Your History and Future of Fandom

[Chiibi]

MODS: Please don't merge this with 'Discovering Anime'. It's a different topic.

I'm asking questions because....I'm curious as to how many people are in the same boat as me.
And is it a nice boat?

Hurhur now that the lame opening gag is out of the way, let's start!

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: It's definitely been around fourteen or fifteen years for me! Woot.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I LOVE all animation. I went through that annoying 'Japanophile' period most teen anime fans go through where I was like "JAPANIMATION RULES AND AMERICAN SUCKS!" But I realized I was being an idiot. I still adore all types. Don Bluth's work is definitely one worth mentioning. But I'm writhing in agony over this whole 'traditional animation is passe, CGI is where it's at' mindset America has now. ;_______; GIVE ME BACK MY CHILDHOOD!

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: HAHAHA what DON'T I collect!? Figures, cards, posters, OSTs, doujinshi, zenin, furoku, yes, it's a well-rounded collection. and I'm running out of space but that doesn't stop me

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: LOL, THEY HATE IT. Mostly they hate that I'm spending fortunes on it and that I clutter the house with it. They're indifferent to me watching/reading. If I could enjoy it at no cost, they wouldn't care.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: ...um...*cringes* .......thousands. Definitely.....thousands. SHHHH!

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: Not really. Just matured a bit. XD I'm more cynical now so I've outgrown sappy soap opera-like shoujo with weak heroines. Give me a strong, smart girl who doesn't always need help! (If she's still a child, she's excused lol)

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: Nope! It's still shoujo for me all the way! Just better ones.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: Three times. Sailormoon--->Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne---->Full Moon Wo Sagashite. Full Moon gets a ten-year award. I still haven't found something I obsess over more than it. XD

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Yes! For boys, I used to favor the playful pervy 'playboy' type. Now I've been sucked into the irresistible charm of moody tsunderes. THEY'RE SO CUTE!! XD
I really love loli girls and shota boys now too but I was unaware of them as a younger fan way back when. I still like bad boys but they can't be TOO bad. Meaning any sexual, physical, or mental abuse on a girl is O-U-T!

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: YES. You know how in lots of 'summer' H-game art, you see bishoujo girls with light blue popsicles in their mouths?
THOSE POPSICLES ARE F*CKING DELICIOUS. TRY THEM. I'm so glad the Japanese mart in my city sells them! ;_; I keep a box of them in my fridge all year round!!
These Gari-Gari-kun ones here!
Also GREEN cream soda! Oh my gawd! I always wondered what that bright green drink was that Usagi always drank at the parlor in Sailormoon so out of curiosity, I ordered it when I went to Japan. It's so good! But I can't find it in the US!
Amazon, WRY?


Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Not at first. I had friends who loved hentai (for how laughably bad it was) but it really wasn't for me. Then, when I entered my twenties, I got into shipping. Heavy shipping. Heavy shipping enough that now when I see an 18+ doujinshi of any of my favorite pairings, I SNATCH IT UP! XD Screw fanfiction, gimme pretty pictures of ________-kun and _____-chan DOING IT! Ahahaha....XD

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: YES. Socially, creatively, and believe it or not, educationally. Without it, I never would have learned Japanese or have the desire to study it.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: Pile on the Doctor Who, classic 80s movies, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars!!
And Memes. Can't forget the internet memes.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: I've often wondered. Then I became friends with a member of the PA Ball-jointed Doll Club. Her name is Linda. She loves shoujo manga and collects everything related to the Shinsengumi. She loves Dexter's Laboratory and Hey Arnold! as well. She is the same age as my mother. She is wise and she is awesome.
And I can't help thinking, "I bet this is going to be me in the future". And I'm okay with that!

[NoemiChan]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: A fan? Hmm... probably around 2000, I think I'm in highschool back then, no specific anime.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A:Yup, Warner Brothers... the usual "for kids only" cartoon. I watch anime for the pretty girls.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A:No, don't have the money don't have the access. It's the cash, really...

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: NO! They want me to grow up.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: P50 ($1.25). Its for the 1 day unlimited internet access to my notebook to see the latest episodes and releases.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: Yup. My day is ain't complete without watching a single anime. I always try to update myself with the latest series. I experience withdrawal when I went to Cebu.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: Romance and Action. Sorry, I'm not into Yuri or Yaoi.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: I don't really know.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Yup, from heroes to cute girls.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: No. Japanese foods are expensive as well as the ingredients. I tried to eat shrimp tempura but nearly throw up.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Ever since I seen H anime in high school, I've struggle to find non H and H animes...

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: It encourage me to become an animator....well, just hope..

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: Tsundere and Moe girls. Lolis, still considering...

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A:NO, NO... Anime is my life!!!

[Chiibi]

Originally Posted by GenjiChan

A: NO! They want me to grow up.

Aw! Tell them this person who is older than even you says "They are just SQUARES!"

A: No. Japanese foods are expensive as well as the ingredients.

This is true....

I tried to eat shrimp tempura but nearly throw up.

That dish is my favorite. XD But I don't eat it with the sauce. I don't like the sauce. :[

A: It encourage me to become an animator....well, just hope..

I wish you luck! I wanted to be one too but I don't wanna do CGI. DX I'm sticking to drawing manga for now. :3

[Kyuu]

I'll whine and complain right now. If you want us to answer a set of questions -- as least, make a template; so that we don't have to delete your answers while writing up our answers.

But to answer your first question:

Almost 20 years. I remember the days when hardly anyone even knew what anime was.

[SilverSyko]

Ooh I like this topic. I'll give it a go.~

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?

A: It will have been 4 years in a week or two. May 2008 was when I broke into non-mainstream anime and pretty much the medium as a whole.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?

A: Absolutely. I've watched many cartoons in the past and I still do. I'm also an avid follower of Disney Animated Studios and Pixar. I never miss a film from them. Though it would be nice to see some more traditionally animated films opposed to CGI ones.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?

A: Hardly. I only have 5 figures (2 of them were gifts), 2 wall scrolls, and 2 plushies related to anime. I do still buy Yu-Gi-Oh cards now and then though if that counts.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?

A: I don't think they really care. They are aware I enjoy such things but I'm usually pretty aloof when it comes to them.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?

A: About 200 to 300 dollars a year. Only spent at my local anime convention every August. Not all of that goes toward anime either. Usually all anime I watch is online for free.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?

A: Depends on what constitutes as "then", but if it means when I first got into the medium, then I'd say my tastes have become more distinct, rather than changed. I tended to watch a lot more when I first got into anime because I wasn't aware about most of the different kinds and the various cultures surrounding it. Recently I watch a lot less because my tastes have been defined and there's not much I see that appeals to them.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?

A: Mmmmm, I've always had a liking for adventure shows with lots of cool action and creative worlds. It's still hard to say though, because a lot of stuff I like is all over the place in terms of genre.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?

A: Only once. It was Higurashi no Naku Koro ni for several months after it introduced me to anime, but then One Piece came along and I just fell in love with it. It's been my favorite ever since.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?

A: This is easily a no. Cool male characters that have super fighting skills have always been my favorites. Whether they are hero or villain doesn't matter. I find cool females are very hard to come by in anime, but there are a few I have recognized as being so.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?

A: I've only tried sushi, but I was aware of that even before anime came along. I hated it and nearly puked when I ate it. Otherwise no. I am more knowledgeable of Japanese cuisine, snacks and eating habits thanks to anime though.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?

A: I find any kind of porn disgusting. There's no entertainment value in watching people having sex.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?

A: A little bit. I probably wouldn't have discovered such a great forum like AnimeSuki if it wasn't for that. I've met a few people through this hobby too. Not really friends per say but it's nice.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD

A: I'm a HUGE video gamer. For well over a decade I've been into video games and it's easily the thing I enjoy doing the most. I'm knowledgeable of many other fandoms but I would not say I'm a part of them.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?

A: Hard to say. It's already something I only have a secondary interest in, so unless more interesting stuff appears before me I may end up dropping it all-together in several years or so.

[Vexx]

Q&A for fun, ah I'll bite -

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: I've been a "fan" 3 distinct periods in my life I guess. 1st in the 60s during the "japanimation days" of Speedracer, etc. 2nd in the 90s when my kids were mindlinked to the dubbed Pokemon series and I had to learn the card game. 3rd in the Fall of 2000 when that guy who writes Megatokyo enlightened me that there was much more to anime than "boom and shouting".
Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I've been an animation fan since I watched Looneytoons on Saturday morning in the 1960s... and Gumby&Pokey, Jonny Quest,... and Claymation, Terrytoons, etc. I love all forms of animation.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: Mostly I collect CDs (soundtracks, character songs), DVDs, and PVC figures. There's an occasional phone chain, t-shirt, and stuff.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: My sons look at me strangely on occasion and my wife thinks I spend too much on it. But they're fans as well, just more casual.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: Including manga? At least a couple of thousand a year. Its actually a bit complicated because I often buy and then resell later, especially the figures.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: When was then? Um... originally I tended to watch the "harem comedies" but after a few of those I started expanding into a lot of subgenre - I still dislike "boom and shout" but I've got a handful that I liked.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: I never really had a "favorite genre" as much of what I like is hard to classify and shoujo/shounen/seinen/josei publishers all put it out.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: Many times. I can give a list of 20 or so that I have particularly fond feelings about.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: I'm rather attached to particular kinds of tsundere.... the loli-tsundere happens to resemble my wife, but the tall, slender, black haired miko tsundere also catches my eye (e.g. Motoko, Love Hina is and has remained one of my top five characters even though I've come to find the series irritating).

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: The only two foods I can think I hadn't already tried (I married into a Japanese-American family) were Ramune and Taiyaki. All the rest I eat fairly regular (though I still can't make an okonomiyaki properly, meh)


Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Effectively, I was already long an adult for my serious phase of anime fandom. I've looked at the hentai... most of it sucks and by that I mean the stories. I've run across a few that kept my attention and some research on tentacle rape history shows that it *long* precedes anime and is part of legend and myth (e.g. The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife).

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: It definitely accelerated my interest in learning Japanese. I was already a student of the rest of the culture. It gave me extra points of contact with my son's friends (e.g. gaming, anime, band, debate, japanese, cosplay, etc)

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: Engineer/NASA/D&D/sci-fi... was on the internet before there was a WWW. I ran one of the earlier websites (a website for a neurological research institute). I think the earliest evidence of me on the Internet is around 1987. Before that I was playing with Compuserve and a local BBS.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: I know people 20 years older than me who have nerd/geek hobbies. I suppose its possible that one can get to the point where they've literally seen every variation on a theme. I haven't found a science fiction book in quite a while that I was able to get into ("seen this plot before"). But so far.... the offerings have evolved somewhat that usually there's a FEW things I find each season to keep my interest.

[bhl88]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: When I was a kid, I just watched stuff at random. Then when I saw Haruhi and Lucky Star I got hooked and started buying.
Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: Just anime (the others shrunk over time but I can't remember why I stopped watching).

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: Mostly I collect DVDs and Blu-Rays (mostly imported) and will take the dubbed ones to listen to, and PVC figures. There's an occasional umbrella, poster, t-shirt, and stuff.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: They believe it's still a drawing, so nope.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: Including manga? At best a couple hundred without anything good and a thousand or more with a good season.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: When was then? I used shotgun and see what sticks to me (mostly girl characters on the list).

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: I never really had a "favorite genre" as much of what I like is hard to classify.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: Plenty of them, so I would say that it increased.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Mostly any girl. For the guys, probably those who have achieved GAR minimally.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: Sushi, tempura, miso.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Nope.
Q: Really?
A: ........ *a beat* Okay, I lied. I did xD. Bloody ones and a little... H?

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: Now I go to the convention and meet more people with the same interests and degree of fandom. I'm not alone anym- *マミる*

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: I was cool with any type.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: Doubtful (though I'll admit that there'll be nothing original out there anymore).

[NorthernFallout]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: Not sure. 7-8 years would be an estimate. It's quite short.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: It really depends. Few other animated works interested me (Dead Space being an exception.) I suppose I'm really just interested in anime like that.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: None.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: I don't talk about it much. They don't understand and don't really care. Living alone in this case helps. My GF, though, understands and has watched a little herself.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: None. AAAAARRR.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: Not really. A little more "refined" maybe. I prefer more advanced anime now, but I don't mind 4-komas either.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: No. It has always been Sci-Fi/Cyberpunk.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: No. Still is GitS.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Never really had one. If they are written well, almost anything works, bar Tsuntsun. Batshit insane yanyans are a fav, though.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: Negatif.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: Exposing me to more stories and more, and different, media culture, yes. In other ways, no.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: Books and gaming are my primary hobbies, so yeah.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: Negatif. Changing tastes, maybe. But a story is a story.

[Aesthetic Shampoo]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: Easy one. First day of high school, i saw some guy watching naruto in the library, and things went on from there. So...6 years.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
I'm not counting Pixar and Disney movies that hit the big screen...so no. Only anime and stuff close to it, like Avatar.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
I have plans...first step is acquiring money.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
They're indifferent about it, but i think only because they don't know the "dark side" of anime

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
Zero. And yes, i do feel guilty.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
Yes. In the beginning, it was all shounen action, and anything without episode long fights in it were crap. Now all the shounen yelling and stupid asspull moves make me facepalm.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
It was all about the shounen....until i read ichigo 100%. Now i'm a complete sucker for romance. Though in a way, the romance genre was ruined for me because i was exposed to the best of the best first.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
Have never had one,strangely enough.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
Yes...and weirdly. From strong boys to pretty girls....to badass bishies

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
No. But i've always wanted to try Taiyaki, thanks to to-love-ru.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
Completely. I honestly cannot fathom what i would allocate my anime time to if i stopped watching. I also got into Japanese and drawing thanks to it, though i haven't really gotten around to starting, thanks to my personality

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
Reading books is my other hobby. And by books, i don't mean light novels

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
My passion seems to be fading sometimes...but then i call myself crazy and check for updates again

[ddwkc]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: I always loved animation since I was a little kid. Probably I'm being a fan for about 30 years. Big hitters were Marco, Mazinger, Robotech, Dragon Ball, Ranma 1/2, Akira, and Evangelion where I fully gone otaku mode. I had my share of Korean animation too.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I like all kind of animations. French, Korean, American, you name it. Fantasia is still one of my favorites of all time.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: I like to collect stuff. I'm not big into figures as I don't have a proper space from them, so I just have my DVD/BR collection and a small doujinshi/manga collection.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: My parents think this is kid's stuff and I should outgrow out of it. However, they don't really bother me much about it. My siblings aren't into anime, but they like it in small doses. Gf is kinda like that too.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: Definitively it's a money sinker.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: my taste goes with the flow. As long I have something animated I'm fine with it.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: Yeah, I was kinda big on sci-fi stuff, but lately I'm more in favor of drama or slice-of-life stuff.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: Not really. My top 10 maybe changed a bit thou.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: I don't have a favorite character type. Like my overall taste, it goes with the flow.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: hum I can't really say anime introduced any food/drink to me because these kinda food are part of my cultural heritage already.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Discovering the world of 18+ doujinshi I guess. I'm not that big into hentai animes and games.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: yeah, actually there are pretty good amount of animes that helped shape me as a person. I wish I'd watched some of 2000s anime as a kid/teenager (like Twin Spica, Planetes, and so on).

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: I collect videogames and Magic the Gathering too. I used to collect stamps and other collectible cards. I was a big fan of TMNT cartoon too.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: not really. Maybe if Korean animation and manga start to take over although not anytime soon.

[Eragon]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: I think its been 5 years. I was 14 when I stumbled upon Animax and I thank my constant T.V. surfing habit for that

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I watched everything animated since as long as I can remember. Flintstones, Jetsons, Hey Arnold, Aladdin, Snow White......yup just about everything(including animated movies ofc).

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: Nope. But maybe I'll buy the Saber figurine someday(when I start earning so that I don't have to answer the awkward looks on my parents face when I ask them for money to buy a doll >__>). Right now all money is directed towards gaming

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: They don't really care. Probably due to the fact that I don't watch much anime in front of them. Instead I watch Discovery and History channel

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: Nothing Internet is free to use at my college dorms. So, I get to see anime for free

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: Well I watched most of my anime on T.V. up until recently. And they showed shows from every genre so, I didn't exactly have preference for anything back then. Now, I've become rather intolerant for high school(the recent exception being Sakamichi~) & ecchi shows and heavily stress on a strong plot.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: I didn't have any preferred genre to start with so can't say anything has changed. But I do have grown quite fond of the Yuri genre.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: Hmm.....I don't really have just one top of the list favorite. I consider my favorites are all on the same level. But if I really had to pick I guess it would be Berserk.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: I liked and still like strong characters(male or female) with a realistic outlook on the world and who are kind when they have to be and ruthless when need be.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: No.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Yeah, I did. But it was very short lived as I was facepalming too much to watch more than 5-min of it. I've shifted to reading Yuri doujins - they are at least a little bit more tolerable

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: It has influenced some parts of my life quite significantly. And thanks to it I found this forum and made a few friends

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: Gaming, History and Science

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: Maybe, maybe not. Actually, no. As long as there's even one show in a season that I like, I'll persevere.

[MUAHAHAHAHAHA]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?

It's been so long I can't really provide an exact period. 12 years?

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
No offense, but I have never once enjoyed American cartoons. It's too episodic, and that's one of the main reason why I prefer anime. There is a plot going on.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
I don't collect figurines and stuff, because first, it's bloody expensive and second, I am not good at keeping my room tidy. I prefer to watch anime, and enter fangirl mode staring at the lappy....

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
No. My brother is always saying how anime is Japan's way of conquering the world once again. I am not sure if he said it in jest, but I ignore him anyway. As for my parents, they think anime is weird for having boobs or panty scenes. I don't even watch ecchi animes frequently, but somehow they always happen to witness those scenes.


Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
0.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
Definitely. When I first began, I got obsessed with bishounen and watcch any darn freaking animes with them in it, regardless of whether the plot sucks or not. Over the years, I have begun to find them really boring. I have moved on from light shoujo to darker genres. I now prefer something deeper. I even want guys with flawed looks!

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?

Used to be only romance, but now drama, thriller, science fiction and fantasy.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
One does not have only one favourite anime title.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
Yes, I used to care only for their looks. Now, I prefer heroes/heroines who are badass, cool yet caring and sensitive at times. I really, really, really dislike emo characters. I don't mind if they are emo for a few episodes but pls don't make it their inherent characteristics. I will just go crazy and shoot my lappy. I also despise weak characters, as in they are always saying I am weak, useless and blah blah blah.


Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
Oh yes! Cooking master boy! I once attempted to make golden fried rice but ofc, I was unsuccessful. But it was thanks to that anime that I was introduced to many types of Chinese food. Not that I need any more introduction since I am Chinese myself but it definitely reinforce my love for it.


Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
I did attempt a few times but for some reason, I was turned off. Well, I already have a number of mature novels, so..............


Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
Yeah, I'm like the anime ambassador. I have always tried my best promoting animes to ppl I know. But what irritates me the most is that they perceive boobs and panty shots scenes as hentai. Sometimes I am tired trying to explain to them. Some of them even think I'm a pervert.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
I won't say I'm totally an anime geek, cause I'm also a book geek! Oh well, at least it's balanced there, sort of...........

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?

Hell no. Never. My coffin will probably be decorated with anime stickers

[Sheba]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: Well over 20 years ago. I would say that 1986-87 is when I was aware I was watching japanese animation.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I used to watch Looney Tunes, Disney's short cartoons, and some french cartoon such as Clémentine, Les Mondes Engloutis, Rahan. I would say, while I have definitely outgrown the mentonned Looney Tunes and the Disney shorts, I still have look at the mentioned french cartoons with a loving eye. Perhaps it is the fact that those have an ongoing plot and characters that stuck in my mind and a very compelling universe, a common point with my favorite anime.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: Figurines, this is a hobby I started recently. so far I have only four anime figruine out of 10. The rest are video games, mostly Touhou

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: Father is cool with that. My brothers and sisters are also into anime but not to the extent that I do.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: 50 to 100 euros. A lot more if figurines are counted.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: My tastes have changed a little. I still like some action shounen which may explain why I am more tolerant to the Big Three than most anime fans I met over internet, because I really can't deny those years watching Saint Seiya and Dragon Ball, and Fist of the North Star. However, I was not always a moéfan as I have written in my blog. It took Nasuverse to convert me.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: Yes, I drifted further away from mecha genre, even tho I don't mind watching some Macross. I have grown more accepting of slice-of-life genre, and I grew tired of comedy a la Rumiko Takahashi (aka let's have females abuse males because that's okay).

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: A lot in the past decade and now. 15 years ago, I would tell you Saint Seiya and Macross, and Lodoss. Now you'd have to ask me my top 20 per decade.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Ever since Hokuto no Ken, I prefered the calm and silent badass able to go berserk, like Kenshiro and Guts. This will always be my favorite type of character. I am not quite sold on hotblooded guys who never knew when to shut up. However, a character type I would like to see more would be the "BRO", like Eikichi Onizuka, Yoshitake (from danshi Koukousei no Nichijou) and Fate/Zero Rider. A female character type I favor are the mature ones like the Major Kusanagi or Big Sister or Mother figures.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: Taiyaki, Okonomiyaki and Taiyaki.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Yeap. And I still watch some for the laugh. With a healthy helping of beer.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: Meeting a few people, yes.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: History, Pen & Paper Role Playing Game, Video Games to think of a few.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: Lol no. If I ever get a kid, I want to pass the torch to him/her.

[NoemiChan]

Originally Posted by MUAHAHAHAHAHA

As for my parents, they think anime is weird for having boobs or panty scenes. I don't even watch ecchi animes frequently, but somehow they always happen to witness those scenes.

I felt the same way too, pal!!! That's why I watch anime alone in my room. Doors locked!!!

[MUAHAHAHAHAHA]

Originally Posted by GenjiChan

I felt the same way too, pal!!! That's why I watch anime alone in my room. Doors locked!!!

I did that once but even worse, they thought that I was watching hentai anime

[MisaoFan]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: I'm a big anime fan since I was 9.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I don't mind enjoying western animation (I loved Titeuf and South Park), but I prefer to focus more on anime than everything else, but I do like watching girly stuff like Winx Club. I also do enjoy watching asian channels like Arirang or NHK World.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: I don't collect much anime items, only the small ones.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: My mother let me watching my animes, but my father is just a fool ! My elder sister don't watch much anime, only the old ones (especially Cat's Eye and City Hunter) whereas my other older sister don't watch much anime, but she enjoys it (she loved Fruits Basket and currently enjoys Hiiro no Kakera like me !).

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: The way I collect money is rather cheap (from 0 to 4 euros), but my connection to Internet is free and unlimited.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: Before, I only watch from kiddy anime to mainstream-flavored shounen anime, but now I watch romance shounen filled with more or less fanservice.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: Yes. Romance become more realistic but also uses a lot of fanservice. Also, action was changed from old school to epically modern shounen flavors. I love modern ecchi shows more than the old ones.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: Not really.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Tsunderes become much more aggressive these days, but many of them expresses irritation through words rather than their domestic violence towards the male leads. I don't mind weaklings, because the way they express something like "I am a total weak (based on his/her strength)" looks rather realistic to me, but I only tolerates at some levels. I like any character that is strong or show any positive side.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: Ramen, mochi, and last month I even went to a Japanese restaurant. I would like to eat more Japanese food in the future.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Probably acceptable. But I'm not a fan of mature shows, even though I do like some of them, like Deadman Wonderland. Also I don't like hentai, even though I watched few of them.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: Many people contributed greatly my life, but I disagree some parts they explain. Some of my theories are rather acceptable by anyone.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom?
A: Not all anime fans considered themselves as nerds, but the only other nerdy fandoms I have include video games and books.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: I definitively refuse to outgrow my passion for anime/manga, because my dream is always to become a legendary mangaka.

[NoemiChan]

Originally Posted by MUAHAHAHAHAHA

I did that once but even worse, they thought that I was watching hentai anime

.... well, sometimes...

Wait minute, they know what hentai is?

[Bri]

Fun topic, let's see

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
A: Since the early eighties really, Nirusu no Fushigi na Tabi and Ginga Patrol PJ started it off for me. I've had a few times where my interest faded a bit, most due to having trouble finding new material. Early 90s was the worst, when the word manga (they meant anime) had a very negative connotation due some social conservative crusade to save the children.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
A: I've always loved animation. As a kid I always scoured the TV-guide for animation on whatever channel, I learned English, French and German pretty much because of it

Most western animation in that time was made by Japanese studios anyway. There was quite a bit of overlap so the transition was easy. Disney got back on it's feet during that time. A lot of variation in material. I have to admit that never really got into the later Genndy Tartakovsky /CNstudios material. It's often superbly animated and stylish, but the content never appealed to me. Can't explain it as I do like the 1940s to 1960s WB, Disney and HB cartoons.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
A: Art books first of all, a lot of model kits and high end toys. From my favorite anime titles their DVD/BR, manga and some figures.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
A: My girlfriend is a bigger nerd than I am, so we have an understanding. The only arguments we have is who gets to use what shelf for their collection.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
A: I don't really want to know. If I had put the money I have spend on my hobby over they years in a savings account, it would have probably bought me a Porsche by now. Fun has it's price

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
A: My tastes have widened. Some of my favorite anime now I'd have dismissed without thought years ago.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
A: I'm still heavily biased towards sci-fi although I have grown more demanding over the years.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
A: No not really. Macross captured my imagination pretty early and Kawamori's world building has kept me interested over the years. When it comes to anime movies my favorite has changed quite often, at the moment it's My neighbor Totoro.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
A: Can't say I have a particular type I favor, a character has to strike a cord with me. If they do I don't really care about their type.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
A: No, but I'm not overly fond of Japanese food in general. It's too subtle for me, I'm more inclined towards the spicy/savory cooking of SE Asia.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
A: Not really, I don't avoid mature content nor search for it. Growing up in the liberal environment of central Amsterdam killed all the excitement of "naughty" pictures.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
A: Yup, I've met interesting people because of it. Mecha has influenced my love for engineering, though through chance my career took a different path.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
A: Sci-fi in general, (European) comics, politics and economics, aerospace, I studied aerospace engineering before the whole sector here crashed and I had to switch to my second interest but I still keep up with developments. So plenty. Fortunately I also like football(soccer), so I have something to discuss at work or parties with social Neanderthals

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
A: Doubt it. As long as I'm able to accept and appreciate changing times (aka not getting old mentally), it should be fine.

[fanty]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
I think I became a fan when I saw Hellsing on tv, and that was in 2004, if I remember right. But it was only when I got an internet connection in 2006 that I started watching large quantities of anime.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
I like traditional animation in general. In my personal Hierarchy Of Mediums, animation is #1. But I don't like stuff like anthropomorphism or extremely cartoony character designs, so I mostly just watch Japanese animation. (Also, in traditionally animated Disney films, the characters tend to move around as if they are all perpetually locked in an never-ending epileptic attack. Which I don't like.)

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
I'm not the collector type.

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
My family neither approves nor disapproves of my hobbies. What I do with my own free time is my own business and they respect that.

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
0$. My general budget is perpetually at 0$ so... yeah.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
When I first got into anime, everything about it felt very new, and there were so many great shows to see. I'm not sure if my tastes changed, I still love the shows I loved back then, though, I suppose, the thing that did change is my level of tolerance of cliches, and the threshold that anime have to reach to make me interested in them has also gone way up. I'm much more discriminating of what I spend my time on than I used to be.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
I don't think I ever had a favourite genre. I just watch whatever is good.

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
In 2006 and 2007 my top 10 was changing all the time as I kept marathoning the best of what the anime medium had to offer. But in the last 4 years, there has been next to no change in my top 10, and Akage no An is still my #1 anime.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
I love handsome angsty boys as much as I ever did.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
Roundgrained rice. Or rice in general. Before I became an avid watcher of anime, I absolutely hated rice, but after seeing anime characters eating rice all the time, I got brainwashed it seems, and came around to falling in love with roundgrained rice.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
I watched one hentai anime and it was so ridiculously stupid that I decided to not waste my time on any more. Life is too precious to spend it watching nonsense.

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
I became fluent in English and got so-so at Japanese, I guess?

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
In my country, there is no such concept as "geek/nerd", and I don't identify as one. I'm not in touch with the nerdy fandom at all and have no idea what other stuff is popular among nerds.

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
I definitely won't stop liking high-quality shows. What I do sometimes worry about, is anime driving off in a direction I don't like, and nobody producing the sort of stuff I watch anymore. But my hope is that that won't happen. I watch 3-4 anime shows per year, and I expect that to be the case until the day I drop dead.

[Paranoid Android]

Q: How long have you been a fan? Days? Months? Years? Decades?
1995 (I was 4) Slam Dunk, Gundam, then Sailor Moon and Case Closed. It's because my parents watched anime.

Q: Do you enjoy other animation as well? Or just anime?
Not just anime, but not all animation.

Q: Do you collect anime-related items and if so, what?
No

Q: Does your family accept your hobby?
Yes

Q: How much would you estimate expenses on your hobby?
$1500 ish.

Q: Comparing to how you were then, to how you are now, would you say your tastes have changed?
Extremely cynical. I get bored and sick of everything. Everything seems so repetitive or fan-service-y now.

Q: Has your favorite genre changed?
No, it's always the same for all animation, literature and film. (Comedy and action)

Q: Has your favorite anime title changed?
No, never had a favorite title.

Q: Has your favorite character type changed?
Somehwat? It's hard to call them my favorite. I like awkward -funny- (as in eccentric) sore thumbs like Morita for honey and clover, or gintoki. But I quite like characters like Sousuke who's role is kind of like a punch to the face of everything else.

Q: Speaking of taste, is there any food/drink you are VERY thankful to anime for introducing you to?
No.

Q: If/When you entered adulthood, did you....'explore' the more mature side of anime/manga?
Before adulthood yo! But eh, they're so depressingly low budget and terribly made, that it's almost comical back to watch (like anything pornographic). The approach to the adult material were so unrealistic that it makes me

Spoiler for face:

Q: Would you say that your fandom has contributed to your life significantly?
Yes. A bit too abstract to describe. Let's say the teachings of psychology and philosophy in anime are often VERY WRONG. But because it's fiction, it was easier to accept how it's wrong, and by that I realized a lot of ideas young people like me develop from our reality are just as wrong which I take for granted as truth. It also made me quite self conscious because I always seek this ideal combo of personality traits (not perfect, but idealistic) in anime/manga characters (it's usually mashing characters together) to someone that I want to become.

Q: Most anime fans have pretty much accepted they are geeks/nerds. Do you have have a liking for other types of nerdy fandom? XD
I don't know about 'nerd' but I am not an anime geek. I don't have that extra interest. I watch quite a lot in quantity but I pay nearly no attention to the creators, voice actors, music etc. I also drop a lot of series and don't care much about details of characters. I'm the type that's okay with skipping episodes and watching on-wards.
I am a lord of the ring geek and general gaming geek. And memes :3

Last question: Do you think you'll ever outgrow anime or manga?
I won't outgrow anime/manga. However I question if it will last as long as I will