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Your feelings about anime being "niche"...

Unlike Video Games -- it's still a niche because older folks -- ages 40+ -- still do not buy them in large numbers. They're the people with big money.

Are any of you bothered about being a fan of something as relatively small and niche such as anime?

And for somebody who's dedicated as an anime fan (including myself), it really difficult to get the word out without feeling like you're the only one in the area who's a fan.

Maybe my last point depends on where you are on the map, but it's still definitely something that I think is an issue for some people looking for a community outside of the Internet.

I never had more disposable income in my life than in my mid-20s. It's been downhill since then. Having kids, getting divorced, etcetera... it all adds up.

Oh stop complaining, some of us are still looking for the girl who will finally put us in the poor house...

You also seem to agree with many people that you don't see a need to get the word out. First I will have to question if you really are a true fan?

There is a difference between pushing it on people and exposing them to the great medium.

I feel like every fan is just happy in their isolated corner with their Naruto and Gundam DVD's and don't give a crap about whats going on in the real world. Come on people anime does not have to be niche to be great!

Those list above have helped made anime from niche to what it is now, a fad.
Anime used to be "niche" but now it's a pop culture and a fad for now and probably forever.

Anime is animation from Japan, created within a Japanese industry. And it's a very sophisticated industry that isn't going to grow or mature any further just because you or I or some other North American spreads the word.

KyuuA4 wrote:

Unlike Video Games -- it's still a niche because older folks -- ages 40+ -- still do not buy them in large numbers. They're the people with big money.

Excuse me?

That's a totally hilarious remark. I never had more disposable income in my life than in my mid-20s. It's been downhill since then. Having kids, getting divorced, etcetera... it all adds up.

- abunai

Well, it may be hard for you to contemplate; but many men and women consider there +40 years of age the "golden years" financial wise. I don't see how it's hilarious to anyone not in the same situation as you, as many that go through life with any sort of wisdom will concentrate on then, instead of now and will eventualy carry a heavy set of capitol in thier "golden years".

Mind you, not everyone goes through a divorce, and goes bankrupt from having kids. Those who go the medical or legal path career wise, will tend to really start making the big sums of money in thier 40's; or upper 30's.

If it all adss up correctly, then one will be at ease financial wise; not in crisis.

Oh, believe me, kid, I hope life turns out that way for you. My cynical side, however, tells me that you're in for several shocks and disappointments. Good luck with that.

Anime was a niche since Astroboy and Gigantor. But with the help of good anime like Transformers, Robotech, Star Blazers. The anime "niche" started to grew a bit. Akira is what help gave anime a bit of a bigger market, it was still niche but a lot of things gave anime a bigger market then anyone thought it would.

-anime like Dragonball Z, and Pokemon helped because of it's commercial appeal.
-manga, they help made people watch anime.
-Toonami, they helped made anime appealing to younger people. Gundam Wings, Tenchi Muyo, Outlaw Star, Ruroni Kenshin. Heck even the people who created toonami said they were anime fan, and they did that on purpose to create new anime fan. That led to Adult Swim. Sci-Fi Channel also helped with the anime fad in the late 90's (but have been revived last year because of anime popularity)
-The Matrix, that movie was heavily influenced by Ghost in the Shell. This could have gotten people to find what anime was, hence the animatrix. It's possible it could have play a role in the anime fad.

Those list above have helped made anime from niche to what it is now, a fad. Look what happen when anime became popular:

-South Park has parodied anime 2 times.
-OEL mangas (Antartic Press did it first before Tokyopop popularize the fad)
-American anime or anime-styled animation (Kappa Mikey, Teen Titans, and Avatar: The last airbender have took anime style and implented in their own way)
-Kanye West's "Stronger" music video has paid homages to Akira. Even Kanye West said he'll do a manga. Madonna's music video has her cosplaying as Mello from Deathnote.
-In June, Jeopardy had a category on anime.
-Now, a Simpson comic will parody Deathnote.



My feeling about anime being niche, I don't think so. I keep seeing people taking a liking on anime and manga. I already seen anime and manga keep showing up on American media and pop culture. Anime used to be "niche" but now it's a pop culture and a fad for now and probably forever.

First I will have to question if you really are a true fan?

Are any of you bothered about being a fan of something as relatively small and niche such as anime?

ShadowTrader wrote:

First I will have to question if you really are a true fan?

You're absolutely right. I am not a "true" fan. Oh dear! LOL.

Tell you what. The next time you're going to be in Tokyo I'll buy you a drink at the NY B&G atop the PH. Sound good?

ShadowTrader wrote:

First I will have to question if you really are a true fan?

You're absolutely right. I am not a "true" fan. Oh dear! LOL.

I don’t see any need to “get the word out” myself.