animu

Growing up, kids deal with a lot of emotional breakthroughs and hormonal changes. As such, they have a lot of pent up feelings that they may not quite know what to do with. Unlike many Western cartoons, anime and manga do deal with a lot of coming of age stories. Even when the plot is far out there and the last thing one would deal with their every day lives. Putting that aside, that protagonists' tend to range from the ages 14 to 16, as such they are in the same demographic as those who read them. This allows the readers to relate to these characters and feel like their changes, both physically and emotionally, are something they can project on to the characters.

Because of this age range, a lot of kids are slowly trying to discover what it is that makes them happy and what they would like to do with their lives. Especially with the system the way it is, most kids are told to have an idea of what they wish to do the rest of their lives around this age. When a creative decides they wish to focus on art and they grow up relating to anime and manga, it is natural for them to turn to this art form. They practice and learn what they can by watching their shows and buying the cheap 'how to' books. Though the art style may be overdone and not the greatest, it is an outlet for them. It allows kids to grow in to their passion and enjoy what they do. 

Unfortunately, much like how My Little Pony has men who berate those who enjoy the show for fun, there are adults online that berate these kids who are enjoying themselves and anime. This becomes a huge problem in which these young kids, trying to find themselves out, are singled out and ridiculed for their interests. Anime and Manga are incredibly important art forms, the same way a kid from America watched Power Puff Girls growing up. Just because the art form does not correlate with the social norms we are used to, doesn't make it an less important.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of most anime's. They do not catch my attention and I find them repetitive more often than not. However, I do keep an open mind. I know when a good story is being told and presented with reliable, strong characters. For example, one of my all time favorites stories is Fullmetal Alchemist, along with it's anime Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. If the story is compelling and truly shows the progress of a character's development and their surroundings, I am hooked. Just because the art style is something now often ridiculed, it does not make it's stories any less impacting or beautifully told.

This art form coming from Japan is influential for a reason. It allows kids to relate to characters and to come to terms with their own changing environments. Simply because one does not enjoy it and rather looks down at it, does not change how important it is in the lives of others.