What is Anime?
Anime, pronounced “ah-knee-may,” is a word that refers to a style of Japanese video cartoon and comic book animation in which the characters have huge doe-like eyes. In Japan, anime refers to all animation. Outside Japan, anime is the cosmic term that refers to animation from Japan. Since its advent, anime was created by and for audiences in Japan. However, over the last forty years, anime has become a global phenomenon, drawing millions of fans.
This ever-increasing popularity with global audiences has resulted in the translation of anime into many diverse languages. Entire generations of anime viewers in the West have grown up watching and reading anime and are now recommending it to their children.
Since all things anime are lumped together, many individuals think that anime is a genre. It is not. It is, however, a description of how the material is created. Anime shows, such as films or comic books, fall under numerous genres such as horror, action, comedy, romance, fantasy, noir, sci-fi, and so on.
Is Anime Popular in the USA?
In the past few decades, the consumption of anime has increased in the USA and the West as a whole. Many individuals who once viewed anime as queer now see its prevalence in mainstream entertainment outlets. This prevalence has resulted in increased popularity and acceptance of Japanese anime.
The popularity of anime is attributed in large part to its increased accessibility. With streaming giants such as Netflix and Hulu, anime has made its way into the mainstream. The advent of anime streaming sites such as GoGoAnime has also increased the comic counterpart of anime, enabling Western audiences to indulge in Japanese animation.
Anime has also gained popularity in the USA because currently, unlike in previous years, geek culture is considered cool and mainstream. A few decades ago, it was considered “weird” for one to play video games or read comics. These activities were embraced by “social outcasts” of previous generations. But, in contemporary society, with film adaptations of comics such as Justice League of America: The Amazing Spider-Man, geek culture has increased in eminence.
The rising popularity of anime is also attributed to the dwindling relevance of the Western cartooning industry. The shrinking relevance of the cartooning industry in America is due to the lack of character-driven storytelling and complexity that is rampant in Japanese anime. Many viewers and readers prefer anime because it has clear story defining markers; introduction, middle, and conclusion.
Despite its length, anime has a clear direction for the narrative, with defined chapters and arcs. Anime also appeals to viewers because its animators and writers create shows that appeal to children with unique and interesting characters and plots. Even though some anime is fun and silly, they still address issues that parents watching alongside their children can relate to. These definitive factors make anime a preferred option among American viewers.
List of Most Popular Anime
1. Death Note
Illustrated by Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba, Death Note is a manga series from Japan which focuses on protagonist Light Yagami, a bright student and aspiring detective whose main intention is to uphold justice.
2. Dragon Ball Z
With its roots in Japan, Dragon Ball Z is an anime TV series that is written and produced by Toei Animation. It trails the adventures as experienced by Goku, who safeguards the earth against evil alongside the Z warriors. The adventures in Dragon Ball Z are entertaining while reinforcing the notion of good versus evil. It also teaches valuable character virtues such as integrity, dedication, loyalty, and teamwork.
3. Naruto
Naruto is a manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. Naruto tells the story of a young ninja, Naruto Uzumaki, who seeks approval from his peers while dreaming of becoming the leader of his village. The narrative is in two parts; his pre-teen and his post-teen years.
4. One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a Japanese manga series which tracks the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy. Monkey D. Luffy is a young lad whose body becomes rubber-like when he eats a Devil Fruit by mistake.
5. Attack on Titan
Also called Shingeki no Kyojin in Japanese, Attack on Titan is illustrated and written by Hajime Isayama. It is among the most popular Japanese anime series. It is famous for its dramatic storyline, emotional scenes, action-packed scenes, and apocalyptic setting.
Symptoms of Anime Addiction
To non-anime lovers, anime might seem like the oddest phase of an average nerd’s life. To anime lovers, anime is much more than a phase. It is an addiction.
Is anime a drug? Yes, it is to some die-hard anime fans, without which they cannot function in a normal manner. You may have once been a staunch anime fan. Or, you could still be in that elated realm between fantasy and reality, and you are reading this article in your themed pajamas. Regardless, you should know the symptoms of anime addiction.
1. Most of Your Free Time is dedicated to Anime
You dedicate most of your free time to read or watch the newest episodes of your favorite anime. Under no circumstances will you allow anyone or anything to interfere with your anime time.
2. You Experience Episode Withdrawals
After viewing the most recent episode of your favorite anime, you become dead set on viewing the following episode. And, once the episode is out, you are in a rush to stream it, and the cycle continues.
3. Your Bedroom is an Anime Shrine
If you have given up living space for manga, figures, or pin-up posters, you could be an anime addict.
4. Behavioral Changes
If you do not watch anime, you experience anime affects on behavior such as panic attacks, mood swings, anger, and withdrawal if anime is not watched within a given period.
5. You Prefer Fantasy over Reality
You are likely addicted to anime if you think real people are boring compared to your favorite anime characters. You are also likely addicted if you get depressed when your favorite character dies.
How Anime Addiction Influences Students
Students who are exposed to too much anime become addicted and experience anime addiction disorder. Anime addiction can affect students as it affects their potential behavior problems. This means that it can cause students to imitate what they have watched, which includes violent acts and murderous threats.
Anime addiction also influences students as it exposes them to sexual content. Students who watch typical anime genres and themes such as romance are corrupted due to the televised sexual anime content. They are then more likely to initiate intercourse compared to their peers who do not watch anime.
Anime addiction causes students to lose a sense of reality. They cling onto the blissful world which anime facilitates. This causes them to withdraw from their real-life situations and lose touch with reality. Anime addiction can cause students to trade sleep for anime. This impacts their academic performance and school attendance. Such destructive addiction is detrimental to the life of a student.
Anime addiction causes students to forget about their homework. Of course, it is possible to use an essay writing service, but it may cause some problems.
The effects of anime are not all negative. Some positive effects include students get to socialize with their peers who share the same passion at events such as anime conventions. Students’ imagination also widens by watching anime. Additionally, their interest in Japanese culture and language develops.
Conclusion
There are benefits to reading or indulging in various forms of entertainment – anime or not. When you watch anime, you learn life lessons, you learn about teamwork, patience, hard work, and you learn about human nature. Anime is like an adventure – the more you watch, the more you learn. On the other hand, anime can expose to viewers to violence, explicit sexual content, loss of touch with reality, and a decline in academic performance. To prevent the destructive effects associated with anime, students must develop self-control. They must also limit and identify their top priorities. Parental guidance is also essential to prevent anime addiction.