation.

Anyway, it's difficult for me to outright say I like anime, as there's a lot of garbage mixed in with the occasional gem. For every Cowboy Bebop out there, there's a dozen Narutos or the like.

The only thing most anime have in common is the place of origin and that they're animated. It's hard to draw any other connections between, say, the balls-tripping surreal mystery plot of Paranoia Agent and the adrenaline-fueled, B12-shot-to-the-id that is Dragon Ball. Both are great for what they are as unique experiences, but depending on what you're looking for, grouping them together can bring either one down.

Also, I find it amusing this questions was posed by a guy with an anime-style character as his avatar.

[7224]

Will always be my favorite...

and Mercury...everytime I think of Naruto, I think of Chris, he was Arcy's friend...remember him and his headband? Oh god that was 100 yrs. ago now. I still have that pic of him somewhere in a photobucket.

[MercuryLemur]

[7224]

Oh my Jesus....


...and yep, we are getting up there Mercury! I wish the Void was still around just to read old threads..that would be alot of fun!

If Harry Potter was Anime

[Ravi Singh]

Anime isn't a genre, it's a style. Saying you "love anime" is like saying "I like music." The sad thing about this is that I've actually met many women who literally say something like that and expect me to be marveled at our "common interest." It's vague and doesn't mean much.

So the real question would be, why do I like Cowboy Bebop? What is it about The Big O that I find fascinating? Why do I feel like FLCL is one of the greatest coming-of-age stories? How come Galaxy Express 999 tugs at my heartstrings? Why do I consider Grave of the Fireflies one of the greatest war movies? And so forth.

[MercuryLemur]

I suppose one of the aspects of anime I really appreciate is how it often takes itself seriously as a storytelling media, at least moreso than most Western animation.

[DeadSoldier]

[Jonathan]

[7224]

[MercuryLemur]