Why do you like anime?

[mitsuki lover]

Oh and don't forget emotional involvment with the characters.I found it was easier for me to get emotionally connected with the characters on Gundam Seed(esp.
one whom I will not name but whose initials are Flay Alister,and also Captain
Ramius and Kira and Athrun,etc.)than with the ones on Enterprise.
Also the entire Katsumi turns Evil and is later Redeemed by Kiddy Sacrificing herself
storyline at the end of Silent Mobius still keeps me in a emotional roller coaster whenever I see it.

[MasterDias]

I'm lazy so I'll just steal the answers of previous posters.

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.

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.

I like the different ways of animation and stories that aren't offered in US cartoons.

But, seriously though, I've always been a big fan of good stories and characters so anime is pretty cool to me...although I will say that it is a rather...expensive...hobby.

[heero yuy 95]

The giant robots and the hott chicks. My first anime was robotech/macross saga and I still love that show. one of my favs without a doubt. I remember seeing it and being all like "wow those robots look cool." Then as I got oplder and slightly more matue, I was like "wow that robot looks AND the girl looks hott! And the involved storylines are what really get me hooked.
GIANT ROBOTS!!!!!!!!!

[olorc]

The giant robots and the hott chicks. My first anime was robotech/macross saga

Hot chicks --- Macross saga ... not quite seeing it. : \
Hott is spelled hot fyi.

[Jeikobu]

I like anime for several different reasons. I think for one anime is a fun escape from reality. Like if things aren't going well and you need a break. I've had that happen where I'll be frustrated but watching anime will help that alot. It relieves stress. Also it's fantasy. Most things in anime obviously won't happen in real life. But that's what makes it special. You can take a journey in your imagination. Another reason would be the stories and characters. Just the ideas. Anime has this real magic to it and it is a very addictive thing as we all know. Some of it I'm not sure is describable, but alot of it would be, like I said, the fact that it's fantasy and an escape from reality. However it also very often offers very intriguing stories and characters, especially in comparison to most other cartoons. So many cartoons in America seem childish and very episodic, like the world could blow up in one episode and everything is fine in the next ep. And the plots and characters are often lacking alot, and I mean ALOT. So many characters in anime are loveable (or hateable depending, but either way they raise emotions), and are very full of depth. You can really relate to alot of them, or at least understand them very well. And the stories are often not simple, they often do many things and take many turns to keep you really interesting. And most if not all that I've heard of and seen are definitely not episodic. Series, movies, OVAs, they all seem to follow a steady plot. There certainly are some bad anime, nothing's perfect, but I think it completely out-does other cartoons. It's just my opinion of course, but I have good reasons for it. I also love anime for being Japanese. I have truly developed a heart for Japan and have become highly interested in the country and culture, so much that I want to move there after I finish college and in some way spread the Gospel. I really enjoy watching subbed anime, because I can escape from English and enjoy Japanese instead (I'm not putting down my native language in saying this). And it's good practice for speaking it. Plus it just makes me feel closer to Japan I guess, I love seeing the culture that many of them have. I also love that many anime have such good, strong themes in them. Some are hidden, some are obvious. Two of my favorite films, Pocket Monsters: Mewtwo Strikes Back and Hotaru no Haka (Grave of the Fireflies), show very well how bad war and fighting are. Pocket Monsters in itself is constantly, strongly preaching the theme of teamwork and overall friendship. I love it when things have good morals and themes like that. Other than this stuff, anime just has a very appealing look. It has acquired many fans with good reason, and with conventions, clubs, tons of different collectibles, and just having various series and movies to watch, one can't help but be excited. Anime has a wonderful art style. Tezuka Osamu, when he made Astro Boy, said he wanted to convey alot of emotion through his characters. Thus was born anime's trademark style. Big eyes, sweat drops, the ritz. And it looks great, and does put out alot of emotional, which is just another enjoyable thing about it. I've also found that many anime have excellent, sometimes outstanding music, and music can really pull you in. Anime just has so many different aspects to appreciate.
I think that's about the best I can do to describe it right there.

[Kkun]

Because I like fanservicey shower scenes, duh. What other reason is there to like anime?

I mean, come on.

[Jeikobu]

lol, now how about telling us the real reason. If that is the real reason, I'm worried. ^^;

[Kkun]

[quote="Jeikobu"]lol, now how about telling us the real reason. If that is the real reason, I'm worried. ^^]

XD That was a joke, of course. Why DO I like anime? Uh.

Because of the over-the-top action and the good stories and stuff exploding. Yeah, that's about right.

[Joshua Christopher]

I'm actually really getting sick of anime in general. There's really only one that I enjoy. I might soon quit watching anime and reading manga, as I see it pointless to get me anywhere in life.

[Jeikobu]

You'd drop anime? O.O Why?

[Joshua Christopher]

You'd drop anime? O.O Why?

Because things that don't end with "Robo" and begin with "Giant" and have nothing betwixt, I don't care for any longer.

It's really become a waste of money.

[termyt]

Why? Mostly because it's a fantastic medium that has pushed the limits of animation available to the masses. Beautiful and interesting stories full of imagination and character development - it really is a very mature ar tform - as much as theater or any other. Our animation just doesn't compete. Compare Ed, Edd, and Eddy to Dragon Ball Z. The animation just doesn't compare and both were done inexpensively for the mass market.

That and I like laughing my butt off to titles like Nadesico, Galaxy Angel, Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Full MEtal Panic, the list goes on and on. I have had to have my butt replace like five times now because I have laughed it off so many times.

[Sephiroth]

heh heh, i empathise with much previously posted opinions & reasons for liking anime. The amazing art / character designs, off the wall mecha action, and excellent comedy, well done soundtracks (not western cheese). Animation thats not just for kids (which western cartoons are solely for really) but that can present deep storylines that anything can happen, in anime, they don't hold back from killing characters just because there main chars, or good guys or whatever, most episodes leaving you in suspense wanting to know what hapens next, quality storytelling. Not just your throw-away western cartoons that just seem like random episodes thrown together involving the characters.

Samurai stuff, (i've always been obsessed with samurai & japanese swords even before my anime days) all this and much of what has been posted before too.

[Jeikobu]

Why? Mostly because it's a fantastic medium that has pushed the limits of animation available to the masses. Beautiful and interesting stories full of imagination and character development - it really is a very mature ar tform - as much as theater or any other. Our animation just doesn't compete. Compare Ed, Edd, and Eddy to Dragon Ball Z. The animation just doesn't compare and both were done inexpensively for the mass market.

Thank you! I couldn't agree more with that whole post. I hate Ed, Edd and Eddy. There's no comparing the quality of shows like that to anime IMHO.

[Joshua Christopher]

Times change, styles change, people change.
I'm gettin' more into really old stuff, as well as Miyazaki stuff. We'll see.
I think I'll be better.

[Kura Ookami]

I'm actually really getting sick of anime in general. There's really only one that I enjoy. I might soon quit watching anime and reading manga, as I see it pointless to get me anywhere in life.

I think we've all felt this way sometime in our lives. I sure have. I'm actually going through a minor periiod of that now so I've simply eased off of anime for a bit. Perhaps you too need a break and then after a while come back to anime? You know, Impact Alberto, anime will never bring you true fulfillment. Concentrate on the only one who can give you fulfillment. That person is God. He'll steer you in the right direction.

As for my views, American shows can have good animation. The likes of batman spiderman and xmen are all pretty good, both animation wise and storywise. Funny how none of these cartoons have been mentioned. Xmen has many themes that are good like what do you do when you're different. The characters aren't bad in those cartoons and the storylines are pretty good too. Yes, there are the likes of ed,edd and eddy and the powerpuff girls and the cartoons like batman, spiderman and xmen are in the minority in american animation, but they're still there.

Anime is generally higher quality than most american shows though and i like the art style alot more. I just thought id put up an argument for american shows.

But to answer the threads question i like anime for the art style and the character designs more than anything as well as for the storylines. much like everyone here. You can really connect with the characters which is difficult with american cartoons and get involved emotionally. The music is definately better and that really helps you get into the animes too.

Yep anime sure has pushed the limits of animation. There's so many things in anime that you wont find in american shows. There's few really good female leads in american shows while there's alot in anime. American shows have males as the main characters most of the time. Batman and spiderman for example. You dont get mecha in american shows or magical girls. American animation isnt all bad, but anime is definately alot better.

So like everyone here I'm saying that i like anime for:

The art style
The character designs
The storyline
The music
Finally the messages that anime has within it.

All these combine to make anime something that i really enjoy despite it being an expensive hobby. ^_^

[heero yuy 95]

Hot chicks --- Macross saga ... not quite seeing it. : \

Nooo! Not in Macross! Just in anime in general. I guess I didn't clarify that well.

[olorc]

haha it's ok I knew what you meant... ^______^

[Yumie]

I like anime because it seems like there are endless fantastic, heart-wearming, and though-provoking possibilities that anime adresses and American cartoons do not. When I watch Anime, the characters become so close to my heart. You really get to know them. And the characters tend to inspire me. Often I find myself thinking, "Man, I wish I was like her!" Ha ha. I don't know why American artists don't try to make their work more inspiring or deep, but it seems all that most of them care about is shallow entertainment, blah, so maybe that's OK for four year olds, but what about the rest of us?

[mitsuki lover]

There is also the factor that unlike American shows it's not always predetermined in anime that the Good Guys will win.
Some times they loose and some times they win after a very long struggle.
Also at times villians can come across in anime as being just as sympathetic as the heroes.

[Crossdive]

not true, yes, most American shows are like that, but Superhero shows, no. Not always.

take X-Men Evolution episode 28: The Hex Factor, for example: [SPOILER]the X-Men and Brotherhood of Evil Mutants face off in the Bayville Mall, and at first the X-Men are winning generally, but when Wanda Maximoff (a member of the Brotherhood) steps in to fight them, the whole team of X-Men is pounded down easily, and forced to retreat and admit defeat.[/SPOILER] I give you, the bad guys winning, the heroes losing. There are exeptions like these, remember that Superhero shows like that are not like the average crappy american toon. Thanks.

[Yeshua-Knight]

off topic: actually, i really really liked the original xmen cartoon that they showed for years on fox on saturday mornings, that was a great show, and it followed very closely to the comic book storyline as well, and not necessarily in a "catching up with the print version" way, but sometimes they'd also have a storyline arc that was contemporary with what was being published at the time, one of my alltime faves

on topic: my main reason for liking anime so much was originally for the action, i started out with dbz and gundam wing, the things that were addressed in GW attracted me to watch more anime 'cus i wanted to see how other cartoons would address these things (ex. war, pacifism, how to live), but i still come for the action, most american 'toons try to keep it just comical or just action, but anime keeps it real with a generous mix of both (at least in most cases)

'nuff said

[Shao Feng-Li]

In regards to the first post, I just like animation. My favorite cartoon is Ed Edd and Eddy and in second is Rurouni Kenshin (because I like the manga- and manga in general- better.) Doesn't matter to me what country it's from.

[Debitt]

Also at times villians can come across in anime as being just as sympathetic as the heroes.

Amen. One of the biggest reasons Gundam Wing (my first anime addiction after Digimon) caught my atention was that there really were no "good guys" and "bad guys," just two different groups with different views. Of course, my favorite example of a "sympathetic" villain would be Kougaiji from Saiyuki. ^_^

[mitsuki lover]

Ok from a totally sexist point of view one of the reasons I like watching
anime is that many of the female characters are the type that I like.