What Draws You...?
 

Alright, I don't think there's any other forum similar to this, so here it goes...
What is it that draws you, personally, to manga or anime? I mean, there are other kinds of comics and animation, but what is it that draws you to the Japanese kind? What is it that turns you off to the other kinds?
Just curious! ^^
Have a wonderful day!
~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~:D

Hmmm, the maturity? intelligence maybe? I find that anime is much more mature compared to American animation. It's also more visually appealing to me.
Animation in America is generally geared towards children and teenagers. The fact that I actually have to think to understand what I'm watching is something that I like about anime.

Shows like: Evangelion, FLCL, or Serial Experiments Lain. They're thought provoking and intelligent (or at least, most of us are fooled into believing that they are).

And then there's the more lighthearted shows that are all about fanservice and moe. Which I honestly don't mind every now and then. But even these less intelligent shows are more "mature" than most American animation. They're usually funny, and they're not afraid to talk about more adult (not in the pornographic sense) content than what is generally allowed in America.

I agree, I think that's why I like it as well...Not to mention the wonderful designs and such...I learned how to draw from reading manga...I'm now on my way to making my own manga...lol
~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~

Yeah.
Good luck on your manga :) You should post some previews of it on the forums here, I'd love to read it.

I forgot to mention the actual animation quality. On some of the higher budget anime shows and movies, the animation is simply inspiring. I'm an animation student myself so I really appreciate that kinda stuff.

Kewl! ^^ Yeah, I would love to post some periews, but I don't have a scanner...Heh *scratches back of head while anime sweatdrop plays* Yeah...I need one...
Yes, definately the quality makes a difference. I personally hate American animation...^^'
~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~

I'm the type of person who isn't really down-to-Earth.
Living in my own fantasy world is what suits me best, so having anime/manga around me is needed. ^^

But speaking of what actually draws me to anime and manga. I think it's the intellegence and depth occuring in some animes/manga that can really strike your heart, starting a lot of brain activity.

When I was younger I had a very extensive collection of western comics. Did not come across manga and anime till I was older. Not sure exactly what draws me to it. I just love animated movies and comics. Also love reading so I am not just interested in reading comics.

I like manga a lot because I can relate to certain characters in what I read.

But then, I also like how it's geared more towards adults sometimes. Even when it's not geared towards adults, it's just so cute!

Another reason why I really like manga... I'm always so busy irl. I can never actually sit down and read a real novel. Manga allows me to read and go in and out of reading without much trouble thinking," Wait? What just happened?" very often.

It's creative, fun, escapism at its' best. That's what I like about it.

What I like about a lot of animes is that they take it more serious than a lot of western cartoons/animation. Even though there are some I do like despite being childish like Johnny Test. I am also a big fan of Western comics mostly Marvel, the only manga I have are mostly from video game, or anime that I like such as: Kingdom Hearts, .Hack, Lovely Complex, and Cardcaptor Sakura.

If anything I go for story, if it doesn't have a good story line then I don't like. It just happens that Japanese have bigger imaginations than Americans most of the time.

I first fell in love with anime when I saw Yugioh along time ago. Maybe because it seemed so interesting I just got hooked. Then i bought a Shonen Jump because i saw Yugioh was in it and i think that was the key that unlocked my world. I like how it's more adult at times instead of the shows you see on Nickelodeon where it only appeals to one audience.

I was always into anime even when I was young! (you know with the whole pokemon thing) and with DragonBall and DragonBallZ (my dad was into it) so I was introduced to anime at a young age so it was always really there...

What draws me is that there are always new mangas and animes coming out. I never have to go without something new!

I'm not sure what draws me, when I used to be into anime and manga, the art was diffferent, then i realized the art is all the same, not much creativity to it. >.>

With cartoons in america and other places i get more of a varity X_X


I'm not looking at the same thing, or watching the same story put into a different manga or anime.

The design, for one. I love how anime/manga is drawn. Also, there's a lot of emotion in it... way more than comics. Sometimes you could relate to it.

Well I was into anime ever since I was young. There was Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, and good ol' Tenchi Muyo. :) I guess I was drawn to anime and manga because of it's complex storylines and because it appealed to people of all ages. And because anime isn't the same thing over and over again. It's a different story everytime and you can really relate to the characters and what's going on around them. I guess that's a to-the-point response. :)

I like anime and manga because it has a different feel to it. It reflects a different culture and represents their ideas of humor, love, and adventure. When I first started watching them (started with Trigun) there were alien gestures, strange voice nuances, a very appealing character design standard, and humor that we do not use in America (as well as the lack of humor that we do). I loved the culture shock (I was shocked to see breasts in an anime clearly for kids when I saw Ranma 1/2... now I think nothing of it! Of course such acceptance in Japan has changed in recent years. ). Anime was also allowed to tread where American animations were not (this is certainly changing).

However, I do not necessarily feel there is more intelligence added to them. And not all animes are made equal. There are incredibly repetitious animes. And there are more copy-cat animes than I can count. Some genres are so cookie-cut it's kinda funny (there are way too many similar looking high school guys... of course they usually don't get the option of various hair styles or colors). Some are so empty that it pains me that they even animated it (possibly from a MUCH better manga). And some jokes are so recycled that you can see them coming before they happen!

Of course there are incredible gems amongst them. There are animes that have brought out more emotion in me than any American animation I've seen (think animations from Key). There are ones that make me laugh all the time (lots of them). There are ones where that awesome unlikely comeback makes you feel good to be watching it (first time I saw one was the Frieza battle in DBZ where you first see Super Sayian).

As for the fan-service that is ubiquitous throughout anime and not found in American animations... I don't mind that either :D .

What draws me to it is the story lines are usually Better than other types of comics. It's not all super heros and bad guys stories with horrid plots.
There are actual stories being told.

And the art in Japanese manga/animes are mostly better than any others.
It doesn't look like a three year old with a crayon drew it.

Interesting stories in an interesting art style.

I have to admit, the photo galleries keep me coming back when I feel bored;)

the art style and the plots, its so different from other cartoons its got a plot and a meaning, and the art is really pretty.

Yes the art is very pretty. :)

for me, the design of anime is just more appealing. I don't know why but i don't like the shapes of the heads and bodies etc in most american comics, and the colour scheme looks strange to me. But also because i find that a lot of anim aren't just comedy based or thriller, but theres actually a storyline which goes somewhere. I hate the ones that are just random episodes that aren't really connected.

Actually, anime is very much the same thing over and over again. More so than nearly any other type of entertainment I've seen. It doesn't take much looking to find that there is are much used formulas for character design in personality and look. Notice how similar in anime that facial and body expressions (everyone should know this), general stories (like school animes), character design (which makes an anime look like anime), etc. Of course some stand out really well because of this (Ghibly for example).

However! What they've managed to do in anime is find a very attractive style (general anime style) and an attitude formula that people are really attracted to. They stumbled upon something that is easy to watch again and again. Anime mainly keeps that basic attractive formula and then adds a slight twist to make it unique.

I really enjoy anime. But if you start to analyze it, you'll see what you are enjoying. It's not a bad thing, but I won't call anime a different experience every time.

I can. Sure it's somewhat the same plot everytime, but there's always a very different twist to it. So in a way, all animes are different from each other. Just a bit.

I just love the style, and the different kinds of stories. I just love it xD
I love to watch Anime as much as I love reading manga. And I just...realized it one day xD LOL.

As far as plot goes:
A great plot build up
Epic fights (If an action story)
Strong character build up
Mature scenes, not.. candy-landish. (Ex. Monster, Shamo, Shin Agyo Onshi)

That's what I like =)