Otaku's Voice - Is Anime Boring?
I finally got a chance to read the newest edition of Newtype Magazine. I've been wanting to read it since I first saw it. Staring at the countless pages of pictures of Anime Characters, voice actors, and fan art I felt a feeling not of happiness, but of true and utter boredom.
Have I been so absorbed by the whole idea of "Anime Fandom" that I have become apathetic?
Since the mid-1980's, Anime has exploded with so much eye-candy it makes your eyes rot. With all these fast moving images our minds have become so dull that it seems normal to buy an Anime Magazine or purchase a videotape or book. A scant ten or fifteen years ago it was almost impossible to get a quality copy of your favorite Anime series, but now if someone wants to watch Anime they can just go to their local Blockbuster and buy some low grade Anime for twenty bucks.
That really pisses me off. First of all, I am an Animator and Artist, and I know that it takes a long time to create a 3-minute let alone a 1-hour Animated feature. In the US, Japan, Korea, and Europe everyone is looking for only one thing, and that is "the newest novelty" we can show and mass merchandise until the cows come home. This is abhoring to me, as I appreciate the quality of the artists' works rather than a potential new lunchbox my cousin will get for school.
If we chuck the whole industry out the door, who would feed the growing Anime fan base? Perish the thought that these money grubbing behemoth companies lose their cash cows due to ethics.
"... but what can I do?"
That, my friend, is the million-dollar question. I have no answers, merely advice. All I can say is "Anime fans, it is not the end of the world! Go outside!"
Only time will show the outcome of anime's influence on the lives of fans and the general public. Something needs to happen to make apathetic fans feel excited and eager to see the next episode, or movie, or manga.
Well that's my two cents and as always "Don't take any wooden chopsticks."
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarilly represent those of Anime News Network, its editors or any of its staff.
