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Hey, Answerman! [2010-01-22]

Actually, I read that the Illusionary World segments of CLANNAD were all-CGI, including the girl, but I've never seen a source for that claim.

Omg... Youkai Warrior your the first question aren't you?! You said the same thing in the Yen Press Twilight thread. See, niche is nice and all but you can only go so far with it.

Really, otakus need to learn to be okay with liking something that's mainstream if it ever reaches it. For some reason Otakus become equally ashamed at liking what alot of other people like, as regular people would for liking cartoons or anime once your age reaches double digits. Naruto? Gah, freakin narutards (sarcasm). Bleach and Dragonball Z? Weebos and shonen dummies (sarcasm). Halo and Twilight? retards (sarcasm). Honestly, what is wrong with liking what you like and having other people liking it too? No need to be so self conscience or defensive or a need to negatively respond to something because someone made fun of you for liking in the past. It's okay when your 12 but come on now.

But if 'going mainstream' is a matter of purging Japanese cultural references in order to make anime less Japanese and more 'international' (read: American), and of expecting the makers of anime to conform to American rules of political correctness, then anime going mainstream would be a catastrophe, IMO. The best thing about anime is that it isn't American, it's a completely different and unique form of entertainment--that's what attracted me to it. I was frustrated by the state of both politics and entertainment in the US, and therefore 'moved to another country' in a sense. I can't help feeling that trying to convert anime into another form of American mass media entertainment would only cheapen it. In short, I don't trust the American entertainment industry and fear what might happen if it acquired too much influence over anime.

No doubt the actual meaning of 'going mainstream' is somewhere about halfway between these two extremes...

Besides, did it occur to you that some people do lose interest in anime? Don't believe it? It happens.

You shouldn't dismiss a fantasy novel outright because of the smelly overweight guy you work with who reads them and goes to the Ren Faire every year; you shouldn't dismiss the new Vampire Weekend CD outright because you hate kids who wear porkpie hats and skinny jeans; et cetera.

Would it be acceptable to submit a picture of our crazy, wacky anime merchandise with our write-up for this weeks question?

Because while I can wax poetic about my stuff it would really benefit from a picture. And I love to look at others pictures too!

So, yes/no?

Quote:

hack_benjamin22 wrote: Would it be acceptable to submit a picture of our crazy, wacky anime merchandise with our write-up for this weeks question? Because while I can wax poetic about my stuff it would really benefit from a picture. And I love to look at others pictures too! So, yes/no?

What are you talking about?

Youkai Warrior: Whoops sorry man. Wasn't trying to impose on you or anything or offend you. That second paragraph wasn't actually directed at you as it was at the idea of when someone randomly does a 180 once something becomes too popular and at those who fall under that sentiment. Yeah, people lose interest but it gets ridiculous when those who do lose interest somehow find it necessary to take the opposite stance because they did or that being the sole reason as to why they lost interest. Hence the 12 year old remark and again not directed at you but the sentiment in general. And hence a second separate paragraph. And I thought it was just weird to come across the same question with similar wording so I took a shot.

Also its not like I'm unrealistic in my fandom and actually think "Yes these people have seen the light!" I'm just not going to get upset at the few animes that catch the attention of a boarder audience and in turn, hate it because it did or hate something in general because others really like it ala Naruto or Twilight or Harry Potter or... those... hoodie things they sell in infomercials that make you look like colorful KKK members. Well I don't care about Twilight... or those hoodie things... although they do look warm... and convenient.

Really when I think mainstream, I think more on the level that it is ingrained into the culture like the level video games are now. 5 - 10 years ago? Videos were still for fat nerds with no lives living in their mothers basement at the age of 35 yrs + or the hardcore football fans that everyone else feels uncomfortable around because they trying too hard to show others they are heterosexuals and likes football. Now a days? Way bigger market, audience and just general level of acceptance. And they still carter to their niche audiences while still being mainstream with their other games. Some of them compromise themselves and try to appeal to wider audience with games that should have never been made like most 3rd party Wii games. Others stick to their roots that got the industry there in the first place like most triple A titles that don't have Guitar Hero or Rock Band slapped on it.

By reaching a level of integration and mainstream, there's gonna be someone else to come in and replace those who have lost interest or when the hype for the current "it" title dies down. But even then after the hype, your bound to have gotten quite a few keepers from it all or at least those more aware to look at that genre again for something they might like. There's nothing wrong with niche, but we as fans have seen the life and death of companies who cater to a niche audience because that's all they catered to and they had no mainstream titles to keep them alive when the "bubble popped" and they finally had to pay the bills. Well that and bad business deals or mother companies neutering you. By reaching mainstream, we, the more hardcore fans and niche audience, don't have to worry as much about the companies who bring us what we love; dying because they weren't able to find their one mainstream title or their next big thing.

Quote:

Quote: hack_benjamin22 wrote: Would it be acceptable to submit a picture of our crazy, wacky anime merchandise with our write-up for this weeks question? Because while I can wax poetic about my stuff it would really benefit from a picture. And I love to look at others pictures too! So, yes/no? What are you talking about?

The 'Hey Answerfans'question is asking about our goofiest piece of anime merchandise and I was wondering if I could submit a picture along with my response.

...if 'going mainstream' is a matter of purging Japanese cultural references in order to make anime less Japanese and more 'international' (read: American), and of expecting the makers of anime to conform to American rules of political correctness, then anime going mainstream would be a catastrophe, IMO. The best thing about anime is that it isn't American...

There are many reasons an anime fan might want anime to be more mainstream. This anime fan wishes anime was more mainstream in R1 because that might lead to more anime being legally available in R1.