How Anime Changed Me

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! In light of a retweet by @sdshamshel about famous anime creators drawing pictures for the earthquake, I thought this would be a good time to reflect on how much anime has affected my life. This is also a response to Nopy’s “History With Anime.”

1997 – 2004

Back then I was shy and quiet and didn’t talk to anybody. Even when the teacher called on me to read to the class, I was too scared to talk. My best friend at the time, who my mom introduced me to through her friend, told me about this cartoon called Dragon Ball Z. I fell in love with its awesome animation (which was better than anything we had in the 90s) and its linear story. This is where my anime fandom began.

Of course, later the Pokemon craze swept the world. I watched the anime from its premiere, but didn’t know about the game until I saw my classmates playing it during indoor recess. I told them that there was a Pokemon “cartoon” on TV, and they were shocked. Apparently, I was the only one who knew. I guess this would foretell my anime future. If you’re wondering why I didn’t own the game, it’s because my parents were very conscientious and thought video games would “corrupt my mind.” During outdoor recess, I traded cards, but of course I was too shy to talk to anyone, especially from another class. Luckily, my close friends were kind enough to help me. They came up to me, told me what the other kids were offering, and I told them whether to trade my cards or not.

I also remember waking up at 6:00am with my sister to watch Hamtaro, then we would go back to sleep and wake up at 8:00am for school (I would watch the same episode again after school).

May 2004

This is when my newest best friend showed me the Full Metal Panic anime (his brother has a huge manga collection) and I bought my first manga, Love Hina — isn’t that everyone’s first? I just bought it because I wasn’t familiar with any other series. I’m glad I did, because Negima! is one of my favorite manga and I love all the anime, too!

October 2004 – April 2006

My mom told my best friend and me about a flyer she saw for an anime club at the library. It was the first anime club I’d been to and I believe the first time I watched anime with subtitles (it was an unspoken rule that was carried on for years). At first I struggled and hated staring at the bottom of the screen 90% of the time, but now I love watching anime in its original language. We watched Chobits –– which still remains my 49th favorite anime today –– I was stunned. I loved the OP theme by ROUND TABLE (they are still one of my favorite groups today).

It was around this time that I started breaking out of my shyness. It may sound weird, but watching all the eccentric people in anime shouting crazy words and doing crazy things (I’m looking at you, Excel Saga) made me realize that I wasn’t so weird after all. Watching slice-of-life and high school anime also inadvertently taught me how to start conversations with people (I learn by example).

Being part of a club (that I joined decidedly and willingly) gave me a sense of belonging. During that awkward stage of teenagehood, it was nice to have a place in the world that I could call my own (even if it was a little room in the library), where people shared the same interests as I did and didn’t judge me.

April 2006 – May 2008

When the old officers left, I became club officer along with my best friend, a new friend I made in gym class (we met because I saw him reading manga, and, on my own initiative, I walked up to him and told him about this local club I went to), and his friends (who he introduced me to at lunch that same day), and I was eventually promoted to president. It was my first time in a position of substantial authority, but I did not become oppressive (I just made my subordinates do all the work for me. Lol, I’m kidding. No, really, I did) –– I adhered to the old officers’ rules, but added my own special touches to make the club more fun. This gave me the confidence that proved I could be a leader in life, and I hope this characteristic carries on throughout my adulthood.

September 2009 – Present

Sadly, I became too old, and like all the other officers, I graduated and moved along my merry way. I’ve always yearned to go back, but not only would all the new members be too young to recognize me, but I think they changed the rules now so only high schoolers can attend. Although, I can become a sponsor once I turn 25. （￣□￣；）After a long year away from the anime club, I decided to start my own blog. Seeing as I love to write, I don’t know why I waited so long to do so, I guess I was too busy before, but being in college gave my schedule more flexibility.

Once again, I feel a sense of belonging, like I’m part of a bigger picture. I’ve met many cool and interesting people, in real life and over the net, who I would’ve never met had it not been for anime. Anime has made me more culturally aware and open-minded. Even when I first started watching anime, I only stuck to one or two genres. As I decided to give other anime a chance, and I began to enjoy a whole variety of genres, not just in anime, but in movies and books, as well. Anime has taught me many lessons that real life could not, such as how to build a mech or never to make a contract with a cute, inexpressive animal. Seriously speaking, though, I can’t imagine what my life would’ve been like without anime — I don’t think I would be nearly as social or content with my life as I am today.

So tell me, how has anime impacted your life?