Anime is very inspiring. There are concepts that inspire, characters who inspire, and feats which inspire. And to all you naysayers who dismiss this claim off hand, think of it this way; anime characters do things we wish we either:
- A.) Had the strength and abilities to do ourselves.
- B.) Had the willpower to do ourselves.
Why else would so many fans be drawn into a series unless they empathized or at least, sympathized with a character and consequently, the character’s actions? If anything is inspiring, it’s watching someone pursue their dreams through adverse hardship. Isn’t that a major concept behind many anime? So wouldn’t it be great to emulate a particularly outstanding act?
Shy anime fans could finally have the gumption to ask out the girl or guy, or both, of their dreams. Fans would learn Japanese and be fluent in its use. The school bully would finally get his comeuppance by one brave soul’s rebellious voice. New foods and arts would be tried and practiced. Folks would dare to attempt a sport or hobby they were too timid to be involved with before. People everywhere would pull together and try harder for a better world. Ok, maybe not that last one, but I don’t see why any of the former couldn’t be a realistic possibility due to anime viewing.
I wonder how many anime fans have taken up a martial art due to shows like Naruto, Bleach, and Ninja Scroll? And how many fans do you think have taken an interest in cooking or sports because of shows like Yakitate!! and Prince of Tennis? I also dare to ponder the amount of fans who have tried something they’ve seen on anime and have it backfire on them miserably….
Have I personally been inspired to do anything I watched in an anime? I’m going to say yes and: rollerblading, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, bon odori.
How about you? What anime’s set a fire under you to accomplish a task or to try something you wouldn’t have before? Have you been inspired to take up a hobby or to eat a foreign and unknown food because you watched it in an anime? Does anime not inspire you and this is a bunch o’ BS?
Have you ever been inspired to do something from an anime?
Write, I suppose.
And maybe learning how to draw in the manga-style and Japanese, but the learning Japanese bit I’m kinda fated to learn it eventually, so :V
I’ve done bits of the Haa Roo Hay Dance and sang I BUY SAUSAGE, but everyone and their hamsters already did both
I bought Timotei shampoo. (Really.)
Aside from that, I actually also have signed up for a japanese class (but it’s not sure whether there are going to be enough people for it to take place).
Yakitate!! Japan got me into baking, and appreciating bread in general.
A whole bunch of things:
1) Kanon got me into taiyaki
2) Shana and DearS got me into melon bread,
3) Ranma got me into okonomiyaki
4) Lucky Star got me into choco cornets
and the list goes on.
Anime hasn’t really inspired to do much because of direct influences from it. For me, it’s the other way around. I like something IRL (like Yakitate Japan) and so I then find an anime that has this in it, so I watch it.
Yakitate inspired me to learn to make bread, yes. And, uh, I have done the Haruhi dance with my friends too. And I make a website dedicated to anime and a podcast…
Oh dear. I’m not sure I have a life after all!