9 Reasons Anime is My Jam–gorgeous tunes and adorable characters

Hello, friends!

I recently got a new job and am currently experiencing delightful levels of learning-a-new-job-related-stress. So the brain is not exactly functioning at top capacity. Will this post be deep and articulate? No. But hey! I will scream and show you pictures. (This is probably a good time to note that all pictures are taken from Pinterest.)

If you’ve been around my blog at all in the past six months or so, you’ve probably heard me mention anime once or twice. For many years, I had very little desire to explore anime, but a recommendation from a friend convinced me to try it. And my world was forever changed.

It’s…kind of incredible. It’s my jam.

I’m still pretty new to this, so I’ll be drawing these thoughts and observations from the only anime shows I have yet seen: The Promised Neverland (season 1), Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Erased, and March Comes in Like a Lion.

Obviously, not all anime has the elements I’ll be talking about, and there are definitely some anime I have no desire to ever see.

Without further ado, here are, in no particular order, 9 Reasons Anime is My Jam.

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1. Intros

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Normal TV show intros? Eh, there are some I like. Some I usually skip.

Anime intros? WHAT IS THIS BRILLIANCE??

Instead of just being a montage of clips from the show, these intros tend to be SYMBOLIC which I LOVE. They’re incredibly dramatic, usually accompanied by a jammin’ tune. I particularly love The Promised Neverland intro (NAAA-NANANANANANAAA-NANANA) and the Erased intro (THIS ONE IS PURE BRILLIANCE AND THE SONG IS AN ABSOLUTE JAM).

2. Short Episodes

Even when I don’t have a lot of time, I can often carve out 23 minutes to sneak off with my sister and watch a spot of anime.

Or it’s late but you might as well watch one more episode because it’s only 23 minutes…

I also feel like 12 episodes that are each 23 minutes long is an excellent length for a story.

3. Artwork

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I love the art style. So much. I want to draw like this.

(But also when people turn into squiggly blobs or shrink three feet to fit their emotional state)

4. Characters

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I don’t know what it is about anime characters, but they are SO WONDERFUL. I have great amounts of feelings about this. Of course, I love the character design (look at them, they’re all so adorable), but also the character development and the complex motivations and the relationships—

Anime characters have such depth and are so worthy of me screeching “MY KIDS” at random moments throughout the day.

5. Drama

Anime is so stinkin’ dramatic, and it is 100% my jam. People having breakdowns and screaming at the sky? Arguments and confrontations? Suppressed trauma? Self-sacrifice? MURDER?

It’s all here, folks.

I love how dramatic anime can be without feeling melodramatic (…I mean, sometimes it’s a little melodramatic, but it still WORKS, you know?)

6. TEARS

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Everyone cries. All the time.

And so will you.

(Seriously, the level of emotion is like…something I would write)

7. Music

Anime music is absolutely gorgeous. All the cello and piano and ahhhhhhhhh.

Don’t take my word for it; go listen to some right now.

A few recommendations (all titles link to YouTube): Isabella’s Lullaby, 22194 (Norman’s Theme), On the Way Home, and Only I am Missing.

8. HUGS

There are many hugs. I support this.

Especially the TACKLE HUGS.

They are beautiful.

9. Heavy/deep subject matter somehow handled with such grace and poise???

Anime somehow tackles really intense situations and topics really well. It’s not that there aren’t non-anime shows and movies that do this just as well, but there’s something about anime that allows it to handle things in ways that other shows and movies can’t. It’s completely intangible, and I can’t articulate it, but…there’s nothing else quite like it.

Anime can do things that other forms of media can’t.

I was not impressed with the movie adaption of Ender’s Game that came out a few years ago, but at the time I couldn’t see how anyone could make a good adaption of that book. Since being introduced to anime, I’ve decided this is a place where an adaption of Ender’s Game could thrive. I can see an anime adaption working where no other kind of adaption could.

Because there’s just something about anime that is different.

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So yes. I kind of love anime now. I never thought I would be here, but I am.

A few months ago, one of my sisters said, “Anime feels like the stuff we write.” And it’s true. For whatever reason, anime syncs up remarkably well with the kinds of stories I like to write.

Maybe instead of daydreaming about my books one day getting movie adaptions (because REALLY NOW they would be terrible), I’ll start daydreaming about my books as anime…

Have you ever watched any anime? If so, what are you favorites? Do you have no desire to watch anime ever? (Because you should try it anyway!) Do you tend to write uber dramatic books with plenty of scenes where characters break down in tears? What’s something you were surprised to find you liked? Do tell!

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