It’s 2023 and Anime is only just getting bigger around the world, with numerous films grossing over $100 million at the box office; now is the best time to start anime. For newcomers to anime it may seem overwhelming to start now but in fact it’s the opposite. Here we’ll go the different factors to look out for when starting an anime and as well as some recommendations to start your journey off 🙂
Differences Between Western Animation
Since most anime mainly originates from japan, it’s no surprise that there is a cultural difference in certain aspects. These range from the stories humor, theme and use of animation.
Starting with their humor, anime has been known for their absurd character expressions and emotions which can be exaggerated at times. This certain aspect can be annoying or enjoyable for most, though personally both the rom-coms and slice of life animes have the best use of this humor.
Story themes between american animation and anime differs quite a bit, with the western stories being a bit more linear in their approach. Anime however, tackles a variety of themes and genres. By including real life situations and emotions in fantasy settings; the connection you have to the story can be deeper. While this can be an example of how america sees animation as nothing more than for kids; that stigma may soon fade away as anime becomes more of an influence overseas.
Now when it comes to their animation differences, there’s really only two main ones. Those being the budget and the type of animation they use. Americans have mainly prospered with 3D animation and have kept it under their belt for awhile. From many of the famous Pixar and Dreamworks Films like Toy Story, Shrek, Monsters Inc, and more. Their budget of course is way more than what many animes get in a single episode, though their partial animation does help to give more artistic freedom at lower costs for more detailed features in exchange for less moving components.
Fanbases
By now we should expect most fanbases of any medium to have both a good and bad side. In anime it’s no different, with constant wars between favorite characters or fanbases of different anime being the norm. It can get ugly but that’s not to say you can’t meet some really great people in the community. So don’t let a couple rotten apples ruin the anime experience for you.
Where To Find Them?
There are 3 main steaming services dedicated to only anime, there’s Crunchyroll, Funimation, and HIDIVE. But as of now, Crunchyroll owns Funimation and is slowly transitioning many of its anime to the service. HIDIVE in the other hand has many of your unknown titles; as well as other mature shows that have uncensored content. You can find more information on these anime streaming services here.
Now this doesn’t mean you can’t find anime anywhere else; in fact, other services like Hulu, Prime and Netflix have been steadily growing their anime library. So incase you don’t feel like adding another subscription right now, you can find plenty of anime to start off with through there.
Recommendations For Beginners
From top to bottom: JJK, Kaguya-Love is War, Horimiya, Assassination Classroom, Hunter x Hunter,Spy x Family, Mob Psycho, Vinland Saga, Chainsaw Man
Recommendations For The Brave
From top to bottom: Code Geass, Fate/Night UBW, Re:Zero, Fruits Basket, Made in Abyss, Silent Voice, Akame Ga Kill, Attack on Titan, Violet Evergarden
Still Not Convinced To Watch Anime?
If you’re still not sure about starting anime, then I hate to tell you but taking the first step in trying something new isn’t easy. Though I guarantee there’s a ton of stories out there you won’t want miss out on.