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I got into anime when I discovered the anime thread on this forum, so I might not be qualified because of the shortness of my addiction ^^
First and foremost, if SnK(AoT) is all about action and gore, then the GoT video series is all about sex. You just picked a bad name though, there sure are anime that work this way. A popular one would be Sword Art Online (don't kill me pls).
Basically, I think you need to understand the following: there are as much genres in anime as there are genres in "real" video series. That doesn't necessarily mean that the genres are the same, but it does mean that there's more than "just action" series (you're talking about a subset of the shounen genre).
I find it hard to describe what I like about anime in general. Some people say anime is more over-the-top than normal series, this may be true. I think another thing I like about it is that fantasy and science-fiction can be shown much more realistic (relative to the "normal" content). For the same reason practically all special effects and other kinds of opt-ins feel more immersive. There are bounds to a film set, there are no bounds on a fully fictional set.
There are of course more culture-bound reasons too. I grew to love and laugh about the somewhat insane and exaggerated stereotypes and clichés. You might know the nosebleed or the tsundere for example, I believe those are pretty well-known by non-watchers.
I think that the fact that those two typical elements are mostly the only ones known to people that don't watch anime shows that most people only know one side of anime. There's more than mindless action and mindless naked (wo)men. Even more than comedy combined with either. I won't go as far to say there are documentaries, but psychological thrillers and something at the border of philosophy(subjective I know) can be found, at the same level as with video series.
So, in conclusion: there are as much genres in anime as there are in video series, but most anime adhere to a certain culture and clichés that you either like or don't like. The popular series are certainly not the best series, and their genre certainly isn't the only genre. Upsides of anime over "normal" could include: clichés, culture, "over-the-top" and realistic(immersive).
First and foremost, if SnK(AoT) is all about action and gore, then the GoT video series is all about sex. You just picked a bad name though, there sure are anime that work this way. A popular one would be Sword Art Online (don't kill me pls).
Basically, I think you need to understand the following: there are as much genres in anime as there are genres in "real" video series. That doesn't necessarily mean that the genres are the same, but it does mean that there's more than "just action" series (you're talking about a subset of the shounen genre).
I find it hard to describe what I like about anime in general. Some people say anime is more over-the-top than normal series, this may be true. I think another thing I like about it is that fantasy and science-fiction can be shown much more realistic (relative to the "normal" content). For the same reason practically all special effects and other kinds of opt-ins feel more immersive. There are bounds to a film set, there are no bounds on a fully fictional set.
There are of course more culture-bound reasons too. I grew to love and laugh about the somewhat insane and exaggerated stereotypes and clichés. You might know the nosebleed or the tsundere for example, I believe those are pretty well-known by non-watchers.
I think that the fact that those two typical elements are mostly the only ones known to people that don't watch anime shows that most people only know one side of anime. There's more than mindless action and mindless naked (wo)men. Even more than comedy combined with either. I won't go as far to say there are documentaries, but psychological thrillers and something at the border of philosophy(subjective I know) can be found, at the same level as with video series.
So, in conclusion: there are as much genres in anime as there are in video series, but most anime adhere to a certain culture and clichés that you either like or don't like. The popular series are certainly not the best series, and their genre certainly isn't the only genre. Upsides of anime over "normal" could include: clichés, culture, "over-the-top" and realistic(immersive).
********'s a pretty good fertilizer
I think its easier and more of a thing for those who have have watched animes/cartoons in their childhood. Many don't of course even realize they are watching anime. Like I had no idea that Digimon/Pokemon/Ginga nigeraboshi Gin/Dragonball Z/Spirited Away etc... were animes. I bet most of those who have watched Pokemon for example, have some kind of urge to watch/play it again so you're unconsciously getting into anime and the style of it.
You will eventually stumble upon the fact they were animes and go search more of it. There are so many genres available so there is pretty much at least something for everyone. You may like X genre at one point and sort of evolve or shift away into other genre.
I think the hardest thing is to find the first couple animes that you enjoy. It usually goes like you watch episode 1-2 and quit. You propably have quit too early or the genre/art were not for you.
I can throw you few requests if you can describe what you like.
Simply based on the fact you like plot twists, try Madoka Magica. I myself started by watching Death Note as my first (I think) and I watched Madoka soon after. You have to watch and give it some time though. You won't get anything out of it if you won't watch more of it. Madoka Magica has pretty slow start but you start to connect pieces together as the anime goes on until you get completly mindblown when nearing the finish.
You will eventually stumble upon the fact they were animes and go search more of it. There are so many genres available so there is pretty much at least something for everyone. You may like X genre at one point and sort of evolve or shift away into other genre.
I think the hardest thing is to find the first couple animes that you enjoy. It usually goes like you watch episode 1-2 and quit. You propably have quit too early or the genre/art were not for you.
I can throw you few requests if you can describe what you like.
Simply based on the fact you like plot twists, try Madoka Magica. I myself started by watching Death Note as my first (I think) and I watched Madoka soon after. You have to watch and give it some time though. You won't get anything out of it if you won't watch more of it. Madoka Magica has pretty slow start but you start to connect pieces together as the anime goes on until you get completly mindblown when nearing the finish.
"A person giving you advice isn't perfect and has their own shortcomings but they may give you the piece that you're missing."
In western TV, a lot of shows have just a general plot outline, and then writers make up the storyline on the spot based on viewer reception to certain plot elements and/or characters. The most successful shows are all based on established worlds and stories, usually books or comics (see: The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones), or from episode 1, already had the entire plot written and just waiting to be filmed/released (see: Breaking Bad).
The reason I think anime is getting more popular is for one, its easier display things such as emotion or special powers in animation than it is live action, and two, most anime is already based on established stories (visual/light novels or manga) and good adaptations just take all the important parts, maybe adjusting some things to make it more sensible. Before, people used to really like sitcoms (Friends, Big Bang Theory, etc.), but the problem with sitcom (slice of life) anime is that most people don't understand it since it makes reference to a lot of Japanese culture. When people started getting more into plot heavy shows on western TV that were actually done well (Breaking Bad, TWD, GoT, Firefly, etc.), a lot of them probably started getting into the more popular anime of a similar style (SAO, Death Note, FMA, and Attack on Titan being the ones that come into mind)
The reason I think anime is getting more popular is for one, its easier display things such as emotion or special powers in animation than it is live action, and two, most anime is already based on established stories (visual/light novels or manga) and good adaptations just take all the important parts, maybe adjusting some things to make it more sensible. Before, people used to really like sitcoms (Friends, Big Bang Theory, etc.), but the problem with sitcom (slice of life) anime is that most people don't understand it since it makes reference to a lot of Japanese culture. When people started getting more into plot heavy shows on western TV that were actually done well (Breaking Bad, TWD, GoT, Firefly, etc.), a lot of them probably started getting into the more popular anime of a similar style (SAO, Death Note, FMA, and Attack on Titan being the ones that come into mind)
Ok, I'm gonna go on a big story/rant here. I'm likely to be crucified, but who cares.
I grew up watching shows I didn't know were animes (as someone pointed out). I loved Zoids, Pokemon and Digimon, and just assumed these were normal cartoons like everything else. I didn't know the difference. Growing up, I finally learned the term "anime" from high school friends who were really big into.
This is the point were I grew to resent animes. Also the part where I'm going to be chased out of Mobafire with pitch forks.
I think anime is a fad (at least in America). Every person I've personally known to like anime in my actual life has overdone it to a serious point. These are the kinds of people you know only like it because it's "different". These people obsess about it, and Japanese culture as well. It's pretty ******** annoying. There is a very broad appeal to people in America with Animes because they are essentially "cartoons for adults" to most. As such you mostly see "pathetic" adults obsessing about this ****.
I'll drive this point further by saying that the Japanese makers of said animes must be entirely aware of the appeal outside the country. Why does this matter? The market is incredibly saturated. I read through the Anime/Manga thread here and there I see all you guys arguing about what animes are good are not. There's so ******* many of them. So yea. There's too many. And eventually everyone will get tired of how many subpar ones we will see compared to quality ones. The fad will eventually die. But of course, even if it does, it will have a resurgence eventually as well.
Now, I've given pretty ****py reasons for not liking animes to this point (I seem like a hipster that hates it simply because friends I knew obsessed about it). I don't actually really hate them. I like quite a few of them. But this is due to my thoughts on why most of them are bad.
Reasons why I think most animes are bad;
1. Anime is a poor medium for relating to characters (if you're not Japanese). This is a combination of things. First, the show is meant to be spoken in native Japanese. I (and nearly everyone in most countries that are not Japan) do not speak Japanese. English (and I'm sure any other language as well) dubs are horrible, and even the "good" ones feel like they loose a very wide range of emotional depth. Also, the story lines of animes are often too surreal to ever really feel like you can connect with one of the characters. (As much as I love FMA, honestly tell me you can connect with Edward Elric after he loses his brother and limbs to try to bring his mother back from the dead using alchemy and I'll shut up.)
2. Anime often uses cheap money saving tactics in animation. There I said it. Anime's actual animation may "look" good. But it's often cheap and heavily uses looping animations or other gimmicks to cut costs. Before you guys unleash the proverbial **** storm on me for that statement, I'm aware that not all animes do this. I'm simply pointing out that a hefty majority of them do. While the artistic value in a lot of American and other cartoons is often lower, these shows generally cut corners less and makes the whole experiance more enjoyable, in my opinion.
3. Many animes are rehashed as ****. I've seen dozens of animes that made me feel exactly like DBZ did. Bleach, One piece, etc all follow the same basic feeling which is "A bunch of badass dudes are fighting. There's some talking in between, but that's irrelevant". (This statement is gonna get me ****ing plastered on a wall) How many animes are about some awkward guy surrounded by women? How many are about Giant Robots? As much as I love Zoids, that's another trope that anime tends to over use.
I could go on, but I've likely said enough to warrant a new status of hatred among the weeaboo masses of Mobafire.
Feel free to tear apart anything I said, but this is just the 2 cents of an incredibly jaded individual who was desensitized of this stuff by basically having it force fed to him.
Oh, and Bonus Round; LoK/The Last Airbender along with other Western "animes" are in fact animes. However, I generally rate these shows higher due to the point I made earlier about Japenese animes often cutting corners in animation costs. The last Airbender was a very enjoyable show to watch because it felt more natural and relatable to me, as an American.
I grew up watching shows I didn't know were animes (as someone pointed out). I loved Zoids, Pokemon and Digimon, and just assumed these were normal cartoons like everything else. I didn't know the difference. Growing up, I finally learned the term "anime" from high school friends who were really big into.
This is the point were I grew to resent animes. Also the part where I'm going to be chased out of Mobafire with pitch forks.
I think anime is a fad (at least in America). Every person I've personally known to like anime in my actual life has overdone it to a serious point. These are the kinds of people you know only like it because it's "different". These people obsess about it, and Japanese culture as well. It's pretty ******** annoying. There is a very broad appeal to people in America with Animes because they are essentially "cartoons for adults" to most. As such you mostly see "pathetic" adults obsessing about this ****.
I'll drive this point further by saying that the Japanese makers of said animes must be entirely aware of the appeal outside the country. Why does this matter? The market is incredibly saturated. I read through the Anime/Manga thread here and there I see all you guys arguing about what animes are good are not. There's so ******* many of them. So yea. There's too many. And eventually everyone will get tired of how many subpar ones we will see compared to quality ones. The fad will eventually die. But of course, even if it does, it will have a resurgence eventually as well.
Now, I've given pretty ****py reasons for not liking animes to this point (I seem like a hipster that hates it simply because friends I knew obsessed about it). I don't actually really hate them. I like quite a few of them. But this is due to my thoughts on why most of them are bad.
Reasons why I think most animes are bad;
1. Anime is a poor medium for relating to characters (if you're not Japanese). This is a combination of things. First, the show is meant to be spoken in native Japanese. I (and nearly everyone in most countries that are not Japan) do not speak Japanese. English (and I'm sure any other language as well) dubs are horrible, and even the "good" ones feel like they loose a very wide range of emotional depth. Also, the story lines of animes are often too surreal to ever really feel like you can connect with one of the characters. (As much as I love FMA, honestly tell me you can connect with Edward Elric after he loses his brother and limbs to try to bring his mother back from the dead using alchemy and I'll shut up.)
2. Anime often uses cheap money saving tactics in animation. There I said it. Anime's actual animation may "look" good. But it's often cheap and heavily uses looping animations or other gimmicks to cut costs. Before you guys unleash the proverbial **** storm on me for that statement, I'm aware that not all animes do this. I'm simply pointing out that a hefty majority of them do. While the artistic value in a lot of American and other cartoons is often lower, these shows generally cut corners less and makes the whole experiance more enjoyable, in my opinion.
3. Many animes are rehashed as ****. I've seen dozens of animes that made me feel exactly like DBZ did. Bleach, One piece, etc all follow the same basic feeling which is "A bunch of badass dudes are fighting. There's some talking in between, but that's irrelevant". (This statement is gonna get me ****ing plastered on a wall) How many animes are about some awkward guy surrounded by women? How many are about Giant Robots? As much as I love Zoids, that's another trope that anime tends to over use.
I could go on, but I've likely said enough to warrant a new status of hatred among the weeaboo masses of Mobafire.
Feel free to tear apart anything I said, but this is just the 2 cents of an incredibly jaded individual who was desensitized of this stuff by basically having it force fed to him.
Oh, and Bonus Round; LoK/The Last Airbender along with other Western "animes" are in fact animes. However, I generally rate these shows higher due to the point I made earlier about Japenese animes often cutting corners in animation costs. The last Airbender was a very enjoyable show to watch because it felt more natural and relatable to me, as an American.
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My main question is, why is anime so popular? Now, I understand that asking something like that is just like asking "why is Transformers so popular?", but I do want somewhat of a deeper answer. From what I've seen, it looks like once someone is slightly interested in anime, they never really go back once they get into it. Granted, that might just be a stereotype I've made up, but any anime fan I've met can't stop talking about it if you happen to start a conversation about it.
I dont know how much of a fanbase anime has in Europe, but here in America, if you were born in the 90's, you grew up with some sort of anime. There is an EXTREMELY large population here that grew up with Dragon Ball Z. I for one lived a pretty sheltered childhood, so the first anime I really got into was Digimon and Yugioh (the original Yugioh). I tried getting into Pokemon once, but it soon went downhill for me once I felt the series was being aimed at a very young audience. Also, one of my favorite movies of all time is Spirited Away made by Studio Ghibli (simply genius).
However, lets talk more modern anime. I guess you can say that one reason why people get so into it is that they grew up on it, with shows like the ones I mentioned earlier. But, I have noticed a common trend amongst anime shows recently: lots and lots of action (and the more mature ones tend to have a large amount of gore). I figure that watching the same thing over and over, just in different formats, gets a bit boring. Im a huge Transformers fan, but the 4th movie that came out kind of left me wanting more then what I got. Shows like Attack on Titan just seem to show the same thing every episode (I dont watch it, so, you can yell at me for making a judgement out of an assumption). The shows with all the action get all the rage, but what about the calmer animes that are more like Game of Thrones, with so many plot twists that it makes your head spin?
One show that I am particularly hyping over right now is The Legend of Korra. It kind of does and doesnt fall under the anime category, due it being American made, but everything about it is stunningly beautiful. Even its predecessor, The Last Airbender, has been regarded as a "fricken flawless show" (taken from a review article I read......somewhere). A perfect harmony of action, story, and art, this show will leave you almost in tears at some points. Are there any traditional anime shows that can be compared to The Legend of Korra? If so, I'll take back my statement about most modern animes of being the same (which I highly suspect I should do already)
By the way, I apologize for the wall of text.