Why is Anime so popular?

Answer 1

Mainly because, as others have hinted, it isn't *as* heavily restricted or censored as cartoons (and comics) are in the United States.

And no, it isn't all about the "mature content" folks. It is about watching cartoons from a nation where folks *do not* by and large automatically assume "cartoons are For Kiddies" and then proceed to dumb them down and water them down to the point of their being utter crap.

Really. Do you think an American animation company would be allowed to make cartoons in as *many* genres and in as *many* ways as cartoons are made in Japan? Of course not....in the States folks get their panties in a bunch over just *using* turns of phrase like "panties in a bunch", you know? :p

Consider for a moment.... CLAMP's _Angelic Layer_. In Japan, the anime mini-series and manga are both just rated for a *young teen* audience and the thing is just done in its original form.

In the States, the censors would be all over the thing like white on rice for, among other things: a) violence--never mind that the whole *point* of the story is that you have these young ladies doing the Rock-em-Sock-em Robot thing with dolls, the violence is humanoid-on-humanoid and we can't have that, b) slightly grown-up themes--God forbid if we admit that (1) girls have crushes, or (2) that sometimes those crushes can be on other girls--oh no, somebody of an Evangelical bent would *assume* the worst-case scenario ("flat out lesbianism in cartoons!") in spite of it all, or c) creepy scenarios. We can't have a cartoon in the States where kids genuinely get scared or stressed out, and even if you cut out *everything* where one of the lead characters sneaks up on and *scares* the other, point is, in the intro, the lead girl *does* get lost in the big city....

And honestly....as someone who owns the Manga and has seen some of the anime, I can say it, _Angelic Layer_ doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. It was written for a teenaged audience, and yet such a thing, cartoons for *older, smarter* kids, isn't ALLOWED to exist in the States, because we're all scared, not just for the kids, but *of* the Old Farts, of the Censoring Pansy Patrol who can't actually *let anything really happen* in a cartoon that oh, gee, might be halfway serious.

But I digress. Point is....in Japan and to some degree in the rest of the civilized world, people are nowhere *near* as uptight and freaked out over the content of cartoons as *we are* here in the States. Elsewhere, folks *can and do* treat cartoons as another form of mainstream entertainment. Mainstream, as in not "just for wee kids", and able to tell nearly *any* story about *anything*.

And that is the appeal, I think. That anything can happen. And it doesn't hurt that anything can happen within a *reasonably cute* art style, yes? ;)

Answer 2

Anime always has an inspirational character in it that fights against adversary and failure to become a strong person rather than settling on being a victim. Which everybody needs to see from time to time to lift them up. It also has a strong moral message and a system of Honor that can teach allot about human nature. Anime can also open your mind to different ideas and ways of viewing things for example one mans hero can be another mans villain or one mans paradise can be an others prison its very interesting. Watch some you will see what i mean its very addictive much better than the watered down stories on TV where there is always a happy ending or an over dramatised reaction to an every day occurrence Well that what i think :} Have fun

Answer 3

Truth be told most people watch Anime for one of to things:
1, Violence and gore on an extreme level usally way beyond anyones normal imagination.
2, Nude cartoons, some people are freaks and liked to get off by freeze framing whole sections of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? just to see if Jessica Rabbit had panties on or not.
These people no longer need to pause the film as half of the Anime cartoons have wide eyed girl in little more than a smile and her robot "helper."

Answer 4

Because those who work in the animation industry in Japan are dedicated to their work (for the most part; a few exceptions *cough**pokemon**cough) unlike their counterparts here in the states who see animation as 24-minute toy commercials.

Answer 5

i love anime because they are with me when i'm alone. and i know many moral values since i start to watch anime..i can learn different language include english coz i know my english is not good.besides these,i have many friends because of anime.they share and talk with me when i feel bored and lonely..i think everything have their own good..Dont judge anime as if you only watch some good shows.
Actually its the same with why you like cartoon or whatever,because they attract us.that's why.

Answer 6

It's a more adult form of cartoon. I'm not talking about Pokemon or the like. There are real hardcore anime series out there, with swearing and blood and sometimes sex.

Answer 7

because anime is an art !!!
there are feelings,hopes and dreams of the creator relished inside the story and the characters. those sentiments are shared with the people watching anime and cartoons in general.
it s a whole new culture with a deep-deep philosophy!!!

Answer 8

Its popular because people like it.

Answer 9

Because it's a lot better than the crappy shows we have here. Like that show American Dragon. EW! and people there can draw a lot better than we can. I mean have you ever looked at the animated show we have. They stink.

Answer 10

anime is popular because there are so many mental wards that have a tv.