NDL DOOM

4mo

· edited

Or at least there shouldn't be.

This idea that "oh these are the ones that you HAVE to start with, and if you can't get into these then this just isn't for you, so don't even bother" or "this is anime for people who don't like anime" is just a weird form of gatekeeping and derives from people of that fandom not having any real social skills, let's just keep it a bean.

And as far as the west is concerned, it's also a result of late 90s capitalism where the only shows companies had any interest in localizing were the ones guaranteed to market tie in merch and toys to young boys. Hence why most people's perception of what anime is (as well as other people's stigma towards it) is so one note. But that's a whole other topic in it of itself.

Like imagine applying this logic to any other form of consumerism: "Oh what's that, you don't like eating eggs? Then you're definitely not gonna enjoy eating fried chicken"

Anime is not a genre.
Anime is not an aesthetic.

[SIDENOTE: The term "Anime" is technically not even a real term (or at least it didn't start out as one). It's a very contentious colloquialism used to refer to cartoons made in Japan, and a very recent at that. If you go back to the era of 80s OVAs, or the old Toonami bumpers from the early 2000s, they were using terms like "Japanamation". It's just cartoons, anime didn't become anime until way later. But again, that's a whole different discussion.]

Anime is a MEDIUM!

Just like video games are a medium, or music, or books.

And just like any other medium, anime contains a whole spectrum of every sub-genre you can think of. There is an anime that exist for any and all demographics.

So instead of scaring the hoes and trying to force what you think is this definitive list of shows to every one and they grandma like a weirdo, might I instead suggest having an actual conversation with someone and getting to know them first?

Seriously, how hard is it to just be like "Oh cool you like football, have you ever heard of this show called Eyeshield 21? I'd think you'd really be into it..."

Like I get it, I really love this s--t too and can be very passionate about anime, as with anything else that I'm into. But after recently watching KevOnStage show interest in wanting to watch anime, only to get bombarded by thousands of comments from people who realistically expect this grown man with a wife and kids binge watch a series that's been on air since 1999... suffice to say it really put things in perspective for me. And I'm saying this as a One Piece fan.

[ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: Most One Piece fans GREW UP watching/reading One Piece. Y'all did not have to commit to sitting through over a thousand episodes, so why would you realistically expect someone else to? Despite still being the highest selling manga of all time, there is a reason why series like Demon Slay and Jujutsu Kaisen have been outselling One Piece these past couple of years. One Piece is no longer new comer friendly.]

This is why people think anime n---as are weird, obnoxious, pretentious and would rather just talk AT people. Like even I understand that me typing all of this is gonna come off as pretentious, so there has to be SOME self-awareness at a certain point.

Also I just REALLY hate this "Eminem-ification" of shows like Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist, it's giving YouTube comments made by people who have the punisher logo as their profile pic.

"I only listen to Eminem and classic rock" you know what I mean?

NDL DOOM

4mo

· edited

Or at least there shouldn't be.

This idea that "oh these are the ones that you HAVE to start with, and if you can't get into these then this just isn't for you, so don't even bother" or "this is anime for people who don't like anime" is just a weird form of gatekeeping and derives from people of that fandom not having any real social skills, let's just keep it a bean.

And as far as the west is concerned, it's also a result of late 90s capitalism where the only shows companies had any interest in localizing were the ones guaranteed to market tie in merch and toys to young boys. Hence why most people's perception of what anime is (as well as other people's stigma towards it) is so one note. But that's a whole other topic in it of itself.

Like imagine applying this logic to any other form of consumerism: "Oh what's that, you don't like eating eggs? Then you're definitely not gonna enjoy eating fried chicken"

Anime is not a genre.
Anime is not an aesthetic.

[SIDENOTE: The term "Anime" is technically not even a real term (or at least it didn't start out as one). It's a very contentious colloquialism used to refer to cartoons made in Japan, and a very recent at that. If you go back to the era of 80s OVAs, or the old Toonami bumpers from the early 2000s, they were using terms like "Japanamation". It's just cartoons, anime didn't become anime until way later. But again, that's a whole different discussion.]

Anime is a MEDIUM!

Just like video games are a medium, or music, or books.

And just like any other medium, anime contains a whole spectrum of every sub-genre you can think of. There is an anime that exist for any and all demographics.

So instead of scaring the hoes and trying to force what you think is this definitive list of shows to every one and they grandma like a weirdo, might I instead suggest having an actual conversation with someone and getting to know them first?

Seriously, how hard is it to just be like "Oh cool you like football, have you ever heard of this show called Eyeshield 21? I'd think you'd really be into it..."

Like I get it, I really love this s--t too and can be very passionate about anime, as with anything else that I'm into. But after recently watching KevOnStage show interest in wanting to watch anime, only to get bombarded by thousands of comments from people who realistically expect this grown man with a wife and kids binge watch a series that's been on air since 1999... suffice to say it really put things in perspective for me. And I'm saying this as a One Piece fan.

[ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: Most One Piece fans GREW UP watching/reading One Piece. Y'all did not have to commit to sitting through over a thousand episodes, so why would you realistically expect someone else to? Despite still being the highest selling manga of all time, there is a reason why series like Demon Slay and Jujutsu Kaisen have been outselling One Piece these past couple of years. One Piece is no longer new comer friendly.]

This is why people think anime n---as are weird, obnoxious, pretentious and would rather just talk AT people. Like even I understand that me typing all of this is gonna come off as pretentious, so there has to be SOME self-awareness at a certain point.

Also I just REALLY hate this "Eminem-ification" of shows like Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist, it's giving YouTube comments made by people who have the punisher logo as their profile pic.

"I only listen to Eminem and classic rock" you know what I mean?

SPACEGHOSTPURRP

4mo

Television da ones dat u see early on tv or your 1st video game is “starter anime”

Water Giver

4mo

yes there is imo

started anime should be simple and concised

but obviously you have to know the person(s) interest as well

NDL DOOM

4mo

I guess what I mean to say is there is no DEFINITIVE starter anime.

Bow And Arrow

4mo

I only like good Anime like Cowboy Bebop

Water Giver

4mo

i agree with that

personally i either go cowboy bepop, samurai champloo or death note but every thing will have at least a handful of dislkers

KOL Meezy Mestizo

4mo

@op when someone recommends digestible starting points into a specific medium