Why do YOU, watch anime?

[Engar]

Most real life T.V shows that I've seen are soap operas, I can't stand those so I moved to anime which usualy have at least semi-interesting story lines. Besides, they can make Sci-Fi without going into Star Trek territory.

[kthulhu]

I like anime for its exploration of different genres, better writing, and art style. All of these things make it better to watch, for me, than a lot of Western TV shows.

On the flip side, however, I think the West can make better live action movies. For instance, take "Pulp Fiction". I cannot imagine a Japanese studio being able to make that and make it well, to Western eyes (or Japanese, for that matter). Of course, I doubt a US studio could make a yakuza movie, either.

Just my thoughts.

[The HentaiMaster]

I just wanted to get to know what draws everyoen else to japanese anime.

I watch some of it simply on the basis that therer realy isn't anything good on television or in the theaters right now. I also watch it because I have a soft spot for inner meaning, stories with a moral or message, the kind where you walk away with something. This doesn't mean that I don't watch movies or TV at all. I record Law and Order, and I still watch Empire of the Sun and Lorenzo's Oil. And by the same token I don't watch all anime. My favorite animes are Grave of the Fireflies, Metropolis, the Escaflowne movie, and Spriggan, but there are other animes that I won't touch with a ten foot pole. (Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, DBZ, Hamtaro.)

My dear i have to say that iw atch anime for alot of reasons, it's alot better than american anime, the plot is nice even tho it's teh same sommetimes, there unique way of making jockes and humor, the way it hase been drawn, the fack that is japanice, the moral or the message and alsow, that most if the time it has a deep meaning, that not all can understand, an dthat feeling after u watcjed an amasing anime and that u want more, alsow for a but lowd of other stuff but i can not remember.

[Chaos Angel]

I've told this story before, and it can get long, so I'll try to keep it short.

I've loved animation my entire life. I grew up watching animation, and I kept at it when I got older. However, my cartoons didn't grow up with me. The older I got, the more I began to wish for animation that delved into more serious aspects. I probably would have given up if not for Gargoyles, which embodied everything I was searching for and gave me hope for the animation that I loved.

I discovered anime VERY slowly. I found Toonami when I was about 18 or so and began watching it semi-regularly. Gundam Wing, Dragonball Z, a little Tenchi, etc. I liked them, but I didn't know until a little later that they were Japanese. I also didn't know they were available in better (re: uncut subbed) versions, but that's a whole other argument.

Eventually, I discovered that anime was Japanese and that there were other series out their beyond Cartoon Network's, as well as uncut versions of the ones I liked. I didn't really have any inclination to search for them, though. I just figured I'd wait for them to come to Cartoon Network. It wasn't until I finished Cowboy Bebop on Adult Swim that I began searching for other series in earnest. Cowboy Bebop had a very profound effect on me, and pushed me to really look for other series. Since that time (a year ago right about now, actually. In another few months, I'll have been making AMVs for a year, but that's another topic), I've taken it upon myself to buy and watch several series, movies, and OAVs that I find appealing. Trigun, Eva, Lain, Angel Sanctuary, the Tenchi Movies (which I am surprised Cartoon Network never picked up, it seems like the natural next step), Saber Marionette J, Oh My Goddess (incredible...), Wings of Honnaemise (excellent film), Perfect Blue, Akira (also excellent), Bastard, Hellsing, FLCL, etc. In anime, I found everything I was searching for and couldn't find in American animation. Animation that can appeal to adults as adults, and truly offers something for all tastes. It's got simple yet truly funny comedies, epic action series, dramatic love stories, and manages to move and inspire me on so many levels. Anime is a genre unto itself, a diverse and indescribable experience, and I love it with my entire being. It took long enough for me to find it, but when I did, it was like coming home.

That wasn't very short, was it...? Bah.

Otaku desu!!

Please feel free to correct my grammar and/or spelling.

[ZeWrestler]

I watch anime because I love Anime! I can't really explain to you why, though.

I feel the same way.

[Tom the Fish]

On the flip side, however, I think the West can make better live action movies.

Not to discredit your opinion, but have you seen Hana Bi (or just about any other Takashi Kitano movie(excluding Brother)), Tokyo 10+01, Score or Dead or Alive? I think Japan has the market cornered on top-notch action films.

Tom

[Sub0]

I like the last one... oh sorry.... was that out loud?

[jonmartensen]

On the flip side, however, I think the West can make better live action movies.

Not to discredit your opinion, but have you seen Hana Bi (or just about any other Takashi Kitano movie(excluding Brother)), Tokyo 10+01, Score or Dead or Alive? I think Japan has the market cornered on top-notch action films.

Tom

The reson for that is Hollywood tends to butcher some really good stories for the sake of marketability. Even more so for psychological "thrillers".

[Sub0]

I think or anime as the japanese equivalent of Hollywood. Sure, the stunts and fx in live action films are much better in western movies but that's just cuz hollywood can dish out 40 mil to star Arnold Schwarzenegar in T3 ;-p plus another couple billion for the effects blah blah.

btw I skimmed but this hit me, there's less shootings in Japan cuz there's less GUNS in japan ;-p besides physically killing somebody does not go over too well in japan (Bhudism and such), they'd rather destroy reputations, therefore mass suicides. (that was sorta' eluded to but...)

[Kamoc]

i watch anime because my eyes don't turn off when it comes on.