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What Makes an Anime Fan?

Seb · 4y

635

Hey there guys, I'm looking for some answers to this question in reference to a YouTube video creating.

The question is as follows: What makes you an anime fan?

What I mean by this, is when you go up to someone, what requirements do they need to be a 'fan of anime'. Most people have seen Pokemon and Dragonball, but you wouldn't call them anime fans. At what level does someone become a fan. Please be as detailed as you like, this has been a topic I've wanted to discuss and get my foot in the door in this conversation.

EDIT: The reason I ask this is that multiple circles I've been within seem to have a more elitist view on being a fan of anime only if you've reached X amount of anime or requirements.

Taro 4y
you have to like anime
meniel 4y
If they say they are an anime fan I usually believe them.
- Seb 4y
  You state "usually" believe them. Are there times where you don't?
  meniel 4y
  Uhm... I don't think I can be exhaustive but something like, if they look like a compulsive liar or if they look insincere and would gain something from lying.
  Seb 4y
  So basically only if they seem to have ulterior motives?
spookii 4y
just enjoying anime? idk why this even needs to be a thing
- spookii 4y
  there shouldnt be any requirements to consider yourself apart of a fandom. ive always found ppl that say stuff like "youre not a real fan if you havent seen insert show here" dumb
  Seb 4y
  in response to second post
  
  I agree with that, although I'm just curious in finding out people's way of thinking in regards to this.
- Seb 4y
  Because in certain circles people will consider you to not be a fan of anime if you've watched X amount of anime, or if you've only watched a certain type of anime.
Aukeeeh 4y

What makes you an anime fan?

If you like anime, it's that simple.
- Seb 4y
  Pretty reasonable answer
Beazt 4y
If you like & watch anime. You become a fan once you like something so I believe anime’s no different
- Seb 4y
  I 100% am with you on this. However, I've noticed that some people seem more elitist about anime compared to other forms of media. I was hoping to see if anyone could explain their rationale on this.
  Beazt 4y
  I don’t understand it fully myself, but I think elitist are ppl that think they!r opinions are correct, and also trash on all new popular shows, primarily battle shounen.
  Seb 4y
  Pretty true. Although Jujutsu Kaisen is goat'd.
  THESilver 4y
  when some people want to feel like they're a part of an extra special group so they state things that make "true" fans and gatekeep as an indirect way to say that they are also those things and flex how cool they are
CModel 4y
when it hurts, when the pain doesn’t stop, when the constant lingering for demise never meets its end, the crucifix of suffering
- Seb 4y
  idk if this is suppose to be a meme or something
- CModel 4y
  also nyanpasu >_<
  AquaSenpai 4y
- mariamsolos 4y
  IDK IF THIS IS A JOKE OR NOT BUT ITS FUNNY EITHER WAY
HoLeeFuk 4y
When thats the only thing you have going In your life
- Seb 4y
  Is this an honest answer or memeing?
  HoLeeFuk 4y
  Difference between being a fan and enjoying anime
  Seb 4y
  What's the difference?
  HoLeeFuk 4y
  no life and life
  HoLeeFuk 4y
  its just my opinion btw
  Seb 4y
  So would you say people who are 'anime fans' are people who kinda make it their lifestyle, but those who enjoy it, are those who have it as a form of entertainment?
AliceCriesAlot 4y
good area of airflow, noone wants a fan that only blows straight forward in a line, its got to have some girth to the airflow
- Seb 4y
  bruh
  AliceCriesAlot 4y
  i like to be a menace of these forums
swixzy 4y
people are definitely elitists about what makes an "anime fan" but you won't find that in this thread since you're directly asking about it. if you look in some other threads though you can definitely find people making elitist and condescending comments about how much anime someone has watched
- Seb 4y
  Thanks for the insider tip. I'll have some research to do then! :D
liviexkenshin 4y
Literally just if you like it, u dont have to watch 5000 anime in order to be a fan. You couldve watched 5 anime and call yourself a fan bc u enjoyed those 5 anime.
If you like the media, and you enjoy it, you can consider yourself a fan. You dont have to base ur entire personality around it to be considered a fan lmfao.
- Seb 4y
  100% agree. Curious though if anyone has a certain hot take of containing X amount of anime to be a fan.
  liviexkenshin 4y
  Ofc there are people who believe that, only because they like to gate-keep even though gatekeeping anime is not something anyone can really do (though im not sure if asians can gatekeep it if they want? thats a whole other topic thats honestly none of my business as im not asian.).
  
  But if there are people who will comment that type of stuff here, normally its because they think theyre superior or some shit which is honestly annoying, which goes into that elitist agenda.
berry 4y
not getting any pussy
Novel 4y
I feel like an anime fan is someone who enjoys anime just as much or more than other forms of media.
- Seb 4y
  See, I viewed that most people who enjoy it tend to have it higher than other forms of media. For example, I enjoy movies, albeit very few. But I wouldn't call myself a movie fan, since I don't like it to a high degree like (in my case) video games and anime.
  Novel 4y
  Well, I say this because while I enjoy anime more than all other forms of media besides video games, I have some friends who sincerely like anime without enjoying it MORE than other stuff (at least from what I have seen)
  Seb 4y
  Completely fair. I've been asking this question since I've been in circles where I don't have 100 anime on anilist/MAL so I am a fake fan and don't know shit about what I am talking about.
ThatLocalEgg 4y
To answer your question, it's quite simple: To be an anime fan, you gotta enjoy anime. Watch any you like, and become passionate with what you like
Got a specific genre you focus on? Great!
Watched all the mainstream franchises? Great!
Watched only smaller gems? Great!
Anything counts as to being an anime fan, as long as you enjoy doing so!
YoungAnimeDoctor 4y
The most important thing to be an anime fan is to constantly have the passion to watch it. You may lose the drive. You may lose the enthusiasm. But you NEVER lose the passion.
kaimikaze 4y
When evey breath is filled with the constant reminder that your anime waifu isn’t real (and never will be ) and u will die alone hugging your 5ft3 1:1 model of Mai-San
KappaP75 4y
anime fan is someone who knows what they are watching is anime and enjoy it and wish to watch other anime.
Hunkymunky5 4y
Anime is cringe
KappaP75 4y
You have to have watched Naruto if not your not a real anime fan... u need to be exactly 5,9 and not be in shape, if u can lift more than 5 chairs you are not an anime fan. if you don't know that Goku solos your not an anime fan. if any hentai you watch is rated below a 10 ur not a anime fan. this is simple and widely known facts. you must also have a bare minimum of 20 waifus. thank you.

just in case I have to say this is a joke I left a serious reply a bit ago
Shineek 4y
Its kinda like with a gamer, if you play games that does not mean you are a gamer, same for anime, you can watch anime without being an anime fan. To me an anime fan is someone who:
1. Watches at least 1cour per month
2. Watches seasonal shows
3. Watches unpopular shows, if someone is watching only highly popular shows he is just a casual.
4. And what i would consider the biggest thing that decides if i see someone as a Casual or Fan is if he likes talking about various anime or just goes back constantly to talking about one anime only or does not want to talk about anime at all.
- TJReds 4y
  I don't watch seasonal shows but I have seen hundreds of anime and watch it almost every day. ;oo
  Shineek 4y
  Never said you have to hit all the checkboxes, those are just something like a guideline to understand who i would call anime fan and who a casual watcher, but as said to me its like with a gamer and someone who just plays games. Would you yourself call someone a gamer just cause he plays some of those facebook mini games or some android apps like Candy Crush? Or someone who buys a Preorder Deluxe Edition of a AAA game that was hyped for a long time now. Would you consider a gamer someone who has no idea about gaming hardware and does not even knows whats inside his PC or someone who can tell you what exactly is inside.
  TJReds 4y
  Ahhhh okay, I thought you meant you had to do all 4 to be a fan xD
  
  "Would you consider a gamer someone who has no idea about gaming hardware and does not even knows whats inside his PC or someone who can tell you what exactly is inside."
  
  Also yes I would. I'm a computer science major and have thousands of hours in videogaming but I have NO idea what goes on inside a computer XD
  
  But I get your point, I wouldn't consider someone who just plays facebook games etc a videogamer (although my COSC prof would)
  Shineek 4y
  Think the biggest factor is the overall mentality which cant be explained just by words, you just have to interact with that person for a while to be able to tell if you consider this person an anime fan/gamer or just a casual. And i think this applies to basically everything, even music, i like classic music but does not mean im a fan o Chopin.
Weeble 4y
liking anime
TJReds 4y
Someone I know calls herself a "weeb" and an "anime fan". She has only watched one anime and refuses to watch any other anime, even if I know it's something she'll like. Most of the time I believe people when they say they're fans of anime, but this is one case where I don't simply because she has only watched one and hasn't since.
Haeopsjis 4y
search up the word fan
and there u have it someone who likes anime
on the other hand not every anime fan is a weeb nor an Otaku
what I mean by this is yes I am a fan of movies, but its not like I watch movies 24/7 nor do I know a lot about more niche movies. I think anime fans are the people who only watch anime from time to time, they aren't people who would watch hentai nor vtubers or really go deep into the culture, they are the more casual fans
mariamsolos 4y
if you watch anime? and like it?
Ocatu 4y
you have to reach a certain level of degeneracy
Vincenzo 4y
I think someone's a fan simply by becoming interested in the topic and actually making some research on the the latter
Saga 4y
A fan is someone who follows certain hobby, sport, faction, etc. And by follow is
understood that he/she is aware of the current news about his/her "thing", and
avidly consumes the product (it is also presumed for a fan to know deep and
detailed facts about the topic, but not expected).
Akobundu 4y
I was planning to ask a similar question at some point on this forum but you beat me to it. This is something I was thinking about as well for a while now ever since a stream I watched in which an anituber I follow along with his friends were watching and critiquing a game show in which people had to identify who was the fake anime fan among them. Because it has been a while since I have watched the stream I do not fully remember the requirements specifically but I do recall that I, as well as those who were critiquing the game show to be off. I do remember for instance that one of the requirements that made someone an anime fan was that if they possess anime related merchandise, which is something I disagree with because what if the person who enjoys anime does not have/make enough money to be able to purchase those merchandise to start a collection? Plus one of the participants possess merchandise that technically would not count as anime as they were based more on video game franchises (that just happen to have an anime aesthetic).

To your question, the conclusion I have come to at present is I think what makes someone a fan of anime is having an appreciation for this particular style of animation. They deeply enjoy consuming this stye of animation to the point they develop a desire to want to learn more about anime and it's workings. I think it's just like how people become interested particular topics to the point of diving into them instead of just experiencing them passively. For example, someone who is so into gaming to the point they light up whenever they talk about the medium and and therefore have a deep conversation about the topic.

I would like to know your thoughts to this conclusion as the reason I wanted to ask was to compare my opinion to others and see if this was a reasonable enough conclusion to arrive on.

Do your best on your video. I may watch it when it's finish.
pinappIes 4y
well to echo what everyone else said, if you like anime, you're a fan. simple as that

The reason I ask this is that multiple circles I've been within seem to have a more elitist view on being a fan of anime only if you've reached X amount of anime or requirements.

to be fair, this isn't something exclusive to anime though. you'll see gatekeeping in pretty much any sort of media, especially in gaming, sports, and music. also the gatekeeping tends to be mostly directed towards women, but that's a whole other conversation lol.
Removed 3y
Today I also started thinking about elitism in anime. I then started pondering this very topic: what makes an anime fan. My idea of an anime fan is as follow:

An anime fan will watch anime on a regular basis. If the person hasn't watched anime in the past 5 or 6 months, but has made time for other series/movies, then I don't really think of t person as a fan (then they just watch anime from time to time or don't mind watching anime). If the person keeps this up, they will eventually rack up an anime body count, but lower numbers do not mean that the person is not a fan of anime.

Time/period is another factor. I think the term fan also implies that the person is currently invested in anime. If the person used to watch anime a lot in the past and do not watch it anymore, then they are not a fan of anime but rather, they used to be a fan.

Lastly, if the person is excited to talk about anime it is an indicator that they are an anime fan. But if the person is excited to talk about anime, but do not meet the requirements above, I will start to think that they are faking it.

A lot of people stated "If you like anime, you are a fan". I disagree with this sentiment and for me there is a difference between a fan and someone who just likes something. If you are a fan, you tend to make more of an effort towards the thing you are a fan of. For example, I like certain Pop music, but I'm not a fan of it since I would rather listen to Rock or Classical music.
Removed 3y
When I call myself an anime fan.

Anyone can disprove me by providing the complete list of anime fans.