Ask John: Why Are So Many Anime Fans Stuck Up?

Question:
Distributors release titles here, and most of the time fans can’t be happy with them because it’s not perfect. But they don’t even realize that this is media; it is never perfect. If you look at magazines, or video games or anything and you see a mistake or something that is incorrect, it can’t always be corrected. But not everything has to be perfect. I don’t get why fans of anime and manga expect everything to be perfect. We don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a world where we learn from our mistakes. I don’t get why people can’t be happy with something if it does contain a few mistakes. Even if it was purposely done, it’s not all as bad as it’s made out to be.

Answer:
Anime fandom is a distinct hobby in America, unlike any other. Star Trek and Star Wars fandom, and comic book fandom are not like anime fandom because these genres are American and in English to begin with. Hong Kong movie fandom isn’t the same because for many, many years Hong Kong films were subtitled in English by the original production studios themselves, by law. Anime fandom is unusual because it is entirely import, and originates with untranslated Japanese media. Anime fandom began with “hard-core” fanatics willing to watch untranslated 10th generation copies. These fanatically devoted purists cared deeply about anime, as proven by their willingness to watch untranslated poor copies, and their efforts to translate these shows themselves and the distribution of printed translated scripts, fansubs, and fanzine magazines like Animag, Animezine and Animenominous.

While many of these first generation die hard fans have since retired from the American anime fandom scene, their influence is still very present in the American anime fan community in the form of fansub ethics and the perpetual dub versus sub debate. Further complicating the matter is anime itself, an art form that is simultaneously fine art and commercial product, thereby merging the integrity of art with the tangible nature of merchandise.

Anime fandom began in America with fans “doing it themselves,” so the requirements of commercial viability were never traditionally a part of American anime fandom. In the early 1980s, American commerce “invaded” the formerly “pure” and non-profit world of American anime fandom in the form of dubbing and Robotech. Since that time, new generations of anime fans have entered the hobby to find themselves buffeted on both sides by opinions that dubs and American commercialization are a corruption of imported art, and dubs are a natural and positive adoption of foreign influence into American culture. This, of course, has largely created the rifts that exist in American anime fandom, and much of the distinction between “purists” and mainstream fans.

Anime purists, often the ones thought of as “stuck-up,” are those that think of anime primarily as an imported contemporary cinematic art deserving of consideration and preservation as fine art. These purist fans are also often used to the traditional fan community and fan translations that are produced with no commercial intention and focus primarily on serving as a linguistic and academic presentation of imported art. Die-hard purist fans consider the amount of effort and time that went into the production of anime, and expect that time and effort to be respected with equivalent consideration in the American localization. To these purist fans, a dub or a loose translation or alterations to the video content are an unforgivable corruption of the original creator’s efforts performed by an American company that had little or no involvement with the anime’s original creation. Take this as a simple example, If DaVinci’s Mona Lisa is presented under the name “Mona Liza,” the painting is the same, but yet tainted by “small mistake” that undermines the purist’s appreciation. Likewise, if the Mona Lisa is displayed with an earring, the art is essentially the same but again altered just slightly enough to seem improper to the purist. This is a classic example of “so close yet so far.”

The “mainstream fan,” for lack of a better term, knowingly or unconsciously, prioritizes the commercial aspect of anime, knowing that anime is intended to be viewed by its target audience and should therefore be tailored to that target audience. The die-hard considers anime a finished, completed work. The mainstream fan considers anime an evolving, dynamic work. Subtle changes to the Japanese script or video footage make the anime more suited to its target English language audience, and therefore make the anime more enjoyable. In this sense, whatever makes the anime more appealing to the viewer is in the best interest of both the viewer and the anime. To again use the Mona Lisa example, to a mainstream fan the name “Mona Liza” or the subtle alteration of the original canvas make the art more contemporary and affecting and immediate, thereby better conveying the original goal of the artwork to influence and address the viewer.

Mainstream fans see the inflexibility of purists as unreasonable, obstinate and elitist; purists see the adaptability and compromise of mainstream fans as a betrayal of the tenets of artistic integrity. Unfortunately there is no real middle ground as this is ultimately a conflict of principles. The inclusion of dubbed and subtitled options on DVDs is often cited as a medium compromise, but this point fails to satisfy purists who are upset by the very idea of altering contemporary Japanese art under any circumstances. It may be impossible to convene the two disparate schools of thought in American anime fandom, but it should not be impossible for the two theories to co-exist predicated upon their understanding of each other and acceptance of their respective opinions and rationale. Just remember that both purists and mainstream anime fans are still anime fans. Both want what’s best for the anime and what’s best for the fans. There’s simply a difference of opinion in what form of translation best emphasizes the merits of anime and best suits the needs and expectations of anime fans.

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