The world of anime is a vast uncharted one full of unique character design, varying genres and creative storylines. To non-anime watchers, anime is just badly written cartoons with over-exaggerated emotions, but that is only because they do not understand the art. Whether you are watching an action-packed adventure about heroes, a high school romance or a creation of a new world, the animators have a way of pulling viewers into the show.
Each individual has their own reason for watching anime, but I watch it because once the stories pull me in, I grow connections to the characters and can sometimes see myself in them. The first anime I watched was “Naruto” and I was skeptical, but slowly I resonated with Naruto’s journey, and I wanted nothing more than for him to finally gain respect from his village.
Anime, Japanese storytelling, dates back to the thirteenth century but gained popularity during the 90s with millions of viewers praising it because it was far different from US cartoons. I began watching anime at the age of nine because I was disheartened by the US animation and its vulgar ideas. Starting the Japanese anime, I actually resonated with the characters and the stories they told.
My favorite thing about anime is the important topics covered and the art styles. A compelling anime I’ve seen called “Banana Fish” covers various struggles like gang violence, abuse and friendship. Anime like “Banana Fish” focuses on one important character to give the most vivid animation to emphasize features like their eyes. The animators do this for the sole purpose of adding more emotional depth to the scene.
The iconic intros and music added to anime are what makes them so memorable. For instance, my favorite song “We Are” by Greek Music, is what I often think of when referring to “One Piece,” a multi season anime that highlights the journey Monkey D. Luffy takes to become “king of the pirates.” As a fellow “One Piece” watcher, the peak of my week is watching the new episodes that air every sunday.
Quite a few anime. like “One Piece,” “Demon Slayer,” “Attack on Titan,” “My Hero Accadamia,” “Death Note” and other anime I enjoy recently received awards on “Crunchyroll”, in Tokyo Japan. Each of these anime would be great choices if you are freshly starting anime because their storylines are so complex you could watch them over and over without getting disinterested.
As animation continues to develop, modern day anime continues to evolve. Not all, but most, anime are adapted from mangas, which are Japanese comics. Mangas are able to be adapted only if they are popular with fans. Sometimes however it is disheartening when mangas I envision as anime never get the light of day on a tv screen. I do still appreciate reading through manga like “Garden of Light” because it prolongs the world of “Banana Fish” by explaining the events following the main story.
Whether or not you watch anime, it is essential to look beyond the main storyline, and instead approach it with your own opinions and ideas. It can become a whole new experience if you watch it with an open mind. Lots of people still wouldn’t give anime the time of day, but that doesn’t mean it is not worthy or does not have a large fan base. The appreciation of the dedication the animator takes is reason enough to start your anime journey.
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