(AfroGamers.com) One should be able to enjoy Anime at their leisure without the judgement of what makes a fan. In many Anime circles there seems to be an ongoing discussion about what truly constitutes a fan, or a nerd. It is a shame that fans can’t like what they like without the judgement of anime fans that behave as if they are gatekeepers of amazing genre. Yes, there are certain Anime shows that are mainstream, and maybe an introduction to the genre for some.
Bleach, DragonBall franchise, Naruto, One Punch Man Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Tokyo Ghoul are just a few that have gathered a huge following. However, some Anime gatekeepers have decided that if any of the above mentioned are your favorites…you are a fan of that show, but not Anime.
This raises the question of what is an anime fans, and who gets to decide. The answer to the 2nd part of the question is simple…no one. Just like movies Anime has many categories, and one could argue it’s the quite okay to like one category or many. No one has the right to tell you Anime really isn’t for you because the shows you may love are more popular. There are aspects to some Anime, as with movies, that can very well be a turn off to some viewers. Some don’t feel like watching through half naked female characters no matter how strong or smart they are. Some aren’t amused by the male character who is overpowered, but doesn’t evolve as a person…strong yet stupid.
There are also some Anime that may be deemed unfavorable due to unpleasant undertones in race or sexuality. Then again there is the issue of basic preference in catagories. Some may find shows like Bleach and Naruto more to their liking while Attack on Titan is a turn off. The bottom line is there isn’t a right or wrong answer.
One would love to think in the world of nerdom, which involves more than Anime, we’d be more open minded. Though it might be a trend to be a nerd now, but I remember when it was shunned. I remember when intense gaming, Anime, fantasy fiction, and certain kinds of literature made one an outcast. I can say in my family I was deemed weird, aloof, and out of touch with reality. There wasn’t many people I could connect with that shared my interest. I am so glad to see so many people of different backgrounds embracing there nerdiness, and openly enjoying Anime. With that, we must be mindful that nerd comes in many forms with many preferences. No one has the right to tell another Anime fan what justifies their fandom. Just because someone likes Anime that is new or not considered mainstream doesn’t make them more or less of a fan.
Love the Anime that moves and resonate with you. Have indepth conversations about writing, plots and characters of the shows you are passionate about. This in a sense is what makes you a fan…the ability to connect to the Anime on a deep level not the shows you choose. Never let someone try to deny your Anime card because you don’t watch what they watch. I for one love many types of Anime, but yes I’m a Naruto super fan…and I don’t care who doesn’t like it. It’s time we dismiss those would be gatekeepers, as they have no say in what Anime shows we love. Period.
Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James
May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.