Thats right, many people think that anime is just for kids, they think that its like "Micky Mouse" and "Tom and jerry", especialy here in the middle east (I'm lebanese), children here, when they become 12 years old they start acting like all mature and they stop watching cartoons (anime is not popular in the arab world).
In my class (I'm in 11th standard), Im the only one intersted in Anime/manga and Japan, So i dont have anyone to discuss with him these stuff.
Sometimes i try to make people know the difference between cartoons and anime but its no use. I download anime from the internet , so sometimes my parents tell me why do i waste my time on these "CARTOONS", I just hate it when they call it cartoons. But thank god there are like u people out there , where one can talk to u about these stuff.

I will let you in on a secret on why people think anime is for kids
Pokemon
Yugioh
DBZ
One Piece
Naruto

not the japanese versions, the watered down american versions. Not bashing america but the anime's that they commercialise are changed in a way to appeal primarily to kids.
I would like to see the seminal Ninja Scroll on prime time television. Acts like this may change the oppinions of many on anime.

You can find many more mature animated shows on cable TV, (Cartoon Network, G4) and more and more adult-oriented anime is being released on DVD. It's a niche market, but one that didn't even exist five years ago. Ghibili Studios, especially, has been marketed amazingly well in the US. (I seem to remember an Oscar nomination or two) and I am also surprised at how much attention Satoshi Kon's Paprika is receiving right now.

I think it's happening, slowly but surely. It may take time for farmers in Kansas to talk about their favorite Black Lagoon episode, but at least on the coasts I don't think it's all that bad.

Ya people think it's just for kids this is maybe because there are kids(13) like me who watch it and not just the kidish ones like pokemon i watch more mature ones like bleach and inu yasha.

I could come up with a lot of anime that's not for kids.

i guess im lucky cause at my school there's an an anime club it's pretty good but the students are always saying its for kids and calls us the yugioh kids

I really agree with you. My dad always makes fun of anime, and tries to imitate Japanese voices/language. Everytime by dinner he says: "And Esther, have you been watching "otter-otter-series" again?"
(Otter-otter is his imitation of Japanese -_-")

The same thing with all my friends, I'm almost scared of telling people I like anime! I only tell people when THEY start talking about anime -_-"

Same thing with J-rock btw. Everybodies reaction: "Can Japanese people ROCK?... :o"

It reallly gets on my nerves...

Wow, sweet420love is that really true? The people at your school who think bad about Anime should be ashamed of themselves. I am glad this string was created!

Also, why do people think all anime is like Dragonball-Z and stuff? I mean, they are missing out on the greatest thing since... The creation of the Universe! :whiteflag: