Anime provided a sense of journey and goal attainment that cartoons often lacked, treating young viewers with respect and challenging their understanding.
Takeshi's Castle introduced Western viewers to Japanese language, customs, and humor, sparking a curiosity to explore more anime and Japanese media.
Japanese variety shows offered a glimpse into the wacky and captivating world of Japanese television programming, showcasing a distinct aspect of Japanese entertainment culture.
Deep dives
The Appeal of Anime for a Younger Audience
As a child, the structure and overarching plot of anime was appealing. It provided a sense of journey and goal attainment that cartoons often lacked. The more mature themes and storytelling in anime treated young viewers with respect and challenged their understanding. Additionally, the exposure to Japanese culture through anime and video games created a fascination and interest in Japanese language and customs.
Takeshi's Castle: A Gateway to Japanese Culture
Takeshi's Castle, a Japanese game show, had a lasting impact on Western viewers, showcasing the unique chaos and entertainment of Japanese entertainment. The show introduced viewers to Japanese language, customs, and humor, making Japanese culture more accessible and intriguing. It became a gateway to delve deeper into Japanese media and sparked a curiosity to explore more anime, movies, and variety shows.
Japanese Variety Shows and the Unique Appeal
Japanese variety shows, with their fast-paced editing, vibrant graphics, and charismatic hosts, provided a unique and entertaining experience. The peculiar humor, absurd challenges, and high-energy segments captivated viewers, showcasing a distinct aspect of Japanese entertainment culture. These shows, with their engaging content, offered a glimpse into the wacky and captivating world of Japanese television programming.
The Inevitability of Falling in Love with Anime
For many individuals, a gradual progression towards anime was inevitable. Exposure to Japanese culture, video games, and unique storytelling elements found in anime set the stage for a lasting fascination. Whether it was the immersion in engaging plots, the distinct charm of Japanese media, or the sense of adventure and growth depicted in anime, there was an innate appeal that drew viewers into the captivating world of anime.
Opinions on School Days
The hosts discuss their varying opinions on the anime series School Days. One host initially defended the show and believed its controversial ending was a masterpiece, while another found the majority of the series to be boring and disliked the characters. They debate whether a satisfying ending can redeem a show with lackluster episodes and share their personal experiences with other shows that had disappointing endings. The conversation delves into the nostalgia and growth that occurs with shifting opinions on anime as one matures.
The Cultural Impact of School Days
The podcast highlights the divisive nature of School Days within the anime fandom. They discuss how the series continues to spark discussions even years after its release, with viewers either heralding it as a masterpiece or lambasting it as a garbage anime. School Days is deemed culturally important due to its controversial and sensational nature, leading to ongoing debates and serving as a litmus test for one's taste and opinion on unconventional and trashy anime.
