A common question I get when I make new friends is "What interests you?". It's a good question, and usually I reply that I like video games, tv shows, movies and so forth. Then I inevetebly get asked the question "Are you an anime fan?". My answer is always "No, but I like anime". I find this question ridiculous in some ways, but I also understand why it's asked in the first place as there's a line between those who like traditional American cartoons and those who like anime. Personally, I don't understand or like that this line exists, and so begins the first part of my rant. Why is anime its own genre?
First of all, let me make my position clear. I do enjoy watching anime, and I'll even read some manga if I find one I like. I also admit a fair amount of material I enjoy originates from Japan. But I don't consider myself an anime or manga fan. I feel that anime and manga viewers have attempted to segregate themselves from those who like American animation and comics. Manga isn't some magical thing that only comes from Japan, nor is anime. These words have English translations, anime simply meaning "Animation" and manga meaning "Comic". There's nothing wrong with saying a manga is a comic, but anyone who reads manga will never call it a comic, as any anime fan won't call anime a cartoon (That's a bit different though, I'll explain later*). In effect, anime and animation are now seperate things to the average person, and there's no reason they should be. Animation is animation no matter where in the world it comes from. When I see a cartoon from russia, I won't say I watched a russian анимации. It's absurd, like I'm saying that because it comes from a different country, it isn't the same as what I see in the US. I don't become a fan of something based off of what country it originates from. I like something based on if it's actually good.
My second issue relating to the last one is how these "Anime and manga fans" are seperating themselves from people who enjoy regular animation. I understand how a lot of people can become entusiastic about a certain thing, and so I don't blame these fans who find the Japanese material and enjoy it. But it seems they outcast themselves. One thing that really bugs the hell out of me is the ones who refer to themselves as "Otaku". Did it occur to them that this word carries negative connotations in Japan? And on top of that, no one in the US would know what it means. Anyone who understands you is either a native Japanese speaker (Who knows what the word means and would likely scratch their head about why you would call yourself that), or another "Anime fan" who also sees the word as good. It's bad practice. You're only going to seem like an outcast calling yourself things like that. Another thing is how I always see anime/manga fans in costume. Dressing up as a character for Halloween is fine, or even an anime convention, buy why do some fans feel the need to wear makeup and clothes that resembles their favorite characters? Children pretend to be pretend characters, not adults. In all honesty, the visual effect usually isn't a good one and those that see you will likely think you have some sort of mental disorder. Because no one dresses up as characters, so why do you?
Lastly, I really need to address the Japanese media haters. It honestly stuns me that a person can just write off an entire country's material because they somehow don't like all of it. How is that even possible? What would you say if a Japanese person told you all shows in the US sucked and just didn't watch them? It's mind shatteringly stupid to think that way. The only way it makes sense is if there's a consistent thing about Japanese animation that makes you not like it, but there's nothing that is shared between them. Don't like the style? Watch One Piece. Think the animation sucks? Watch a Miyazaki film. Don't like huge breasts? ...Okay maybe you'll have to live with that one. But not many anime take thing that far out of proportion (Although I certainly understand how some would dislike this). I also think another problem with these haters is they see the current "Anime fan" population and don't want to be like that. And I understand that. You don't have to be someone who dresses up as some guy with a giant sword and spiky hair to enjoy an anime convention. You don't need to learn Japanese or use it incorrectly in your sentences. But for the love of god, if the fans of something keep you away from liking something, you might have issues. And if at the end of the day you just don't want to watch Japanese animation, then don't. No one is forcing you to, but you'll be missing out on a lot of good material.
And so ends my rant. If you have a problem with anything I wrote, go ahead and respond and I'll make myself clearer if needed. I know that the second point is bound to be taken as offensive by some people, but I think I made myself clear enough. I feel I should mention that I don't openly criticize people that dress/act this way in public. This is my opinion, not fact, and any advice or issues I have are yours to take into consideration and do nothing with if you so choose.
*Anime doesn't translate to cartoon since a cartoon is usually humorous in nature, whereas anime encompasses a large variety of genres.
**I own a Snoopy t-shirt and I'm 18
First of all, let me make my position clear. I do enjoy watching anime, and I'll even read some manga if I find one I like. I also admit a fair amount of material I enjoy originates from Japan. But I don't consider myself an anime or manga fan. I feel that anime and manga viewers have attempted to segregate themselves from those who like American animation and comics. Manga isn't some magical thing that only comes from Japan, nor is anime. These words have English translations, anime simply meaning "Animation" and manga meaning "Comic". There's nothing wrong with saying a manga is a comic, but anyone who reads manga will never call it a comic, as any anime fan won't call anime a cartoon (That's a bit different though, I'll explain later*). In effect, anime and animation are now seperate things to the average person, and there's no reason they should be. Animation is animation no matter where in the world it comes from. When I see a cartoon from russia, I won't say I watched a russian анимации. It's absurd, like I'm saying that because it comes from a different country, it isn't the same as what I see in the US. I don't become a fan of something based off of what country it originates from. I like something based on if it's actually good.
My second issue relating to the last one is how these "Anime and manga fans" are seperating themselves from people who enjoy regular animation. I understand how a lot of people can become entusiastic about a certain thing, and so I don't blame these fans who find the Japanese material and enjoy it. But it seems they outcast themselves. One thing that really bugs the hell out of me is the ones who refer to themselves as "Otaku". Did it occur to them that this word carries negative connotations in Japan? And on top of that, no one in the US would know what it means. Anyone who understands you is either a native Japanese speaker (Who knows what the word means and would likely scratch their head about why you would call yourself that), or another "Anime fan" who also sees the word as good. It's bad practice. You're only going to seem like an outcast calling yourself things like that. Another thing is how I always see anime/manga fans in costume. Dressing up as a character for Halloween is fine, or even an anime convention, buy why do some fans feel the need to wear makeup and clothes that resembles their favorite characters? Children pretend to be pretend characters, not adults. In all honesty, the visual effect usually isn't a good one and those that see you will likely think you have some sort of mental disorder. Because no one dresses up as characters, so why do you?
Lastly, I really need to address the Japanese media haters. It honestly stuns me that a person can just write off an entire country's material because they somehow don't like all of it. How is that even possible? What would you say if a Japanese person told you all shows in the US sucked and just didn't watch them? It's mind shatteringly stupid to think that way. The only way it makes sense is if there's a consistent thing about Japanese animation that makes you not like it, but there's nothing that is shared between them. Don't like the style? Watch One Piece. Think the animation sucks? Watch a Miyazaki film. Don't like huge breasts? ...Okay maybe you'll have to live with that one. But not many anime take thing that far out of proportion (Although I certainly understand how some would dislike this). I also think another problem with these haters is they see the current "Anime fan" population and don't want to be like that. And I understand that. You don't have to be someone who dresses up as some guy with a giant sword and spiky hair to enjoy an anime convention. You don't need to learn Japanese or use it incorrectly in your sentences. But for the love of god, if the fans of something keep you away from liking something, you might have issues. And if at the end of the day you just don't want to watch Japanese animation, then don't. No one is forcing you to, but you'll be missing out on a lot of good material.
And so ends my rant. If you have a problem with anything I wrote, go ahead and respond and I'll make myself clearer if needed. I know that the second point is bound to be taken as offensive by some people, but I think I made myself clear enough. I feel I should mention that I don't openly criticize people that dress/act this way in public. This is my opinion, not fact, and any advice or issues I have are yours to take into consideration and do nothing with if you so choose.
*Anime doesn't translate to cartoon since a cartoon is usually humorous in nature, whereas anime encompasses a large variety of genres.
**I own a Snoopy t-shirt and I'm 18
