Anime has become a phenomena. More and more Anime series and movies come out each year and the population of Anime fans around the world keeps on increasing as well. Also, the popularity of a particular Anime title that became a hit TV series usually lasts for years. Eventhough the show has ended on the TV station where it was aired, fans will search for their own copies of the series and watch it over and over. One might be wondering: What’s the secret behind Anime’s success? What does Anime have that often cannot be found in its Western counterparts? In this article, I’ll try to point out some of the key factors behind the success of Anime.

Exciting action and complexity draws out a wider range of viewers. While cartoons, that were made in Western countries mainly targets children as its main audience, Anime, on the other hand, targets a wider range of viewers. As a matter of fact, a big part of the die-hard Anime fan population are teenagers and people in their early to mid 20’s. In most cases, while children enjoy the spectacular actions and fight scenes, adults and young adults appreciate the complexity of the story and its emotional content. Most Anime series are mixes of comedy, action, and drama.

Main characters grow and develop their abilities as the story progress. Unlike in most western cartoons, wherein once the hero has established its character there’s a little room (often none) for improvement, Anime characters grow as the story goes along. A good example would be the “Dragonball Z” characters where they even use “power levels” to show the improvement in a character’s fighting skill. In the sports Anime titles “Slam Dunk: Team Shohoku” and “Hajime No Ippo”, the main characters learn different techniques in every match. Often, the most exciting moment in an episode of an Anime series, is when the villain and the other characters are surprised by the hero’s new ability.

Read More >