What can we do as fans of the genre to help ensure that anime has credibility?
1. Be vocal: The anime industry is floundering in our failing economy as people have less money to spend on hobbies. As a result, companies seem to be generally interested in what we, as fans are interested in, and what sells. E-mailing, commenting, and asking questions at industry panels at conventions are all good (and acceptable) ways of letting your thoughts be known. Just remember to be polite and use spell check.
2. Support what’s good: I’m not talking about just buying the DVDs, though you should definitely do that too. If you can’t afford them, ask for them as gifts. But also spend money on movies in theaters if they’re good. Didn’t like Dragonball? There’s a shocker. If it doesn’t look good, don’t spend ten bucks to go see it. That’s one of the only ways that Hollywood will listen, is if the money doesn’t come rolling in.
3. Share: And I’m not just talking about running up to people going “Naruto is the best!” That frightens people off. I have another guide here about introducing people to anime gradually if you’re looking for tips. Bottom line is, don’t be childish and fanboy/girly about stuff you like. If people ask you about your hobbies, speak to them about it intellectually, they’ll be much more interested and more inclined to try it themselves.
I would like to hope that there’s at least one person in Hollywood that can see anime as an art form, and not just more material to be snatched up and made into a live-action adaptation. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon. So in the meantime, I’ll just keep buying my special event tickets to cram into a movie theater at eight on a Tuesday night with every other local otaku to watch movies I’ve already seen on the big screen.
