Why Anime?
 

Hello, everyone!
I'm a Japanese student working on my master's thesis on Anime.

I would like to know few things from American anime fans:

1) Do you like anime more than live-action films? If yes (or no), why?

2) When you watch anime, does that encourage you to like Japan?
(*never mind the fact that I'm Japanese:) You can say whatever you want.)

3) Do you find anime characters look like Western people or Asians, or something else? Do you identify yourself with anime characters?

4) If there is any, what do you learn from anime?

5) Have you ever talked to any Japanese people about anime, and found something different in your understanding of anime and theirs?


If it's too much, you don't have to answer them all. I just wanna know little more how American people are perceiveing Japanese pop-culture.

Thanks!

try reading through this thread of similar topic,

http://www.japanforum.com/forum/anim...ike-anime.html

you'll find some loads of information...happy reading! :vsign:

hmmmmm... only americans????

I'm not American. I'm English. But I'll answer.

Depends really. Its a mixture of both. For an obvious reason, Anime can capture emotions MUCH better than real live action. This usually makes anime more interesting and more enjoyable. But then again. Theres Pirates of the Carribean. That film rocks.

No. It doesn't encourage me to like it. What happened to me was the other way. I liked Japan since I knew about it. Beautiful scenery and the people. I've always wanted to see Japan. Then, I heard about Anime. Watched it. Thought it was cool. That was it.

Nope. Hardly ANYONE , no matter what race or colour, looks like anime. It's been drawn to not look like people. Sure you might find one or two. But no. Hardly ANYONE looks like an Anime.

I personally haven't learnt anything from Anime that I didn't already know. I don't find believing in morals from a story that has people that can fly in it very wise. There are ofc a few things. But it doesn't teach you much.

Believe it or not. Most Japanese people I talked too, aren't addicted to Anime. Most I talked to. And when I asked one about anime, they usually frown, as if, waiting on this huge bombardment of animes which I like and how I'm in love with the characters. They are usually relieved when they hear I like a few, but I'm not crazy about it.

Hope that helps.

And one bit of advice. Do remember that the world isn't America + Japan :P There are MANY countries between them:P

Thank you!
 

Thank you for writing me back everyone!
Your opinions are so very helpful and yes, I'll try to check another thread related to this topic.

Dear Terra104:
You're more than welcome to write your opinion! Sorry that was my mistake to say American anime fans. I should have said anime fans in U.S. (Though I'm not sure you're in U.S. or not..)

I'm interested in knowing how this Japanese pop-culture (anime) influence the way yourth in U.S. constructs their identity.

Does any one of you consider yourself Otaku?

What do you think of being one, or being considered to be one??

What do you think of people called Otaku?

After you find yourself so drawn (if you are) to the world of anime, do you find the reality as boring??

I never have. And never will. My friends do though.

I wouldn't want too. I enjoy it. I Don't WANT to be one.
Might be slightly over addicted to anime.

Nope never.

I'm British but I really wanted to answer, so I hope you don't mind :)

Hmm that depends, I do like alot of Anime more in comparison to live action, I like hoe you are escaping into another world that does or may not be real, it allows your mind to wonder and escape from this world, but Live action is more real and you can't get lost in the story so easily.

I've always loved Japan, anime or no anime:vsign:

I think some characters have a western influence towards them, to make them appealing to us, but I would prefer them more Japanese looking

now that I'm not sure of myself, I think I get too engrossed in it to learn much really

I spoke to my Ex about it a few times, but we were pretty similar in our thoughts on subjects raised in animes

I hope you really don't mind me being a brit, but I am half American, so maybe I can count :D


Edit

I do

I find it an honor really

Well there meant to be quite well like my Japanese people, so I like em, there interesting to talk to cus we have similar interests

hmm tough question really, I'm not too sure on that one

1) Do you like anime more than live-action films? If yes (or no), why?
- Yeah i do... simply because theres waaaaay more fantasy in Anime then a movie.....

2) When you watch anime, does that encourage you to like Japan?
(*never mind the fact that I'm Japanese You can say whatever you want.)
- Yeah it does..

3) Do you find anime characters look like Western people or Asians, or something else? Do you identify yourself with anime characters?
- yeah they look western.. but with japanese voices and clothes (Like school uniforms)

4) If there is any, what do you learn from anime?
- I learn how to skip homework for watching anime lol...

5) Have you ever talked to any Japanese people about anime, and found something different in your understanding of anime and theirs?
- Don't care about others understandings.

HUH.. what do u daydream about?

something like having speciel powers and being strong and can teleport, fly and such things?
Going to school in Japan..
Doing it with Japanese women all the time..

^^^^^all that is my daydreaming

) Do you like anime more than live-action films? If yes (or no), why?

Yes because I think it takes more talent to draw something to look realistic then to act emotion.

2) When you watch anime, does that encourage you to like Japan?
(*never mind the fact that I'm Japanese:) You can say whatever you want.)

Why of course! It spurred me to learn the history, the culture, and even teach myself the language.

3) Do you find anime characters look like Western people or Asians, or something else? Do you identify yourself with anime characters?

I think they do have a tendency to look like Western People and yes I do identify myself with anime characters.

4) If there is any, what do you learn from anime?

Culture, language..some of the meanings behind the way Japanese people think and thier beliefs.

5) Have you ever talked to any Japanese people about anime, and found something different in your understanding of anime and theirs?

Not particularly really o.o

1) Do you like anime more than live-action films? If yes (or no), why?

Yes and no. I probably watch a fair bit more anime than live action films, but that's as a result of there being a lot more anime availible that interests me thematically. Firstly I think American television has gone to crap, so I avoid it. Anime, being series usually have a lot more time to develope stories and characters and use multiple themes. It basically takes the place of my television watching, so I think of them differently. But technically no, I don't prefer one over the other. There are good series and movies, bad series and movies, and everything in between. I try not to think of things in terms of medium.

2) When you watch anime, does that encourage you to like Japan?

Not really. I think America and Japan share a sort of mutual facination in eachother's culture because to this day there's a large gulf of seperation. I've always been facinated with all sorts of cultures, Japan stands out to me for a lot of reasons, such a Samurai lore and artistic history, but it's not really as a result of anime. I was introduced to it through anime, the same way one can discover another culture through food or music. It progressed on it's own really.

3) Do you find anime characters look like Western people or Asians, or something else? Do you identify yourself with anime characters?

I never really thought about it much. I suppose one could say the races are a bit unclear unless otherwise noted, but I never really felt it mattered.

4) If there is any, what do you learn from anime?

Like I said, anime introduced me to a culture I previously knew nothing about. I developed an interest in it, which caused me to pursue other aspects of Japanese culture. I'm now a huge fan of Japanese film and art as well as anime and of course, video games. I didn't really learn much from anime directly, but it spurred me into learning things.

5) Have you ever talked to any Japanese people about anime, and found something different in your understanding of anime and theirs?

Absolutly. I've encountered a lot of racial predjudice in some instances. No offense of course, but I've been told (and seen first hand) Japan is somewhat less tolerant of foreigners than the US, and as a result of anime's worldwide popularity I've run into all sorts of purists ranting about America stealing their culture for selfish reasons and other rediculous nonsense. We didn't steal anime any more than you stole baseball. I see all sorts of comments about the artistic inferiority of the American people, when the truth is American cartoons have a whole different target audience than Japanese cartoons, it's it's almost never fair to compare the two.


Hope this helps. I'd love to read a copy off your writings on the subject. I've always wanted a comprehensive look into the way Japanese people view anime. :)

I like anime more. Don't ask me why. I just do.

I'm embarrassed to say it, but that's what got me going. The other thing that also drove me was video games. A LOT OF VIDEO GAMES THAT I LIKE ARE FROM JAPAN.

Neither. They don't look like any race on earth.

Nothing much, though xxxHolic was an exception.

No, but I've met several people on forums that have lived in Japan. I still don't know, though.


And the otaku questions:

NO. Big NO here.

I've never considered, and never will.

I grow wary of them. If they start talking about anime non-stop, I run for it.

No. Not boring as in the sense of something exciting happening all the time, whether it be good or bad. (A bad example be the Virginia Tech shootout)

can other alien answer this question? :D

Some question.....
Only Americans?

1) i think it depends. but mostly yeahh(:
they just are, most of them i mean.
2) slightly.
3) haha i think they look very asian.
4) yeah nothing much. XD
5) no i haven't.

Anybody is welcome!
 

Sorry for my ignorance,,, I'm amazed and happy to hear that people from many nations like anime!

Please feel free to write your opinion regardless of where you're from.
Only if you don't mind, I'd like to know where you're from.

Arigato-gozaimasu!

1) Do you like anime more than live-action films? If yes (or no), why?

Yes, I do. There are things done in anime that you could NEVER get away with in live action (such as the insane hairstyles and livid facial expressions).

2) When you watch anime, does that encourage you to like Japan?
(*never mind the fact that I'm Japanese You can say whatever you want.)

Well, I definitely appreciate the culture, but as with any country, there are things I don't like. Some of it gets a little too bizarre or sexually tense, but overall I like.

3) Do you find anime characters look like Western people or Asians, or something else? Do you identify yourself with anime characters?

I think it depends on the series, but for the most part I'd say the character's look Western. They're tall, Caucasian, and have a huge variety of hair and eye color. I identify myself with many fictional characters, whether they be from anime, books, movies, or whatever.

4) If there is any, what do you learn from anime?

Mostly I learn about the culture and Japanese language.

5) Have you ever talked to any Japanese people about anime, and found something different in your understanding of anime and theirs?

Umm... Well, the only Japanese person I've talked to was Kotone, who liked to read manga and occasionally watch anime. For the most part, I've learned enough about Japanese culture that we didn't have different conceptions.

Does any one of you consider yourself Otaku?

Sadly, yes. In both the American definition of otaku and the Japanese one.

What do you think of being one, or being considered to be one??

Well, I'm proud to be a hardcore anime fan, I guess XDD... Or at least I'm not ashamed of it. But if you are an otaku in the American sense you're kind of automatically one in the Japanese sense too, in that you're a freak, outcast, etc.

What do you think of people called Otaku?

I am one, so... some of them get a little TOO eccentric, I know a few... it's not healthy to not have... any form of life outside of anime or similiar obsessions...

After you find yourself so drawn (if you are) to the world of anime, do you find the reality as boring??

Not at all, I'm having lots of fun in real life.

My name's April and I'm an Anime Addict from America =D

1) It depends,at the moment I prefer animes because they are more complex and interesting than most of movies nowadays.

2) Yes that helped me liking Japan because it introduced me to japanese culture aspects I liked.

3) I guess usually the characters represents different kinds of people,and the only one I ever identified myself with was Hiei.

4) many things,there is usually lessons to learn in animes,even in Gantz or Sakura Card Captors.

5) Unfortunatelly i never spoke to any japanese people.

amerikajin desu. I am studying the Japanese language, and I enjoy many aspects of your culture: art, history, entertainment. on the word "otaku", I think of the original meaning, which is like an obsessive personality, an alcoholic or cigarette smoker. The meaning of the Japanese term changed over here; maybe to a not-so-harsh interpretation. I do not use it.
to me, I like watching anime for fun; I do not analyze why it is good or not, and each person over here can "see" it as they wish. jâ, ne---timo

SOOOOO MANY QUESTIONS!!! Okay, *takes deep breath* I love anime and manga made me start obsessing about Japan. Most anime people look american which is kind of awkward, but makes them stand out, and.. I didn't read the rest, so just put a Yes for the rest of them.