Forum - View topicAnime, 90% Sentimental.
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Amasa
 Posts: 340 Location: Japan |
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I've been thinking about this more and more recently, especially as my JPop collection grows. When I listen to a soundtrack of an anime I sometimes feel overwhelmed by nostalgia as I am reminded of all the good elements in the series. Recently when I did a little updating on my anime list and was classifying all my favorites I found there to be a significant weak correlation between the anime I gave 10/10 and the anime that was found in my Favorites list. While some titles I recognize as outstanding Masterpieces but aren't anywhere near being one of my favorites, for example Cowboy Bebop and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. While other series which I rated fairly low were much more enjoyable to me than series that are technically "better". I realized that it's because I watched those series at a more memorable and important moment in my life. For example I watched Peach Girl at a time in my life when I was especially content and happy, I love the series but wouldn't actually recommend it to anyone because I think I'd probably have hated it if I watched it now for the first time. A little while back I was bingeing anime and would watch series after series back to back, those series hold no importance to my collection apart from the fact that I can say that I've seen them. So is it okay to say that anime is 90% sentimental? If how much I enjoy a certain anime is dependant on how I'm feeling at the time I watch it then how well the series or film is made doesn't really matter that much - though obviously it still makes a difference. I'd like to discuss how sentimental anime is to you and if you view anime just that, anime, and ignore the reflection of your life at the time of viewing. I'm interested to see what series makes you feel most nostalgic to the point that you love the series a lot more than anyone else you know.
In my entire collection there's only been one series which breaks this trend and that is my all time favorite series Azumanga Daioh. I do not remember the first time I saw the series; it was a few years ago but now when I rewatch it I enjoy more than the last. I must be the biggest Azumanga fan because I don't collect any sort of figurines for it or posters or anything like that, I enjoy the series just for how great it is. The series doesn't take me back to any memories it's just more like instant happiness. Like 2 minute noodles, Soramimi Cake is waiting in the microwave then Ping, my meal of Joy is ready. Everytime I try and describe my feelings for Azumanga I just end up sounding like a freak so I'll just leave it there. I'm pretty sure that was all mumble jumble but I can't figure out a better way to say it. I'm also interested to see if lots of people share the same anime which makes them feel most nostalgic. I expect Air TV to be quite popular just because it has a very nostalgic feel to it, same with Haibane Renmei. For me when I listen to music from or rewatch Rurouni Kenshin, Love Hina, RahXephon, Honey and Clover, Kiddy Grade and Hunter X Hunter I always feel a little bit emotional because I'm overwhelmed with scenes from the series and am reminded of the specific moment I watched them. I remember watching Honey and Clover in the early hours of the morning when I couldn't get to sleep and now it makes me want to experience the relief that H&C gave me all over again. It'd also be interesting to take note of of the series you classify above as your all-time favorites. The above titles I mentioned aren't necessarily some of my all-time favorites but I enjoyed them a whole lot more than a series I would rate better. |
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KyuuA4
 Posts: 1362 Location: America, where anime and manga can be made |
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The main reason why you're thinking this is -- well -- this is basically all yer watching. Had you checked out hentai, any vampire based, OR Dragonball Z. You'd think otherwise.
Oh, if anyone thinks DBZ is sentimental... well... quit watching Vegeta + Goku.
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Zero89
Posts: 147 |
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I think I understand what you're saying, but I'd have to disagree with the percentages... maybe 30% sentimental as opposed to 90% Sure, some series fall under this category, but many series actually create their own atmosphere, and cause you to feel a certain way... For instance, when I first saw Elfen Lied, I was in a reasonably happy mood, but as I watched it, I began to feel sad, depressed, and that eventually led me to cry... Why? Because the show is so great at manipulating your emotions you really can't help but feel sorry for the characters, (so long as you take it seriosly)...
Concerning your music nostalgia, I'll have to admit that when ever I hear Lilium, the theme song of elfen Lied; I begin to tear up... it's kind of embarrassing, but it always reminds me of the most emotional parts of the series; and since most of the series is sad, I feel sad.... It brings me back to the state I was in while watching the show and hearing the song... this only happens to series that I've invested a lot of emotional attachment to.. so maybe that'll help, maybe not... |
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jetz
 Posts: 2148 Location: Manila, Philippines |
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yeah it definitely depends on what you're watching. If you watch shojo anime all the time, then yes I'll agree that shojo anime is 90% sentimental, possibly even more.. I mean, can you honestly say that Yakitate!! Japan is sentimental?
I do understand what you're talking about. Feeling nostalgic when you hear the music of a certain anime. That happens to me too, specially when watching Fushigi Yuugi. I really think that is the anime that really taps my emotions. Maybe it also has something to do with the kind of person you are. I like to attach emotions to certain music, specially anime music. Then it could be also because of the Japanese people. I find them to be passionate and very artistic. Maybe the emotions they have seep through the anime and music. |
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LydiaDianne
 Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
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Well, now that I think about it, you are probably right.
My first anime was Sailor Moon. Now I know damn good and well that there are much better series out there. I've watched them! But, Sailor Moon has a forever place in my heart and I will never remove it from there. Yeah, there's cheesyness and idiocy but, damn, I love that series! So, yes, anime can be very sentimental! Even when you know that it may not always be worth as much as you feel about it! |
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undeadben
 Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
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I agree that there is a lot of sentimentality in watching anime but the same holds true for any entertainment media. We watch it because we enjoy it, otherwise we find something else to pick up.
When considering a topic like this I always look back to my favorite show, Ranma. This is a show that grew on me from when I first started watching it and drew me in into this bizarre story and made me care about all of the characters. And it was not the first anime I have ever seen, just the best, in my opinion. And one of the reason's it is my favorite is the way that it made me really care about the characters and love seeing them interact. It was an emotional attachment that took me on a trip through every episode and then to all the movies to the OAVs and eventually to the entire manga collection. I just wanted to know what else they were up to. If there was no sentimentality, there'd be no reason for me to enjoy a show like Ranma so much. It is a character driven story and so naturally relies on character interactions primarily. If I hadn't gotten hooked here then I'd just be left with a long drawn out series that sees doesn't have a cohesive plot, and so not nearly as endearing. It is an older series so it is not like I am going to run into the music from it at any point however there are other things that do get me nostalgic. Well nostalgia is probably a bad way of looking at it for me as there is not a month that passes by in which I do not watch part of it or re-read one of the manga volumes. But there are some things I get a kick out of. Like when I buy an older series and it happens to have a Ranma trailer, I'll sit there and pop all the DVDs in to see if there are any others. Or when I hear familiar voice actors/ seiyuu while I'm watching another show, I'll start to think about Ranma or Akane or whoever the actor voiced and sometimes it takes me to the point that I even take a quick Ranma break to catch an episode or two before going on to the next disk in whatever series I was originally trying to watch. Even more sentimental is my utter disdain for the word 'overrated.' As some here know I absolutely hate the word, and one of the reasons is because I have heard or read about it so often associated to Ranma. So now when I hear that word, even when it is about another series, heck even when it is about a series I hate, I can't stand it. Every time I hear someone call Ranma overrated I feel like it is a direct insult for my own abilities to judge how much I personally like a series. So I've taken this little vendetta against people calling anything overrated, especially if they are emphatic about it. For those who say Ranma is overrated I say, "you might not like the show, and that is fine by me, people have different tastes it's what makes life interesting, but for god's sake tell me you didn't like it because of the factors in the series and not because me and a bunch of people rated it a masterpiece. This is a stupid reason." And again, if it wasn't for sentimentality, I would never get this upset about something that might seem so trivial. And I do rate it a masterpiece, and I do rate it over every series I have ever seen without any explanations or apologies. The reason being is that Ranma, among all the other series I do call masterpieces, is the only one that stands the test of time for me. I can get tired of almost every series, took me only three viewings of Honey & Clover to realize I should probably let it sit a couple years before watching again, 3 times also for Haibane Renmei, 5 times for Elfen Lied, but year after year I never get tired of Ranma, probably having to do with that sentimentality, or that strong emotional attachment. But this alone tells me that it is my favorite and that in my opinion, for my personal tastes, it is better than the others. So basically in my long ramble/rant/babble there I was just trying to say that, yes, sentimentality plays a lot it in watching anime, as I have shown with Ranma as my example, and that it isn't a bad thing. It just means we do enjoy it. Again if there wasn't any sentimentality then there probably wouldn't be a lot of enjoyment and we should be finding something else to do. It's the same with any hobby, you do it cause you like it! 
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Treetastic
 Posts: 164 Location: Canada |
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I don't completely agree, but you are right.
When I got Kino's Journey, I already knew the endings of several of the episodes. But in watching them I was completely blown away. Coming into the series with boredom, I was surprised at how the stories managed to draw me in and doubt the endings I thought would happen. As Zero89 said, some shows create their own atmosphere, and those are great. On the other hand, though, are shows like YuGiOh and Mao-chan. Although I would never reommend these to... anyone... they remind me of when it was exciting to wait for the once a week broadcasting of a completely linear show. Or the first anime I ever owned. There has to be an emotional investment in any form of entertainment, otherwise it stops being entertaining. |
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UtenaAnthy
 Posts: 694 |
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[EDIT: Please do not make really long lists, read Rule #3 here for how we treat those. Please make a My Anime list to reference to instead. To rate titles you've see, create your My Anime list, and make it public please read this thread. Thanks. -TK]
I bought all of these because I think they are really good shows, high quality stuff that's rewarding with plenty of artistic merit, why anyone bothers with nostalgia is beyond me, I want the best anime I can find, also Ranma may be character driven but they are unrealistic and uninteresting characters, the show is awfully repetitive. I cannot see the appeal. Still, this is my personal opinion and if it makes ya feel good, enjoy! Here's a smiley (I will offer one objective objection, the show is sexist, then again I seldom see anything that isn't.) I tend to want to only see anime (and media in general) that excels, I never bother with harem shows, maid shows, unfunny repetitive comedies, pointless violence, predictable romances or anything else that would be defined as a "It's mediocre but I like it anyway because... umm... GLOMP!!!" I much prefer stories about friendships to anything else, but interestingly it hasn't actually influenced what I buy since I only like them more than anything else if they actually are good and not riding on sentimentality.
Actually I've thought of one thing I like that's kind of dumb - Austin Powers, only the first one mind, but I may get rid of that too, I've been clearing out some of my DVD collection and Austin Powers is probably up for consideration, I do like watching Scott and Dr Evil argue, where's MST3K when you need them? Edit: sorry about that, I've got to get used to that no lists rule. There is no emoticon for my feelings
Last edited by UtenaAnthy on Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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undeadben
Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
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First of all you want to go back and delete that list before your post vanishes. Listing is not allowed on the forum. And besides while your list says absolutely nothing the rest of your post makes up for it, the list isn't needed.
See that's fine, that's your opinion and it is about the series, it doesn't say anything about me. You don't enjoy the best part of the series, I wouldn't expect you to like any other part of it. I happen to think the character interactions are very delightful, even the silly ones so I keep watching more. Oh, and I happen to think the series isn't sexist, but we'll save that for another thread, this topic is about sentimentality in and towards anime, so I won't take it further off-topic. |
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Ichigo77
 Posts: 389 Location: California |
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The same thing happens to me when I watch certain anime or listen to certain anime songs. Some examples are whenever I watch Love Hina now and hear the music it always brings back my memories in Japan, because I bought the box set a few weeks after I got back. When I listen to Sailor Moon songs I think back to the 90's when it was popular and the summer time in AZ because thats where my cousin first let me hear it. For Outlaw Star everytime I watch it I remember back to when I first saw in 7th grade and in 9th grade when I saw it on Adult Swim and really started getting into anime, plus whenever I hear either ending song to Outlaw Star it really brings me back. And that also reminds me of being in Japan because I bought the anime legends box set the day before I left and showed it to the guy I was staying with and he really liked it. When ever I watch Case Closed I remember back looking forward to watching on Adult Swim during the summer of 04. I bought the Girls Bravo soundtracks in Japan so when I listen to them now I remember watching to and from school listening to them. Everytime i hear the Paranoia Agent song I remember back in the summer of 05 when students from Osaka came and I hosted one, around that time it was airing in tv and I showed him the first dvd and he liked it. There are some other one too but I think everyone gets the picture. There are some DVD's I do own for sentimental value were I will watch them for time to time and then there are the ones I own because I love the series.
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namelissis
 Posts: 219 |
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well for me, I can say that older anime's give more sentimentality rather than anime's right now... but the percentage thing will depend on the viewer who is watching that anime!
Yeah, I have to agree that J-music, specifically anime songs, trigger me to reminisce the good old days... suddenly, you look at your old cd and then play it on your player... suddenly all those flashbacks get in your head!!! Well, the most sentimental anime for me would be, uhm, Fushigi Yuugi and Card Captor Sakura and Shin Hakkenden!!! Ok, everytime i rewatch Fushigi Yuugi in Animax, i always start on recollecting the thought that I always cry when I know that spoiler[Nuriko and Chiriko will die?](I know I'm a baby...) For Card Captor Sakura, OMG, call me cheesy but I always like the episode on the Teddy bear fair where Sakura and Syaoran was stuck in the elevator..... And the last episode of the series was just too memorable!!! Lastly, everytime I see a lame or tragic ending, I can't help recalling shin hakkenden. It's the first anime that I've ever seen with that too disappointing ending...spoiler[Ooh, they all let the main character die and left Ruty, who basically did few to contribute in the storyline, live!]... Edit: I took bonbonsrus advice... Sorry about that!!! Last edited by namelissis on Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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I agree with undeadben's first paragraph. There's often a difference between favorite (what you watch most often) and best (how well you thought a work was done). If they're objective, most people's favorite list is going to be different from their best list to a greater or lesser extent simply because of their personal tastes - and this goes for any media, not just anime. You can recognize that an anime is very well done and that it's one that the majority of fans should see eventually without it being something you would necessarily throw into the DVD often. Using myself as an example, I unhesitatingly ranked Grave of the Fireflies a masterpiece because of it's impact and how well I thought it was done, but I would never put it on a favorite list because I simply don't watch it often because of the subject matter. On the other hand, I ranked some personal favorites excellent instead of masterpiece because I realize that my personal preferences don't mean that the anime didn't have one big issue or several small issues that knock it down from masterpiece level.
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bonbonsrus
 Posts: 1537 Location: Michigan, USA |
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Please spoiler mark that in your post namelissis. I can't at the moment think of any title I feel particularly stronger about from nostalgia that wouldn't be on my favorite list. I love how you differentiate great anime from favorites however, like with Cowboy Bebop. It isn't one of my favorites either, but I agree it is a wonderful show. In that respect I find the Ghost in the Shell (and 2nd gig, OVA, and Innocence) superior series/shows that didn't come close to making it on my favorite list. I would call that masterpiece for others, but not rate it so high in my book. Those are the series that are hard to "rate" I find. |
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Saiyo_Chan
 Posts: 72 Location: U.S |
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I agree - there are certain soundtracks, most notably FLCL and Sailor Moon, which make me feel nostalgic. Also, to a lesser degree, InuYasha and Pokemon. My love of these series (minus FLCL) pretty much dates back to the times where I had crushes on pretty-boy anime guys, dreamed of being a Sailor Scout/Pokemon trainer, and basically, only had to worry about childish problems, such as missing the new episode of YuYu Hakusho or Pokemon. Characters in anime that I loved practically became real to me, and even though I've seen plenty of great anime, I'm no longer able to admire the characters as much as when I was younger. The Sailors, for example, became my role models throughout elementary school - how can I not still appreciate the series? And even though I'm not interested in those anime series anymore (again minus FLCL, which I actually just watched yesterday for the 20th time), I appreciate them for the memories they give, and for some reason, listening to the soundtracks of Sailor Moon and FLCL makes me remember all of the happy, childhood memories. ...Kind of like old pictures, but better. 
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