How to Enjoy Anime

Those old Speed Racer cartoons bored you to tears, and Akira felt like a never-ending nightmare. Or maybe you're an anime fan who wishes to convert someone. Clearly some sort of intervention is called for, but where to start?

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• anime DVD
• anime video
• manga

1. Remember first and foremost that anime is not a genre. Although certain genres are associated with it, anime is an art form that encompasses every conceivable cinematic genre. An individual anime title may span many genres.
2. Look for anime titles that include subjects or genres that you enjoy in literature and film. For instance, if you are a fan of vampire tales, consider Vampire Hunter D or Hellsing.
3. Read manga (Japanese comic books). Reading the manga version of a given anime may give you a greater appreciation for the characters and story, similar to reading a novel that has been adapted to film.
4. Treat anime like a good foreign film, watching the original, uncut version with Japanese dialogue and subtitles. Some dubbing is quite well done, but it's still dubbing.
5. Watch anime on tape or DVD to get the full experience. Most of the anime shown on television has been censored or otherwise modified for Western audiences, often mangling the story.
6. Try anime titles that have been especially popular with Western audiences, such as Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, Spirited Away, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, and Trigun.
7. Solicit recommendations from anime-watching friends who have tastes similar to yours. If you like the same books, movies and television, you may like the same anime too.

Tips & Warnings

• A good home theater will improve your viewing experience.
• Heighten the cross-cultural experience by enjoying Japanese snacks while you watch.
• Having different interests can be healthy for relationships. Sharing an interest in anime can be fun, but there's no need to force it.
• Much like live-action film, anime sometimes contains sexual or racial stereotypes, or adult content. Hentai anime is sexually explicit or pornographic. Read reviews and pay close attention to content warnings.