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Is it unhealthy to treat anime as more than just animation?

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3 hours ago
#1

Offline
Feb 2014
4692
A lot of my threads here talk about anime as something "different", "unique", "special". They talk about the historical, material and ideological reasons behind it turning out like so. They talk about it's almost inherent weirdness, it's origins from counter-culture and pornography, it's two-way relationship with it's equally as weird fanbase, and the condition of being "an anime fan" as being a misfit, which causes anime to connect even more to them.

Some recent experiences I had, though, made me realize that, for some people, anime is just... animation.
And not as in "The person doesn't care about the fandom/culture part much, but it's gung-ho about it's story and traditions as an animated artform", but rather as "Just more animation, no different from the one of any other country, replaceable by any other form of media".

I kid you not when I say that anime and otaku culture fill the place in me that things like politics or nationalism fill in others.
Is this unhealthy?
3 hours ago
#2

Offline
Jul 2013
11593
For me, anime is a way to watch sexualized images and videos of cute anime girls, doing naughty things. Nothing suspicious about that......
Here is my Pixiv account of my hentai drawings.....

https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/104739065

Here is my blog....

https://theendofindustrialcivilization.blogspot.com/?m=1
3 hours ago
#3

Offline
Sep 2016
19825
It's realistic, because anime is more than just animation.
3 hours ago
#4

Online
Jun 2024
746
Anime is far more than just animation.
It is the greatest thing in this universe!
3 hours ago
#5

Offline
Jul 2013
11593
Reply to MYZIC
Anime is far more than just animation.
It is the greatest thing in this universe!
@MYZIC do you like the naked anime girls? Do you wish those girls were real?
Here is my Pixiv account of my hentai drawings.....

https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/104739065

Here is my blog....

https://theendofindustrialcivilization.blogspot.com/?m=1
2 hours ago
#6

Offline
Feb 2014
4692
A couple experiences made me write this thread:
I did go on a Discord call with people I found out on AMQ yesterday, it was fun! It made me remember that a large part of the appeal of anime to me is being able to connect with similar people.

Both an argument I had with valico here (Some of their later answers made me start thinking that he was trolling, though) and some tweets responding to a shitty Brazillian video made me realize that a lot of people don't have this sort of deep connection with anime to the point of making it an ideology, but rather use it just as a "temporary tool".
This thread of mine becomes truer everyday Is "being an otaku" more about the mentality, watching a lot of anime rather coming as a consequence of that?

This tweet.

Finally, starting to watch Teizokurei Daydream reminded me that the "weirdness" or older anime, things in it that would never be made in the west, is what always attracted me.

2 hours ago
#7

Offline
Jul 2013
11593
Anime is more detailed than other animation. In terms of visual details. But it is not anymore special than other animation.
Here is my Pixiv account of my hentai drawings.....

https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/104739065

Here is my blog....

https://theendofindustrialcivilization.blogspot.com/?m=1
2 hours ago
#8
Offline
Feb 2025
425
thewiru said:
Both an argument I had with valico here (Some of their later answers made me start thinking that he was trolling, though)


I wasn't trolling. I genuinely think anime should be viewed as an artistic framework developed in Japan, nothing more.

I do think forming an identity around anime is... fine. Not advisable probably, but not inherently problematic. However, if you couple that with the idea that the essential part of what makes anime special/unique compared to other animation is that it comes from Japan, you are bound to fall into weaboo territory - as in you think Japan is the superior culture to all others, particularly your own. This is definitely unhealthy, especially since it is based on a false premise.
2 hours ago
#9

Offline
Dec 2015
9452
Well such things as plot, music, voice acting exists and there are more stuff inside an anime. [Anime isn't an exception, other stuff also have it. Mainly it depends on execution which many people making games and movies/tv shows have forgotten about.]
2 hours ago

Offline
Oct 2022
437
what exactly brought you to this idea that being into anime and otaku culture is "unhealthy"?

I'm a musician. for me, music is an essential part of my life. for most people, music is just something that runs in the background on the radio. yet, no sane person would ever come to the conclusion that being into music is somehow "unhealthy".
krautnelson2 hours ago
2 hours ago

Offline
Jul 2013
11593
Anime looks more "realistic" than other forms of animation. But anime is still just animation. It isn't real.
Here is my Pixiv account of my hentai drawings.....

https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/104739065

Here is my blog....

https://theendofindustrialcivilization.blogspot.com/?m=1
2 hours ago
Offline
Feb 2025
425
thewiru said:
It made me remember that a large part of the appeal of anime to me is being able to connect with similar people.

this also reminds me of a message i saw in a discord channel where someone mentioned they themself "should join the fandom" of a game, which prompted me with the idea that someone might start playing a game for the sake of joining a fandom. That seems totally bizarre to me.

I am on the MAL forums to discuss something (anime) that I've enjoyed for most of my life, and spend a decent amount of time thinking about. I like seeing other opinions or discovering new perspectives, but I'm not interested in making friends, nor do I consider it a "social" activity (basically I don't care about any of the people on this forum). It's just a convenient way for me to stimulate ideas in my head around anime.
2 hours ago

Online
Jun 2024
746
Reply to valico
thewiru said:
Both an argument I had with valico here (Some of their later answers made me start thinking that he was trolling, though)


I wasn't trolling. I genuinely think anime should be viewed as an artistic framework developed in Japan, nothing more.

I do think forming an identity around anime is... fine. Not advisable probably, but not inherently problematic. However, if you couple that with the idea that the essential part of what makes anime special/unique compared to other animation is that it comes from Japan, you are bound to fall into weaboo territory - as in you think Japan is the superior culture to all others, particularly your own. This is definitely unhealthy, especially since it is based on a false premise.
valico said:
you think Japan is the superior culture to all others, particularly your own. This is definitely unhealthy, especially since it is based on a false premise.

Japan is a very good country with a very good culture so it is not based on a false premise.
It is much better than most places so there is nothing wrong with saying Japan is the superior culture.

Japan forever.
Glory to Japan.
I pledge my allegiance to the great nation of Japan.
2 hours ago

Offline
Jul 2013
11593
I absolutely love my anime waifus. Like Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Rin. I especially like how realistically these anime girls are drawn.
Here is my Pixiv account of my hentai drawings.....

https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/104739065

Here is my blog....

https://theendofindustrialcivilization.blogspot.com/?m=1
2 hours ago

Offline
Feb 2014
4692
Reply to valico
thewiru said:
Both an argument I had with valico here (Some of their later answers made me start thinking that he was trolling, though)


I wasn't trolling. I genuinely think anime should be viewed as an artistic framework developed in Japan, nothing more.

I do think forming an identity around anime is... fine. Not advisable probably, but not inherently problematic. However, if you couple that with the idea that the essential part of what makes anime special/unique compared to other animation is that it comes from Japan, you are bound to fall into weaboo territory - as in you think Japan is the superior culture to all others, particularly your own. This is definitely unhealthy, especially since it is based on a false premise.
valico said:
I wasn't trolling. I genuinely think anime should be viewed as an artistic framework developed in Japan, nothing more.

You literally told me that anime that "doesn't look like anime" shouldn't be counted or be here.
It's hard to not take such phrase as ragebaiting, you know?
valico said:
particularly your own

Considering I'm from Brazil, this isn't particularly difficult.
valico said:
However, if you couple that with the idea that the essential part of what makes anime special/unique compared to other animation is that it comes from Japan

Yet, it came from Japan, not any other country.
And for decades and decades, was a Japan only thing, no other country "arriving at the same conclusion independently".
Why do you think that was that?
1 hour ago

Offline
Feb 2014
4692
Reply to krautnelson
what exactly brought you to this idea that being into anime and otaku culture is "unhealthy"?

I'm a musician. for me, music is an essential part of my life. for most people, music is just something that runs in the background on the radio. yet, no sane person would ever come to the conclusion that being into music is somehow "unhealthy".
krautnelson said:
what exactly brought you to this idea that being into anime and otaku culture is "unhealthy"?

The fact that some people don't treat it like I do made me think they probably see an issue with my ways.
I wanted to know why they think so.
1 hour ago

Offline
Aug 2023
78
Reply to MYZIC
valico said:
you think Japan is the superior culture to all others, particularly your own. This is definitely unhealthy, especially since it is based on a false premise.

Japan is a very good country with a very good culture so it is not based on a false premise.
It is much better than most places so there is nothing wrong with saying Japan is the superior culture.

Japan forever.
Glory to Japan.
I pledge my allegiance to the great nation of Japan.
@MYZIC
>It is much better than most places
In what way?
1 hour ago

Online
Jun 2024
746
Reply to qasdrtfgbhtghnm
@MYZIC
>It is much better than most places
In what way?
@qasdrtfgbhtghnm Japan is a homogeneous society so it has a peaceful, respectful, and civilized culture.

1 hour ago

Offline
Apr 2017
2848
I think people who practically worship anime are weird. I love anime. I've watched it since I was a kid. Same with manga. However, I don't obsess over it or make it my entire personality. I've talked about how I watch a variety of stuff. I watch animation and live action. I watch things no matter the country. If it catches my interest, I'm watching it. I've watched shows from: India, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America. I can't limit myself to just one thing. Even within anime, I'm watching a variety of things. I don't understand how people can be so narrowminded. It seems boring, but to each their own...
1 hour ago

Offline
Apr 2017
2848
Reply to qasdrtfgbhtghnm
@MYZIC
>It is much better than most places
In what way?
@qasdrtfgbhtghnm He's one of the cringe white supremacists that have pride in a country full of people of color. The ultimate irony... At least other black people who practically worship the concept of Wakada or major and wealthy African Empires in history are doing so because they have pride in their own history. It's mega cringe when you have pride for another race...
1 hour ago

Offline
Feb 2016
14417
Reply to thewiru
valico said:
I wasn't trolling. I genuinely think anime should be viewed as an artistic framework developed in Japan, nothing more.

You literally told me that anime that "doesn't look like anime" shouldn't be counted or be here.
It's hard to not take such phrase as ragebaiting, you know?
valico said:
particularly your own

Considering I'm from Brazil, this isn't particularly difficult.
valico said:
However, if you couple that with the idea that the essential part of what makes anime special/unique compared to other animation is that it comes from Japan

Yet, it came from Japan, not any other country.
And for decades and decades, was a Japan only thing, no other country "arriving at the same conclusion independently".
Why do you think that was that?
thewiru said:
Considering I'm from Brazil, this isn't particularly difficult.

Brazil has the most powerful culture in Civilization 5. But I have never managed to see this firsthand, as my game crashes every time I play as Brazil.

thewiru said:
Yet, it came from Japan, not any other country.
And for decades and decades, was a Japan only thing, no other country "arriving at the same conclusion independently".
Why do you think that was that?

Other countries have been making animation longer than Japan. I don't recognize anime as a unique style, not when similar works are made everywhere. Anime really is just animation to me, albeit some of the world's best.
その目だれの目?
1 hour ago

Online
Jun 2024
746
Reply to LuxuriousHeart
@qasdrtfgbhtghnm He's one of the cringe white supremacists that have pride in a country full of people of color. The ultimate irony... At least other black people who practically worship the concept of Wakada or major and wealthy African Empires in history are doing so because they have pride in their own history. It's mega cringe when you have pride for another race...
LuxuriousHeart said:
It's mega cringe when you have pride for another race...
There's nothing wrong with respecting and having pride for another race. This is a pretty weird and racist statement from you...
54 minutes ago

Offline
Apr 2017
2848
Reply to MYZIC
LuxuriousHeart said:
It's mega cringe when you have pride for another race...
There's nothing wrong with respecting and having pride for another race. This is a pretty weird and racist statement from you...
@MYZIC Nah, it's weird. It's very weird. But I just laugh. You have such a low self esteem that you don't even like yourself. I couldn't imagine being so down bad that I want to change my race. 💀
53 minutes ago

Offline
Oct 2022
437
Reply to thewiru
krautnelson said:
what exactly brought you to this idea that being into anime and otaku culture is "unhealthy"?

The fact that some people don't treat it like I do made me think they probably see an issue with my ways.
I wanted to know why they think so.
@thewiru well, they don't.

of course, if you take an obsession too far and it starts controlling your life, it does become unhealthy, but again, that's true for everything, not just anime. but no sane person will look at someone with a harmless hobby and say "that's unhealthy". emphasis on "no sane person". people who hate others for enjoying things they don't are mentally ill.

I'm afraid I have to say this, but I think this is you being once again way too concerned about how other people perceive you, and that is in fact unhealthy.
53 minutes ago

Offline
Aug 2023
78
Reply to LuxuriousHeart
@qasdrtfgbhtghnm He's one of the cringe white supremacists that have pride in a country full of people of color. The ultimate irony... At least other black people who practically worship the concept of Wakada or major and wealthy African Empires in history are doing so because they have pride in their own history. It's mega cringe when you have pride for another race...
@LuxuriousHeart
Homogeneous societies are better. What would be actually racist is saying only some specific group of people should be able to have one.
51 minutes ago

Online
Jan 2025
104
Reply to LuxuriousHeart
@qasdrtfgbhtghnm He's one of the cringe white supremacists that have pride in a country full of people of color. The ultimate irony... At least other black people who practically worship the concept of Wakada or major and wealthy African Empires in history are doing so because they have pride in their own history. It's mega cringe when you have pride for another race...
@LuxuriousHeart I think people just see Japan as what the West could have been if it wasn't infested by coloured people from dubious countries. Also blacks have no history.
51 minutes ago

Online
Jun 2024
746
Reply to LuxuriousHeart
@MYZIC Nah, it's weird. It's very weird. But I just laugh. You have such a low self esteem that you don't even like yourself. I couldn't imagine being so down bad that I want to change my race. 💀
@LuxuriousHeart I don't want to change my race, I just have respect for other races such as the Japanese because I am not a racist like you have clearly outed yourself to be.
39 minutes ago

Offline
Apr 2017
2848
Reply to qasdrtfgbhtghnm
@LuxuriousHeart
Homogeneous societies are better. What would be actually racist is saying only some specific group of people should be able to have one.
@qasdrtfgbhtghnm Says who? What are the actual statistics on this?
39 minutes ago

Offline
Feb 2014
4692
Reply to krautnelson
@thewiru well, they don't.

of course, if you take an obsession too far and it starts controlling your life, it does become unhealthy, but again, that's true for everything, not just anime. but no sane person will look at someone with a harmless hobby and say "that's unhealthy". emphasis on "no sane person". people who hate others for enjoying things they don't are mentally ill.

I'm afraid I have to say this, but I think this is you being once again way too concerned about how other people perceive you, and that is in fact unhealthy.
krautnelson said:
well, they don't.

If that's the case, then I don't understand.
Other than my prose, why do people have an issue with my threads and posts?
Why can't they connect/relate to them?
38 minutes ago

Offline
Apr 2017
2848
Reply to MYZIC
@LuxuriousHeart I don't want to change my race, I just have respect for other races such as the Japanese because I am not a racist like you have clearly outed yourself to be.
@MYZIC Don't deflect. We all know why you worship anime... We all know why you think the West is having a downfall. I can't wait to see your meltdown when more anime adds black and brown people. Then you'll have nowhere to hide.

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