Dramas rarely hold my attention anymore. Heck, I don’t watch much of anything except anime and documentaries. So I wondered, what is it about anime that holds my attention better than most live action shows? I am not an otaku by any means, yet I now watch more anime than anything else. I could say it’s because American television sucks, but that isn’t true. Jericho and Walking Dead are excellent shows. I am a huge fan of Star Trek. Yeah I’m a nerd through and through. So instead of looking at American television and wondering why so little of it appeals to me lately, I decided to look at anime and see why so much of it appeals to me. Here is a short list I came up with:
1) Creative Stories As I get deeper into anime, I see a lot of stereotypical stories and characters. However, there are a lot of very creative (even weird) stories that you don’t see in American television. American television seems to go for the safe more than anime does. One of my favorite stories is Spice and Wolf. There aren’t any true villains or powers to fight against. Rather the characters are just trying to make enough money to travel home and open a shop. It is very human…and very normal. I don’t think such a talkative and intellectual show would make it on prime time television here in the States. Anime has odder stories such as the perverse kindergarten Shin Chan. Of course, anime also offers sci-fi Ghost in the Shell and the excellent drama Cowboy Bebop. Both are very creative and set the standards of their genres.
2) No Fear
Anime isn’t afraid to push things…sometimes a little too far. There is a lot of sexuality and very dark themes. Anime likes to explore insanity and even taboo subjects such as child abuse in ways you won’t see even in American movies. It isn’t afraid to be quirky or sickly cute either. Anime also doesn’t fear depth. Ghost in the Shell and many other series get deep into philosophy and life questions.
Unfortunately, it can also be ponderous.
3) Suspension of Disbelief
Because anime is animated, it is easier to suspend disbelief than with live action. The frees the genre to do things that would come off as weird, silly, or odd with live actors. Some things are also just impossible. Animation draws American back to childhood. This opens us up to the characters more readily. We accept them at face value. I find myself feeling far more for a character in anime than most live action shows.
The level of expression is also better since anime can exaggerate features to get a point across.
Anime has its problems. It is often unwieldy, ponderous, and too weird. However, anime is an excellent story telling medium that can be as powerful as live action. Why do you enjoy anime?
My main reason would be that the anime medium allow characters that exhibit cuteness, sexiness and charms that would otherwise look extremely forced/lewd in real actors, and extremely childish/retarded in cartoon format.
People like us call this trait “Moé”.
3 Suspension of Disbelief> Technology has made a lot of things possible for live action now. As in, realistically, to a certain extent. Live action superhero shows used to look retarded with actors in spandex suits, but look at the superhero movies now.
I enjoy the cuteness and charm of anime characters as well. I really enjoy Holo from Spice and Wolf for example.
Technology has allowed better special effects, but live action still doesn’t have the same feel as animation. When we see a real person we expect a person to behavior and move in certain ways. Animation allows for more freedom since we known they are drawn.
I still find it odd that I can identify with an animated character more than a character played by an actor/actress.
My main reason would be that the anime medium allow characters that exhibit cuteness, sexiness and charms that would otherwise look extremely forced/lewd in real actors, and extremely childish/retarded in cartoon format.
People like us call this trait “Moé”.
3 Suspension of Disbelief> Technology has made a lot of things possible for live action now. As in, realistically, to a certain extent. Live action superhero shows used to look retarded with actors in spandex suits, but look at the superhero movies now.
I enjoy the cuteness and charm of anime characters as well. I really enjoy Holo from Spice and Wolf for example.
Technology has allowed better special effects, but live action still doesn’t have the same feel as animation. When we see a real person we expect a person to behavior and move in certain ways. Animation allows for more freedom since we known they are drawn.
I still find it odd that I can identify with an animated character more than a character played by an actor/actress.