How you view Anime now

[solidoxygen]

Have you felt your standards towards what you watch change? Are your attitudes or expectation a lot different than when you first discovered anime?

I know it has for me. I used to feel completely absorbed into the show whether it be Love Hina, Chobits, or DearS (those were my first shows, haha). I'd think about them all the time when I was not watching them. I remembered when a panty shot in a show would be surprising and would both excite me and make me nervous. Nowadays ಠ_ಠ I would rather not see some girls disgusting and uninteresting underpants.

Meanwhile, I am willing to watch shows that I would never have watched before. For example Madoka Magika is definitely more surprising when you are already familiar with the typical Magical Girl trope.

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tl;dr
How have your views and expectations of anime changed from since you first started really watching anime?

[tambulance]

When I first started watching anime I only was interested in darker stuff or samurai stuff. My first 3 were Bleach, Deathnote and Ergo Proxy. I didn't think any anime about vampires would be good but I had to change that thought after watching Blood plus, Trinity Blood and Fortune Arterial. I am now looking for more lol. I never thought I would ever watching anything like Clannad. I don't even know what to classify Mushishi as. Its one of my favorite anime lol.

My views of anime in general have changed beyond belief. I thought it was just a fad at first and pretty much all the same lol. I very quickly learned differently.

[Reanimated]

It hasn't really changed much.. But mind you the older anime have much deeper meanings and lessons.. I like ecchi, yes i do, but some anime i see just have ecchi for the sake of having them. And I don't like that.

[Novus]

It does'nt really matter to me. I just watch anime if i like it or the story plot interests me in a way that i can't stop watching it.

[Kanami]

Eh, I started with animes for kids... when I was 4...? xD Than it's always magical girls etc shows, moving on to dark-ish/wars(Blood+, Samurai X etc). I prefer the characters I liked fully clothed actually. =3= and my favorite nowadays are those that include war, mafia, mystery, adventure etc.(D.G.M, Fullmetal, KHR etc... digimon(-05)?)<-top favorites, order. <3

Oh, and I watch anything but H if it's interesting enough. Just not that crazy...

[musikalles]

I haven really changed my tastes as mch as Ive just learned more about what else is out there. There's also a bit more maturity or tolerance in my approach, or whatever you want to call it when I don't mind violence or other kinds of adult content as much. I'm not gonna go watch a blood and guts thriller any time soon but I wont be turned off to a show that is a bit bloody and that is my only qualm about it.

[Bunislipper]

I first started watching when I was around 11 or 12 years old I used to like things like Elfen Lied very gory things and I didnt really find any interest in any other anime...but now I like the typical anime with love and romance I think it's so kawaiii :3 but some of them are a bit too much still and ofcourse I still enjoy my lovely Gore now and then :P I like anime with twists as well like Death note was a suprising ending to me :]

[FiQ5149]

i still remember, a long time ago..(LOL), that i am picky when watching anime..
if the art is not good or pretty, i would just dumped that show.
i would watch only anime with a good art regardless of story...

BUT..

Today, i am not that picky anymore. i will watch the anime even if the art is crappy..because what important is the story.
if the art is nice and the story is good, i would consider it as a bonus to me.

[Snoozy19]

Feels like I posted in a similar thread like this somewhere here.... *not sure, could be from another Forum

- You can say that my standpoint regarding anime is a whole lot different from the first time I ever watched an anime (which would have to be Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal). Although after that my view for anime hasn't really changed that much. Maybe I understand something new about it every year I guess.

What I'm getting at is the when I watched Samurai X, I thought that all anime series was like that (mainly because that was the only one I watched during that time). I soon figured out that there are tons of other genres that can make even a grown man such as myself cry due to the pure excellence of the storyline (FMA)or due to the suckyness of the anime itself.... I mean come on!!! ----> stares at "Sakura Wars"

[Jsrf38]

Nope, not really. I am a pretty simple person when it comes to being amused. I guess that's a good thing and a bad thing, isn't it? xD

[B0b]

My views on anime have never changed and will never change. I watch them both for enjoyment and for the purpose of increasing the library of stories in my head (of course I discard crappy ones). As for the ecchi thing that everyone has been complaining about I personally believe that we are near the end of that era; the writing society is beginning to advance and learn that useless panty shots aren't going to capture their audience forever. I have been especially impressed with the next gen storytelling styles of some new animes, and the unique satire of mahou shoujo that is Madoka Magica.

By the way shouldn't this be in anime talk?

[IndI311]

yes it has,..
when i started to watching anime i just took everything in to my eyes i could,..
but after a great amount of anime i started to understand what i like..
and its quite hight standards, just like everything i got interest for..
but thats quite the problem now,..
since the anime industry is just doing cheap stuff right now..
so its quite hard to find anything good besides those cheap ecchi or moe mainstream..
thought there are some good series or they might good because theres nothing better then this..
but as B0b said,
thise seasen there are some nice animes with they own style what i really like,
expacially LEVEL E which is old school art design packed with new age CG's
and fractlale is quite an interesting one, too
which can befound here in OS
but there still other series out there which cant be found in OS yet,
like X'amd or Votoms

[Kobowo]

Mine has changed as well. Before I would be surprised at the most common anime cliches but now its all just too common that I just watch it as if nothing happend. Scenes that would normally surprise you or make your heart go doki doki now just makes me stare at it...oh and I also learned to appreciate more genre of anime....before I would only look for fighting and shounen anime now I also watch romance drama shoujo gore etc....

[IceykOpi]

i watch more different genres as compared to the past. started to enjoy romance animes as well.

[Mystical]

My view has changed and changed every time I watch a new show, I like animes like Dragonball, Bleach and etc... but when I saw K-On! and Kaichou wa Maid-sama, I began to take interest in other animes like Toradora!, Clannad, and Amagami SS well surely did. That's all I can say.

[asaness01234]

For me, yes it is

I remember my first anime I've taken a liking to was Yu Yu Hakusho and Dragonball which is aired on a local channel at my place. Then by the time I was watching anime online, I've taken a liking to harem, fanservice stuff.

But it has changed now, I'm looking for some unique series even though its quite old like Cowboy Bebop. Fanservice stuff rarely sells to me now, also the one's that have crappy to no plot.

[EvilSnowman]

I used to watch it every now and then. But now since i have my own laptop IT IS PART OF MY LIFE!

[DoubleZeta]

I want the producers to take a little bit time into taking consideration what anime to be released... They surely are giving cr*p for the last few years and only a few gold strands in the stack of hay.

The stories are not that concrete... it's just filled with ecchi, not that I'm against it. But the point is, they should churn out more animes with a satisfying ending or something that would seal up all the gaps as not to create more sequels. Milking the cow dry is bad, really bad.

[mlcdl]

Before, I'm only after at those fighting type of anime specially adventure ones. And I dont have any interest on romance,seinen,psychological before not until I have seen some of this genre in some great anime.

And as I watch anime, I found it as not only for entertainment but also a module of education and still I still look anime like this since that I seeenough anime that can teach lesson and such. Comedy anime like of baka to test have lessons as well even though it would not be noticeable at first.

That being said, I am thinking of looking back all the anime I drop before(well I am doing this for 2 months already) just to understand the plot and see why this anime got survive or become famous.

[Nichibotsu]

As far as I can tell, my experience with anime/manga has actually changed quite drastically over the years. In fact, since I've joined this site after I've already had many titles under my belt, I pretty much had to think hard about the next thing to watch. Most of what I would watch would almost always be action oriented, and I used to get a thrill out of watching all of the fighting and gory stuff when I was a kid/teen. But now as an adult, it almost pains me to even look at action-oriented titles because I'm always thinking "It might just be another boring slash-em title with a story I've already heard a thousand times". So now I am watching things (like drama >.<) that I've never really paid attention to (or cared about) and I find it to be quite satisfying and a change of pace. Also, I think it is a great idea that we Otaku are able to socialize with each other and provide each other with feedback. In fact, I don't think I would've been interested in something I've spent a great deal of time and investment if that were an issue. So that is why I think this is a wonderful site.
I believe that our expectations in life as we mature become more solid, regardless if it is anime or not. As long as you continue to try new things and see new sites, you will never grow tired of what you love :).

[btm69]

When i first started anime i would always go to wiki to find out abt the ending of the story to see if it's sad. and i might just stop watching the anime halfway if the plot is abit weird or has a sad ending. but now it's quite normal to me to see sad stories. like Clannad was so sad but it is an amazing anime!
and the lastest episode of fairy tail was seriously T__________T

[Biak911]

I think the animes right now can't defeat the ones i used to watch...Like around the 90's until the early 2000's. (I feel so old when I site years) I mean they can't compete with some of the awesome plots they had back then. They used to have plots about the wrongs of the world. But then again this is a new era and new things are being tested. I'm fine with the anime's now...I just miss watching the ones I grew up with hehe ^_^

[clipse026]

My views have definitely changed. I used to watch generic comedy and ecchi stuff for pure enjoyment. Eventually I realized there was more out there with better stories that I could relate to or that at least challenged my mind. Now I hardly ever watch the generic stuff anymore unless it's to take a break in between the psychological, philosophical and thriller stuff.

[xiety]

Everything Changed
Ecchi was used to be small things like skirts being blown by the winds and now its beyond
some Plots were shortened since the anime contains 12 episodes or less
Filler episodes are not included before now they are adding it

[Night blade]

Pesonally I do't thin my style has changed at all... as long as theres action, a good story, believeable characters, violence-blood or not sometimes, will keep my satisfied..=P

[DwinLylthx]

The First Anime I've Watched is Bleach, One Piece and Naruto Because It's the First three Anime I've Watched in Television. Then So on, I've seen my Brother Watching Some Animes then I've got Interested. Then I started from Ah My Goddess and Prince of Tennis. Then, Hajime no Ippo New Challenger, Samurai X Then so on.

[solidoxygen]

Mine has changed as well. Before I would be surprised at the most common anime cliches but now its all just too common that I just watch it as if nothing happend. Scenes that would normally surprise you or make your heart go doki doki now just makes me stare at it...oh and I also learned to appreciate more genre of anime....before I would only look for fighting and shounen anime now I also watch romance drama shoujo gore etc....

That's interesting since it seems like a pretty common trend. Lots of us get into anime thanks to fighting and action anime, but we have broadened our horizons.

I'm interested to see that most people have branched out to different things rather than refined and centered onto certain genres.

[SayWhat]

I think my views on anime changed. First I was like a guy who only watches action animes. Then somebody recommended me Clannad and I totally loved it. After watching Clannad I starting watching love, romance animes. Nowadays I watch romance, action, horror, psychological, mecha, mystery and my list goes on.

[xveshx]

I think like most people my views have changed as I've gotten older. The more lighthearted anime like Dragonball, Hunter x hunter or Kenshin were what I watched growing up. Over time I've moved on to more serious shows however that's not to say I still don't enjoy a comedic show. In fact I still have fond memories of those old shows so I wouldn't say my view have changed more so they have just expanded.

I'd also like to mention that I think part of it also has to do with how Anime has expanded here in the US. Things have come along way as far as getting more shows commercially released out here. They have also become more mainstream and are not just thought of as kids cartoons anymore. Sites like this one also didn't exist so it was hard to even watch some of the current Anime out in Japan. It really is a great time to be an Otaku.
:woohehe:

[rinoa]

Honestly, my test in anime has not really changed from what I've been picky about before, but that's because if I found an anime boring I wouldn't watch it back then period >< Now I try out an anime to see if it's interesting regardless of what others say or think, but I do take their opinions and decide of an anime is really worth it. I do see that I have changed abit in my taste for action and other animes, not just romance :] I hope to expand my horizon and not really narrow it. I guess that's just my 2 cents ^^

[solidoxygen]

I remember how I used to think falling down and accidentally groping a girl was funny.

Thank goodness I've grown out of that phase.

[Ceres]

My tastes have changed considerably since I began watching anime. Considering it's been more than ten years since I "officially" became a fan of the medium, I would say that's only natural.

When I began watching anime I was strictly limited to what was available on television, and, to a lesser extent, what VHS tapes our video rental stores had in stock. There was a wide variety on television at that time (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Dragon Ball, etc.) so I never found myself pigeon-holed into liking a specific genre. Instead, I was able to sample a bit of everything and choose for myself what I liked.

I always found the shonen, action-oriented shows to be a bit too tedious for my tastes so I generally avoided them. I also didn't care much for the comedy in many of the shows I saw so I learned to avoid the that genre as well. Given my sex I naturally seemed to gravitate more towards female-centric shows. Fortunately I've never been much a giggly girl--and I certainly don't care for yaoi or shows of that nature--so I was lucky to avoid that pitfall which so many of my sex seem to fall into of only like bishoujo-laden rom-coms. I think it goes without saying that I was extremely . . . picky . . . about what I watched.

Maturity does wonders though. After I quickly exhausted what the United States had to offer in the days before the Internet was ubiquitous and DVDs/Blu-rays were the standard, I had long stretches of time to truly think about what I was seeking in terms of entertainment. Nowadays I'm not nearly so finicky as I was once.

Although I'm still not a huge fan of shonen shows I'll give them a try so long as I catch them when they first air (the long running shows are just too daunting for me to consider investing my time). Beelzebub and Ichiban Ushiro no Daimao are two great examples of the type of show I never would have given the time of day when I was younger. I've learned not to "judge a book by its cover" as they say.

Conversely, I used to be a huge mahou shoujo fan but now I've very careful about which shows I choose to watch. Puella Magi Madoka Magica was the first in that genre that I've watched in many years because I've grown tired of watching the same old tropes appear again and again and again. I've tried a handful of the others that have come out recently, but they all just seem so bland (sorry Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha fans!). I have hope that the success of Madoka will reinvigorate the genre and we'll see a few more decent shows in the near future.

The same thing can be said about the sci-fi genre. It seems like the days of the original Shin Seiki Evangelion and Ima, Sokoni Iru Boku. Honestly, the last two shows of the genre that I can think of which were actually good--and didn't rely on fanservice or ecchi nonsense--were Ergo Proxy and Noein - Mou Hitori no Kimi. It's been more than five years since the world was treated to shows of that caliber. What I wouldn't give to see some more shows like them!

So, all in all, I can definitely say that my tastes have changed over the years. I have a much better understanding of what I like and don't like, what I'm willing to give a chance and what I know to ignore without a second thought ^_^

[kyou01]

hmm
when I was 3 years old I love watching card captor sakura, detective conan or something in common (anime for kids lol)
when I was something like 7-10 years old I love watching romantic,slice of life, school life type of anime like special A, yamato nadeshiko , ouran high school host club etc..
and when I turned 11 until now I got kinda bored watching those kinds of anime anime and I rarely watch (and sometimes if I'm going to watch I will not finish it) those kinds of anime, because right now I love watching action , science fiction, magical, adventure etc.. like tegami bachi, hetalia etc.. and anime with lots of blood on it like kuroshitsuji , higurashi and many more

[BrokenAngel]

When I first discovered anime I hated subs and would watch nothing but dubs :/ Now if I try to watch some of the dubs I loved I can't stand to watch it. I also refused to watch romance anime, boy was I strange. I think it's funny I had no idea how many anime were really out there when I first entered the anime world. I was pretty little when I really got into anime so I don't remember much else but I know I've gone through major changes anime wise :P

[evilwil]

Yes I have felt that way when I watched CODE GEASS r1 n r2!.... i was shocked of how good the gore was!..how good the drama was!..on on how good the story plot was and now!...even good animes are not enough!..they should be better than what i watched

[hotshot75]

Anime for me is now a learning experience of everyday people around us.

[newbie97]

Back then, I would watch any anime and like it even if they are crappy (maybe because then I thought it was good), but now
I tend to be picky and only watch what I think is good

[Arathius]

Im a lot more open to what ill watch. Anything some1 advises me to watch ill check out pretty much. As i grew up i stopped liking ecchi as much though and now i try to avoid anything with an ecchi tag lol :3 A few exceptions from stuff i know isnt bad but for the most part thats my only no-no in anime

[hambo]

once you get more into anime and experience more things your tastes and so do your views change on anime at first i only watched shonen but once i started watching more i started getting into other things its time and experience that change your preference but anime is always there (at least for me it is)

[error345]

well from what you said it seems you've mature out of the ecchi of chobits/dears, and now have different likes in anime, well i ..still like the same genres, but i'm now open to more, and have more experience in animes itself..

[Reizero]

when i first discovered anime, i didn't pay much attention to it... i actually thought it was kinda dumb. but now, i think it's amazing in every way. i don't know what i'd do if i didn't have it. I found out that there's a lot more meaning behind anime and a truth that you have to look for.
So my views on anime now are completely different from what my views were when I first heard of it.

[yurinino]

ohh..almost the same to others..
at first I thought anime is kinda a boring but..when I started to watch..it hooked me...
so now is different in the past..eh?

[benito18]

at first I don't really like anime but when I started watching dragonball when I was just a kid I started to like anime up until now ^_^

[GMSieghart]

well to ecchi~ is not bad too ! but watching it everyday its not good also ! :D! so i watched every anime! and i am more! of ! action! :D

[aprince19]

hmM... anime can change the point of view or belief of the watcher... anime characters always give their best and wont give-up... and it's the opposite of us people.. so when you watched an anime then get hooked to it... it serves kinda inspiration to you

[iHoriz0n]

well, peer pressure is one factor i would take in, when my friends strongly recommend an anime to watch, i would watch it, however i would take into consideration too the story plot, the characters and whether there is romance and comedy inside, i don't really like way too serious anime ._.

[Nickay]

For some, it became bad influeance to teenagers like me. But it didn't change my view on anime.
I still think anime is a way for me to enjoy not thinking of the reality for the moment.
It's the time where I can be free in the fantasy world.

[cleomarie]

During my early days as an anime fan, I only used to watch animes that involves romance and comedy coz my parents don't want us, me and my brother, to watch animes that are violent like those with fighting scenes, wars and the like.

But as I grow older, I wanted to try watching those genres that I don't usually watch like Action, Adventure, Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen, Violence, Mechas, etc.

The more I watch animes from different categories, it's like I also have matured as an otaku and my love for anime have grown much deeper.

[GMSieghart]

for me i want tio watch anime that has so many twist and has interesting plot ! and hass a little comedy! :D

[PolPunisher]

I first got into anime when I was in college because all of my friends were talking about the different shows like Naruto and Bleach. I was curious so I watched Cowboy Bebop and liked it a lot. Now, I watch anime that fills my tastes and desires. I just wished there were more adult-type anime's to watch though.