Thinking of Getting into Anime?
If you've never watched anime before, you might be thinking: What's all the fuss about it, anyway? Isn't it just for people who are oddly (and obsessively) into Japanese culture and language? But anime is so much more than what you may have heard or seen—and if you're curious, you should be. Here are 20 solid reasons to start watching.
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1. Learn More About Japanese Culture
Why get into anime? Because there's no better and easier way to get a glimpse into Japanese culture than by bingeing on its famous animations. You can learn a lot about their daily routines, traditions, cuisine, and more just by watching an episode or two.
2. Explore Different Genres
With the wide variety of genres that anime offers, you can find plenty of highly-recommended ones that match your taste. Whether you're into romance, comedy, sports, or sci-fi, you'll never run out of options to choose from. Plus, many anime series combine different genres as well, giving them a more nuanced vibe.
3. Learn a New Language
Curious about Japanese and ready to learn a new language? You'd be surprised how quickly you can pick up phrases just from watching one or two episodes. Before long, you might even be brave enough to try your hand at speaking basic expressions the next time you vacation in Japan!
4. Unique & Diverse Characters
Many series are derived from manga (Japanese comics), which often include a diverse cast of characters. They may have unique appearances, personalities, ways of speaking, or special powers, depending on their genre. These qualities can make them super memorable or lovable.
5. Emotional Depth
Many anime series also explore sensitive topics and dive deep into themes that resonate with viewers, like growth, loss, and identity. Plus, relatable characters and realistic storylines allow audiences to better connect with certain shows, which is why it's easy not just to get into anime but get hooked on it as well.
6. Endlessly Entertaining
Anime is entertaining. If you've never watched it, you might only associate it with popular series, like Naruto, Bleach, or Pokémon—but Japanese animation goes far beyond what you've seen or heard in passing. It's not just action or sci-fi series that get all the love; in fact, there's arguably no other medium where the slice-of-life genre is as compelling or well-executed.
7. It's a Beautiful Art Form
Japanese animation is as beautiful as it is diverse. No two anime series look alike, unless they're produced by the same studio or adapted from the same author. Even then, unique characters come with their own peculiar designs and flair, and if that's not enough to draw you in, the gorgeous cinematography certainly will.
8. Great Source of Inspiration
Being so beautifully made, anime also provides a great source of inspiration for artists. It may encourage you to draw your own rendition of the characters, or create continuations of (or even deviations from) the original plotline.
9. Learn Important Life Lessons
Given the nuanced storylines that anime series often have, they can also teach you important life lessons. Some themes may be more lighthearted, like how to build lasting friendships, and some may be more serious, like how to deal with the death of a loved one.
10. Discover Great Music
Many songs that are featured at the beginning and end of episodes were purposely written and produced for that series alone, so you often won't find overlap in soundtracks between two different series. These songs can vary in genre, and some can be so catchy that they may even end up in your playlist.
11. Encourages You to Try Something New
Not only might anime inspire the inner artist in you, it may also encourage you to try new things. Sports anime, for example, could get you interested in athletics, pushing you to join clubs or watch real-life leagues and games—things you never would've done before.
12. Fleshed-Out Storylines
While some anime series aren't meant to have in-depth storylines—think Gintama, for example—others have extremely fleshed-out plots that keep you on your toes. And because different series often combine genres or are set in interesting alternate realities, there's never a dull moment.
13. Brings People Together
Even if you've never been to an anime convention or joined a club, the fact that so many of these exist in your local communities and around the globe speaks to just how influential and popular anime is. Anime brings people together, and it helps fans connect in unique ways, allowing them to show their love and appreciation in different ways—through cosplay, fan-made crafts, or art.
14. Provides an Escape from Reality
Another reason to get into anime is because it provides an escape from reality. Your everyday life can get mundane, repetitive, and dull, and watching anime counteracts that, allowing you to explore different worlds, stories, and possibilities.
15. Easy to Watch & Get Immersed In
Anime is incredibly easy to get into as well. If you have a short attention span, you'll be pleased to know that anime episodes are only about 20-30 minutes long. Each season may range in number of episodes, depending on the story, but once you start, you'll probably end up binge-watching it all in one go.
16. Creative Worldbuilding
As mentioned, many series focus on different genres with interesting storylines that bring you to unique worlds or alternate realities. Some of these may even feel so elaborate that it's impossible to not get immersed in them.
17. Produce Movies That Become Cinematic Gems
But it's not just anime series that people love and recommend—Japanese animated films are worth watching as well. The most iconic examples, of course, come from Studio Ghibli, with classics like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. These movies have won numerous prestigious awards and still remain among the highest-grossing feature films in Japanese history.
18. Evoke Nostalgia
If you grew up watching dubbed anime like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dragon Ball, or Beyblade, rewatching these series as an adult might evoke a strange sense of nostalgia, making you feel like a kid all over again. And because dubbed versions can give off different vibes than the originals, experiencing them now might offer more interesting or refreshing views.
19. Inspire Fashion & Street Wear
Not only can anime motivate your inner artist or push you to try new things, it can also inspire you to revamp your wardrobe. You might be tempted to mirror the outfits you've seen anime characters wear, or look more into Japanese street wear trends.
20. It's Fun to Watch!
Why watch anime? Because it's fun to watch! With so many different options available, you're bound to find one that has characters and a storyline that resonates with you. Before you know it, you might just get addicted!
