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anime taste aka preference war between japan and overseas fans

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Feb 4, 6:45 PM
#1
lagom
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Jan 2009
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japan loves isekai, japan loves rent a girlfriend, japan loves minors as characters, japan loves sexualization, etc

overseas fans loves dark fantasy, overseas fans loves adult characters, overseas fans loves less sexualization, overseas fans loves aura farming, overseas fans loves amazing animation, etc

is this true to your taste? do you observe other taste war between japan and overseas fans? so thoughts? and which side has better taste to you?

degFeb 7, 2:58 PM
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Feb 4, 6:48 PM
#2

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My taste is more aligned with Japan. The only thing I differ about is I don't care about rent a girlfriend.
Feb 4, 6:48 PM
#3

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May 2014
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I feel more japanese now... though I love amazing animation too, who doesn't?

Yea, GochiUsa is far more popular in Japan than overseas.
Feb 4, 6:53 PM
#4
lagom
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Jan 2009
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IpreferEcchi said:
The only thing I differ about is I don't care about rent a girlfriend.
i thought you watch that since i heard it has a lot of ecchi
Feb 4, 7:02 PM
#5
BIKINI⚔️ARMOR

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It's cultural dissonance that has been there ever since anime was introduced to the west, they are different due deeply rooted cultural differences and expectations in entertainment media and its perceived value.

I fall somewhere in the middle, though slightly leaning towards japan in terms of taste, i do love dark fantasy and adult characters but i also love rampant sexualization and fanservice and i dislike aura farming and power scaling.

I'm indifferent about moé and lolis, it's not for me but i have no problem with it existing, what i do have a problem with is forced censorship by the west on japanese media to comply with some arbitrary moral rules. I dislike isekai and i hate rent a girlfriend, but i don't go out of my away to trash those genres or complain, it is just something not made for me and that's ok not everything has to be.

My taste is ecchi, erotica, hentai, nudity, bikini armor, skimpy armor.
Yes, i do follow the culture wars when it comes to anime and manga.
Neither has the better taste, to each their own, different strokes for different folks.
Feb 4, 7:02 PM
#6

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Feb 2014
6440
Very cool thread, deg.
Could you link the poll you got this data from?
Feb 4, 7:06 PM
#7

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Feb 2016
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Nobody's taste is perfect. Japan's is better on average, but they like Gundam SEED.
その目だれの目?
Feb 4, 7:13 PM
#8

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By the way @tchitchouan how come you didn't vote in the current round of my black/purple hair competition?

https://xss.now.cc/forum/?topicid=2251207&show=52


There was an odd number of winners in the previous round, so contestants from the group stage were brought back based on the next highest votes.
To make an even number.
Feb 4, 7:15 PM
#9
BIKINI⚔️ARMOR

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Reply to IpreferEcchi
By the way @tchitchouan how come you didn't vote in the current round of my black/purple hair competition?

https://xss.now.cc/forum/?topicid=2251207&show=52


There was an odd number of winners in the previous round, so contestants from the group stage were brought back based on the next highest votes.
To make an even number.
@IpreferEcchi Holy cow, it must have skipped my mind or i haven't noticed the notifications since i got like 20 of them this morning, i will vote immediately.
Feb 4, 7:15 PM

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deg said:
i thought you watch that since i heard it has a lot of ecchi

I don't indiscriminately watch something that's shitty.

I'm an Ecchi Elitist.

The girls are too generic looking.
I want girls that are already dressed in sexy outfits from the beginning.
Feb 4, 7:16 PM

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Nov 2025
279
I'm somewhere inbetween. I'm Hawaiian?

Dark fantasy ecchi with milf dark elves would be great.

I don't know what aura farming is.
Feb 4, 7:18 PM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
109747
Reply to thewiru
Very cool thread, deg.
Could you link the poll you got this data from?
@thewiru this are stereotypes but disprove it with formal stats if you have any
Feb 4, 7:25 PM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
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UhOhFanOfTouhou said:
I don't know what aura farming is.


characters that are improving their coolness each episode ye its new slang by kids this days
Feb 4, 7:26 PM

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Oct 2018
5837
Overseas fans hate good writing.

That's it
If you're a fanboy, please don't waste my time.

Watch more movies, please.

Perhaps, this is hell.
Feb 4, 7:27 PM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
109747
Reply to Phosphophyllita
Overseas fans hate good writing.

That's it
@Phosphophyllita i thought rent a girlfriend has bad writing but that show is love by japan
Feb 4, 7:31 PM
BIKINI⚔️ARMOR

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Reply to OhNoAFanOfTouhou
I'm somewhere inbetween. I'm Hawaiian?

Dark fantasy ecchi with milf dark elves would be great.

I don't know what aura farming is.
UhOhFanOfTouhou said:
Dark fantasy ecchi with milf dark elves would be great.


I have exactly what you need.

https://xss.now.cc/anime/50953/Bastard_Ankoku_no_Hakaishin_ONA

tchitchouanFeb 4, 7:37 PM
Feb 4, 8:22 PM

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Reply to tchitchouan
UhOhFanOfTouhou said:
Dark fantasy ecchi with milf dark elves would be great.


I have exactly what you need.

https://xss.now.cc/anime/50953/Bastard_Ankoku_no_Hakaishin_ONA

@tchitchouan good looking out~ I've definitely been putting this series off for too long.
Feb 4, 8:44 PM

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May 2009
8568
I think this is vastly oversimplifying the tastes of very large groups of fans.
Avatar character is Gabriel from Gabriel DropOut.
Feb 4, 9:04 PM
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Seems like a bit of a simplification. I think it'd be more accurate to say those regions feel more comfortable marketing those subjects, rather than attributing it to the tastes of those regions.
Feb 4, 9:31 PM
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Reply to IpreferEcchi
My taste is more aligned with Japan. The only thing I differ about is I don't care about rent a girlfriend.
@IpreferEcchi I feel the same way. I liked Rent a Girlfriend, but by the end of season 2 I was over it because I figured out their repetitive formula of teasing me with ships and letting me down all over again.
Feb 4, 9:33 PM
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I feel I'm more with Japan on this except a few things. I liked Rent a Girlfriend, but by the end of season 2 I was over it because I figured out their repetitive formula of teasing me with ships and letting me down all over again. Isekai I like but not particularly; some I'm into and some situations I don't care about. Also, I like both adult and minor characters; the story is more important to me than the age. I absolutely love sexualization; I think anime would be much more dull without it for me.
Feb 4, 9:45 PM

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Reply to deg
@Phosphophyllita i thought rent a girlfriend has bad writing but that show is love by japan
@deg

I've read that there is now a significant amount of criticism towards KanoKari, especially among the manga readers. Ch 380 set off a whirlwind. I won't go into details because spoilers.
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Feb 4, 9:51 PM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
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Reply to SapioGalion
@deg

I've read that there is now a significant amount of criticism towards KanoKari, especially among the manga readers. Ch 380 set off a whirlwind. I won't go into details because spoilers.
@SapioGalion i see japan and overseas fans are starting to agree on that then

i do not read or watch rent a girlfriend but its all over social media like memes about it
Feb 4, 9:59 PM

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Feb 2023
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I am very much on the Japan side. I have been like this since Day 1 of being in this fandom.
Feb 4, 10:42 PM

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Welp.. the way you described it I'm literally your typical western fan.. Dark Fantasy/Mystery/Suspense/Supernatural/Action/Gore are my favorite genres I almost always prefer an adult cast, I actually like sexualization and adult themes but not with a child or lolli cast.. Aura farming of course..I mean we grow up with DBZ how could we not?

To be real I do love a lot of the western style animes that come out on netflix like Cyberpunk Edgerunners/Bastard/Super Crooks. But I do appreciate some of the more japanese style animes like shinsekai yori/Hamatou/Kill la Kill/Konosuba/Houseki No Kuni/The Itaden Deities/Gintama and prefer to watch some in japanese with subs even if they do have dub just because it either sounds better or fits the animation better. Isekai Suicide Squad despite its low Mal rating I thought was excellent and though its an anime based on a Western DC comic I watched it in sub because the japanese VA for Harley absolutely fucking killed it.

I believe both sides have their strengths and weakness's. The general atmosphere and more mature cast of western genre anime tends to hit better with me, sometimes especially with the comedy since its usually darker/dryer than the more social or pervy stuff you find in japanese focused animes. There's a lot of cultural differences between the west and the east that will play into our taste even though I did grow up with anime I solely watched them in dub and most of the stuff they picked to put on T.V for us seems to have been with themes they thought western kids would like (for the most part). Also consider were watching western cartoons at the same time that would shape our taste and likes at the same time, while japanese children I would imagine were solely or primarily only watching anime. These kind of influences we keep into our adulthood and probably still have an impact on what and how we like to view our cartoons.

Overall yeah I'd say I align with western taste and genres/themes but can absolutely appreciate most anime for what they are.

Whatever happens, happens.
Feb 4, 10:59 PM

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Apr 2015
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I'll just say that Japan isn't "superior" when they somehow buy so much of RAG to get it 4 seasons over actually good shows. Of course, the Western fans who only watch a show because of "big fights and animation" aren't exactly better either. Nothing wrong with big fights and animation but if that's all someone watches anime for then it's hard to take their opinion seriously too.
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Feb 4, 11:03 PM

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I don't think western fans love animation considering it's the west who defends chainsaw man anime
mappa can't animate, can't direct, they are incompetent at adapting manga, bones should have adapted chainsaw man or studio pierrot. Mappa destroyed chainsaw man
Feb 5, 12:47 AM
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Reply to LordRango
Welp.. the way you described it I'm literally your typical western fan.. Dark Fantasy/Mystery/Suspense/Supernatural/Action/Gore are my favorite genres I almost always prefer an adult cast, I actually like sexualization and adult themes but not with a child or lolli cast.. Aura farming of course..I mean we grow up with DBZ how could we not?

To be real I do love a lot of the western style animes that come out on netflix like Cyberpunk Edgerunners/Bastard/Super Crooks. But I do appreciate some of the more japanese style animes like shinsekai yori/Hamatou/Kill la Kill/Konosuba/Houseki No Kuni/The Itaden Deities/Gintama and prefer to watch some in japanese with subs even if they do have dub just because it either sounds better or fits the animation better. Isekai Suicide Squad despite its low Mal rating I thought was excellent and though its an anime based on a Western DC comic I watched it in sub because the japanese VA for Harley absolutely fucking killed it.

I believe both sides have their strengths and weakness's. The general atmosphere and more mature cast of western genre anime tends to hit better with me, sometimes especially with the comedy since its usually darker/dryer than the more social or pervy stuff you find in japanese focused animes. There's a lot of cultural differences between the west and the east that will play into our taste even though I did grow up with anime I solely watched them in dub and most of the stuff they picked to put on T.V for us seems to have been with themes they thought western kids would like (for the most part). Also consider were watching western cartoons at the same time that would shape our taste and likes at the same time, while japanese children I would imagine were solely or primarily only watching anime. These kind of influences we keep into our adulthood and probably still have an impact on what and how we like to view our cartoons.

Overall yeah I'd say I align with western taste and genres/themes but can absolutely appreciate most anime for what they are.

@LordRango Thank you for saving me from writing out all that. You pretty much covered my exact thoughts. But yes, Japanese anime seems to be more catered more towards jr high school type themes/cast. Western is more mature and willing to explore darker themes. I wish there were more Japanese anime's like Claymore, Beserk, and Clevatess.
Feb 5, 2:58 AM

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I play both sides so I win either way lul
Feb 5, 3:14 AM
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An overseas fan here. Love adult and minor characters, dark fantasy, sexualization so-so, amazing animation ect. You can't really say if Japanese or overseas fans have better taste since there is a cultural difference. Anime should cater to a Japanese audience to maintain its unique identity.
Recommend me some shoujo manga ♡
Feb 5, 4:14 AM

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deg said:
japan loves isekai, japan loves rent a girlfriend, japan loves minors as characters, japan loves sexualization, etc

overseas fans loves dark fantasy, overseas fans loves adult characters, overseas fans loves less sexualization, overseas fans loves aura farming, overseas fans loves amazing animation

I love all of this, except for less sexualization obviously. What does that make me?
*kappa*
Feb 5, 4:30 AM

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Fictionalized western online Japan of may perhaps like it but true to real life offline reality Japan does not especially not like the third one and also P.S one of the most popular series in Japan out there such as gintama, detective conan, kingdom, vagabond etc etc never had any sexualization of the characters, as Japan is just like every other country with interesting culture and fascinating history thus also different laws.
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Feb 5, 4:33 AM

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Both sides have pros and cons. If I had to choose, I'd pick Japan because there are better anime among the ones more popular/better received in Japan than the ones more popular/better received in the West (I only care about Chainsaw Man and Hellsing Ultimate from there).
NirinboFeb 5, 4:43 AM
Feb 5, 7:43 AM

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437
What exactly is aura farming?
I think, but have no hard data on it, that the audience overseas is on average quite a bit older, hence the difference in preferences. And i am definitely very much an overseas fan if going by your definition.
Feb 5, 7:47 AM

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Oct 2024
437
Reply to LordRango
Welp.. the way you described it I'm literally your typical western fan.. Dark Fantasy/Mystery/Suspense/Supernatural/Action/Gore are my favorite genres I almost always prefer an adult cast, I actually like sexualization and adult themes but not with a child or lolli cast.. Aura farming of course..I mean we grow up with DBZ how could we not?

To be real I do love a lot of the western style animes that come out on netflix like Cyberpunk Edgerunners/Bastard/Super Crooks. But I do appreciate some of the more japanese style animes like shinsekai yori/Hamatou/Kill la Kill/Konosuba/Houseki No Kuni/The Itaden Deities/Gintama and prefer to watch some in japanese with subs even if they do have dub just because it either sounds better or fits the animation better. Isekai Suicide Squad despite its low Mal rating I thought was excellent and though its an anime based on a Western DC comic I watched it in sub because the japanese VA for Harley absolutely fucking killed it.

I believe both sides have their strengths and weakness's. The general atmosphere and more mature cast of western genre anime tends to hit better with me, sometimes especially with the comedy since its usually darker/dryer than the more social or pervy stuff you find in japanese focused animes. There's a lot of cultural differences between the west and the east that will play into our taste even though I did grow up with anime I solely watched them in dub and most of the stuff they picked to put on T.V for us seems to have been with themes they thought western kids would like (for the most part). Also consider were watching western cartoons at the same time that would shape our taste and likes at the same time, while japanese children I would imagine were solely or primarily only watching anime. These kind of influences we keep into our adulthood and probably still have an impact on what and how we like to view our cartoons.

Overall yeah I'd say I align with western taste and genres/themes but can absolutely appreciate most anime for what they are.

@LordRango i think you might like id:invaded
Feb 5, 7:48 AM
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THIS IS WHY I HATE JAPANESE PEOPLE THEY ARE THE REASON WE GET SO MUCH USLESS SHIT ISEKAIS. OR EVEN HAREM ANIME.
Feb 5, 7:58 AM

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Yea japanese people have weird ass tastes they are the sole reason we still get alot of weird ass animes.
Feb 5, 8:02 AM
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Reply to Richard_drizzle
Yea japanese people have weird ass tastes they are the sole reason we still get alot of weird ass animes.
@Richard_drizzle By most people's definition, they're the reason we get any anime at all.
Feb 5, 8:05 AM

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Reply to valico
@Richard_drizzle By most people's definition, they're the reason we get any anime at all.
@valico Aye that's a very valid point can't argue there.
Feb 5, 8:08 AM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
109747
dunkelfalke said:
What exactly is aura farming?


when characters seems to collect coolness each episode ye its a slang by kids this days
Feb 5, 8:19 AM

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Dec 2014
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I think the overseas is a pretty vast and diverse place... Really, in the overseas community, I mostly heard bitching about ecchi end sexualization from Americans and the anglosphere. Less from Europe, and even less from Asia.

Dark Fantasy is a very American preference. Asia is mostly about Isekai and Fantasy. South America likes Battle Shounens like DBZ the most. Europe prefers Shounen and Adventure Fantasy. So...


naoya3desu said:
THIS IS WHY I HATE JAPANESE PEOPLE THEY ARE THE REASON WE GET SO MUCH USLESS SHIT ISEKAIS. OR EVEN HAREM ANIME.


They are also the reason why we get any anime at all.
Feb 5, 8:25 AM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
109747
kronopy said:
I think the overseas is a pretty vast and diverse place... Really, in the overseas community, I mostly heard bitching about ecchi end sexualization from Americans and the anglosphere. Less from Europe, and even less from Asia.

Dark Fantasy is a very American preference. Asia is mostly about Isekai and Fantasy. South America likes Battle Shounens like DBZ the most. Europe prefers Shounen and Adventure Fantasy. So...


i guess so since im more active here on mal forums than any social media but if i do see social media controversy ye maybe americans are involve
Feb 5, 8:31 AM
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Reply to kronopy
I think the overseas is a pretty vast and diverse place... Really, in the overseas community, I mostly heard bitching about ecchi end sexualization from Americans and the anglosphere. Less from Europe, and even less from Asia.

Dark Fantasy is a very American preference. Asia is mostly about Isekai and Fantasy. South America likes Battle Shounens like DBZ the most. Europe prefers Shounen and Adventure Fantasy. So...


naoya3desu said:
THIS IS WHY I HATE JAPANESE PEOPLE THEY ARE THE REASON WE GET SO MUCH USLESS SHIT ISEKAIS. OR EVEN HAREM ANIME.


They are also the reason why we get any anime at all.
kronopy said:
They are also the reason why we get any anime at all.
dont agree. the anime market is huge worldwide.
Feb 5, 8:51 AM

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5ch's (Japanese forum) top anime list from early 2000's to 2025.



source

Japan simply have superior taste. You get Western anime fans to create a top anime list every year and you'll see the most generic top anime list of all time.
Honobono Log - best slice of life short
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Feb 5, 9:52 AM
BIKINI⚔️ARMOR

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Reply to ToG25thBaam
5ch's (Japanese forum) top anime list from early 2000's to 2025.



source

Japan simply have superior taste. You get Western anime fans to create a top anime list every year and you'll see the most generic top anime list of all time.
@ToG25thBaam This is very useful for my research thank you.
Feb 5, 11:56 AM

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807
Reply to thewiru
Very cool thread, deg.
Could you link the poll you got this data from?
thewiru said:
Could you link the poll you got this data from?
@deg you know you fucked up when thewiru is asking you to back up your baseless claims.
Feb 5, 12:20 PM
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101
Yeah, my tastes really match your enumeration for overseas fans... a bit of Isekai is nice, but there's too much of it actually. I already knew Japanese liked it, but imo that's child's tastes.
Amazing animation is proof of good work on the show, aura farming is (somewhat) proof of impacting moments, adult characters got more depths, and dark fantasy is usually interesting in it's lore and atmosphere. So yes I love all that.
Feb 5, 12:24 PM
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Apr 2013
689
100% japanese taste for me then. Didn't know that was a thing, but I can almost agree to all of that. Tensei shitara Ken deshita became one of my favorite anime I've watched recently, KanoKari for a long time wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem and I actually enjoyed it back then and even read the manga... until we got into that long-ass and boring resort arc, and after that it really went downhill. But I am honestly not opposed to maybe pick it up again when I'm bored. And even if its just to see if it really fell off that hard. I also like younger characters, and I certainly don't dislike sexualization.

Whereas on the contrary, I typically dispise dark fantasy, adult characters are okay, based on how it is set up (going back to Tensei shitara Ken deshita, Shishou (the sword) is technically an adult, while Fran is 12), but only adults can be rather boring. Black Lagoon comes to mind, and I also wasn't as big a fan of WotaKoi as some of my other friends. Aura farming is... meh. And amazing animation is for me usually one of the least important criteria for an anime. I of course don't dislike when shows get the attention they deserve in the animation department. Would've loved if for example Ro-Kyu-Bu had more budget to make the basketball matches more dynamic - but the anime felt passionate enough that I didn't mind it not being the best animation.
Feb 5, 12:32 PM

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Which "dark fantasy" anime are westerners watching, besides Berserk?
LucifrostFeb 5, 12:39 PM
その目だれの目?
Feb 5, 12:35 PM
lagom
Online
Jan 2009
109747
Reply to Lucifrost
Which "dark fantasy" anime are westerners watching, besides Berserk?
@Lucifrost dark fantasy works such as “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Attack on Titan” are in the spotlight.

Otsuka: At MAPPA, we are involved in a wide variety of animation genres, but we are conscious of the fact that dark fantasy works are straight forward and appealing to overseas anime lovers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/xw758o/mappas_ceo_manabu_otsuka_firebug_ceo_shogo_sato/
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