Sunday, October 14th, 2007...8:33 pm
Fan culture and hype ruining anime?
In a time when the pursuit of anime was often limited to a couple of beardy old men and a third-generation video tape, I can’t imagine they spent much (if any) time arguing over what to watch; simply that it was Japanese and animated was enough; after all, beggars can’t be choosers. 15 long years later, and though the beards may still remain, everything else has changed. Anime fans found the internet.
In industry terms, hype is an important tool; when the tidal wave of fandom rolls into town, it’s hard… no, impossible not to notice. We’ve all seen it before; the squealing fan-boys and their unbreakable loyalty, the pornographic fan-art, the Linkin Park AMVs - and god damn it, they’re even dancing in the streets now; otaku aren’t allowed dance, it’s embarrassing. To name but a few examples of the “all over us like a bad rash” machine - Death Note, Lucky Star, Naruto and the mother of all modern hype, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
We’ve gone from an era of that “porno manga stuff” to finding ourselves saturated by a border-line mainstream hobby. Like the indie rock band that “sold out”, today’s Japanese animation is more synomonous with an orange jump suit and a tsundere school girl. Watching it is no longer about enjoying that anonymous pet hobby anymore; every Average Joe can have an opinion - and he happens to like Naruto.
There is nothing wrong with that, everyone is entitled to enjoy their anime, but I wonder whether or not the incessant rants and raves could ultimately ruin the experience? With all that distracting noise, our expectations rise and inevitably fall flat once we see that actually - this wasn’t the greatest EVER; confusion and inevitably, backlash set in. Just look at all the anime fans hating on Hayao Miyazaki; one of the few directors who’s work is universally acclaimed, yet he hasn’t found much favour in the anime community since winning the Oscar for Spirited Away. Apparently, popular approval is the kiss of death, are we really that shallow?
Enjoying anime today is coupled with a constant battle against divorcing ourselves from superlative hype. Approaching it with an open mind, being caught of guard and surprised by an intricate pang of emotion is a great feeling; don’t ruin it for yourself by hating something before you’ve even seen it.
10 Comments
October 14th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
There’s definitely a marked change in how our little niche interest is becoming more well known as a mainstream interest and I think the internet is in no small part responsible for this.
The problem is indeed over-saturation: fan hype works every bit as well as corporate advertising in bringing a show to our attention, and possibly causing over-exposure. That really can ruin the experience: the likes of Haruhi Suzumiya and Lucky Star take on some sort of religious fervour which makes we as viewers forget it’s just movies and TV. I was put off watching Naruto for so long because of the hype but after taking a step back from the advertising and raving, I actually enjoyed it.
The trouble with popular culture today is filtering out what you want to prevent overload!
October 14th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I know what you mean, but I think it’s probably too early to start ringing alarm bells. Sure, there are huge series like Death Note and Naruto, but stuff like Monoke and Mushisi still get a lot more attention than one would expect in anime fandom.
I do share your worries that all this fanboy-esque hype could rather spoil the fun. Just to look to videogames, where ignorant fanboys are prevalent. Anime hasn’t quite reached that level, yet, but I can certainly see things heading that way in the future.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Upon hearing the title of this post, the title Death Note was the first to appear into my head. Just knocking such a thing off because of the hype, isn’t a good thing, Since it is a good story underneath it all.
Although it can be good, I don’t think I would have ever found out about anime without the hype of Naruto and others.
As long as the hype is ‘controlled’, Me likes it.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
This is one of the topics i have a few major problems with. First of all i don’t really care what people say or think, unless of course i respect thier view. That’s just the way i am by nature. I’ve heard people ripping shows that i love to peices, but at the end of the day that’s upto them and doesn’t affect my enjoyment at all.
I don’t think it’s so much to do with the shows, but the mindset of people. I’ve seen people spend hours arguing back and forth over shows, fansubs, soundtracks and at the end of the day it all boils down to nothing.
I think it all comes down to three things; Boredom, anonynimity and a slight touch of passion. And the internet allows for this. There is no doubt in my mind that the whole fuss over T.M.O.H.S dvd order would be here if the internet wasn’t around.
But alas as i said at the start it all comes down to what type of person you are. Do you go with the norm? Do you slate it because it’s “in”? or do you take a look at the bigger picture, grab a slice of each pie and then do what you want? Personally i’m the latter.
October 14th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I know what youre saying, I often consider this myself, however I buy what I want because I want to watch it and not because hype.
Hype is inevitable in all mediums and can be both good and bad.
I understand exactly what youre saying.
Only recently a college mate said to me after me mentioning anime,” what that weird japanese porn”.
I couldint believe it although there are a fair few educated people aswell.
Its just how it is.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I try not to hate something before I see it, but when people came up to me in the library and say,
‘OMG you’re into anime aren’t you, I LOVE Pokemon, Bleach and Naruto!’
Then pause proudly to smile at their new found friend.
What they don’t realise is they’ve just come up a squealed the equivalent of:
‘OMG you’re into TV aren’t you, I LOVE Eastenders, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks!’
Yes…but at least Easteanders obsessives don’t wear a shiny headband and *glomp* me in the middle of a convention when I’m feeling nervous of the crounds. ^^; One day I’ll watch Naruto, but now it’s at the bottom of the list through negative association.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Yeah I know where your coming from. To be quite honest I’m one of these newer anime fans having only been a fan for a couple of years but at the same time I can see things from your direction. I know just how annoying some anime fans who have only seen Naruto and Fullmetal Alchemist and call themselves and expert can be. I also know what you mean about some Otaku going over the top but meh its mainly funny but I can see what you mean. I personally would never be able to do something like that.
Some fans do annoy me though I will say. I’m in no position to really say I know more than them *although I do seam to most of the time* and when they all start going “OMG NARUTO PWNS!!!” or “OM NARUTO = TEH BESTEST” its just like “shut up!” Half of them have never even heard of Akira and Evangelion which are far more fundamental and essential viewing ¬_¬
Meh I’m not too sure that so much media attention on anime is bad, I think that if more people got into it we could see even more of it on TV and more available. Plus I’d rather live in a place full of mad otaku than the chav filled hole of an area I live in now >_>
October 16th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Although I understand where people are coming from in saying “I don’t really care what people say or think”, I think it’s very rare - at least in modern anime fandom - to be able to approach a series with little to no preconceptions.
People assume Naruto is rubbish just because it attracts a particularly loud and aggressive kind-of fan. Similarly, I’m not especially interested in watching Haruhi because the majority of fans seem to be obsessive otaku who literally fall in love with animated school girls and scream “MOOOEEEEEE!!” at the screen.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
I’ve said it countless times: Moe is what the fans want. Countless numbers of people try to explain what is so good about shows like Haruhi Suzumiya and Lucky Star, and fail. I tend to check out anime because of the hype, then keep clear of all anime communities so that I can form my own opinion. Yes, even I got sucked into the Haruhi hype once.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
know what you mean by that “pang of emotion” got that a couple of times today when watching Kannazuki No miko. I think it’s great getting that feeling, cause it means that i really got involved in the show, and as far as im concerned, theres no point watching a show if your not going to get involved in it. have to say though, some of this hype is really pissing me off, it’s stopped me from watching Naruto..cause when i first started watching it i got really involved in it all, but now everyone’s talking about it and saying that they hate it, and its made an impact on me so much that it just bores me to watch it now..which is annoying. i think i have to agree with Hazel the most, it is just like that. one of my friends came up to me the other week and said something along the lines of “OMG you’re into anime aren’t you, I LOVE Pokemon, Bleach and Naruto!” cause me and another mate (the only person i know that really likes anime)were talking about Haruhi and what was up with the confusing epiosde order (concluded that it did give it a better endng though). anywho, they were saying what such a great anime fan they were, and then i asked her to recomend some other animes that i could watch and she just went “but those 3 are the only 3 i know” but she kept on refering to herself as an Otaku anyway, and yer, well that pissed me off. i know i can’t really talk cause ive only been watching anime for about 2 years, so i am relitavly new to it all, but then again i dont watch it to call myself a geek, like its some sort of trend, i watch it cause i enjoy it. well yer, what im trying to say is that yer, hype can be annoying, but theres nothing you can really do about it. i mean, without hype, i would of never of heard of Kingdom Hearts, and thats my fave game at the moment, so i cant really complain about it all, even though i just did (god oh mighty im hypocritical!) but yer, i cant be all that bad, can it? and sorry for going on and on…i have a habit of rambling. xx
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