Ask John: Should Fans be Embarrassed About Liking Anime?

Question:
Is it wrong of me to be somewhat ashamed of being an anime/manga fan? I was first introduced to anime/manga about 2 years ago, and I absolutely love it. Do you think that maybe because I am sort of new to the anime/manga scene I am cautious to get out there and to say that, “Yes, I am an anime/manga fan, and I am not ashamed of it”? It is not that I am not trying to get over this because I have been wearing my Inuyasha and AnimeNation t-shirts to school and trying to be more open to my friends about what I like. What do you think I should do about my certain situation? Do you think that I should somehow become more active with the anime community like going to a convention or something to get me over this?

Answer:
Since publishing a recent “Ask John” article advising fans to respect their own desires and principles more than the opinions of other people, I’ve received a number of follow-up questions regarding whether or not one should be perceived as an anime fan at all. Ultimately that answer is personal and unique to each person. I don’t want to tell you how to live your life, so I’ll only offer my own perspective and allow you to take it in whichever way you choose.

It seems to me as though many American anime fans are embarrassed to be anime fans or are hesitant to admit or exhibit their fandom. Anime is not a political or ideological principle. No one should be obligated to feel uncomfortable because of anime. Anime is a leisure hobby, so if you feel most comfortable keeping your interest in anime private, do so. But in my opinion there’s no shame in being an anime fan. On the contrary, I believe that people who don’t respect or at least acknowledge your interest in anime are small-minded, uncultured, and provincial. Anime is foreign film. Anime is art. (The fact that New York City’s Museum of Modern Art has recognized Japanese animation as a legitimate art form should put rest any debate over whether or not anime is art.) Westerners that embrace anime exhibit an interest in foreign art. They are willing to expand their cultural and intellectual borders with art that challenges the expectations and stereotypes of the English speaking world. Those who refer to anime as children’s cartoons or animated pornography are typically narrow-minded people that rely on stereotypes and ignorance instead of personal experience or first hand knowledge. I’m not trying to argue that every open-minded person should love anime or that everyone who criticizes anime is ignorant. I’m only stating that intelligent people are willing to respect the interests of other people and cultures and enlighten themselves, avoiding ignorant stereotypes and uninformed criticisms.

If you’re not comfortable revealing that you’re an anime fan, keep your hobby private. But being an anime fan is not something you should be ashamed of. English speaking natives that love anime are people who are intelligent, open minded, and independent enough to explore and cherish something which expands our cultural and intellectual horizons. Those who are childish are not the people interested in foreign art and culture; the childish ones are those who slander anime and its fans without trying to understand or appreciate foreign ideas or art. Anime fans are not wrong to be interested in anime, but we won’t be universally respected until anime itself is universally understood and respected as a legitimate, mature cinematic art. If someone you know thinks that anime is just kids’ cartoons, try to correct that misunderstanding. It’s not necessary for everyone to be an anime fan, but the world will be a better place for anime and anime fans when everyone at least discards the ignorant notion that animation is inherently inferior to live action film, and anything animated is a children’s cartoon.