The oldest Japanese animation began in 1917. Today, there are hundreds of studios making anime that are popular all over the world. Anime has created iconic characters, stunning visual styles, and unforgettable stories. If you're interested, you can learn how to understand anime's origins, appreciate it, and delve deeper into your anime journey.
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Method 1 of 5: Conducting Initial Research
Step 1. Show a mental commitment to watching anime
The most common reason people stop doing something they want is mental commitment. Make sure you realize that watching anime can be a time-consuming hobby. However, anime is also quite "easy" to watch because each episode has a duration of about 22 minutes.
By showing commitment mentally, it will be easier for you to reach your goals (in this case, start watching anime)
Step 2. Find out the various anime genres that exist
In this respect, anime is like Western films; there is a wide variety of anime genres, including (and not limited to) science fiction, romance, and action. However, there are certain anime genres that are only available in the anime world. These genres are slice of life, Shonen, and Seinen (all three are very popular). In the end, you need to determine the genre that you are interested in and by choosing the genre you like, you already have a basic guide to starting your anime journey.
Make sure you take advantage of all available resources, including websites and other friends who are anime fans
Step 3. Find a list of anime that could potentially be selected
Of course it's confusing when you need to browse through thousands of anime titles that can be watched. To make the process easier, use the anime list to narrow down potential choices. For reference, MyAnimeList.net is a great resource for searching anime lists by genre, age group, and other categories.
- Visit a library (or DVD rental center) in your city and check out the anime/manga segment. A library or DVD rental center can be a great place to look for anime ending lists or groupings. Browse and skim the available mangas. This step helps you determine if you like the art style featured in the selected manga and want to watch the anime adaptation.
- Read anime magazines such as the popular Shonen Jump magazine. Magazines like this usually feature a list of popular anime and a ranking of the best anime of all time which is chosen by the readers. Therefore, anime magazines can be a great source to find relevant and interesting anime to watch.
- If there's a particular animation studio that you like, try looking for anime produced by that studio. Studio Bones is one of the popular animation studios that gets high ratings for the quality of its animations. By looking for animation from a reputable studio, you can make sure that the anime's art style is "pretty" and fits the manga.
Step 4. Read the critique of anime
There are a variety of anime criticism media that you can choose from. One popular online resource is MyAnimeList.net. In the weekly Shonen Jump magazine, there is a weekly list of trending anime, as well as all the popular anime of all time. For a more practical step, friends of course already know you well and know what you like. Usually, suggestions from friends are very useful to gauge how much you like a certain anime.
- Feel free to watch anime that aren't that "popular" or "cool". On the other hand, don't be shy about choosing an anime that everyone has watched. As long as you're comfortable with what you're watching and liking it, don't worry about what's popular and what's not.
- Usually, people watch anime when they are young, but never realize it. If you remember watching a certain anime before and liked it, maybe start your journey by re-watching it.
Step 5. Write notes
If a friend mentions an anime you think you'd like, make sure you jot down the title or remember it. Often times, it's easy to forget suggestions that you hear, so taking notes can help you remember the title of the anime and look for more information.
After you start watching anime, it's a good idea to note down the anime titles you like and don't like. By scoring the anime you've watched, you can identify the genres you're interested in and, in the end, love them even more
Method 2 of 5: Understanding Anime
Step 1. Learn the origins of anime
This term refers to animated series and shows from Japan. Anime is a very diverse art form with unique stories and styles. Anime is also popular not only in Japan, but worldwide, and features animated shows such as Pokémon, Princess Mononoke, Sailor Moon, and Fullmetal Alchemist. This show can offer a serious story (or for adults), or even a funny plot like a show for children. There is always something for everyone.
There are many popular anime series that start with manga, the Japanese version of comic books. Sometimes, manga is felt to be better and faster to finish (in Indonesia, comics are sold at prices ranging from 20 thousand to hundreds of thousands of rupiah). Anime DVD series are sold for tens to hundreds of thousands of rupiah for five or several episodes. As a more affordable alternative, try reading some manga first
Step 2. Choose a nonanime genre to start the journey
Anime is not a particular genre; rather, anime is an art style. In anime, there are fantasy stories, romance, space villain operas, and various types of stories that you can dive into. So, one of the most important questions to ask yourself is, “What do I like?” Some of the most common anime subgenres are:
- Kodomo (for children), usually includes light comedy
- Shōjo (for girls), usually telling everyday stories (slices of life)
- Shounen (for boys), usually tells of heroes
- Magic or magic
- Harem
- Sport
- Self-defense
- Literature
- Stories from the Middle Ages
Step 3. Start with a short anime
Anime doesn't always have long and seemingly endless episodes. There are several anime with 12, 24+, and 30+ episodes that you can start watching and usually these shows have an extended season. Some of the popular short anime are:
- Attack on Titan
- Re:Zero
- Death Note
- Angel Beats!
- Suzuka
- Prison School
- A Lull in the Sea
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Code Geass
- Another
- Mirai Nikki/Future Diary
- And others.
Step 4. Start with classics
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are already considered like Disney Studios or Steven Spielberg in the anime world. Both are very famous. The works produced by these names are usually very spectacular. Oftentimes, Studio Ghibli comes up with works that are immersive and meaningful to older audiences, but still make stories that kids love. If you're still in the mood for “drinking”, works by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli can be a great choice. Some of the classic anime "canons" worth watching are:
- Princess Mononoke
- Graves of the Fireflies
- The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Whisper of the Heart
- Paprika
Step 5. Watch serials online to see if you like them
When most people hear the word anime, what they usually think of is a long show. These shows feature dynamic characters and lots of drama. If you want to browse through one of them, here is a list of popular and classic anime series that people love:
- Witch Hunter Robin
- Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
- Cowboy Bebop
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Dragon Ball Z
- Code Geass
- Psycho-Pass
- Naruto
- Ceres, Celestial Legend
- Vision of Escaflowne
- Eden of the East
- Soul Eater (the ending is different from the manga version)
- My Hero Academia
Method 3 of 5: Appreciating Anime
Step 1. Embrace the presence of subtitles (subtitles)
The anime comes in two variations: a subtitled version and a voice-over version. Most people find it easier to listen to the original Japanese voice actors than the voices in the anime which are dubbed because they may sound weird and silly. If you don't mind reading the text while watching the show, choose a captioned version of the anime.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both versions. It all comes down to personal preference, and not someone else's opinion. If you don't mind when your character's mouth movements and dialogue sound out of place, choose a dubbed anime
Step 2. Watch the first few episodes
Anime is one form of long fairy tales. This means that you need to be patient and wait before making a decision or opinion about the show. If you're trying to watch new series, at least watch the first few episodes before making a judgment.
- The first episodes of some series are sometimes "deceptive". For example, the first episode of Elfen Lied featured a naked, violent, and bloody woman. However, as the story progresses, there are more stories in the plot. Do not worry! The characters are finally able to find their clothes.
- On the other hand, a series can fool you by attracting attention at the start, but ultimately offers a boring story. Sometimes, very popular series start to lose interest in subsequent episodes.
Step 3. Appreciate the artwork and style shown
Anime is as diverse as any other form of art or animation. Some anime look very realistic, while others feature a more cartoonish and “overdone” style (eg talking pandas and people with really big eyes). This is the uniqueness and fun of anime.
Most anime features characters with a stilted look and a hand-painted approach with a light touch. Meanwhile, other anime displays flashy colors. While there are certain anime that fit into your favorite genre, you may not like the art style. Anime in the '80s looked different from the new anime due to their uniqueness and changing drawing styles
Step 4. Be prepared for a slow flow
Some anime series have storylines that are too long for a long period of time, but suddenly undergo rapid changes (or peak). This is how anime is. A single battle in DragonBall Z can take about half a season and feature a lot of tension or conflict before it reaches a climax. Anime is another kind of drama and may seem strange to some audiences (especially Western audiences). However, this is part of the fun and an aspect that anime fans will love. Don't always expect that you can watch a familiar version or storyline, but with a different art or visual form.
Method 4 of 5: Making Choices
Step 1. Decide which streaming service you want to use
There are various services that you can use to watch anime. Some services such as Crunchyroll and Funimation only provide anime shows. These services offer a monthly subscription with a free trial period so you can see if you like the service or not. Several other popular services such as Netflix and Hulu also feature anime. However, because the service is not specifically available as an anime subscription service, the episodes are rarely updated and the anime library is smaller than the anime-only/anime-based subscription services.
Whatever service you choose, make sure you're comfortable with the cost. Also, make sure you are also using a legitimate service
Step 2. Choose between subtitled (sub) or dubbed (dub) shows
These days in the anime community, there is a huge debate about which is better (between subtitled or dubbed). The term sub anime refers to anime that has subtitles and uses Japanese as the language spoken by the characters. Meanwhile, anime dubs are shows that are dubbed into other languages, such as English, French, Indonesian, Malaysian, and others. Both have their advantages so you need to try both and make your decision based on your preferred voice actor. You can also make a choice if you don't have the hassle of reading subtitles while watching anime.
Regardless of the choices made, there is no “right” answer. Just make sure you feel comfortable and like the anime you want to watch
Step 3. Try watching anime with friends
Watching with friends who are anime “veterans” can be the right activity. He can give you hints and tips for watching anime, as well as fill in any gaps in information you may not know.
If you don't have friends who like or watch anime, don't worry! In some schools, there are anime clubs that accept anime viewers of all “levels”. They will of course be happy to receive you
Step 4. Decide where and where to watch
Background is a very important factor in enjoying various types of entertainment. If you watch action anime, try watching the show with lots of friends in a large space so you can enjoy the characters' fights together. If you're watching a sad anime, try watching it alone or when it's raining to match the show to the mood.
With the right place or atmosphere, you can enjoy anime to its fullest and as it should be
Step 5. Narrow down your options
From the list of potential anime to watch, narrow the selection down to a number of options. After that, decide which anime you want to watch and start your journey. If you're watching anime with friends, hold a vote to decide what to watch.
Don't forget to have fun and enjoy the amazing anime adventure you are about to go on
Method 5 of 5: Dig Deep
Step 1. Find out for yourself the anime available
Just because your best friend is a big fan of Fullmetal Alchemist, doesn't mean it's the best anime. Not everyone likes fight scenes so don't watch Naruto if you don't like it. The same is true for other anime.
Price does not always match the quality. You can sometimes find great anime and manga in the discounted book or DVD segment just because they aren't that well known. If an anime is selling for a high price, there's a good chance it's new or popular
Step 2. Talk to other anime fans
As is the case for different topics, chatting with other fans is a great way to learn more about how to appreciate the world of anime. Although it may seem complicated for beginners, once you get the right guide, diving into the world of anime will feel a lot easier.
Don't forget to share what you learned. Lend your DVDs to friends, invite people to “anime night” at home. The goal is to have fun so share what you love
Step 3. Browse the options available on the internet
It's important that you support animation studios, but sites like anime.net can also be a great platform to preview shows before you buy them. This is important to remember, especially when you don't have an anime-only channel or a channel that doesn't just play Naruto or Pokémon.
- Netflix, Google Play, and other streaming services regularly offer a variety of anime that you can watch for a monthly fee. This can be a great option if you're curious about the shows, but don't want to buy the whole anime series right away.
- If you seem to enjoy a certain anime after watching its first three episodes, try purchasing the series or exploring other options for watching it via streaming services.
Step 4. Try exploring another style or subgenre
If you like a certain anime art style, try watching similar anime by looking for shows that look interesting. If not, look for other works or anime that involved a specific director or artist (that you like).
