Connect with us

This is a bit of a touchy subject from what I’ve gathered discussing with people in my own life and over the internet. Anime is a genre of Japanese animation that is stylized in a specific manner that defines the genre. It’s a very broad genre that can only be pinned down to this specific style and origin. I’m sure most people reading this knew that already but it’s important to understand how broad it is in order for me to make my point.

There is a huge social stigma involved with anime and those who watch it. As many fans can probably concur, there’s always that one person (if not many) who doesn’t understand the genre and demonizes it and its viewers. There are many anti-anime arguments out there but the two most prominent that I’ve come across are that a) it’s made for children and b) it’s made for “degenerates”.

The first argument is mainly based on the fact that anime is a style of animation, thus it is a Japanese cartoon. Many people, especially in the West, have a hard time recognizing that mature, meaningful, adult-oriented stories can be told in the realm of animation since they grew up with Saturday morning cartoons like Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones. However, there are incredibly deep and dark stories to be told in this medium. Series such as Cowboy Bebop get at mature issues like drug use, sexual identity, and PTSD. Even series made for kids like Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and One Piece get at issues of discrimination, existential crises, and the loss of loved ones.

The second argument deals mainly with the group of people that only see anime as a sexual medium. There are a lot of hentai (pornographic anime) out there that are far too widespread and easy to access on the internet which forms the basis of this opinion. Clickbait YouTube videos like “Top 10 Anime You Should Never Watch in Front of Your Parents” with overly-sexualized thumbnails don’t help with this stigma. This is especially considering that the video in question is only a day old and has over 450K views as of my writing this. I also believe this argument is flawed because it takes a very specific subgenre of anime and treats the whole genre like they are of that subgenre. That would be like if someone watched the sex scenes in Game of Thrones and said that all Western television is pornographic and for “degenerates”. Another comparison would be taking actual pornography and saying that all Western media is like that. Just because there is an incredibly niche and lewd subsect of a genre doesn’t mean the entire genre is like that.

There are other arguments against anime but these are the two that stick out the most. Anime isn’t just for kids. There is plenty of animated content (including Western cartoons for that matter) that are made with adult audiences in mind. That being said, these adult anime aren’t made to be sexual, but rather mature stories dealing with adult themes. The hentai subsect of anime doesn’t represent all of anime; that’s why it’s called a subsect. Anime is just like live action content in that it is a visual medium that represents multiple subgenres. This visual style makes for an incredibly unique and oftentimes beautiful method of storytelling. Hopefully this does something to help open up someone out there to giving anime an honest try. There are plenty of wonderful series at your disposal representing multiple subgenres that you may already be a fan of like sci-fi, fantasy, slice of life, etc. Do yourself a favor and give at least one a shot even if you’re apprehensive. Who knows, maybe you’ll love it.

I spend most of my days working towards my Writing and Rhetoric degree at the University of Central Florida, but I spend a lot of my down time keeping up to date on the best TV, movies, and video games the industry has to offer. Here I put all of that extended time to use discussing each of them in-depth.

Gaming

Documentary Explores the Making of the Highly Praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for PS5

blank

Published

on

blank

Square Enix has launched a captivating documentary series that explores the intricate process behind the creation of the highly praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the first episode, titled “Shaping the World,” the developer delves into the process of reimagining the expansive PS1 map of the original game into a vast sandbox for the PS5. The film includes personal stories shared by directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura, as well as other important members of the team.

This reimagining of the all-time PlayStation classic was truly enjoyable. In our review, we praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for its ability to enhance the already impressive combat system of Remake. The game truly shines in its portrayal of an iconic RPG setting. If you have a deep appreciation for the original PS1 game and found enjoyment in Remake, then Rebirth’s character-focused adventure will surely captivate you from start to finish.

Continue Reading

Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 for the PS5 and PS4 shows continuous improvement

blank

Published

on

blank

While Sony may not classify Gran Turismo 7 as a live-service game, the team at Polyphony Digital certainly approaches it with a similar mindset. The game continues to impress with every new update, and although v1.44 may be smaller compared to previous versions, it still manages to enhance the already extensive content of this simulation racer.

The update, now available worldwide, introduces three new cars: the Audi R8 Coupé V10 Plus ’16, the Lamborghini Urus ’18, and the Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99. Furthermore, it introduces three fresh events to World Circuits, an extra menu to conquer in the GT Café single-player campaign, and a collection of livery stickers inspired by the upcoming Highspeed Étoile anime, set to debut next week in Japan.

If you’re not already acquainted with Highspeed Étoile, you can watch a trailer right here. “Sony has announced that a collection of 26 stickers, consisting of 8 title logos and 18 main character stickers, will be made available for a limited time,” stated Sony on the PS Blog. In addition, Fukushima will be included as a backdrop in the title’s beloved photography mode.

Continue Reading

Gaming

TopSpin 2K25 appears to be a standout title in the recent PS5 and PS4 gameplay showcase

blank

Published

on

blank

This author has consistently praised the realistic portrayal of tennis in TopSpin 4. After more than a decade, we are thrilled to witness the release of TopSpin 2K25, which expands upon the success of its renowned predecessor. This gameplay video provides a comprehensive overview of the features discussed in our recent preview while also incorporating relevant footage to enhance understanding.

The series’ swing system sets it apart from arcade-style games like Virtua Tennis, as it requires players to charge up their shots in a different way. In order to succeed, timing is crucial, and fortunately, a new meter above your player will assist you in achieving that. Surfaces have their own distinct characteristics, such as clay, where you’ll experience a noticeable amount of sliding.

The game ensures that every player has a distinct set of animations, adding a touch of individuality to each competitor. The courts, found in all Grand Slams, possess a remarkable amount of individuality and charm. It is mentioned in the video that with each in-game season, players can expect a plethora of additional content, such as animation packs. This indicates that there will be plenty to anticipate even after the game’s initial release.

Continue Reading

Trending