CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

(First, I hope I'm not breaking any rules of this site either by posting this thread, because I searched for a thread like this but couldn't find one so.. yeah and excuse me if I seem to come out as a noob at stuff like this, cause I am. )

I'm pretty new to the whole "anime world" of buying, and viewing animes (considering I own none) but I'm curious to know how people watch it. (I suppose this could go further in to reading mangas as well, but as of the moment I'm not reading any)

So, when you watch anime, do you watch it "actively", in a state of mind where you are always constantly thinking through the plot, the characters actions, and words or you do just watch it in an "unconsious" way where you just take in everything that the show/episode gives you?

I, personally think that when watching, reading, or hearing anything that the media gives us, should be analyzed carefully and all the bad thing things should be "filtered" and kept away from our minds(considering how sinnful this society/world have become). But how?

Any tips, thoughts, answers on this would be nice.

Auh_Rin_Yaang wrote:
So, when you watch anime, do you watch it "actively", in a state of mind where you are always constantly thinking through the plot, the characters actions, and words or you do just watch it in an "unconsious" way where you just take in everything that the show/episode gives you?

I'd say usually the first one...
...On bad days or days where my imagination wishes not to exist I'll watch it uncontiously....

It's weird but if you get your mind around it, you can actually see the world in an anime sort of way... ...What do I mean by this?....

It's hard to explain, but it's baisically a certain state of mind where you see posibilities in a certain envirement that most people don't typically think about....(ex. wall running, fluid movements, seeing certain household items as weapons, ect.)


...It works very well when playing video games like the Matrix: The Path of Neo...

It's hard to explain, but it's baisically a certain state of mind where you see posibilities in a certain envirement that most people don't typically think about....(ex. wall running, fluid movements, seeing certain household items as weapons, ect.)

I don't get it, do you mean "possiblities that in a certain environment that most people can't do" ?? Is that what you meant, cause you totally lost me there.

When it's my first time watching a certain anime, I watch it very actively unless the plot isn't that interesting or it has too much bad content, then, I'll either start watching it unconsiously or just give up watching it all together. To avoid wading through all the bad anime to find the good ones, I usually do a bit of research on an anime(or manga) before I watch it, just so I know what I'm getting into.
Hope this helped. ^_^

First time I watch an anime or even a japanese tv program, I just sit and let it absorb everything. THEN I go back and watch it a second time and find the goodies in the show. That's how Azumanga Daioh became one of my favorites.

Hi! Welcome to CAA! I've taken the liberty of moving your thread to the anime section of the site! I know it can be hard at fist figuring our where a thread fits, but, in the future, just browse around the boards a bit before you post to make sure that your posting your thread where it fits best.

well, i think it really depends on what type of series you are watching. if you're watching a new series that you've never tried before, and you want to get the full experience, then of course you would watch it actively or intently. however, if you're like going through some action anime series for the third time, then i don't really think you'd watch it all that closely or carefully. it also depends on what series you're watching. if you're watching a series like Monster or Paranoia Agent, i don't think you'd watch it "unconsciously" because you're mind is constantly trying to figure out what's going on, or what the solution to the mystery is. and you're constantly trying to answer questions that are popping up in your head while you're watching. on the other hand, if you're watching a series like DBZ, or Yu Yu Hakusho; i don't think you'd watch it really really closely...

I'd say I'm a casual audience, but that doesn't mean I'm not paying attention; I generally keep all those thoughts at the back on my head, then sort through them later. Gives me something to think about on a particularly uneventful day.

I always over-think and analyze everything I watch, anime included.

Blitzkrieg1701 wrote:I always over-think and analyze everything I watch, anime included.

Me too.

I actually use a technique where I will watch a series or film for five to ten minutes, pause it, and then think about what's happening, what the characters are doing, and to jump around in excitement over a certain scene. It usually takes me twice as long to watch a series or read a series this way, but that's how I am. Slow and in-depth.

Thanks everyone, for helping me understand a little bit better. ^^

Auh_Rin_Yaang wrote:I don't get it, do you mean "possiblities that in a certain environment that most people can't do" ?? Is that what you meant, cause you totally lost me there.

Let's put it this way...
Anime (like other forms of entertainment) unlocks a door (in your mind) to things that you never thought were possible, making one think, "Hmmm, maybe I could run up a wall like that".

As a writter and amuetuer film maker it has opened up my mind considerably when it comes to creating action sequences and camera angles...

...If you're still confused, don't worry about it...

One thing I've noticed has helped me understand stories in general is writing fanfiction about them. I suppose this only works if you're somewhat interested in writing in the first place, but getting inside a certain character's head is very helpful. You imagine what they're thinking in a certain scene, and what their reasons are for doing what they do. I love delving into relationships between characters, and making up little scenes that could have happened in their past.
Take Fullmetal Alchemist, my favorite anime, for example. I've written tons and tons of fics for that, because all of the characters are so deep. When I watched the anime for the first time, I knew certain characters (Ed, Al, Mustang, etc.) were cool and I liked them, but I wasn't completely sure why until I started writing about them.

In your initial post Auh_Rin you said you believed anything "bad" should be filtered from one's mind. What did you mean by that? and if you're easily offended by content anime may not be the best place for you (in fact just cut every form of media out).

By saying anything bad should be filtered out, I meant that that as you watch you think of what's going on and if there is any form of sin, that it should be recognized and kept from affecting your mind. And as for your suggestion, Jih, to "(in fact just cut every form of media out)." it seems almost impossible to do in this society.

Unless it's a series like Azumanga Daioh!, I do analyze most animes. It's not like I will stay up for hours thinking about a series, though.


Also, I do not believe anime should ever be "filtered out". If the series has content you do not want to see, then don't watch it. That's what I do. If people sinning in any form had to be censored in every anime, then virtually every anime would censored.

Auh_Rin_Yaang wrote:By saying anything bad should be filtered out, I meant that that as you watch you think of what's going on and if there is any form of sin, that it should be recognized and kept from affecting your mind. And as for your suggestion, Jih, to "(in fact just cut every form of media out)." it seems almost impossible to do in this society.

That was my point...