do you prefer anime to "regular" movies?

I’ve noticed that since I started watching anime I’m not as interested in typical Hollywood movies any more. Perhaps I’m just in an infatuation phase since I’ve only been watching anime since this past summer. But I’m wondering why I find anime so addictive.

Maybe it’s the 13-26 episode format? That gives more time for character development and nuanced stories. I’ve never seen anything like Simoun before….or Serial Experiments Lain for that matter. Some movies start on the concepts contained in those anime, but they just don’t develop it as far. But, unlike most American TV shows, anime also seem to have definite endings in mind when they start their run. I see so many shows nowadays that seem to have plots that meander for years before they cancel the show. So the development in anime seems to be more focused.

But then I realized that I also enjoy some shorter OVAs better than the traditional movie. So maybe it’s that anime has more tragic elements?? I’m starting to wonder if the Japanese are addicted to tragic storylines. They kill off main characters, not just “red shirts”.

I dunno...maybe it's just the fantastical elements that appeal to me...over the top fantasy. So really, I'm not sure why I like anime so much. It's probably no one thing, but the combination is pretty danged addictive.

So…who else is addicted to anime? Why do you think you like it so much?

Comparing anime to movies is a bit unfair, unless it's a long running movie series. XD Though I do place the Indiana Jones trilogy and Noir in the same ballpark. Luckily Jones has games that connect to the movies, to further the canon.

A more fair comparison would of been with American cartoons and comics. Comics are less cheesy than they were back in the day, but for the longest time (and this is my opinion, folks) anime/manga dominated the scene. Plus anime/manga at least have an ending, comics can go on forever in very confusing story arcs (thanks to the constant rotation of writers).

You grow up watching the zany kiddie shows on Fox and Nickelodeon, and while they're still great, there's no depth to them. At all. Anime/manga gives you a chance to watch animation, yet see the characters in a more realistic light. In a way that you could relate to them and their ordeals. Oh sure, you have your zany anime series as well, but for the most part, the anime/manga series with the most epic story and character-driven roster shine the most. For me anyway.

I'm glad you brought up Simoun, cecirdr. Underneath the beautiful/cute girls is a very unique war story, filled with a universes of very deep characters with REAL feelings that (hopefully) people will comprehend. It's animation like that which makes one proud to be an anime fan. I say anime fan, because while I'm not obsessed (Otaku, weaboo, whatever offensive term people use nao), I'm very fond of these characters and stories. Like great music, anime takes you to a place where you forget all your problems. Escapism in short.

Thanks to Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, anime will never leave my side for a very long time. Though with the 2011 anime line up, I'm not too impressed. haha It'll pick up somehow. :)

Luu Sky Sapphire wrote:Comparing anime to movies is a bit unfair, unless it's a long running movie series. XD Though I do place the Indiana Jones trilogy and Noir in the same ballpark. Luckily Jones has games that connect to the movies, to further the canon.

The reason I included movies in there were because of having seen all of the Miyazaki movies that have been released in the U.S. Totoro and Spirited Away were all kinds of awesome and for me, blew Hollywood movies away. But that also might be an unfair comparison because Miyazaki is no average director for sure.

Luu Sky Sapphire wrote:A more fair comparison would of been with American cartoons and comics. Comics are less cheesy than they were back in the day, but for the longest time (and this is my opinion, folks) anime/manga dominated the scene. Plus anime/manga at least have an ending, comics can go on forever in very confusing story arcs (thanks to the constant rotation of writers).

For some reason, my brain just can't compare anime to U.S. made cartoon series. They seem so far apart in style and substance. But maybe that's just my age speaking. I grew up with Bugs Bunny and Pink Panther cartoons. I do agree that the tendency to go on forever may be what bugs me with most American TV series. Lost started out great...then to me it really started to wander and I lost interest. One series that I have seen that affected me the same way as anime was Babylon 5. But JMS had a definite ending point in mind from the get go. He never intended it to last longer than 5 years.

I can't say I really have much of a preference. I don't watch a lot of television. Actually, I've not watched television since the end of November. I've been watching various movies, some anime (Shin-chan), and nao working on My Name is Earl. I only watch stuff when I eat meals so half hour spurts. I watch something because it catches my interest, and it doesn't matter if it's anime or regular television.

For me, I really haven't had time to sit down and watch a full anime series in a while. Mai-HiME was the last one I watched all the way through and even that took me almost 2 months and a half and that was like...towards the end of 7th grade...I'm in 9th nao...so...How many years is that? 2?. So, I def. prefer movies over anime time wise. And movies are something I can enjoy with my friends since they don't like anime.

But as for character development, I think anime has that down a bit better than movies. Movies only have like, an hour and a half, while animes have at least 15 episodes. Except for Titanic:)

hmm, it all really depends on the anime and the movie...

I mean, Kara has a very good point about character development, which is always something that I enjoy watching (lolIsoundlikeastalker) but I do love the insane pace some movie roll at to try fit the story in

Death race is a good example. It tells the main characters story, the plot of the film and fits in about an hour of mayhem, chaos and blood into one film. Gamer is also the same.

But with an anime series, you can tell the story at any pace.....
Overall i much prefer anime, but that is just me P:

There is plenty of regular movies that are fantastic. Even though I'm not going out of my way right nao there is quite a few that I intend to watch. I do prefer watching anime though, a more relaxed pace, plus I've always prefer looking at cartoons in comparison to actual people.(Needless to say I don't find many filmed tv shows to be that cool other than a few like The Twilight Zone).

Kara wrote:So, I def. prefer movies over anime time wise. And movies are something I can enjoy with my friends since they don't like anime.

But as for character development, I think anime has that down a bit better than movies. Movies only have like, an hour and a half, while animes have at least 15 episodes. Except for Titanic:)

Yeah, time wise movies definitely win out. I haven't managed to watch any new anime in 2 weeks and I'll probably be a month or more before I can get back to it. I tend to prefer to watch anime that are complete, that way I can marathon them over a few days to a week. So it's quite a time commitment that is hard to find in a busy life.

I know it's going to be blasphemous to say, but Noir and Utena seemed pretty slow in the middle sections and I wish they'd used fewer episodes to tell the stories. In Noir I think that section was called something like "Earning your daily bread" and in Utena it felt like 70% of the black rose saga could have been cut. There were very important elements in both middle sections, so they had to be there, but the number of episodes devoted to it felt like filler to me.

In the given topic, I can only say that sometimes I prefer movies than animes--and sometimes animes over movies. It really depends on what mood am I into. When I feel like watching an action, comedy or even horror movies, I choose movies. When the movie sucks, I watch animes.


There are only 4 or 6 movies that I will never forget watching: Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Twilight and Lord of the Rings. These movies rocked my world when I first watched 'em, most especially Indy and his adventures.

To be honest, people would prefer watching movies--unless people are child at heart or they like anime--because it attracts more people to watch because you'll be able to see the beauty of your fave actors, right? Usually, when people think of anime, it fits to a kid... Most Filipinos do think this... So unfair... Here in the Philippines, you can't find a cinema theater withan anime movie anywhere here. It is impossible, so I just hope for the TV stations to show it on air.

cecirdr wrote:I know it's going to be blasphemous to say, but Noir and Utena seemed pretty slow in the middle sections and I wish they'd used fewer episodes to tell the stories. In Noir I think that section was called something like "Earning your daily bread" and in Utena it felt like 70% of the black rose saga could have been cut. There were very important elements in both middle sections, so they had to be there, but the number of episodes devoted to it felt like filler to me.

Noir's episodes not having anything to do with The Soldats might of felt like filler. It just doesn't seem that way to me. "Daily Bread" was an early episode, most of them focused on Mireille and Kirika and what they do best. *slit throat* The plot settled in once the Soldats were mentioned and it's been an emotional (and mysterious) roller-coaster ride ever since.

Utena could of done away with the Black Rose saga, although I did enjoy it. It often involved the main characters, like say, everyone in the Student Council, so there was never a dull moment. :) It's Utena after all.