Comments on: Anime fan forever? http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/ Anime fan forever Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:53:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bateszi Anime Blog » Blog Archive » This anime fan forever looks back on 2007 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-3851 Bateszi Anime Blog » Blog Archive » This anime fan forever looks back on 2007 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:23:41 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-3851 [...] we are, almost two years on and still talking, ranting, in love with anime. Back during September, I was wondering if I'd ever just suddenly grow out of all this, stop blogging and disappear, but deep down, the [...] [...] we are, almost two years on and still talking, ranting, in love with anime. Back during September, I was wondering if I’d ever just suddenly grow out of all this, stop blogging and disappear, but deep down, the [...]

]]> By: sasukes so sexy http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2612 sasukes so sexy Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:15:40 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2612 ok i hate that sasuke never fricken talks and i wish sakura told him way before he leaves that she loves him.by the way i cant belive you think that picture of sasuke is stupid cause hes like dead and yaeh so kool.but he will never die so im happy cause sasuke is the sexxiest anime ever bye luv ya ok i hate that sasuke never fricken talks and i wish sakura told him way before he leaves that she loves him.by the way i cant belive you think that picture of sasuke is stupid cause hes like dead and yaeh so kool.but he will never die so im happy cause sasuke is the sexxiest anime ever bye luv ya

]]> By: Karl http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2603 Karl Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:45:12 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2603 Western shows - I watch House MD, Lost, BSG, Avatar, Stargate and occasionally Dr Who - but I think it might have been the demise of science fiction on US/British TV that pushed me to watch more anime. Either that or just the quality of shows I saw. Out of all the western shows, Lost and House are the most consistently entertaining in my opinion right now - on the level of a good anime :-) BSG hasnt really impressed me much, Dr Who makes one of the most simple mistakes of drama quite often (i.e. he saves the universe virtually every episode), and Atlantis can sometimes seem like the ultimate 'reset button' show where everything is better by the end. I mainly watch them out of loyalty to science fiction geekery. Western shows – I watch House MD, Lost, BSG, Avatar, Stargate and occasionally Dr Who – but I think it might have been the demise of science fiction on US/British TV that pushed me to watch more anime. Either that or just the quality of shows I saw.

Out of all the western shows, Lost and House are the most consistently entertaining in my opinion right now – on the level of a good anime :-)

BSG hasnt really impressed me much, Dr Who makes one of the most simple mistakes of drama quite often (i.e. he saves the universe virtually every episode), and Atlantis can sometimes seem like the ultimate ‘reset button’ show where everything is better by the end. I mainly watch them out of loyalty to science fiction geekery.

]]> By: bateszi http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2491 bateszi Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:55:54 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2491 @Equitan: You traveled from England to visit Anime Expo? Even though you say you weren't so interested in anime, that's some amazing dedication there! Ironically, you stopped once you found yourself hooked in by anime again! :) And that reminds me about Princess Tutu, I still haven't seen that despite all the hype surrounding it. @Equitan: You traveled from England to visit Anime Expo? Even though you say you weren’t so interested in anime, that’s some amazing dedication there! Ironically, you stopped once you found yourself hooked in by anime again! :)

And that reminds me about Princess Tutu, I still haven’t seen that despite all the hype surrounding it.

]]> By: Equitan http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2450 Equitan Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:56:36 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2450 Being pretty much the same age I too have thought about the question of "Will I always like anime?". I got into anime back in 1998 when I was fourteen. Certainly five years later I suffered something of a burnout. Over 2003 and 2004 I watched almost no anime. I kept abreast of everything, and heck, I even ended up at Anime Expo those two years (despite, like yourself coming from England). Still, I can count on one hand the number of series I watched in each of those years. I'd go to AX, see everyone raving about Last Exile in 2003 and be all "Ehh. Might watch that one day." I'm not sure what it was that made me fall-out of watching anime but I think it was largely over exposure. I spent five years watching anything I could get my hands on. As digital fan-subs and broadband connections became more common so I was able to watch more and more. I reached a saturation point and turned back to "real life" entertainment in the form of Asian cinema (mainly South Korean and Hong Kong cinema which I had gained an interest in a couple of years before). That became my new staple form of entertainment. Eventually however, in early 2005, I got back into my anime habit. It was Mai Hime of all series that did this. I think I spent most of 2003 and '04 complaining about how anime just wasn't very good anymore (Princess Tutu being the amazing exception). Mai Hime though was just *fun* and its second half was great classic anime action (forget the lame conclusion). Don't know why I've prattled on like this, but I think it shows that I probably will remain interested in anime for the foreseeable future. I've not no reason to give up on it provided there are always some quality shows out there. I've also come to realise that even some of the old, tired anime clichés are, well, comforting. It is kinda nice to tune into some series and be all "Oh! There's the rival!" or whatever. I've actually come to quite like that aspect of anime (provided the series isn't totally derivative). My main interests all compete with one another: when a new game comes out I tend to spend my free time almost exclusively on that, when I've got a load of new films I'll spend evenings watching them, if I come across a great new anime (which isn't new and being released weekly) I'll cram that one evening after another. So anime goes up and down as my main interest but I can't see myself growing out of it. I've been interested in it since I was a kid and saw the artwork style on all those computer games I liked. For me at least there's certainly a deeper bond which won't be broken too easily ^^ Being pretty much the same age I too have thought about the question of “Will I always like anime?”. I got into anime back in 1998 when I was fourteen. Certainly five years later I suffered something of a burnout. Over 2003 and 2004 I watched almost no anime. I kept abreast of everything, and heck, I even ended up at Anime Expo those two years (despite, like yourself coming from England). Still, I can count on one hand the number of series I watched in each of those years. I’d go to AX, see everyone raving about Last Exile in 2003 and be all “Ehh. Might watch that one day.”

I’m not sure what it was that made me fall-out of watching anime but I think it was largely over exposure. I spent five years watching anything I could get my hands on. As digital fan-subs and broadband connections became more common so I was able to watch more and more. I reached a saturation point and turned back to “real life” entertainment in the form of Asian cinema (mainly South Korean and Hong Kong cinema which I had gained an interest in a couple of years before). That became my new staple form of entertainment.

Eventually however, in early 2005, I got back into my anime habit. It was Mai Hime of all series that did this. I think I spent most of 2003 and ‘04 complaining about how anime just wasn’t very good anymore (Princess Tutu being the amazing exception). Mai Hime though was just *fun* and its second half was great classic anime action (forget the lame conclusion).

Don’t know why I’ve prattled on like this, but I think it shows that I probably will remain interested in anime for the foreseeable future. I’ve not no reason to give up on it provided there are always some quality shows out there. I’ve also come to realise that even some of the old, tired anime clichés are, well, comforting. It is kinda nice to tune into some series and be all “Oh! There’s the rival!” or whatever. I’ve actually come to quite like that aspect of anime (provided the series isn’t totally derivative).

My main interests all compete with one another: when a new game comes out I tend to spend my free time almost exclusively on that, when I’ve got a load of new films I’ll spend evenings watching them, if I come across a great new anime (which isn’t new and being released weekly) I’ll cram that one evening after another. So anime goes up and down as my main interest but I can’t see myself growing out of it. I’ve been interested in it since I was a kid and saw the artwork style on all those computer games I liked. For me at least there’s certainly a deeper bond which won’t be broken too easily ^^

]]> By: Ark http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2436 Ark Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:56:36 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2436 As to the question of why I come here if I just see anime as another cinematic form. I think it's because right now anime offers the best prospect for really decent story telling, for two reasons. One is the nature of Japanese culture is as much as it differs from western culture in having a more realistic view of human nature. Secondly animation in general allows stories to be told that would be difficult to present in a live action format. Sadly in terms of western animation all we see now are totally CGI animated comedies about animals and nothing else, which I think goes back to my point about the cultural differences. Sure in japan you've got a bulk of stuff like Kanon but you've also got Satoshi Kon. Whereas in the west, in terms of animation we just have the equivalent of Kanon minus the contrived drama. I'm not sure if that last sentence made any sense. As to the question of why I come here if I just see anime as another cinematic form. I think it’s because right now anime offers the best prospect for really decent story telling, for two reasons. One is the nature of Japanese culture is as much as it differs from western culture in having a more realistic view of human nature. Secondly animation in general allows stories to be told that would be difficult to present in a live action format. Sadly in terms of western animation all we see now are totally CGI animated comedies about animals and nothing else, which I think goes back to my point about the cultural differences. Sure in japan you’ve got a bulk of stuff like Kanon but you’ve also got Satoshi Kon. Whereas in the west, in terms of animation we just have the equivalent of Kanon minus the contrived drama. I’m not sure if that last sentence made any sense.

]]> By: Xerox http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2435 Xerox Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:12:40 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2435 I'm on the left end of the age spectrum and already went through a tiny period of neglecting anime and only turning to it as an after thought. Some part of me thinks I'm going to be a die hard anime fan and end up scaring my kids, if I have any at all, while another knows that the effect is going to wear off. I'm dead scared of "losing that spark." It's really great that a lot of what I feel, about anime, is echoed in your blog. Part of the reason why I enjoy being in this anime blogsphere is that I'm able to find people that is just as passionate about anime as I am. I’m on the left end of the age spectrum and already went through a tiny period of neglecting anime and only turning to it as an after thought. Some part of me thinks I’m going to be a die hard anime fan and end up scaring my kids, if I have any at all, while another knows that the effect is going to wear off. I’m dead scared of “losing that spark.”

It’s really great that a lot of what I feel, about anime, is echoed in your blog. Part of the reason why I enjoy being in this anime blogsphere is that I’m able to find people that is just as passionate about anime as I am.

]]> By: bateszi http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2425 bateszi Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:46:23 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2425 I think it's interesting that so many of you guys are talking about viewing anime as just another hue in the kaleidoscope of film. I find it somehow hard to view it that way when we're all here, on an anime blog, as a part of of the anime community, talking about anime. In an abstract way, I suppose I view the majority of anime as an entity in and of itself, separate from everything else I'm interested in; it's nothing to do with just "good films". I wouldn't be watching half of this stuff if I was just looking for engrossing world cinema - something specific about anime reaches out to my spirit, and I suppose my concern is simply in losing that spark. @Ten: That's somewhat reassuring, I guess I was a little thrown off by your references to US TV, so I'm glad you haven't completely abandoned us! I'm not sure what I would write about without anime and all of this, best of luck. You hooked me into One Piece, it's all your fault!! I think it’s interesting that so many of you guys are talking about viewing anime as just another hue in the kaleidoscope of film. I find it somehow hard to view it that way when we’re all here, on an anime blog, as a part of of the anime community, talking about anime. In an abstract way, I suppose I view the majority of anime as an entity in and of itself, separate from everything else I’m interested in; it’s nothing to do with just “good films”. I wouldn’t be watching half of this stuff if I was just looking for engrossing world cinema – something specific about anime reaches out to my spirit, and I suppose my concern is simply in losing that spark.

@Ten: That’s somewhat reassuring, I guess I was a little thrown off by your references to US TV, so I’m glad you haven’t completely abandoned us! I’m not sure what I would write about without anime and all of this, best of luck. You hooked me into One Piece, it’s all your fault!!

]]> By: Ten http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2406 Ten Sat, 29 Sep 2007 06:04:06 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2406 Ah. Anime love is as such a strange addiction. I am a couple of years older that bateszi, so technically I passed the target bracket. Heh. But I don't think I'll ever stop loving anime. It will always be somewhere in my strange life; may it be on the background or on the foreground. It will be always a constant presence. I'm sure of that. As observed by a fellow commenter, storytelling, no matter what medium it is, is storytelling; Anime is such a wonderful medium for storytelling, only limited by one's imagination. Unfortunately, these days, this medium is plagued with quite a few unpalatable shows. And I guess I am veering away from majority of them right now. (Then again, one man's garbage is another man's treasure, right?) Ah. Anime love is as such a strange addiction. I am a couple of years older that bateszi, so technically I passed the target bracket. Heh. But I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving anime. It will always be somewhere in my strange life; may it be on the background or on the foreground. It will be always a constant presence. I’m sure of that.

As observed by a fellow commenter, storytelling, no matter what medium it is, is storytelling; Anime is such a wonderful medium for storytelling, only limited by one’s imagination. Unfortunately, these days, this medium is plagued with quite a few unpalatable shows. And I guess I am veering away from majority of them right now. (Then again, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, right?)

]]> By: Sy http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2394 Sy Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:02:27 +0000 http://www.bateszi.me/2007/09/27/anime-fan-forever/#comment-2394 I'm reluctant to even call myself an anime fan at all and not because it's part of so called 'geek culture' but because lets face it about 90% of anime out there is a load of old rubbish and saying that i'm an 'anime fan' kinda seems to me like I'm saying to other people 'Yeah, I love it all'. I just see anime as any other sort of television of movie, if I like it I'll watch it and if I don't then I won't, same with anything else. Given that I've always been a sucker for animation and enjoy the Japanese's unique style of storytelling (because it is, even if something has heavy western influences it's origin always seems to shine through in some way) I don't think i'll ever just say 'Ok, I'm bored of this'. I'm sure Yoshitoshi ABe's 'Haibane Renmei' and Satoshi Kon's films will always remain as prizes in my relativly small DVD collection given the creative an emotional impact they had on me. Citing a cartoon as a creative driving influence? What is this nonsense? ;) I’m reluctant to even call myself an anime fan at all and not because it’s part of so called ‘geek culture’ but because lets face it about 90% of anime out there is a load of old rubbish and saying that i’m an ‘anime fan’ kinda seems to me like I’m saying to other people ‘Yeah, I love it all’. I just see anime as any other sort of television of movie, if I like it I’ll watch it and if I don’t then I won’t, same with anything else.

Given that I’ve always been a sucker for animation and enjoy the Japanese’s unique style of storytelling (because it is, even if something has heavy western influences it’s origin always seems to shine through in some way) I don’t think i’ll ever just say ‘Ok, I’m bored of this’. I’m sure Yoshitoshi ABe’s ‘Haibane Renmei’ and Satoshi Kon’s films will always remain as prizes in my relativly small DVD collection given the creative an emotional impact they had on me. Citing a cartoon as a creative driving influence? What is this nonsense? ;)

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