To tack onto
@Syaoran Li's post into the future, I am one of those older fans who grew up in that time frame and the geographical area he was talking about, and to summarize everything I've said to
@Longcat, to witness that era first hand was inspirational. That was the time when Hollywood and the entertainment industry had to deal with the situation when comics, animation, and video games had just as equal, if not more sway and public appeal on par with TV shows and movies, and fucked with all the censors because the moral watchdogs couldn't touch them because of the money and public appeal for doing things that weren't regulated to be
bastardized "kid safe and family friendly".
To lay myself bare for a bit, I am an artist. I enjoy art. I work with art. I enjoy learning about the history of art. I also don't agree entirely with everything society thinks, because much of the time, there's always something hypocritical and absurd going on that runs contrary to where they claim they put their money where their mouths are. I like anime, because I've seen more art and skill applied to it and spread to the world in application than any of the ass sniffing artsy fartsy hoity toity "art makes me special and better" exceptional dipshits who are crying in woe about how the world doesn't appreciate art, but never does anything to tackle this dilemma that is only exacerbated by their own absurd ignorance. Yes, nothing is perfect; I know all about Japan's economic and business culture, from its highs to its lows; I know about series whose staff are so uninspired that don't really fucking care about what they put out, and I am well aware of corporate soullessness and its corruptive greed and malign influences. I honestly don't care though, because nothing is entirely certain or perfect in the world, and life is what you make it. I've also never been to Japan yet, but I guess for all of life's mysteries and blessings, I'll take it that I'm probably better for it until the opportunity comes.
I am also a video game hobbyist who plays a lot of more "obscure" video games, and I grew up way more with Japanese made games; nothing personal, but aside from splitting hairs and explaining myself, that's where I get my anime experience from too. Again, I am old- I grew up in that age before the minecrafts and the fortnites and the call of duties, and have been out of the mainstream for a while. I grew up "retro" or whatever. Played arcade games and emulators and burnt out around 2010-ish.
And if you were wondering, no, I don't like anime simply because it's Japanese. And I honestly don't get where people think that anime is specifically Japanese. I dunno. I'm probably too tired of people not using their brains and not thinking hard enough about our constitutional rights and what that means for our human condition. We're also on a thread that is talking about anime, so I don't need to explain anything more.
So oi, life is all about perspective, mate.
Yes. Yes it does. Not the hipster wojak fuckery of "lol anything animated is anime", but if it's in the style and spirit, it kinda is. Most attempts tend to miss out on the latter though.
Again, it's not wrong for anywhere else to create their own anime, but I can't guarantee that copy and pasting sitcoms or primetimes and prettying them up with an anime veneer is a sure fire way for success. Anime already has its own cultural impressions and baggage wherever it goes, and what works with fans and what the fans have built up in expectation and enjoyment in the fan community is what thrives. I believe understanding that as a foundation and building off of that is the only way that thrives, but I'm just speculating.
I've always felt that problem was a western thing. You know, the whole intellectuallism versus physical stoicism thing, western society's emphasis on being "real", the whole expected life cycle where you're supposed to have a nuclear family thing and you're supposed to lose your virginity by 18, etc. Not to say for all of them, but most Japanese people tend to not give a shit by general value of sex is natural and they also know how to keep that under wraps, and as long as you're not being a neet or otaku you can be into anime. Not that the whole "lol virgin" thing doesn't exist out there, but that kind of stuff is more ingrained with greater divides in specifically what you enjoy than how you enjoy it, and the whole interests hierarchy out west.
You're right in that it shouldn't be in everything, but at the same time, I don't trust the idea that things should be toned down simply to garner more appeal.
Really? I heard that after he aired Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, his tune changed when the Oscars gave him a special kid's award despite Snow White moving people to tears.
