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Why do people watch anime? Anime is a type of animation that has originated from Japan. Some animes first start out as a comic known as manga. Moving from Japan, anime as been making its way across the globe, jumping from continent to continent. Now it is slowly becoming popular in America. Yet there are those who still think anime is something that should not be shown in America due to it being from another country. Also they do not bother to find out what anime truly is. Anime represents a style of animation that comes from a different country, and offers a way to meet new people, make friends and an inspiration to some.
During World War II, cartoonists were forced by the government to draw propaganda mangas. Those who were not forced to draw propaganda manga were getting into trouble with the government. These cartoonists formed organizations to come together. After World War II, a young inspired artist by the name of Osamu Tezuka became a cartoonist. Throughout his career of success, Osamu Tezuka was named Father of Anime and manga, and was an inspiration to other cartoonists. Such as the young struggling cartoonist Walt Disney (The History of Anime and Manga, April 2012).
Unlike the cartoons seen in the United States, which are mostly directed toward kids and young adults, anime has a spectrum of shows for people of any age (Shae Hazelton, April 2012). Many animes have interesting plot lines that cross cultural differences. The animes tend to have teenage characters who have uncommon situations that would not happen in reality, or have amazing powers. For example, in the anime titled "Soul Eater" the characters go to an academy called the Death Weapon Mister Academy. The students have partners that live and work with each other. One of the partners has the ability to transform into a weapon and the other partner wields the weapon. They fight witches and keshins, who are people to have evil souls, to become top misters and death scythes for Lord Death. One set of partners are Maka and Soul. Soul can transform into a scythe, and Maka is a scythe mister. With their friends they fight an evil witch by the name of Medusa and the keshin by the name of Asura to defeat their plans to turn the world into darkness.
As always, there are die hard fans are the people who realize how wonderful anime truly is. They are the people who have found anime and appreciate it. Conventions are where many fans are seen showing their love for anime. A way fans show their love for anime is by drawing characters from different animes they've watched. Fans call their pictures of animes fanart, because it is made by fans and t is art. Another way of showing their love for anime is cosplaying. Cosplay is a term used among fans to describe those who dress up as a character from one of their favorite animes (Widya Santoso, April 2012). At the convention cosplayers see how others interpret their favorite characters and even have competitions for the best costume produced. There are also skits done by fans in their cosplay. Most skits are jokes that are made by fans from animes they have watched (Mayank J, April 2012). Due to the small community of anime fans, most either become friends or enemies due to their associations with different anime shows. For example the show "Fullmetal Alchemist", many fans have taken sides between two of the main characters, Edward Elric and Roy Mustang. The Risembol Rangers are Edward Elric fans, and the Mini Skirt Army, M.S.A., are Roy Mustang fans. Conventions are not only for meeting other anime fans but also for meeting their favorite voice actor. A voice actor is someone who is the voice behind a certain character. Since the shows come from Japan, there are people who translate the show and the voice actors give a new voice to the characters.
People should watch anime to enjoy the work of a different country. Also, it can help one make friends with the same interest. Anime has different genres so then one can pick the one they like the best to watch. Find a local convention and see the fans with their cosplay. See how amazing the anime world is and how many appreciate the culture of a different country. Come and join the anime/ manga world, with amazing people who welcome new people and becomes friends with each other. Don't knock it until you've tried it.