Do new anime fans watch older shows?

[Darthtabby]

This question was prompted in part by the difficulties I've had trying to attract new fans to the weekly group "Let's Watch ____ Together!" events I've done for a couple older anime series.

I first got into anime about ten years ago when I was in university (yes, I know that makes me a relative newcomer compared to some of the people on this forum). That was in the days before almost everything was quickly made available via streaming. Back then it was relatively common for anime fans to check out shows that had been out for a while.

In theory it should now be even easier to access older shows, as many of them are now available via easy and legal online streaming. But it also seems to me that thanks to sites like Crunchyroll there's a massive amount of new content readily available. It sometimes seems to me that even those of us who were anime fans before the streaming era are so busy with real life and keeping up with newer shows that we have difficulty finding time to check out older series. (I've rewatched some old favorites recently, but its been a while since I last watched an older show that I wasn't already familiar with.)

So I guess my question is, is it still common for new fans to check out older series? Or are they mostly too wrapped up in the recent stuff to worry about checking out older titles?

[Verso Sciolto]

... for those who do, perhaps useful to post this link to a centennial celebration offer at a site which gives online access to the classics, for a limited time.

[Sheba]

I would usually recommend watching older series in one of those "poorer" seasons where you dont have much series to follow. That's how I caught on Baccano and LoGH back in 2008 and early-2011.

[Tanuki.]

When I started actively watching anime in 2012 I've watched lots of new and ongoing shows at the same time. I used to consume even mediocre or bad shows for a couple of seasons, but after a while I came to the conclusion that I should rather invest my time better by watching stuff that really interests me.

Right now I'm usually watching about 5 to 8 ongoing shows, some of them at the end of each season because I don't like waiting for new episodes unless it's a very episodic or relaxing show with low focus on the story.

I'm interested in watching anime from its roots to modern shows. Most of the non-ongoing stuff I watch tends to be from the 00s, but I recently make an effort to familiarize myself more with anime from the 60s, 70s, 80s an 90s.

Originally Posted by Darthtabby

This question was prompted in part by the difficulties I've had trying to attract new fans to the weekly group "Let's Watch ____ Together!" events I've done for a couple older anime series.

Haha, I've actually registered here with the primary intention to start something similar, but I'm glad to see something like this already exists.

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Darthtabby

So I guess my question is, is it still common for new fans to check out older series? Or are they mostly too wrapped up in the recent stuff to worry about checking out older titles?

In my experience, new fans usually aren't interested in older shows. Of the people I know who came to anime years after me, only 1 (my husband) ever even tolerated older shows and now he won't bother with them. I've given up trying to get him or the others to watch older shows.

[Tanuki.]

I think it's a matter of development. New fans usually get introduced to anime via one or a few mainstream shows, and tend to check out other big titles in addition to ongoing anime after that. But I think many fans tend to get more interested in older stuff once their scope expands. For example, watching a show of a certain creator can bring you to check out other shows of the same creators.

But many modern anime fans seem mostly content to focus on new stuff. I'm sure that's partly because art style and pacing of modern anime is what they are used to and appreciate and because they like to engage in discussions and social activities that revolve around the stuff that's currently popular. It might be also due to the fact that many fans enjoy anime as a form of entertainment, but are not overly interested in anime as a medium and anime culture.

[Flower]

For me it differs from person to person.

[Dawnstorm]

Originally Posted by LKK

In my experience, new fans usually aren't interested in older shows. Of the people I know who came to anime years after me, only 1 (my husband) ever even tolerated older shows and now he won't bother with them. I've given up trying to get him or the others to watch older shows.

I don't know anyone in real life other than myself who's even watching anime, so I have no clear take on what "older anime" even are. I always thought I wasn't watching too many older anime shows because they're harder to find. Then I read a line to the effect of "older anime shows, like Haruhi". I stared at the screen in confusion, and after a while I felt old.

[IceHism]

Yea. They just need a little guidance as to what to watch.

[RichardFromMarple]

I watch a fair amount of older anime, often recommendations from friends or because they had a good writeup on TV Tropes.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Tanuki.

But many modern anime fans seem mostly content to focus on new stuff. I'm sure that's partly because art style and pacing of modern anime is what they are used to and appreciate and because they like to engage in discussions and social activities that revolve around the stuff that's currently popular. It might be also due to the fact that many fans enjoy anime as a form of entertainment, but are not overly interested in anime as a medium and anime culture.

It's different than it used to be though. The consumption is more voracious, and the audience moves on much faster than it used to. It seems that as time has gone on, the ability for community to form around any one thing has become more difficult.

Besides that, it's also a matter of tastes I think. I'm finding that many anime today just lack that grit and spark of imagination that I used to find appealing. There's so many "me too" adaptations, riding that wave of light novels and cheap to produce romance and comedy plots. At times it doesn't feel like the industry that produced titles like Fantastic Children, Noein, Dennou Coil, Kino no Tabi, Last Exile, Rozen Maiden, Simoun, or Boogeypop Phantom. Could the industry today produce another Akira, or even another Evangelion? I'm really not sure.

Ah well. There's still stuff like Flip Flappers. Sometimes you take what you can get. But my point is that while I found things like that worth watching, newer viewers may not.

[Tanuki.]

Originally Posted by Solace

Besides that, it's also a matter of tastes I think. I'm finding that many anime today just lack that grit and spark of imagination that I used to find appealing. There's so many "me too" adaptations, riding that wave of light novels and cheap to produce romance and comedy plots. At times it doesn't feel like the industry that produced titles like Fantastic Children, Noein, Dennou Coil, Kino no Tabi, Last Exile, Rozen Maiden, Simoun, or Boogeypop Phantom. Could the industry today produce another Akira, or even another Evangelion? I'm really not sure.

I agree that many great or exceptional titles were produced in the 00s (especially mid-00s), but even today we have quite a few ambitious or artistically unique titles. They just kinda get undermined by the huge amount of generic shows. And today more shows are being made than ever before, so that's certainly a factor.

But we have seen titles like Shinsekai Yori, Ping Pong, Space Dandy, Shouwa Genroku, Mob Psycho 100, Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, Mushishi, Little Witch Academia, Parasyte, Ronja, Kyousougiga, JoJo, Mawaru Penguindrum etc. in the last couple of years, plus some really good movies. I'd take most of those over Last Exile, Rozen Maiden or Boogeypop Phantom any day.

I personally hope that the Western influences in anime will get stronger as Crunchyroll and Netflix start to produce original content, and that it will turn into some kind of counter-movement against the countless light novel adaptions and copycat works. I'm very excited for Children of Ether, for example, and extremly curious about Perfect Bones. We're at the beginning of an interesting development that has already produced some cool and very creative works (Space Dandy, Little Witch Academia) and also some mediocre ones (Under The Dog). There's also some nteresting stuff announced, including two Yuasa movies (plus an unanounced TV series).

But I also think that it is only natural that animes resonate with you more strongly if you are an unexperienced fan. Once you have seen a few thousand episodes, you get the feeling that few things new and old are able to surprise you. That's only natural, of course. But what I dislike most about modern anime is that many of the works feel insincere to me. There is no shortage of bad or generic works in any age, but when I watch an older work, even if badly executed, it usually feels less pretentious to me. That doesn't excuse all the garbage that was produced in the last couple of decades (especially during the golden age of OVA). But when I compare fanservice in modern shows to fanservice in shows from two or three decades ago (and I always disliked fanservice), I definitely find the modern fanservice more repulsive.

But anyway, that's only the bad stuff. While there are few highlights for me among modern TV anime, I still think there are many solid mid-tier works being produced every season. For example, I'd never hype stuff like 91 Days or Onihei, but I still enjoy watching them.

[RichardFromMarple]

Recently I was watching the first episode of recommended anime, mostly recommended by friends of websites. Normally I would watch 4 in an evening, more or less at random in terms of age.

Most have lived up to their reputation, some seemed a bit generic, like they were rehashing concepts already used in other shows.

[KanbeKotori]

I watch anime as old as 1936 and 1945. Does those count?

[Cosmic Eagle]

I watch absolutely anything as long as I have time. All of my favorites are in the 80s to early 2000s era but I watch present ones as long as time and mood allows. And I still dig back for earlier stuff if I am looking for something to watch



And yeah, while I do think older stuff are "better" for my tastes, but for people who bemoan the so called downhill slide of anime..... Take it for what it is and enjoy it if you can or move on if you can't..... Getting upset with an entire generation of titles is as pointless as fans of Picasso attacking van Gogh or something.

Besides that, it's also a matter of tastes I think. I'm finding that many anime today just lack that grit and spark of imagination that I used to find appealing. There's so many "me too" adaptations, riding that wave of light novels and cheap to produce romance and comedy plots. At times it doesn't feel like the industry that produced titles like Fantastic Children, Noein, Dennou Coil, Kino no Tabi, Last Exile, Rozen Maiden, Simoun, or Boogeypop Phantom.

Boogiepop is an LN. And so is Kino no Tabi..... So no, it's more about picking stuff that appeals to you. Not everything is going to suit you and that's true whatever the era. Even now you have to look hard to find LN and manga that you like just as it was 10+ years ago. If you like an LN chances are you'll be more keen on its corresponding anime.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

Boogiepop is an LN. And so is Kino no Tabi..... So no, it's more about picking stuff that appeals to you. Not everything is going to suit you and that's true whatever the era. Even now you have to look hard to find LN and manga that you like just as it was 10+ years ago. If you like an LN chances are you'll be more keen on its corresponding anime.

This is why I tend to not bother with these types of discussions. I'm not saying things are better or worse as a matter of fact, I'm saying that opinions about such things might influence newer viewers. For example, an anime that might be considered classic and influential might appear to a newer viewer to be mundane and lacking. They may not get why something like Evangelion is/was a big deal, and it's definitely a dated show by this point. So if a bigger title like that might not carry appeal into the future, what would motivate a newer viewer to check out more obscure stuff? That's the point I was making.

There were are a lot of shows that were "big deals", but you kind of had to be there to know why. It's nice to binge watch them, but not everyone wants to feel late to the party.

[Cosmic Eagle]

If they feel connection to a certain title then they will stick around for the whole thing after seeing the first episode or so. If not then, well, I don't think prevailing attitudes are going to make them actually like something that does not appeal to them anyway

Sure I get what you mean by being part of a fandom wave but truth is, that's only one part of the entire hobby. It's unlikely you'll actually become a long term fan of something you feel no connection to anyway even if all your friends and peers around you are hyping it up.

Something similar...cosplayers and fan clubs. Plenty of those around but many of them are in it really for socializing and nothing else. They don't actually fully follow their respective titles and once the fad dies down, they too leave.


Actual content of a title OTOH, does not change. In other words.....if you are attracted to something because of crowd fervor and being part of a new classic etc but look back years later and remember only that yet cannot really identify what in the actual content you liked.....does that even count as having properly watched the title? And on the other hand if it was the content that struck you the most....then why would it be any different as times pass unless your taste in stories has also changed?


Opinions are one thing but what really convinces people to really stay or not are their own tastes IMO...

[IceHism]

I still wonder why LNs are always singled out. It's like people don't read them but seem to have a specific image of them ruining anime. How did this even happen? I was looking for a nice recent manga to read recently that was still being published but finding something good was about as hard as finding a good ln or original anime.

Unless they are trying to say that they only want anime series of 10+ year old franchises.

[Tanuki.]

I think people are specifically refering to the considerable amount of fantasy world / harem / self-aware-comedy-but-still-fanservicy / otaku protagonist anime adaptions that have been popular for a couple of years now. Though, of course, you shouldn't reduce the medium to those titles.

[IceHism]

Originally Posted by Tanuki.

I think people are specifically refering to the considerable amount of fantasy world / harem / self-aware-comedy-but-still-fanservicy / otaku protagonist anime adaptions that have been popular for a couple of years now. Though, of course, you shouldn't reduce the medium to those titles.

Are you saying 1 show has all 4 of those things or are you talking about 4 different genres.

I didn't know 2 or at most 3 isekai or battle harem adaptions out of 40+ shows per season means popular. There's so many shows to watch per season but everyone gravitates towards these. Hmmm.