I realised something. When I meet up with many of the people from SGAB in real life, half the time, I have no idea what they are talking about. It seems that the anime that the majority watch and the anime that I watch does not tally.
I choose anime that I view selectively, only watching those series that are of interest to me. With my tastes being rather unlike those of the masses, I tend to select only action or comedy anime. Those with cool unique mechas would be definitely included on my must-watch list too.
The lack of time would also hinder me from covering a wide genre of anime, hence allowing me to only pick only anime that would give me certain enjoyment. As a result, I tend to leave out some, or should I say many, popular anime.
Sorry I don’t watch this
For example, Clannad. I have never tried to watch even a single episode. For some unexplainable reason, it just does not seem to entice me in any way. As a result, I have no idea who is who, and what the storyline is. What I only know is there is a character named “Tomoyo”, and that’s as far as my knowledge of Clannad goes.
Neither do I watch this
The same goes for Higurashi. This time, I tried watching it, but it simply does not appeal to me in any sense. After 2 episodes, I dropped it. This leaves the second season totally out of the picture.
As a result, when I meet up with a group, who has a conversation which is above 75% based on an anime that I do not watch, I feel like an outcast, and would naturally keep my mouth shut and ears fully open. After all, that is the only thing I can do.
I have a rough idea of what your current thoughts are. “Is this guy an stubborn idiot? Why doesn’t he watch such l33t anime? Freaking anime noob!!!”
Some might say that it is totally my fault that I do not watch the popular series, and it serves me right for not doing so. I cannot deny that this is in fact true. However, does it mean that if I do not watch the anime that the majority in the anime community are constantly talking about, I fail at anime?
Now, by forcing myself to watching popular anime to be able to participate in conversations regarding them isn’t exactly the wisest thing to do. Sure, I might be able to voice out a thing or two during the conversation. But would I not be letting myself down by forcing myself to watch anime that I do not enjoy?
Watching anime for the sake of being able to find a similar communication topic is a rather pathetic. Ocassionally, I find myself committing this fault, although it is something which I would like to totally avoid. My main purpose in watching anime is not for it to be a conversational topic, but rather for my own personal enjoyment.
With me missing out on so much anime, one might wonder if I am really an anime fan. To others, I may appear not to be a “real” anime fan who watches all the popular and legendary anime series. It doesn’t matter anyway.
All that matters is that I recognise myself as one, with my very own definition.
“Does Not Watching Popular Anime Equate to Failing at Anime?”
Hell, no ! Haruhi be damned !
IIRC, Higurashii got me hooked after the 1st arc which ended with ep. 3 or 4, I don’t remember exactly. The ending of the 1st arc was a shocker to me. Maybe you would’ve stuck with it had you watched two more episodes.
I don’t watch Naruto… or One Piece… or Prince of Tennis (or any sports anime for that matter)… shounen/testosterone-overload anime, I’ve avoided like the plague… and I only finished the early Soul Society arc of Bleach, then I stopped watching altogether… but never have I been pressured to watch all these just so I can take part in “popular” conversation…
On the other side of the spectrum, I’ve never really been pressured to “appreciate” Lain, or Texnolyze, or even pretend to comprehend the brainfap ending of Evangelion just so I can fit in with the pretentious, pseudo-intellectual viewers who think that if you don’t get it, you have to be stupid.
You watch what you like. You watch to get entertained. I don’t know where you got the idea that failing to find common ground in discussing “popular” anime means you “fail at anime”, or what kind of friends you’ve been discussing with to elicit this train of thought, but I assure you that it’s not a common sentiment.
When people talk about which hokage was better in Naruto and ask my opinion, I tell them “oh sorry, I don’t follow that series…” They gasp and ask why, but they never tell me I’m a loser for not watching… I’m guessing they’re just mature enough not to do that
- T
The bottom line is, you watch anime because you enjoy watching them, so why care about the ‘popular’ anime that does not interest you? I have long championed many series that most people speaks ill of, like Solty Rei, and I do not plan to ‘cave in’ to the mass and start watching ‘Mai Hime’ or ‘Guren Nagann’. If people talk about anime series I have no previous opinion, I might consider researching it, but I don’t want to waste my time torturing myself to watch something I don’t like.
Karry > LOL
bakaneko > After the first 2 episodes, I have no idea at all of what was going on.
tolitz > Exactly what I said. I did state that I watch to get entertained, not for a conversational topic. I did not discuss with anyone to get this sentiment, but rather, it was a random thought that struck my mind before I decided to write this.
maglor > I hate to torture myself as much as you do.
There’s a good reason why people follow trends.
They’re shallow.
And that’s as much as I’ll elaborate.
its good to have your own pace. I spend 1 hour a day watching anime, and only get to know those ‘hot’ characters out there through reading blogs.
Well sorry to say this but i did not watch eva, and when everyone’s discussing about it, it really makes me wonder if i really missed out on sth great.
DrmChrs0 > Damn, for once I agree with you…
misakichii > No worries about that, although I am a fan of Evangelion.
Not all trends are shallow. Gundam is shallow. Haruhi is not. (lol) Seriously, we each have our own preferences. The trends are immaterial except as a guide to what a lot of people like. There is usually a good reason they like it, so I think we really should try watching at least an episode of popular shows, with an open mind, whether they look “enticing” to our particular taste or not. But in the end, there is no way to “fail” at anime except by not watching any.
Actually, it’s always been something of personal preference. Some people enjoy this, others that. I was told off for not watching “Bleach” as it was “apparently the best anime evar!!11oneone” by a girl but I didn’t really care.
Watch what you enjoy, like Rei in NGE
Hashihime > I never liked following trends. But sometimes, my preferences just overlap with the trends.
Windbell > You know what I like =) LOL
Yes, watching popular anime does equate to failing at anime. There are so many wonderful hidden gems out there that don’t have any mainstream acceptance, and if you get caught up in ideas of popularity you’ll never see them.
With the aggression towards mainstreamers nowadays, its ironic that anime watchers more ‘l337′ than mainstreamers(Naruto, Bleach), are fast becoming mainstreamers among their own companions.
Just something to ponder…
I’ve always been a person that watches and reads what interests me, if I can’t follow a series then I definitely am not going to enjoy talking about it. Watch what you enjoy and if someone snubs you for it, they aren’t worth the effort.
I’ve found that quite a few anime fans will at least listen to what you have to say on the series. I’ve never been a fan of sports anime or manga but a guy I met at a convention got me into a couple just because he talked about ones that I had never heard of.