...And I found out why adults enjoy little kids anime


As the combination of both work and school starts to eat into whatever free time I had left, it became harder and harder to squeeze in time for anime. It seems like a common problem among the older anime folk; the older you get, the more you get swarmed with the hustle and bustle of real life, and time-consuming hobbies like anime become difficult. Admittedly, it wasn't really about the time; it was the stress and fatigue that makes it hard to get excited about something, even the most hyped title.

I've bitten off more than I can chew this season, trying to catch Arcana Fagmilia, Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, Kokoro Connect, Moyashimon, Muv-Luv, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Rinne no Lagrange, Sword Art Online, Tari Tari, Yuru Yuri, Binbougamiga! and Joshiraku at the same time. That's more than I've ever attempted in one season, but mostly because the season's so good. It didn't go well...


Aside from Binbougami which totally sucked, Natsuyuki Rendevous became the first title I had to let go, followed by Kokoro Connect. Both were really good, and I really enjoyed it... well... actually, not really. I began to realize that story-intensive stuff like these were difficult to follow. Not only it's difficult to grasp the plot when I'm trying to grasp twelve at a time, it's also difficult to work a tired mind to comprehend a "deep" or complex storyline.


On the other hand, I began to look forward to stuff like Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, Arcana Fagmilia and Joshiraku. Stuff like these either doesn't have a story, doesn't have one that matters or at least are non-continuous for each episode. It's really easy to digest such stuff, and I probably enjoyed them more than I would normally do, much like last season's Upotte!!


Which reminds me of two things. First, a concept which was taught to me by Jerry Verschoor, a western animation industry insider, of how people prefer genres that compensate things missing in their lives (like how action movies are all rage now, while romance titles are favorites in the 1940s). Second, an article of how an unexpectedly huge amount of people my age enjoys My Little Pony (I can't remember where, probably Cracked.com or something). Laura Carstensen also revealed at TED on how people in their 20s are statistically the most stressed, and most miserable bunch.

Well I don't need My Little Pony, because I have stuff like Joshiraku and Upotte!! to de-stress my life. Now I know why the moéblob slice-of-life got so popular with the general otaku crowd. Ignoring the people who seeks 2D waifus, it's really about the stress. It's all for the relaxed, mind-blanking and stress-less moment each episode can give.

So from now on, I'll be leaving stuff like Natsuyuki Rendevous on the marathon queue, and only catch the ponies as they air. Thank Haruhi, Madoka and the anime gods for Hidamari Sketch next season. And that tank anime, whatever it's called. It sounds just about stupid and mind-numbing enough for me to enjoy it.

4 comments:

  1. That point you're bringing up here is really important, particularly for the people who only like action, plot-heavy, and/or intellectual anime and can't understand why adults enjoy shows about cute characters not doing anything. Watching anime to relax and soothe away a hard day's work is just as reasonable as watching anime to be intellectually compelled and to escape in an exciting fantasy world. I personally like a balance of both, and for times when I really just want to relax my mind, I tend to watch Western animation XD

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    1. Well, I guess I gave you a good recommendation above, if you didn't know it already... ;)

      I used to like a balance of both too, until I get busier and busier...

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  2. Nobody doesn't need My Little Pony!

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    1. Well I'll take magical girls over ponies any time ;D

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