Ask John: How Old is Too Old for Anime?

Question:
What is the average age of an American anime fan? I’m 22 years old and loved anime since I saw it for the first time. In your opinion, am I too old for this?

Answer:
Actually, I’m not aware of any specific study of the average age of American anime fans. I suspect that the average age of the American anime fan may not be a reliable representation of the typical American anime fan because there are many American anime fans who are significantly older and younger than the majority, which would skew the numerical average. Based on my experience of attending anime conventions, and my perception of the American fan community, the typical American anime fan is a teenager. If I had to guess, I’d predict that the typical American anime fan is around 17 years old. However, I know of pre-adolescents who prefer Japanese language anime, as well as senior citizens who are devoted anime collectors. I’m personally 33 years old, and my devotion to anime has never been stronger than it is right now.

In my opinion, a fan is never “too old” for anime. A fan only outgrows anime if and when his or her interest lapses. I, for one, will be pleased if my interest in anime never lapses. Mainstream American society typically thinks of anime as either children’s cartoons or pornography. (By “pornography” I mean any type of exploitive, gratuitous entertainment.) Japanese mainstream culture recognizes some anime as mainstream entertainment, and the remainder, fodder for children and fanatics of all ages. Anime is made by adults. Even though Hayao Miyazaki claims that his films are made for ten year old Japanese girls, he is 65 years old. Japan’s anime industry is staffed and run by adults, many of whom care deeply about anime. Collectable anime figures that retail at 5,000 to over 10,000 yen, and DVD boxed sets that retail for 30,000 yen, 50,000 yen, and even 100,000 yen are clearly targeted at affluent adult collectors. (I don’t envision children buying DVD boxed sets that cost $1,000.)

I believe that anime often deals with themes and concepts suitable for adults to appreciate and enjoy. I believe that anime often features visual design and technical cinematic qualities that mature adults are better suited to recognize and appreciate than children are. And I don’t believe that there’s any valid reason why adults should need to feel embarrassed about enjoying anime. Despite the fact that it’s hand drawn instead of literally filmed, I don’t believe that animated film is intrinsically any less mature than live action film. There’s no reason why the script for an animated film cannot be as literary, artistic, and intelligent as any other prose fiction. I know that devoted fans can outgrow anime, but there’s no reason why devoted fans should or must outgrow anime. External influences may urge an anime fan to “outgrow” anime, but those external forces probably don’t understand anime. Fans should be their own compass. I encourage fans to watch what they enjoy, regardless of other people’s opinions. The fact that the average American anime fan is a teenager doesn’t mean that anime is exclusively designed for, or limited to a teenage audience. Nor does it mean that adult viewers can’t or shouldn’t enjoy anime intended for young children. An anime fan who premature divorces himself from anime, or artificially limits his own enjoyment of anime is only depriving himself of a satisfying, gratifying, educational experience. Being embarrassed about enjoying anime really serves no purpose whatsoever.