The return of: What kind of anime fan are you?

[Lego]

A while back I made a thread like this(the forum most likely ate it). I figured that I would put it in the general anime forum, because I wasn't sure if it had anything to do with R1 DVD's(the fact that we have people from various countries posting). I was going to make a poll, but I thought that it would be better for people just to post what kind, rather then leaving a option off the poll.

Anywho, lets get on to the topic. The one thing I love about being a anime fan is that I get to meet many different people. Each person has a favorite show, character and so forth. But you can kind of generally lump people together in a few categories. This is especially true with anime now airing on CN, and new fans coming in via Inu Yasha and FMA.

Personally, I consider myslef a "quiet" anime fan. Sure I have my anime collection, I buy anime and sometimes manga in stores like Borders, Best Buy, and Barnes and Noble, but I find myself being "quiet" about it. I'm not one of those people who will be reading Newtype USA in store and carry on loudly about a show, or start adopting anime phrases to use when talking to the clerk.

The same can be said for my fandom in general. I hang out with a diverse group of friends. Some like anime, some only like shows like Champloo or FMA, others hate its guts. I'm not the kind of fan to try to convert every single person I meet to like anime, or stand up when I hear strangers talking about anime sucks or this show sucks. In general I only seem to feel completely comfortable going in depth about anime with fellow anime fans, such as AOD, or other places.

[something]

We had a similar thread lately that asked how you show your fandom. Like I said in that one, I'll talk to other fans online, watch lots, buy lots, but generally not bring it up with people unless I know they're fans. The place I meet most new people is school anyway, and there's a lot other than anime on my mind when I'm there.

[Lego]

Ah, didn't see that one. I thought since the year was winding down, peoples attitudes might of changed or etc. It's still interesting to see how other anime fans go about their fandom. The post necessarily isn't just about showing your fandom, but also what type of fan do you consider yourself "privately". Such as online, when buying or watching series(what makes you leap towards a certain genre) and things of that nature.

[aquapermanence]

The satirical (http://www.larself.com/revolutionold/RandyStrip10.jpg) kind. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I'm an anime fan who likes sharing my interest with others; I like watching with other people and discussing with them. I'm usually more interested in hearing what others have to say; I end up listening more than talking.

I'm also a writer, although I consider myself an amateur. One of these days I'd like to do a story in a graphic novel format, but I'd need to train my hand at drawing better. Anime has helped me refine my taste in character, costume, and mechanical design, but developing my own consistent style is going to take a lot of time and effort. (At least when working with words I don't always have to go into the minutest descriptive detail about the shape of someone's hair or clothing or, say, spaceship.)

[meganly_chan]

I'm quiet about it, at least in real life. I buy and watch anime, buy and read manga, read fanfiction, talk on message boards and the like, but I won't bring it up unless the person/people I'm talking to are anime fans or I think it's OK (which is rare). So generally, I keep my interest to myself.

[excel7769]

I had a post like this (Didn't do so well /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif) Oh well, you ask the question better anyways. For me I won't twist anybody's arm about the fact I really enjoy anime, however I'll watch it on the communte to and from work and on lunch break (It really breaks up the tedium of my job.) If people ask I tell them what I'm watching, and most of the time they don't understand what it is anyways and leave me alone. I got a group of friends and we all kinda enjoy anime along the same lines each watching and giving a chance to whatever the other has to offer. Beyond that, nothing really out of the ordinary.

[Bullfrog]

I'll answer any who ask about anime the depth of fandom, however I don't actively bring it up in conversation.

As I so rarely purchase from an actual Brick and Mortar store, the whole issue of being public about my purchases is not applicable.

I guess I run to the principle - some people like anime, others like other things that I can't stand. As long as they don't insist I like their hobby, I won't force mine down their throat.

A live and let live policy.

Having said that though, I'm quite happy to wear t-shirts that come with the titles I've purchased, as well as other bits and pieces (bags, hats etc).

[Loafy]

I'm a functional nerd. I buy a lot of comics and a lot of anime but I bathe regularly, am well-dressed and presentable, don't own an anime t-shirt, can carry on a conversation not involving anime or comics, do not revolt others and have had sex with an actual other person.

[ibby]

I'm a quiet fan in that I buy and watch my anime, and talk to people at my local anime shop about it. I try not to bring my hobby in day to day conversations. I hang around people how either like or dislike anime. I don't mind talking about anime on anime baords such as this.

[Suwako Moriya]

Okay I watch anime through multiple means. I buy anime dvds. Sometimes I buy music cds related to anime. I discuss some of the series I watch with others in certain topics. Assuming of course I'm not the only person watching the anime and wanting to discuss it. There are some series I watch that I don't really discuss per say myself come to think of it. So my passion for series discussion can vary. There are times I'll be passive in a topic or get deeply involved in a debate. I could go into more detail, but to make a long story, I have not really decided what type of anime fan I am. So draw your own conclusion. Just make sure it includes the words "wonderful" and "divine".

[crosbie394]

Hmm; I'm a closet anime fan to all people but those on forums. I buy anime, I watch anime...I don't really talk about anime.

My mates know I like it, but that is my thing;

[Njr Scrawl]

I'm the only otaku in the village /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Seriously. AoD are the only anime fans I know who actually buy DVDs. Others I meet personally download & spend more time talking about what viruses they picked up &/or crashed their drives than the shows themselves. Apart from Dragonball Z - which only the dub is discussed.

So a solitary collector. Manga gets more discussion , when the books actually arrive, which is frustratingly infrequent.

Hmm. Life-altering?

After all, here I am in Japan, learning Japanese, and singing anime songs at karaoke. Kind of living an anime dream, I guess.

Despite that, I don't consider myself too obsessive or crazy. Anime had become part of my life, but it's not all my life. Still, life-altering is probably the best way to describe my fandom.

[PsychoRabbitt]

Hmm... I would say "partly in the closet".

I buy anime DVDs, CDs, manga, and merchandise, but outside of people I know are into it, I don't really talk about it. Obviously my immediate family knows (and dismisses it as "those foreign cartoons"). Megan knows (her only response was "You have a picture of a naked cartoon girl on your wall..."). But outside of them, I don't speak about it. Not embarrassed - just don't feel the need to talk about my hobby with others.

[WeirdlyGruesome]

I guess you could call me a "quiet fan", but I really don't even consider myself a fan anymore. I gave up on that nonsense many moons ago. I watch anime. So what?

[Johnny]

Just a "quiet fan" like others have said. Sure, if you walk into my room you'll kinda get the impression I have an interest in those "weird Japanese cartoons and comics" in that you can actually see DVDs, books, figures and so on but I don't feel the need to tell people I'm into it or anything.
It's gotten to a point now where I know anime is something I'll always have some sort of interest in whether that's the stories or just the art and therefore I don't feel the need to use the hobby as a way of expressing myself or making it the definition of who I am. I did that with another hobby when I was less mature and more "fuck the world" and the outcome wasn't particularly nice.

In all honesty though even though I'd consider myself to be "seriously" into anime, I would consider myself to be more of a gamer than an anime otaku and that's the thing most people who know me would consider me first and foremost to be into.
Conveniently, the two hobbies tend to go hand in hand and so it can all be considered along the same sort of lines.

[ic14]

Casual and freaking proud of it.

[leongsh]

<font color="red">Casual</font>? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Okay, okay. I'm also a quiet fan that likes sharing my interest in anime and manga but only when asked. I don't advertise it but it's part of my life as a hobby that's mainly visible to those that know me well.

[animegirl22]

Ok, I'm an addict. Have always been an addict, will always be an addict. Can't go a day without it and make it my lifestyle. I teach how to animate anime, I do animate anime, and occasionally voice in anime. But I'm not very vocal about anime in public except at conventions. I don't talk about it very much unless spoken to about it, but I absolutely love anime. My apartment is almost jam packed with too much anime related stuff. Sometimes it's hard even to walk around my apartment cuz it's so crammed.

[joelgundam01]

I'm also a quiet fan. I really don't talk about anime, except to friends that are interested in it. '

I only by anime DVDs and some manga. I don't go out of my way to get LEs (except for Gundam) and I don't buy anime related merchendise, except for an OST or two.

[Shsway]

I bring it up a fair amount in conversation, though I'll usually refer to the medium as "Japanese Animation", since the anime tag seems to confuse most people who don't know me personally, or who haven't seen my collection. I'm constantly plugging the American VAs, or bringing forth something I've learned from discussions about the dubbing industry. Problem is, I don't know anyone local as into animation as I am, so the conversations about it don't end up being all that lengthy. It's the geeky hobby that even my geekiest coworker isn't into.

I like forward to more con-going next year for this reason, if it is at all feasible. Other than that, I do acquire whatever merchandise I can budget/not live without and wear at least one of my shirts out.

[vanfanel]

I was a quiet fan in the USA. I had a few friends I'd get together with on Friday nights and watch stuff with. I had some figures and stuff at home, but I never wore anime shirts in public or anything.

Since moving to Japan I've gradually retreated entirely into the closet. I don't talk about it. I time my shopping at times when I know students from my school are busy with after-class activities--or failing that, I do a quick glance around the room first to make sure there are no familiar uniforms about.

Why?

Because in my area, if I so much as breathe a word about anime or manga, people start smirking and throwing around words like "otaku" and "mania" behind my back (or so they think; my listening comprehension is spotty, but when I'm being talked about, I can tell). I used to have some Leiji Matsumoto figures in my room. Little gashapon things. Just a few. Nothing dirty about them. And nothing else of any great geekiness in sight. Some repairmen came to do some work one day. One glance at the Leijiverse figures, and I heard one of these guys joke that "I feel like I'm in Tsutomu Miyazaki's apartment!"

Shocked, angry, and doubting my own ears, I walked up to him and asked him to repeat what he'd just said. I asked him three times and he wouldn't repeat it, but I heard one of the others expressing surprise that "he understood!"

Hacked me off. Otaku get picked on all the time by variety shows, and of course they dig up the maid freaks, the pr0n freaks, the 40 year-old guys with life-size anime dolls in their &lt;hehe&gt; rooms that they &lt;hehe&gt; dress themselves &lt;hehe&gt; to highlight. So in the eyes of your average joe, anyone my age who enjoys anime to any extent gets tagged with terms that have a lot of baggage attached that I want no part of.

There's something else that I want to be known here for. If I'm looked down on because of that other thing, that's fine. But this otaku thing sticks to you so quickly, I've realized that I've got to shake it, or that's how people will define me.

[Lego]

Wow, I didn't realize that it was THAT bad over in Japan. Granted some anime fans think that Japan is anime heaven, with anime on every street corner, everyone watching anime and etc. You have to step back and realize that while anime is huge in Japan, and of course it comes from Japan, a lot of people could care less about it.

But I still didn't think it was that bad for a anime fan in Japan.

[vanfanel]

Well, I'm sure experiences vary. I'm out in the county in an area noted for being very conservative (not politically per se; they just don't "get" a lot of the newfangled stuff that's going on in the big cities, nor do they care to). Also, I'm 33, and a bit sensitive about the whole fanboy thing myself.

My goals for being here are also such that getting flagged as "otaku" might interfere with them. I don't know; I think it's possible that "otaku" and "mania" are less offensive to the Japanese than they sound to me. Even so, I had to force myself to be nice to the handyman for awhile, since I still consider that Miyazaki comment to have been way over the line.

When my parents visited last summer, I took them to (among many other places) Akihabara, because my dad is interested in computers and electronics. He was pretty impressed with some of the new televisions and gadgets that were coming out. But when I told my students about the trip, I noticed that I always got smirks and giggles when mentioning Akihabara. It wasn't until several months later that I figured out the reputation that place has, what with the maid cafe's and who knows what else. Sigh...so they probably all thought I was chasing maids and buying dating sims... On TV, that sort of thing is all they ever hear about when it comes to Akihabara.

I think the older you get, the more likely you are to be viewed as a weirdo (that should go without saying, I guess), even for small offenses, such as talking about a show, or collecting a few figures you find nostalgic. If you're young, if you don't care, and if you wanna wear it on your sleeve, I say go for it. Folks will be amused (and will contribute to the latest emerging stereotype about foreigners). But if you're here with goals that require being taken seriously, you may have a choice to make...

One other story. I was very surprised one day when I was walking near Saga station, and I caught sight of a guy wearing an Akira t-shirt. For one thing, Akira is far from the latest hottest thing over here these days; for another, you just don't see people wearing anime t-shirts here. In Fukuoka, you may see them dressed head-to-toe as video game characters on Saturday night, but I only see anime shirts on small children. Then I looked up and saw the guy's face; he was caucasian, and suddenly it all made sense /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Kyosuke]

I agree to an extent; as I am in my late 20s I find that it's harder to connect with people about topics like anime, since many of my colleagues are married and some have kids and tend to talk about that. When you are younger and run in circles with more open-minded people (college is a good example) I think it is easier to be open about anime and wear it on your sleeve (which I certainly did). But after school when everyone scatters to the four winds to pursue further schooling or work, I find it very hard to "re-connect" with people about my favorite hobby...especially in the professional circles I tend to run in. I also feel older than the people at the college clubs and somewhat disconnected from them. However, I do feel comfortable bantering about anime online... and I still like to go to anime cons maybe once a year so I'm not too out of touch. /images/graemlins/wink.gif
Also I have lots of anime knick-knacks at home...if I can't be myself at home, then where can I be myself?

[balthier2012]

Wow, that sounds depressing for you older anime fans. Being alienated by the world if mentioning the slightest thing about anime.

I see people who watch anime as "enlightened" and people who don't as ignorant people unable to learn, change, or ever give anime a chance. So I don't mention a thing about it. I allow them to continue living their lives in miserable ignorance void of any greatness found in anime.

They wanna be a stubborn fool shunning anime simply because it is "drawn", made the same way cartoons are made, and somewhat resembles what a child would watch, then so be it. But they will never know the emotion it can induce, the much greater stories developed then any main stream media film, and various mind opening philosophies and ideals that are instantaneously disregarded in the "real" world.

Back to the point, I don't talk about anime unless someone asks me about it or if I already know that person is interested in it. Anyone who goes into my room who doesn't know anything about anime will certainly be shocked and acquire the basic stereotypical opinion "this guy is a fuckin geek".

Like a few of you, I would obviously not bring anyone into my dvd room unless they liked anime. I would just tell them "oh that rooms off limits it's just a storage room" which isn't necessarily a lie.

I suppose I view the people of the world as two main types. Someone possesing the potential to be intelligent = likes anime, someone possessing the potential to get hired as a janitor and make minimum wage = people who don't like anime.

And no offense to any janitors out there that like anime, I'm sure you will make it somewhere in life when society opens it's tiny brain and sees your greatness. (fanservice fanboys excluded) /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

EDIT:
Ohyea forgot to classify myself into one of the anime types... I guess I am quiet, but also a radical extremist, and also a very talkative anime fan but only with other anime addicts. So overall... quiet but with great contempt for the outside world /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Chuplayer]

I'm a quiet anime fan. I only talk to my anime-watching friends about anime in detail, although a lot of people know I like it. I don't hide the fact that I like anime, but I don't go on and on about it either. Same goes for manga, although I do take it with me to school and read it.

I'm also a cheapass anime fan. Until the beginning of the year, I only had a handful of anime DVDs. Now that these cheap sets are coming out, my collection has more than quadrupled in the past year. I not only enjoy those extraless thinpak sets, I encourage them!