I loathe Anime. Am I alone in this?

[Bertha Venation]

[justabob]

1. no

I have never much cared for it either.

[whistler162]

2. utterly alone.

[Jkid]

32. I agree with this.

I enjoy anime. But things have improved over the years.

[skygazer]

3. I don't know as I loathe it

But it has never done much for me. I guess indifferent to is more accurate.

[SteppingRazor]

4. Not at all.

Mediocre artwork and absolutely piss-poor animation have never been my thing. Go figure.

[rcrush]

5. I dont hate it. But I could never become a fanboy.

I liked Ninja Scroll, The first Ghost in the Shell and Princess Mononoke. But I couldnt really get into much else.

[sarge43]

6. Don't loathe it. Don't like it and never watch it. n/t

[av8rdave]

7. No, you're not.

[Broken_Hero]

8. I don't loathe it

what bugs me is that all the previews to almost all of the anime's make it look like its the best cartoon "ever" and I waste $ on buying the dvd/or renting, and its a super dud. Most of the anime I've watched have all been very unpleasant duds, especially in story/corniness.

My fave's or pretty common though, Princess Mononoke, Ninja Scroll, and DBZ(if you count that).

[graywarrior]

9. Anime is the art nouveau of the 2000's

[smalll]

10. Not alone! In fact, we might just be the (ahem) silent majority! /nt

[ChickMagic]

11. No, you're not alone. At all.

I've never sought it out, barely watched it and didn't like it.
However, there is one scene in Kill Bill 2 when the bride goes
to Budd's trailer dressed as an anime ninja. I liked that - Uma
looked awesome.

[WildEyedLiberal]

12. No, most of it is blatantly sexist, poorly illustrated, and/or just bizarre

Before the anime fanboys/fangirls jump on me - yes, there is some very artistically impressive anime out there, and there are some very good, well-written series. However, the quality ones are in the minority, overwhelmed by legions of shitty Tokyo Pop bugglegum weirdness.

[Bertha Venation]

15. "legions of shitty Tokyo Pop bugglegum weirdness" -- and

this is the kind that my niece draws constantly. :puke:

[WildEyedLiberal]

20. My condolences

A few others have mentioned some decent series, like Ghost in the Shell or Cowboy Bebop. It's not really my cup of tea, but I can acknowledge that it's decent quality stuff.

But then there's crap like Fruits Basket and Inuyasha and that junk is easily 90% of the American anime market x(

[keroro gunsou]

52. adaptation decay

the manga for both fruits basket and inu-yasha are much better written and more mature than the anime.

[Posteritatis]

70. The music alone justifies Cowboy Bebop's existence to me

And now I've got Tank! stuck in my head again..

[petronius]

47. "90% of everything is crud." -- T. Sturgeon

I've seen ads for a whole lot of animated Japanese stuff that I thought was obvious dreck, but I've certainly seen a handful of things that I thought were fantastic - about the same proportion as any other genre.

Actually - I've never been entirely certain what is/isn't "anime" - is it any Japansese fantasy/scifi animation, or does it have to have the giant-eyed schoolgirls?

[kentauros]

48. It is ANY Japanese animation

as that's what "anime" means ;)

[petronius]

49. That makes sense, but what if it's drawn by people who aren't Japanese?

Perhaps even by people whose closest approach to Japan is fully-cooked sushi at a faux-fancy cocktail party - but it looks like the stereotypical Japanese stuff. Is it still anime then? :shrug:

[kentauros]

50. It's anime if it's produced by Japanese anime studios,

like Studio Ghibli. Even the Japanese farm out for foreign animators, but if they produce it, then it's still anime. Are those American studios that use foreign animators making animation that isn't American? ;)

There is something called "American anime" but I don't know much about it other than that the fanboys treat it with full blown condescension. This site seems to do a fair job of explaining it further: http://www.ex.org/3.3/14-column_riap.html

[snagglepuss]

92. +1

[sakabatou]

13. Depends on the anime really

I even use anime for music videos.

[Flaxbee]

14. don't hold back, Bertha

:rofl:

Its appeal is utterly lost on me. You are not alone. :hug: :D

[Kali]

16. I don't know anything about it.

I mean I have seen still images I guess but never a video or anything. Just don't know it and it hasn't ever caught my attention to investigate further.

[WinkyDink]

17. I hate it. I wonder how many parents know of the porn elements.

[sakabatou]

28. Not many...

Of course, hentai isn't broadcasted on TV.

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. the porn elements are only in the porn anime, not all anime. It is not instrinsic to anime.

[Capn Sunshine]

18. No , I'm with ya

My first encounter was Speed Racer in the 60s. MY little bro LOVED it. whats worse is the pervy anime. That's just sick & wrong.

Notable exception: The Boondocks

[BuelahWitch]

19. Even Kimba the White Lion?

[phasma ex machina]

21. Thanks for reminding me to check the price of the Charlize Theron DVD.

[derby378]

22. I'd recommend checking out AKIRA by Katsuhiro Ohtomo

Think of it as anime for people who hate anime. Very fluid animation, right down to the mouths of the characters - no "flapping-jaw" syndrome. And the story is an excellent piece of sci-fi in its own right. There is now an excellent English dubbing as well.

I have yet to see anything else from Ohtomo, but I constantly hear reports of how good Ghost in the Shell is.

[Zomby Woof]

23. You are NOT alone

I have despised it for decades, from when I first Saw "Speed Racer" on TV in the 70's, to all the Pokecrap-type sewage we see all around us today.

I fucking HATE that shit. Bug-eyed, small-mouthed, spike-haired, artless turd residue, scraped off the inside of the toilet bowl. It gives young, know-nothing hipsters with no taste something to feel cool about.

Jeezus Krust on a coffee mug, it's cartoon vomit.

[keroro gunsou]

53. well then princess...

let's see you come up with something better.

[Zomby Woof]

56. Every time I crap in the toilet

It's better.

[keroro gunsou]

60. those who can

do.

those who can't, criticize those who can and piss all over them.

[Zomby Woof]

68. Why do you care?

Do you really give this much of a shit that someone hates craptastic animation? You're awfully thin-skinned. I bet you're a real treat to hang out with.

I am pretty sure my hatred of anime is not because I can't draw that horribly. I love plenty of things that take REAL talent, so your tired argument is DOA. It's always bandied about by the uncreative with poor taste. I have actually heard the same arguments from fans of Hanson and the Jonas Brothers, for example. "You're jealous!" etc. Uh-huh. That must be it.

But really - why do you give a flying shit? Must be all that piss beer in Milwaukee - it makes your brain as flimsy as your liver.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

24. I would recommend anything by Hayao Miyazaki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki

He did "Spirited Away," "Howl's Moving Castle," "Ponyo" and many other movies. They're far different than the type of anime you dislike. I think you'd like his work.

[Richardo]

29. Miyazaki is totally enjoyable - awe-inducing even.

And I say that as an anime unafficionado.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

30. And his films are far more intricate than regular anime.

[mopinko]

79. absolutely. beautiful to look at, and fun.

very inventive stories, even tho they are retellings of classic old stories.

[fizzgig]

85. howl's moving castle is one of the most incredible movies i've ever seen

i've always enjoyed his work, but howl blew me away

[Mojambo]

25. Not my thing, but I've got nothing against it. n/t

[mitchum]

26. You are not alone

[Richardo]

27. Not as long as I draw a breath

:pals:

[MilesColtrane]

31. Hated it ever since I saw my first Speed Racer episode many, many years ago.

I call it lazymation.

[AsahinaKimi]

33. Anime does not pay you ... like it does me..

I work in the business.. I love it, mostly because it pays for me to live where I do and work where I do.
It puts food on my table and pays for my internet. Its not making me rich, but it allows me to live
comfortably. Some Japanese companies can be very generous.

[AllenVanAllen]

57. Do you do voice-over work?

If you don't mind me asking. :hi:

[AsahinaKimi]

80. No...I have a really exciting job...hehe

I am a proof reader. The script is emailed in Japanese. Its translated to English, then emailed to me for a spelling and grammar check. Then I email it back, and receive a monthly check deposited into my account. I have worked on rather famous titles. When you watch the Anime on DVD and there is English subs, its most likely my work. Its my hope to be a translator some day ..and directly translate the script from Japanese to English.

[fizzgig]

83. that sounds like a great job

where do i get a gig like that? ;)

[AsahinaKimi]

86. Getting it was not easy...

There are few Japanese companies in the US for manga and Anime. Most companies are for distribution. But I was lucky enough to have an insider who knew my skills.

[AllenVanAllen]

89. That is very cool!

I'll think about your words when I watch anime! I had the chance to work on a few anime sculpture projects myself. The studios were very demanding but it was still pretty cool. :hi:

[Bertha Venation]

59. That's great!

No offense intended. I'm glad you make a good living. :)

[AsahinaKimi]

81. domo arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you.

[Rabrrrrrr]

34. To say you don't like anime is like saying you don't like single-dwelling architecture

"anime" covers such a huge range of stuff that to lump it all together is meaningless - it's everything from cheaply made and poorly animated TV shows (Pokemon, Dragonball, Speed Racer, etc.) to elegant and visually beautiful and well-written movies (Spirited Away, Akira) to stuff in between, as well as an awful lot of anime that revolves around rape, tentacle sex, incest, and so on.

Just like single-dwelling architecture includes everything from Fuller's dome houses to Frank Lloyd Wright ranch-style to British Manor Houses to French Chateaus to Japanese wood and paper homes.

I love anime, but I will say this: I only love the stuff that's really good. I don't love anime enough to sit through the tedious, poorly done stuff: and in anime, as in most of art, the majority of it is pretty ignorable.

But the stuff that's good is damned good.

[Bertha Venation]

61. I didn't know.

I have indeed lumped it all together without knowing the differences.

Still, I don't care to see any of it. :shrug:

:hi:

[Coyote_Bandit]

36. I tried to like it and to

appreciate it as an art form.

Didn't happen.

[Minimus]

37. You are not alone.

[kentauros]

38. No. However...

Most Americans are only ever exposed to the cheap crap, that which is marketed to their kids, and the subsequent toy marketing. There's also the lingering stigma against cartoons in general, that they are only for kids. Anything counter to that is either mind-numbing perplexing to them or so horrible that "no one is thinking about the children!"

As the supporters here have said, anime covers a very broad spectrum of "cartoons". I would never allow someone's child to watch Akira, but I would encourage their viewing of Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) :D

Here's a title I will recommend that is anime but isn't fantasy, science fiction or having anything to do with all of the juvenile junk shown on TV these days: Omohide poro poro ("Only Yesterday")

The story is for those of us that are long past our younger days and years, mature enough to appreciate a fine drama on personal life and nostalgia, and be sucked into the story to the point where we forget we're watching a movie, much less an animated one :)

Try it with an open mind and you can branch out from there. I'm sure there are plenty here that can recommend titles along the same lines.

[MineralMan]

39. I don't care enough about it to loathe it.

Saw it. Disliked it. Ignore it.

[bookworm65t]

40. I don't like it either

I find it bland and uninteresting. It's popularity is way beyond me.

[CBHagman]

41. Let's be friends forever!

Seriously, I hate anime too.

On top of that, back when I was working in retail, this thoroughly unpleasant man came in and perused our DVD section and lamented the the absence of anime. Of course I did the usual thing of asking what he was looking for, whether he wanted to order something. No, no, he just wanted to complain! :eyes:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

42. I don't like the killer space robots or sexy elf or fluffy unicorn genres of anime either, but...

But I highly recommend two realistic anime, both of which feature fantastic artwork:

1. Grave of the Fireflies: an achingly sad story about two orphans trying to survive in World War II Japan

2. Tokyo Godfathers: Three homeless people find a baby on Christmas Eve and try to find its parents

For sheer imaginative exuberance and trippiness, I recommend

1. Spirited Away: A little girl traveling with her parents comes upon an abandoned theme park that is the gateway to a magical and often frightening word

[Odin2005]

46. Spirited Away is awesome!

:D

[keroro gunsou]

95. hotaru no haka

(grave of the fireflies)

made me want to kill myself. yes, it's THAT depressing.

[Sanity Claws]

43. No

I don't loathe it but am completely mystified about how an adult could get into it.

Oh well, to each his own.

[kentauros]

44. How an adult can get into it depends solely on the type of anime.

Look at some of the examples I and others have offered for truly fine dramas and storytelling. If you still don't find them compelling, well, then it just isn't your thing for animation :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

55. Try the ones in my post

As I said, I don't like most anime either, but some of them are stunning.

[Odin2005]

45. BURN, HERETIC!

Anime is AWSOME!

How DARE you!?! :P


I think it's a really cool art-form. then again, I'm a big geek. :)

[proteus_lives]

51. No support here.

Anime rocks!!!!!

Proteus-No-Jutsu!

[keroro gunsou]

54. recommendations:

here some recommendations of stuff to watch, even if you don't like anime, at least look them up on wikipedia and give 'em a looksie. fair warning, a lot of the series(s) suffer from adaptation decay from the manga they we based on:

Sports:
Slam Dunk (basketball)
Hajime no Ippo (boxing)
Major (baseball)
Prince of Tennis
Eyeshield 21 (football, stick with the manga on this one, the tv series is... meh)

Scifi/cyberpunk:
Ghost in the Shell/Stand Alone Complex

Mecha:
Mobile Police Patlabor (mecha yes, but they treat them like cop cars, the real story is the characters)
Macross
Macross Plus
Macross Frontier (sensing a trend here?)
Neon Genesis Evangelion

Shounen (boy's fluff)
One Piece (pirates!)
Shijou Saikyou Deshi no Kenichi (fighting, but the "hero" is a wee bit of a putz and DOES NOT get over it)
Fairy Tail (high adventure, magic, blowing stuff up, service)
Bleach (stick with the manga, the anime goes off on some weird tangents)

Shoujo (girl's fluff)
ANYTHING by CLAMP, like Tsubasa Resevior Chronicle, Rayearth, Angelic Layer, and xxxHolic
Skip Beat! (manga's better than the tv series)
Sailor Moon (old school, but still pretty good)

Mature (not perverted)
Maison Ikkoku (or how a complete loser got his shit together, suffered greatly, and won the love of his life)
Detective Conan (admittedly is for a younger set, but it's got some pretty nasty murders that get solved by the hero)
Patlabor and Ghost in the Shell would work here as well
Gantz

My opinion, Patlabor, Ghost in the Shell, One Piece, and Maison Ikkoku are my top picks... Maison Ikkoku probably being my all-time favorite.


Cowboy Bebop
there is a ton of other stuff i'd recommend

[phasma ex machina]

63. Thanks for sharing. "Ghost in the Shell" looks intriguing. nt

[deucemagnet]

71. Under "mature" I'd add "Wicked City".

One of my very favorite anime movies. Certainly not for for everyone, but I enjoy it.

[Rhythm]

90. Also add "DevilMan" under 'mature'

I like more than a few of Go Nagai's creations...

[TheMightyFavog]

76. Agred with cowboy bebop.

The music alone is incredible. I've posted some of it in jazz threads.

[LostInAnomie]

58. Anime sucks fart.

[Iggo]

62. Is Witchblade anime?

I watched some of that on IFC (or Sundance). Was kinda Speed Racer-ish. Except for all the huge boobies. Basically a bunch of cochinas slaughtering robots and each other.

[AsahinaKimi]

82. Witchblade

The Anime series based on the American comic book by the same name. Instead of an adaptation of the original story, the producers decided to create an entire new setup, with all new characters. This co-production between Japanese studio Gonzo and American publisher Top Cow, who owns the rights for the Witchblade franchise.

The anime was directed by Yoshimitsu Ohashi, who directed Galaxy Angel and Galaxy Angel Z, and the characters were designed by Uno Makoto, the character designer for Stellvia and Love Hina.

[Iggo]

91. Hey. You know stuff.

It wasn't all that bad. I thought it was weird that they'd change artists after every 4 or 5 episodes. The oooooooverall story arc kiiiiiiiiinda made sense. But there were side stories that seemed like they could've been really interesting. It sure seemed like a much larger story compacted or condensed into a single TV season type format. And what the hell was that beach episode? Yikes! I had to send the kids outa the room! But it was fun.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

64. When I was growing up --

and Japanese animation was being introduced here, we thought it looked terrible -- cheap and poorly done in animation terms.

When I see anime today I can't get it out of my head that it still looks cheap and poorly done. :shrug:

[AsahinaKimi]

84. Show me American animation that looks better?

Most of the stuff I have seen on the Cartoon network as well as other places look terrible. I can show you some beautiful animations produced in Japan. Carefully plotted out stories, wonderful backgrounds and Characters that were
drawn with care.

South Park may be funny, but the Animation is cheap and hideous in my opinion. The problem is most Americans think that Animation should be for children. In Japan, Manga and Anime inspire other art forms, and some become movies and drama.

Most of the drama I love, from Japan were inspired by either manga or anime.


I constantly hear my fellow Americans bitching about; where are our great animators? Pixar, perhaps.. but there is too few of it, unlike the many choices one has from Anime from Japan. I will admit that American Comic books have had extraordinary artwork, however there is also too few of it. No one seems to want to do anything of quality anymore.

[Arugula Latte]

65. I read this as "I loathe Annie. Am I alone in this?"

I was going to agree that it gets annoying hearing "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" for the umpteenth time.

[MissMillie]

66. I have no use for it

but I don't know that "loathe" is the appropriate word for me.

[Throd]

67. No you are not. It is pure crap.

Anime defenders always tell me "Well, you would change your mind if you only saw (fill in the blank). They are modern day Bob Dylan fans, convinced that if you only heard the right recordings, you would recognize his incomparable genius. I have given anime plenty of chances. I don't think that thirtieth bite from a shit sandwich is going to change my mind.

[kentauros]

74. And to which ones did you give a chance?

;)

I can't stand Bob Dylan but acknowledge that he's a fine song-writer. Same for Prince and many other artists I can't stand musically. Disney has produced quite a lot of crap, too, but I wouldn't steer people away from their best by saying it's all crap.

As others have said, at least 90% of anime is crap, and that's what the majority see, then make their uninformed statements on the whole. Tell us what you've seen and let those of us that like and/or understand the genre weigh in on them, and perhaps point you to the ones that are of the highest quality :)

[Throd]

75. Miyazaki and similar stuff

Can't rememeber exact names and titles at the moment. While they contained some fantastic imagery and creative concepts, the whole style leaves me cold. I would have the same reaction to similar works executed in the Hanna-Barbera style. I think what I find most annoying about the genre is less the product itself and more the dorks compelling me to affirm their opinion that anime is so great. It is just another style, and one that does nothing for me. I hope it brings you great enjoyment. I like my own brands of schlock.

Oh, and I am not insinuating that you are a dork.

[kentauros]

77. Okay, thank you for being honest

:) and I know you weren't insinuating I was an anime-dork ;)

I'm pretty picky about anime, too. I sincerely gave Full Metal Alchemist a chance. When one character threw one of those full-juvenile tantrums where they change the animation style to something looking more like a first-year animation student's work, I stopped watching. The story was good, the animation quality was good, but that one little thing cut off my continued respect and interest. And "the dorks" will probably shake their heads in dismay and confusion as to why such a minor thing could turn me off so much. Some just have a higher tolerance to immaturity ;)

[flvegan]

69. I loved Starblazers and the Force Five group when I was little.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

72. Speed Racer, Skyers Five (aka "Taro Kid"), Cyborg 009 (old series)

And one whose name I can't remember where the enemy alien race were called the Phaltans.

There was also this one, called "Super Dynamo" in Brazil. Don't know the original name. Edit: found it, it was called Paaman

[Nuclear Unicorn]

73. Lazy animation, inscrutable plotlines, misogynist imagery...

...pass.

[BlueIris]

78. Nope. Anime is my number one "WTF?" regarding any and all forms of entertainment.

Why. Do. People. Like. That? I'd rather watch wrestling (seriously).

[Joe the Liberal]

87. Why? I love anime.....

I actually like it more than American cartoons.

[area51]

88. I don't loathe it,

but don't understand the popularity of it.

[snagglepuss]

93. I find it really really creepy. nt

[R. P. McMurphy]

94. I would never purposefully watch it. n/t

[tXr]

96. I'd rather watch Animaniacs.

Now there's a classic series!