Why do you like anime?

[olorc]

I have recently been questioned several times quite extensively as why I like Japanese cartoons so much. It is hard for me to give a logical answer to this query. The art style is very attractive to me. When this is combined with animation, if done well, it is really cool. also the plots are very different than most conventiional movies. Hmmmm.... why do ya'll like it so much? Maybe you're answers to this question will help me to flesh out my own thoughts.
What is it about anime that you like so much?

[Rev. Doc]

My answer will be quite different from that of many. Anime is very nostalgic for me. I watched it when I was very young, never realizing at that time it was Japanese animation (Astro Boy, Gigantor, Amazing 3 and Kimba the White Lion). The art style of course was unlike any of the other animation I saw on television and the storylines were definitely very different. Later on in life I ran into it again quite by accident and it brought up many childhood memories of my favorite early shows.

I am very excited that just the other day I came across a site that has found and preserved a number of the old dubbed Amazing 3 episodes that I watched as a child. While this title showed in a number of other countries, such as Australia, it was believed that most of the English dubbed copies had been lost in a fire years ago. However, someone actually had an early recording system and was able to later place on DVD about 13 of the 50 episodes. I'm really looking forward to these arriving as this was my favorite show from childhood. In case you have never heard of this series here is a site that explains it:

http://www.alphalink.com.au/~roglen/amazing3.htm

Another reason I enjoy anime is the fact that I like to study about other cultures and this medium offers an opportunity to experience the language and daily life in Japan.

[Mr. Rogers]

i like it because i like the art style. i also like the stories and stuff of anime. it deals with more things than american stuff i think.

[Joshua Christopher]

<edited> Mod note: Please don't make jokes like that...>.<

[Mr. Rogers]

uhhhh....might wanna edit that... lol

[TheMelodyMaker]

I just like the general drawing style. They do so good at making their characters look cute... ^_______^ But like with North American made stuff, I'm pretty choosy about what I watch.

[Debitt]

( ..) Bishounen...serious storytelling...things blowing up...

[PrincessZelda]

I like the animation, and the storys Etc.

[Mangafanatic]

I like anime because it provides a medium for the telling of stories which could overwise not be told. Magical girl and mecha stories would never have been able to exists if it weren't for anime. Yay anime!

[Azier the Swordsman]

I enjoy the long-running plots and characters that I actually can connect with and care about. The simple truth is that anime has a lot to offer that is sadly missing from modern day American TV/Movies.

Anime can often create twisting, turning plots combining Drama, Comedy, Adventure, Romance, and many other genres masterfully, using well created characters.

[Arnobius]

I like stories that make me care about the character or in the case of comedies, go for the outrageous slapstick. Right now, anime covers a lot of that. However, I have a shelf full of anime that were as bad or worse as anything American...

...anyone want to buy a copy of Amon Saga?

[Arnobius]

I'm guessing the mods are all off duty?

<Ink's edit: no, not now...XD>

[Joshua Christopher]

Well, anime can range from masterpieces (Like Giant Robo, Cowboy Bebop, Super Milk Chan) to pure garbage (Devil Man, New Shin Getter, Fullmetal Alchemist).

I liked Giant Robo because of the epic story, brilliant directing, lifelike cast of characters, drama, and the epic orchestral score.

Some anime can have great stories, great characters, great music....for me it really has to come together.

So, something may have great characters, but if this is the only thing that it has to offer, I don't really see it as very appealing. It must be good on all levels.

>: D

[Arnobius]

Well, anime can range from masterpieces (Like Giant Robo, Cowboy Bebop, Super Milk Chan) to pure garbage (Devil Man, New Shin Getter, Fullmetal Alchemist).

I liked Giant Robo because of the epic story, brilliant directing, lifelike cast of characters, drama, and the epic orchestral score.

Some anime can have great stories, great characters, great music....for me it really has to come together.

So, something may have great characters, but if this is the only thing that it has to offer, I don't really see it as very appealing. It must be good on all levels.

>: D

Well, "care about the characters" means the people put a lot of time into making them someone to care about-- which presupposes good writing.

For example, I started getting into Gantz. What made it work for me was that the main characters seemed to be believable people put into situations where you cared about the outcome [BTW: Series not recommended for anyone squeamish]

[Azier the Swordsman]

I often go for titles adapted from manga.... cause they are usually longer and more well written. (Rurouni Kenshin, Dragonball, ect.)

[Nate]

*does his best parrot impression*

I like the in-depth characters and awesome storylines!

The art is nice...though as stated in another thread, a lot of series use shortcuts for animation, and I don't appreciate that. I'd rather see a FIGHT than a still shot of a character jumping in front of an undetailed background.

Other than that, it's mostly the storyline. Fushigi Yugi is my favorite anime for the fact that by the end, I actually CARED about the characters. I've cried during anime before, but I don't think I've ever cried during an American cartoon (and before anyone gets on my case, I don't remember seeing Bambi as a kid, and I don't remember if I cried or not, but probably I didn't ).

[inkhana]

I'd rather see a FIGHT than a still shot of a character jumping in front of an undetailed background.

Me too...XD Reminds me of the fight between Spike and Vincent in the Cowboy Bebop movie. Whether you like the movie itself or not...I still think it was very well-done from a technical standpoint.

Back to the topic...^^;; I can't honestly say why I started liking anime in the first place, but I suspect it was a reason similar to Rev. Doc's. While not nostalgic in and of itself, anime reminds me a lot of video games I loved as a kid (and still love now). I dunno...somehow it just grabs my attention. I could say something about how in-depth the storyline is, as other people have, of course...but there's more to it than that. It's simply -different- that American entertainment, created by those who have a different take on what is good storytelling.

[Arnobius]

I often go for titles adapted from manga.... cause they are usually longer and more well written. (Rurouni Kenshin, Dragonball, ect.)

I tend toward the opposite. Titles I loved as a manga, turn out to be so disappointing when I see them as an anime.

[enishi]

anime is brilliant because of its ability to present a storyline that will bring about intense emotions and feelings for the viewers .. or maybe im just really really out there. when kenshin comes back to karou in reflections, who hasnt had tears swelling up in their eyes? trigun's wolfwoods prayer to God was one of the most memorable things from that anime. when you watched berserk, did you scream bloody murder at griffith and want gutts to kill that guy dead? do the extremely emotional plot and character in one piece the anime, any event, .. or if you havnt seen much of it, think of the sanji and the master chefs storyline .. not amazed you? i like anime because of the intense story telling. the characters are incredibly deep and their goals are always told beautifully.

the art is also one of the reasons i watch anime. most anime has super fluent motions and is easy to watch. i cant really expound on this, mosta my thinking power went to the above paragraph. i need sleep now. so yeah, anime has great storylines and amazing art. thats why i like it so much.

[Ichigo_89]

The animation, out-there design, TONS of style, great characters, good stories.

It's cutting edge, hot, foreign, cool, stylized, intelligent, impactful, and just an amazing sight to see.

[bigsleepj]

The thing is I like all forms of animation and anime is a very good variation of it. It is also more mature than most US animation movies (and sometimes more immature as well). I guess as far as anime fans go I'm the least actually.

[daveedo]

I have liked anime since Sailor Moon... What drew me in was the good art work, cute character designs and the continuing storylines. I was tired of episodic series (although I sitll like some, cowboy bebop was a good one without a continuing long storyline) anime can often get you very emotionally involved in the series, the characters. And of coruse a large appeal is definatley the art work character designs.

[mitsuki lover]

Like everyone else one of the first things to draw me to anime was the art work.
I also appreciate the depth of character and plot development that seems to be
currently lacking in many live action American shows these days.

[Kisa]

I like the different ways of animation and stories that aren't offered in US cartoons. The characters are more personable and have real life issues and you feel more like you can relate to them than some US ones. I love the adventure, drama, comedy, romance and just what it offers for the imagination ^^

[Kaori]

The main thing that attracted me to anime was the art style, and that is also the reason I read manga--not that the art is necessarily superior to American comics but just that I happen to prefer one style over the other.

Although there are quite a few anime that do have deep, thought-provoking stories, I wouldn't want to argue that anime as a genre has better-quality writing than American shows. Anime and manga have their cliches and stock characters as well, but they are not quite as familiar to us as the ones we see in American entertainment.

[enishi]

i think one of the only cartoons i like thats american is teen titans .. and thats like half-anime anyways. still, good show, i like it and its enjoyable to watch.

[Hephzibah]

I think the first thing that attracted me was the art work. Then I began to like anime for the storylines, but now... I'm back to really only liking it for its artwork. I think that my passion for anime has died down dramatically, so much so that I barely watch it anymore. Which can be a good thing, esp when compared to how obsessed I was over anime about 1 1/2 yrs ago.

Obsession = baaaaaaad

[starwarsboy90]

I think I like Anime because of the stories involved. With American storytelling, well real Tv couldn't tell the stories as good as Anime can. Go Anime!

[dreamhacker]

Reason I like anime is the art style, the storylines and the depth of the characters. Other animation movies/series don't have that a deep and well developed storyline, same for characters. Other animation I know of is like Ed, Edd n' Eddy, Powerpuff Girls plus the rest of the crap ^^. These have no good storylines, no depth in the characters...I don't like series that has no real story, that just is another stupid episode each time, that's the reason. Though, some series that is like that may be good (Simpsons )
Well, other than this I can't think of more reasons

[olorc]

wow - i haven't checked this thread since i started it. I didn't think it'ld get this many replies. Cool.