How the Explosion of Anime Has Influenced its Viewers for the Better

Image Courtesy: Japan City Tour

When I entered my freshman year of high school, I had never seen any anime-related content. So many people had negative opinions of the genre, solely because they were animated. Immature, they’d call it. Sadly, I fell into this kind of thinking without even giving it a chance. However, one summer afternoon I was playing XBOX with some friends. While speaking with them, one of my buddies pleaded with me to give the show, Naruto, a chance. “Just watch the first episode, if you don’t like it don’t watch it.”, he said. I listened and gave it a shot. After all, he had finished the childhood arc in two weeks, so it had to be good right? Good is an understatement. I immediately fell in love with the show. The vibes were immaculate. The protagonist, Naruto, had such a great personality for the main character. The show follows Naruto, as he progresses from a child to a teen, developing all the necessary skills to be an admirable ninja. Throughout these episodes, viewers got to see him evolve as a character, as his mentors instilled valuable morals, ideas, and sayings to live by. Yes, it may be a fictional show, but that doesn’t make it any less impactful or meaningful. Moreover, since the show is seven hundred episodes or so, you develop an attachment to these characters. Since then, I have watched several other animes, some of which I may have enjoyed just as much. However, nothing can replace the first anime you watch. 

Image Courtesy: Coming Soon

Not all animes are meant to be inspiring, some are meant for pure entertainment. Each show has its moments, and in these moments, you can learn so much not just about a character or throughline, but an entire other society’s values as well. Anime can serve as a portal to familiarize yourself with Japanese culture. How characters carry themselves, how they interact with one another, how they interact with their superiors, or their interests alone reveal much more than one would naturally expect. Also, as technology progresses, so does the quality of anime. With better animations, come better action scenes, which means more entertainment for us, the viewers. Some people may prefer live-action TV shows, but you’ll never get a fight scene like some you’ll find in anime unless a TV studio is willing to break the bank account, which is another reason anime is so amazing. 

Image Courtesy: Reel Rundown

So, if you’re like I once was, and close-minded toward anime simply because of the opinions of others, I encourage you to give it a shot. The worst thing to happen? You don’t like it. If that’s the case, stop watching. But I think you will, after all, anime isn’t a genre. Every genre can be found within anime. So, more likely than not, you will find an anime for you. You’ll just have to find a synopsis that intrigues you. In no particular order, a few recommendations to check out are Naruto, Akame Ga Kill, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, One Piece, Black Clover, and Tokyo Ghoul. Most of them are action/fighting animes just because that happens to be my preference, but still, check ‘em out! 

When you find yourself finishing a season in a few days, don’t be surprised. It’s par for the course. Instead, ask yourself why it took you so long to indulge yourself, to begin with. If you’re looking for a sign or a reason to start watching, here it is. You’re welcome. Until next time. 

Strike Out, 

Writer: Lucas Zaret

Editor: Addy Crosby

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