~So...why are so many people making a big deal out of anime? Why do so many people misunderstand it? Mandi will tell you.
Anime is a widely accepted art form in Japan. Some say it was inspired by early American Mickey Mouse cartoons. Many artists draw it/work with it for a living. But enough about history. Anime is NOT just "people with big eyes and small mouths" like some say, in fact, mouths and eyes can vary from huge eyes and teeny mouths to regular/tiny eyes and huge mouths. In case you haven't already noticed, it still looks like anime. It proves that you can't really get to know it, unfortunately, until you get over the shunning of it and really get to know and love it. Also, anime is NOT JUST FOR KIDS like some think. It CAN be, but anime is for a huuge range of ages, from kids to older adults, and in Japan, its origin and where it is widely accepted, anime is appreciated by everyone. Most people in "America don't appreciate anime that was shipped here because we have an idea engraved into our heads that cartoons are goofy and silly made up fantasies for kids to enjoy, and an adult enjoying it is weird. But, this is NOT so, we should not stay away from anime just because of that false belief. In fact, in Japan it is shown in theaters just like any movie and all ages enjoy it. What I am basically saying is: get over the cliche' everyone seems to put anime in, accept other cultures, realize that anime can be in many forms (from very deformed to very very realistic), and if you really want to, get into anime and appreciate the wonderful beauty of it, because all of it is a very beautiful form of art.
Okay, now that I have vented my anger o_O...I will introduce/enlighten you on anime. I have loved it for many years. I have never become obsessed with it -_-... actually maybe I have a bit... but I have just been trying to get people to appreciate it like it deserves. Once you get into it, it has many rewards and can be very entertaining. The stories are very in depth and can range from comedy (hilarious comedy like Love Hina) to beautiful gothic horror (such as the amazing and beautiful Angel Sanctuary). It can come in the form of graphic novels called Manga (comics to those who can't comprehend), shows, movies, and much more. If you arent already a fan and dont know anything about it but want to get into it, I advise visiting all the pages on this site and I also recommend the movie Princess Mononoke, which is one of the first anime movies made. I really got into it when I watched that movie after having a surgery. It is a movie about the beauty and the wrath of nature, and once you see the character depth and beautifully painted scenery, you will fall in love with anime like I did.
When you do get into it, get rid of all the American cliche's of cartoons. Remember this line: anime is different. And since that is true, you must keep in mind that the beliefs of Japanese are different. For instance, in animes such as Inuyasha that contain the ideas of demons, we may think "oh demons, they are bad. Arent they those little devil things from hell?" well, to Americans they are, but in Japan demons are known as forest spirits who can choose a good or evil path to use their powers. This is another fact that makes anime so utterly enjoyable and fun ^_^.
So, I hope you liked my little anime experience! Now that you have what I said in your head, you can start the anime mayhem, because believe me: it is an absolute blast! And it is not geeky...well that is unless you make it geeky... haha! Mandi is not a nerd!
