Anime - Worth it or not?

[Glitchfinder]

Well, I just wanted to start a discussion on whetheer or not you guys think that anime is worth watching, or if you should avoid it like the plague. I want to start off by saying that, like most medias, I like some anime, but most certainly not all anime. Although I can sit there and watch a show like Naruto, I find the experience akin to that of watching a bad sitcom. On the other hand, I find some other anime series to be genuinly interesting. Usually these series are something like GTO, which, although it has merits, are often versions of the same basic stories that have been running since TV first went on the air. On the other hand, I also like things like .hack//SIGN, which are less known and somewhat unique. (If you've seen .hack//SIGN, you'd know that many people don't like it because it is almost completely character development and talking, with a lot of sulking by one of the main characters. But, I think it's a very intriguing idea) In other words, I think anime, like other forms of media, has a lot of stuff that is mediocre or bad, with a few series that have some real merit. I personally don't think something like Naruto, Inuyasha, or Bleach can be used for anything but to take up empty time, but I think some series, like GTO and .hack//SIGN (I do NOT like .hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet, although the other series are somewhat OK) have some value, if you sit down to watch them. Just like shows in any other media can have value, but often have little to share. So, what do you guys think? Is it worth it to watch any kind of anime, or it is all just crap?

 

[Dalton]

I grew up watching anime and reading manga. At the same time I grew up watching other TV-shows and reading books.
The thing is: I don't care if it is anime or not. It has to be good. For example: Here in germany there are a lot of so called "Telenovelas" wich are basically all crap. I would always prefer a good anime over it. On the other hand if you would give me an episode of some really crappy anime, I'd rather watch my Monk DVDs for the 6th time or so.

Anime is like all media: Some is pure brilliance. Some of it is crap. But those brilliant ones are well worth your time.

 

[Despain]

depends on the anime but 99% is crap

 

[Despain]

also GTO live action series >>>>>>> the anime verison

 

[Dalton]

depends on the anime but 99% is crap

Same goes for the rest of TV-shows.

 

[Injury]

depends on the anime but 99% is crap

Same goes for the rest of TV-shows.

Really? So all those great shows, Dexter, Lost, Heroes, Weeds, The Office, any Adult Swim program and so many more are just crap?

 

[Kav]

depends on the anime but 99% is crap

Same goes for the rest of TV-shows.

Really? So all those great shows, Dexter, Lost, Heroes, Weeds, The Office, any Adult Swim program and so many more are just crap?

I believe so. I've honestly never understood why people like any of those shows (especially Heroes, Lost, and Dexter). House, which I used to like, has now become a romance-comedy. They seem to have settled on making House a one-dimensional character who never changes (like the plots).

 

[Makasu]

Good anime is worth it but like Des said most of its shit. You're going to be seeing more cat girls and goofy expressions than anything. Not to mention countless fillers!!! Ie last 200 episodes of Narutard. But I mean if you catch something thats good then it might be worth it. It just depends on your tastes and interests.

IMO the GTO live serious is very...whats the word? Tedious. :/

 

[Dalton]

depends on the anime but 99% is crap

Same goes for the rest of TV-shows.

Really? So all those great shows, Dexter, Lost, Heroes, Weeds, The Office, any Adult Swim program and so many more are just crap?

I believe so. I've honestly never understood why people like any of those shows (especially Heroes, Lost, and Dexter). House, which I used to like, has now become a romance-comedy. They seem to have settled on making House a one-dimensional character who never changes (like the plots).

Just what I wanted to say. So many times I sit and look at the TV program for the evening and then decide to settle for a good book, since nothing deserves my attention.
It is sad, but TV has become one big dissapointment lately. In western countries and Japan.
By the way I can't say about some of the stuff Injury stated since they aren't aired here in germany, but Dexter flopped here and I never understood the hype about Lost and Heroes.
Sorry to say, but TV is dead.

 

[Justice]

i don't like the animation style of anime at all (i forget the frames per second, but it all has that slow/jerky motion and i don't like the style really), nor do i particularly like the storylines as more often than not they're so bizarre and far removed from anything in western culture i find it completely alienating, unrelatable and ultimately unwatchable. the characters are usually ridiculous too. it's a combination of animation, characters and anime fanbase that puts me off really

there are exceptions to the rules of course but as animation goes even something as beautifully animating, captivating and more importantly accessible as Gibhli films are completely outstripped by the western equivalent - Disney films are unrivalled in terms of character, story, entertainment factor and visuals (visuals especially - Disney visuals are so incredibly gorgeous, there's really nothing else like them in traditional animation) although this is of course due to their extreme budgets

 

[Justice]

Sorry to say, but TV is dead.

there's more to tv than Lost and Heroes. take for example comedy which is at a peak in the UK and US at the moment, things such as It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and shows in a similar vein are some of the best things to come out of the USA in a long time

not to mention that with most stations offering online streaming of shows, downloading shows to your mobile phone and the iPlayer/4od etc becoming commonplace, things are reaching much bigger audiences than they usually would because they're no longer bound by schedule, reigniting interest in the stagnating industry

i can't think of a more exciting time for television than right now

 

[Glitchfinder]

there are exceptions to the rules of course but as animation goes even something as beautifully animating, captivating and more importantly accessible as Gibhli films are completely outstripped by the western equivalent - Disney films are unrivalled in terms of character, story, entertainment factor and visuals (visuals especially - Disney visuals are so incredibly gorgeous, there's really nothing else like them in traditional animation) although this is of course due to their extreme budgets

I hope you realize that the English dubs of the Ghibli films were all done by Disney or Pixar (Which is just a subsidiary of Disney anyway). Yes, they have a defferent set of values, but their characters and stories are just as deep as their Disney counterparts. It just takes someone familiar with Japanese lore to see a lot of it, because so much of what goes on TV in Japan is involved in Japanese lore and history. In fact, a lot of what is on TV in America presents the same problem to foreigners, which is why an earlier postedr in this thread who happens to be from Germany (I think) had so much trouble with shows like Lost and Heroes, which are both wildly popular in America. (And, to see one of the crappiest fads I've ever seen, search caramell dansen on Youtube. Then go hide under your bed.)

 

[Dalton]

In fact, a lot of what is on TV in America presents the same problem to foreigners, which is why an earlier postedr in this thread who happens to be from Germany (I think) had so much trouble with shows like Lost and Heroes, which are both wildly popular in America. (And, to see one of the crappiest fads I've ever seen, search caramell dansen on Youtube. Then go hide under your bed.)

That would be me then. (though I wonder how you knew I was from Germany. Good memory?)
As I said before the crash, I honestly don't get the hype about Lost and Heroes, though especially Lost has a pretty big fanbase around here.
Dexter was a total flop in germany.
And many things from america aren't even aired around here. So I can't say much about american TV.
Basically german TV is a bit of total shit.

On a note about how we see things different than you:
A friend of mine did some work oversea: In California I think.
There he watched CSI: Miami with his host family. In germany it is regarded as a common fact that Horacio (main character of the series) is a total faggot and is presented as cool in a really ridiculous manner.
My friend stated this and his hosts got totally mad at him. They really adored that guy.
So much for how we regard the shows.

 

[Justice]

you quoted the wrong name there but that's not really important. didn't realise you were german so my comments won't really mean all that much

it's sad that pretty much the only foreign language tv imports we get are anime, i'd love to see imports from other countries, especially European, it's quite hard to dig that stuff out though especially when you don't know what's good and what's bad from it

It just takes someone familiar with Japanese lore to see a lot of it, because so much of what goes on TV in Japan is involved in Japanese lore and history.

that's what i mean and one of the main reasons why i dislike anime (second to finding the animation style disgusting really). i wasn't born into that sort of culture nor will i pretend i was - it's meaningless to me

 

[Feldschlacht IV]

In fact, a lot of what is on TV in America presents the same problem to foreigners, which is why an earlier postedr in this thread who happens to be from Germany (I think) had so much trouble with shows like Lost and Heroes, which are both wildly popular in America. (And, to see one of the crappiest fads I've ever seen, search caramell dansen on Youtube. Then go hide under your bed.)

So anime is the great equalizer to all this, then?

 

[___]

Ugh you're going to vaguely criticize genius like Dexter and then bring up bottomfeeding garbage like CSI: Miami, with its campy, terrible writing, horrific cinematography, retarded artsy-fartsy set design and laughable acting? Wow, just wow.

 

[Feldschlacht IV]

I'm actually waiting for someone to post a legitimate opinion on why they didn't like Dexter other than 'I just didn't like it'. Everyone is allowed their opinion of course, but I usually know the pattern to topics like these.

 

[Glitchfinder]

I have never said anime is an equalizer, or that Japanese shows are the shit. In fact, I just like aniume not because I think the animation is good (it sucks), but becasue I find Japanese culture to be fascinating, and rather unique. (Let's face it, some things get kinda weird when you isolate your entire culture on a couple islands for a few centuries) I also, think that, if I didn't know as much as I do about Japanese culture, or if I didn't like it, then I would find anime to be much worse than it it. It's all a matter of perspective. I like anime not specifically for any one thing, but instead for the expression of Japan that I see in it. Let's face it, I like the Japanese live-action movies just as much. Who here has seen the Japanese Godzilla movies? They aren't popular for their effects (Which are usually pretty crappy), but because they are an intriguing concept that expresses a lot about Japan. Ever seen Densha Otoko? That's a really good movie, and it is entirely Japanese. (If you can't find it by that name, look up "Train Man") Really, you have trouble with anime, or for that matter, the media of any country, when you either don't like the culture of that culture or you don't understand that culture. The real levellers are things like Monty Python, that often use semi-universal forms of expression, usually humor.

Ugh you're going to vaguely criticize genius like Dexter and then bring up bottomfeeding garbage like CSI: Miami, with its campy, terrible writing, horrific cinematography, retarded artsy-fartsy set design and laughable acting? Wow, just wow.

That's the thing: "genius like Dexter" is only genius if you are familiar with and like American popular culture. If either of those isn't true, you probably won't like it, or you just don't get it.

 

[mawk]

how do dexter, lost, or any of those shows rely on american popular culture? unless you've moved here from ethiopia in the last year you have enough american culture in you to watch these shows (because they really don't rely on it much at all!) none of them are PULSE OF THE PHENOMENON shows about SCENE VAMPIRES HAVING PARKOUR ADVENTURES and they all seem to work pretty well independently of what's going on right now.

 

[Glitchfinder]

how do dexter, lost, or any of those shows rely on american popular culture? unless you've moved here from ethiopia in the last year you have enough american culture in you to watch these shows (because they really don't rely on it much at all!) none of them are PULSE OF THE PHENOMENON shows about SCENE VAMPIRES HAVING PARKOUR ADVENTURES and they all seem to work pretty well independently of what's going on right now.

Think about it this way: The entire concept of Lost relies on a classic piece of American culture. Namely, the "Lost on a desert island" theme. This was first brought up in Britain, but it remained a popular theme throughout history in America. Not only that, but there's a lot of it there that you wouldn't notice. For example, almost everybody in the show, with the exception of Sun, Jin, and Sayid,  (or however you spell their names), all originated in America, Britain, or one of Britain's other former colonies. (Which is pretty similar to America culturally, for obvious reasons) Not to mention the fact that several characters are following American stereotypes: The "troubled leader", the "con-man", the "competent huntsman" and many more support stereotypes that either don't exist or are wildly different in other places. Most pieces of American media have the same kind of problem. The ones that don't either get shoved aside, or get hailed as "the next big thing" and start building new stereotypes.

I'll finally add that the only real way to see everything that's a part of American culture is to remove yourself from American culture for a while. Check oout a movie like The Outsiders for an example of what I mean. That has a lot of American culture that no longer exists, and now seems strange to us. But, at the time it takes place, it would have been a normal set of interactions.