Forum - View topicYour feelings about anime being "niche"...
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Ikari1
 Posts: 531 Location: London |
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Yes. but its sad that this is generally how most people that like anime have to behave. The problem is mainly the accosiation of animation as a form with child orientated material. Most people probably grow up watching animation in the form of cartoons after all and so anime is often seen as a step backwards or as a medium for adults clinging to thier youth. Its not really fair but such is the lack of understanding of the medium that this is the way it is . The other problem could possibly be a lack of advertising. Anime is only something that you can really get into by accident or by word of mouth (recoomendations). Out side of this there is very little to encourage anime growth really. |
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GhstDreamer
 Posts: 134 |
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Very, very true - but sometimes, it would be a bit nice to know that there are at least a few others who share the same niche interest. It's particularly difficult when you're a full-time working professional. The likelihood of finding someone at my workplace to be an anime fan is nil. |
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TheVok
Posts: 613 Location: North York, Ontario, Canada |
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Why? Essentially, anime is watching TV. It's not a particularly social activity in of itself. I watch BBC News. Not a lot of my friends do (this being Toronto), so ... what does that mean ... that I can't discuss news items with them? I enjoy anime, but it's worth keeping it in perspective. It's not a gospel to spread. It's not a social hobby (though there are certainly spinoff activities, like cosplay). And it doesn't need to go mainstream to ensure you can continue to watch it. And as for sharing notes, there are boards like this one. |
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rinmackie
 Posts: 1040 Location: in a van! down by the river! |
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The thing that bothers me about anime being niche can be summed up by that Wall Street Journal article several posts back. The attitude of the column was like, "OMG, the Japanese and their evil anime/ manga are going to destroy the minds of American youth!" They mention the child porn manga and something about the Chinese complaining that some manga smacked of pro-Japanese imperialism. Excuse me, but I believe most of those were underground manga in Japan and not representative of what most Japanese and Westerners read. Plus, it's unlikely those kind of manga or anime would ever make it outside of Japan.
I know it upsets some people that anime and manga might become too popular, but because it's so niche, when mainstreamers hear about it, they tend to assume the worst. So I'm all for it becoming a bit more popular so people won't think I'm some kind of freak. |
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TheVok
Posts: 613 Location: North York, Ontario, Canada |
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And even if they did, one would hope that the Wall Street Journal and other fine publications would defend freedom of expression in any of its forms. China, no. But the U.S, why not? |
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Elfen12
 Posts: 479 Location: Bay Area |
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I think i like the fact that not many people share the same interest. I don't mean to sound like a non-conformist, it just... if anything, makes me feel a little more different which is always interesting. But still...
Yes this quote again... That statement though, i would like to disagree although it's hard to. I would like to think that it is the other way around, where sharing your interest with others would make it more fun to watch. But there is something about anime, that i really like just enjoying to watch by myself in my room on my $49.99 TV that i got from Costco that was on sale ( for a limited time only, see store for details... In participating costco stores only ). I don't think it'd be as fun watching it with people... I also got that vibe when watching Genshiken... that's not what i want. But i do wish i could disagree though, becuase sharing interests such as that, really is something i think everyone should be doing. However it is an unfortunate coincidence that we can't.
Becuase some people do like to be out there. Some peoplw would like to actually come out of a box and show themselves, and not hide it in the depths of their deepest intrests. That's why. Hiding things like that, depending on the reason, can eat away at someone inside (espeically if it's something like "I don't want people to know i watch anime becuase they'll think i'm a ).
You're not. Your welcome... But seriosly, I doubt half the people you konw even know what a "Japanophile is. I don't think people who would find out that you watch anime, would automatically think that. If it is something negative i'd be more on the fact that it is anime , which would then perhaps the person would think "Cartoons?, grow up" in which you coudl say, "thanks "FRIEND!". -Elfen12- Lingene your quote... i don't know why it went in italics, but it did, sorry |
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Ligene
 Posts: 137 Location: Mary-land! |
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Thank you. And they may not know the word, but that's what they're implying.
Because I'm not a hermit. If someone asks what my hobby is, I'll say anime. I'm not ashamed to hide my enjoyment of the media, and I could honestly careless what people think about it. But I do care what they think about me because I like it. I despise being unfairly judged because of a hobby, a relation, etc. |
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Ikari1
Posts: 531 Location: London |
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This is how I think it should be. It really is sad that people cant speak out about the hobbies they like for fear of being ridiculed or looked down upon. Sharing your exsperiences is improtant in raising the profile of anime as well. If there is a scene you really like, that you thought was effective, share it with someone. I quite like the idea that anime is something unusual that i discovered by my self but I do often get frustrated that Im limited in the people i can chat to about it. I only really have a couple of friends that have exspressed an interest in anime so it's not always that easy to discuss what you liked about X series that week. As has been said it eats away at you sometimes because you cant share your exsperiences. I personally dont take notice of my friends when they take the piss.If they ask what I've been doing that week, I will tell them I've been watching such and such series and that such and such had a really good episode that week. I dont like the idea of keeping quiet just for the sake of others. I woint impose upon others but i will share my likes and hobbies with others regardless of what they think. Like the age old saying goes, whats the point of having freinds if they are going to look down upon you for something as trivial as watching anime.
QFT |
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Some Guy
 Posts: 135 |
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^^ Indeed.
I dont see it as a matter of sharing your interest with others, I see it as more of a matter of being unfairly judged because of a hobby or source of enjoyment that isnt really the norm. I am not saying this is universal, but it isnt uncommon for people to instantly look past your other positive qualities and focus directly on the anime and then brand you nerd or uncool or whatever. I Auto Cross, I airsoft, I tune cars, I build computers, and I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering. Sounds good right? "This person must be cool, or at least pretty interesting" they say, but add "watches Anime" to that list and I cant help but feel like a lot of people will look past those other things and unfairly judgmental. Then again maybe I am overstating it a little bit (in fact I am almost sure I am). |
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Ikari1
Posts: 531 Location: London |
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I airsoft aswell! People are more likely to pull a face about you watching anime than they are about you discussing your favourite pornographic interests of that year which is rather disturbing to be honest. |
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xia83
 Posts: 137 |
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I like having an interest that is not so well known; not to be an elitist but to know there's something a bit unique about me.
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johnjdoe
Posts: 2 |
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People around me who know I watch anime don't discriminate against me or anything; they just see it as a weird hobby. However, when I happen to tell somebody that I watch anime, they all nod and go "Yeah, I watch Naruto too" or laugh and say "HAHA YOURE IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT YOU WATCH POKEMAN!!!" They don't understand there are anime (and, in my opinion, much better ones) other than Naruto or "Pokeman."
But what really angers me is when people go on anime-bashing rants, speaking out against something they don't like just because... they don't like it. |
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TheVok
Posts: 613 Location: North York, Ontario, Canada |
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Even watching TV with other people is a lot like watching TV alone. It's not co-operative. It doesn't take any effort. I personally hesitate to even call it a 'hobby,' but that's just my take on the term ... to me a 'hobby' is something you actively do, like an art or a sport or a craft. I would consider, for example, cosplay a hobby (not one I partake in), but anime viewing is not a hobby (though I do partake in it).
Why? And even if it is, don't boards like this already allows us to share this interest? I don't think anyone's being short-changed ....
I don't think it's an either/or situation, though ... to not actively talk to friends about anime is not the same as actively hiding that interest. What I've heard a lot about on this thread is some fans' apparent need to spread anime like a gospel, attempting to convert their non-anime-fan friends. I see no point in this. The mainstream populace--or, at the very least, let's say the collective that comprises all of our friends--now has some inkling of what anime is. They don't need it hammered into their heads. And if they don't like anime, it isn't out of some kind of ignorance that needs to be fixed. When I saw Paprika last year, it impressed me so much that I mentioned it to friends. But I didn't push them on it; I just mentioned it was the best movie I'd seen all year. They can choose for themselves whether or not to watch it ... and if they dislike animation--or anime in particular--I certainly can't vouch for certain that they would enjoy Paprika. And I also wouldn't assume that any of my friends who did enjoy that one movie would therefore necessarily enjoy other anime movies and series. I leave the marketing to folks like Funimation, ADV, Sony, Bandai and Viz. Let it be on them to encourage the masses toward anime, if that's what they want. |
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Elfen12
Posts: 479 Location: Bay Area |
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Why, well... becuase again, it's not the best thing for you to just keep to yourself. Although it can be healthy at times, too much of anything is bad for you. But yes, but not to the type of extent that i'm speaking of. This "board' (took me a bit to knwo waht you meant) allows us to look at anime and dive into it, discuss it, share our thoughts about it... but what it fails to do is to share the experience of watching it together, (i'm not saying it's bad though). That's what i'm talking about. I think that it'd be nice to share the experience of it, but all in all, i just don't think with anime i'd be as great. But for anything else. For example: I skate(board). And Skating by yourself just isn't nearly as fun as skating with a friend, or even skating with someone you don't know. It's just how it works out. Another thing is ... i don't know shopping maybe, or Bike riding sometimes... It all depends on the situation. But seeing you say some of these things, ... you're an interesting person.
Especially this. I don't kown if it's just me, but i believe something like watching TV is differnet when watching it with someone else. For one, you can't watch everythhing you'd want ot watch because you have to realize someone else is there. You have to be able to agree on something to watch, whereas when you're alone, you can watch whatever you feel like watching. Along with that comes the experience, watching something together, it's just differnet. The fact that you're taking in an activity with another perosn, whether it be TV, Rollercoastering, Skydiving, Bowling, even... Reading... just doing those with other people, it makes the whole thing different. I understand you say TV takes no effort. One could disagree if you really look deep into it and try to figure out meanings behind it (which i like to do... but that's a prefrence).
Well... i guess we really take opposite opinions here. I think it's also up to the fans to show their friends and just reccomend it. Even you did that, although you say you didn't push it on them, you still reccomended it. Mentioned it to your friends. In any situation , that could get another watching it, and could start that "chain reaction". So it's really also up to us, the fans, to spread it... Well it's not up to us, but we are certianly a group of people who can do that and have the capability to do so. However you say, "it's up to them to encourage th masses toward anime", that is true, but don't forget that it is up to us (the masses) to acutally like the anime. So it is in our hands, not theirs. I think, not a billion percent sure. But yeah all in all, i think that it is good to share intrests in general, getting other peple to do things that you like, it can be a good thing to do. It is common interests that ultimately connect us all together, even when you strip everything away, and you look at a simple communication: Two people talking... The common intrest is the fact that two people like to talk, two people want to actively participate in a conversation... and thus it carries on. It is common intrests that connect us all, and make us the Amazing Human Race that we are. -Elfen12- |
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GhstDreamer
Posts: 134 |
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This board does allow us to post about what we watch and "talk" about a particular show but there is such a thing as the internet reality and the living day to day with work and surrounding yourself with people reality. Discussing about a particular anime series/movie does not mean someone is trying to convert a non-anime watcher to someone who's going to enjoy anime. For example, a bunch of people I know went to watch The Dark Knight (as I did too) and afterwards, we engaged in a discussion/dialogue about it. It's fun - simple as that. None of us were trying to convert people to watching Batman and enjoying it. Same thing with anime. It's fun to share it with some people who share this interest - irl. I have to admit - I do enjoy watching an anime series with other people who enjoy it as much as I do, than by myself. It's the same as when I watch House, Law& Order, etc. |
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