Forum - View topicAdvice about Anime Age Groups...
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
 Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
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I have a statement rather than a question about age ratings that are given to anime series based on various observations and knowledge I've gained. Essentially if one asks what age group a particular anime is appropriate for, they might think the answer to that question is: the actual age rating given on the package or online review. I do not beleive this is always the case. I want to maybe help sway misconceptions, if it is in fact a misconception, that if a certain anime is labeled with a certain age rating that it is intended primarily for people of THAT age group. The reason for this is that I think many people who watch anime with an age rating that is much less than thier actual age, inherently think it is somehow "strange" for them to watch that show. What I want to suggest to people is that age ratings are intended solely for specifying what MINIMUM age group it is acceptable for. It in no way should be interpreted that people who are older or much older should not watch it.
Granted an anime with an age rating of say 12, or "younger teens" or "acceptable for all ages" will have content that is more immature or family friendly. However it is perfectly acceptable for an adult to watch it if it is something that he or she enjoys. It might have a pleasant story, nice artwork and character development and it might be something that was, in fact, intended for both adults and their children to enjoy together, whatever the case may be. I think in general anime creators put a lot of work into their creation, and truly desire for it to be quality anime that many age groups can enjoy. After all, commercially, that's what makes a title more assured to be a big seller. It just doesn't make sense, but I'm not saying it doesn't happen, to make anime that is specifically directed towards a small age range of viewers. So do others agree with me here or am I way off in my assumptions? Other comments or valuable insight on this topic? If what I have said just doesn't make sense, please say so and I'll give examples to clarify my point. |
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LydiaDianne
 Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
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I don't think that you're off in your statement. I think that it hits it accuratly on the nailhead.
I'm 37 and my co-workers tease me about watching "cartoons" but since they don't WANT to understand the difference between "anime" and "cartoons", I stopped worrying about what they think, I just tell them what I bought at Suncoast when they ask. If they laugh, I laugh with them. But I think that the age rating is appropriate to help out the parents who are NOT familar with anime. Of course, the best resource for parents are the sales associates at the store. That's the same for video games as well. I do agree with you. You're just better at saying it than I am. |
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joel_s95387
Posts: 1804 Location: California... The Village Hidden In The Porn |
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I agree. But I thought that the age rating was to inform people of the appropriate age for the show viewer. Many games are rated "T" that can be enjoyed by all. Same with movies and anime. X-Men and Spider-Man are rated PG-13, yet when I whent to go watch it, there were a lot of adults. That and then I don't think many 13 year olds are sexually mature enough to understand that Peter wants to screw Mary Jane.
The Eva "Perfect Collection" is rated "12+", yet it has many scenes that are obviously intended for an older audience... Damn I know what I want to say, but I type it. I agree with your statement about that the age ratings is not to pin-point the target audience and say that it is only for those ages and older people should not watch it... yeah, thats it. |
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Zalis116
Moderator
 Posts: 6900 Location: Kazune City |
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"Now Harry the rich kid's a friend of his, who tries to horn in on Mary Jane / But to his great surprise, it seems she prefers guys who can kiss upside-down in the rain" ^What, you mean he wanted to do more than kiss her in the rain  Actually, I think you'd be surprised at 13-year-old kids these days 
It's just like those ratings on board games--"For Ages 8 and Up" doesn't exclude older people. I've always found those ratings somewhat suspect...just how much different can a 13+ title be from a 15+ title, given the scant difference between those two ages? I think they'd be okay with 7+,10+,14+, and 18+ ratings, along with an "all ages." Personally, I've never cared about seeming "childish"--if I think I'm going to enjoy a series, I'll watch it, and the ratings have never corresponded to how much I've liked something after the final credits play. I think the youngest-rated title I own is Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar, which carries a 3+ rating. This is just my opinion as a lover of cute anime, but I think anyone who discounts ~Sugar based on such a rating is missing out. And, despite ANN's alleged history of hating on cute series, the Review for the first disc is pretty favorable. Not straight A ratings or anything, but it does seem very balanced and fair. |
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mydog8u2
 Posts: 82 |
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Is this really a popular misconception? To me it sounds like simple common sense that only a handful of people don't understand. I mean, of course a forty-year-old can, with every right as an anime-loving fan, watch something G-rated. There may be some kinda 'social stigma' attached to a forty-year-old watching something like, say, Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar (I really don't see why), but it's just plain stupid to say that, "because this is intended or targeted for three-year-olds, a forty-year-old should not watch it." It's like going up to a middle-aged man who is thoroughly enjoying Harry Potter and saying to him, "aren't you a little old for that?" NO ONE is too old for Harry Potter, and the same applies for anime/manga and pretty much anything else that is composed, written or crafted by another fellow human being. Everything's made for anyone who can begin to understand and appreciate the value of the text. Children can be too young to be able to do that, that's why someone can be 'too young' for certain texts. But no one is 'too old' for anything. Heck, that seventy-something-year-old man featured in Newtype USA still loves Astroboy and stuff. No one would dare tell him he's too old! lol So yeah, you're absolutely right in what you're saying  , but to me, it somehow seems to be a little bit of stating the obvious.
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Kusanagi_Kei
 Posts: 230 |
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You are correct, and I also agree with the rest of the people here, especially mydog8u2. This is pretty much common sense.
When there's a movie rated 18+, then you'll need to be 18 years or over to be suitable (but still are capable) to watch it. When movies like Aladdin, Cinderella, etc., that are rated a 3+ or a Universal in the UK, doesn't mean an adult cannot enjoy it, nor does it seem "strange" for them to watch it either. The age rating just goes without saying. And yes you're correct, it's merely a minimum age precaution/warning. I'm 22, but lots of anime that I've watched are rated for teenagers or older teens. Darn, I'm not a teenager anymore, but does that mean it's even a little weird of me watching shows like Onegai Teacher or Ai Yori Aoshi? No. I've other friends who are 40+, and one at 45, who still enjoys anime even rated 7+, etc. and it's not weird at all to them or anybody who sees them watching those anime. |
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Jkid
 Posts: 197 Location: Capitol Heights ,MD |
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Those age ratings abeit inaccurate to the actual content are just age advisories. Nothing wrong with a adult watching a 7+ anime.
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
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You are absolutely right, I do believe that the general consensus out there is that age ratings are just suggestive guidelines and not meant to deter viewers if they are in an older age group. Besides there is plenty of anime out there that is rated for older teens and adults anyway. But as with other comments in this thread, there exists a notion that some might be embarrassed and some might try to hide their anime passion and I think this feeling pervades much of the anime community to some degree. I just wanted to help voice the possibility that no one has anything to be ashamed about, in fact they should be proud to be fans of such a wonderful form of entertainment, as I am myself. |
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LydiaDianne
Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
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Well, in my previous post, I did mention my age so I'm not going to say it again!
But, it's not that I'm ashamed of liking anime, even the ones for "young audiences." It's just that others do not understand and I have MUCH better things to do than having to constantly explain to them the difference between "cartoons" and "anime." So I just keep my mouth shut to the "ignorant" and talk to the "knowledgeable." |
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rusty_apa
Posts: 3 |
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Very nicely put, I agree with everything you say.
People are always complaining about me watching cartoons when I'm watching anime. I've gotten used to it though; when they say it's meant for people younger than 12... I just show them Elfen Lied. Haha. |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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That must have changed their minds REAL quickly
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joel_s95387
Posts: 1804 Location: California... The Village Hidden In The Porn |
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Haha, funny story... My little cousin is a little 5 year old brat. I showed him the beginning of Elfen Lied so now I tell him Lucy will get him if he behaves bad. He'd not scared of the Boogie Man, or even Chucky. Lucy is who he's scared of. Wasn't Ghost In The Shell Stand Alone Complex Rated 13+? I have to admit that I am one of those people who pick up series according to their age ratings. If I don't have any background info on any series, and I'm looking to pick up a new one, I tend to buy more Mature rated titles. This is why I picked up Elfen Lied. After I got home and watched the DVD and thought it was awesome, I saw ANN had reviewed it, so I probably would have picked it up eventually. |
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rusty_apa
Posts: 3 |
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It's funny though, the anime plots are usually too much for people who are under 15 to understand, which - in my opinion - further proves the point of what the thread starter wrote.
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camelot187757
 Posts: 426 Location: The Nacirema Dream (17 and counting Asuka) |
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Its kind of like tohse guys who think they are too much of a MANLY MAN to enjoy a nice cold bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch so they feel they must kill themselves by stuffin disgusting bowls of Total and Wheaties down their throats.
If you think you are going to like a movie just watch it and ignore the ratings label because they are all based on blood and violence. Period. Not quality. You can;t look at an anime or anything for that matter and say well this is brokeback its rated G I won't enjoy it (except maybe in the case of horror genres; if it aint R I am very skeptical about my time). People should judge what they want to see by their own standards and not someone elses. |
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joel_s95387
Posts: 1804 Location: California... The Village Hidden In The Porn |
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One of the smartest sentences I've ever read. Apparently, America is scared that kids will be making these decision for themselves, and parents can't take the fuckin time out of their schedule to raise their damn kids. Personally, I don't think this ratings crap should exist... but I don't run the system. |
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