\\Dreaming Endlessly\\

My Anime History

I've got to admit it-- I am a little bit proud of the fact that I was into anime before other people. XD But, I am happy that it was more about the Japanese culture than anything else. To tell the truth, I wanted anime to be popular, but I get tired of the popularity and the like. So how did I wind up in anime? It's funny, really. I was in kindergarten (1991), and my best friend was Japanese. I got very interested in the language and culture, including watching Japanese cartoons at her house. ^_^ But she moved back to Japan! And I didn't have a way to continue with Japanese, which is a shame. Now that I look back on it, and I am *not* gloating about this (the gloating part was supposed to be a joke, by the way :D), I really was speaking Japanese with her. And it amazes me. I was having conversations with her in Japanese! I was bombarding my parents with Japanese words! :D

Well, time passed, lalalala, and I wound up becoming obsessed with Pokemon (which is a whole other long story!), hardly even knowing it was Japanese. Basically, it reminded me of how much I missed Japanese, and so I went searching for other "Japanese cartoons", and boom, I was into anime. However, I feel like I became *too* obsessed with anime. ^^; I sort of "caught the fever". And up until about... 10th grade or so, I was truly obsessed!

The thing is, I just felt like I was dishing out so much money on anime tapes, making all anime websites, listening to all anime music...! I feel like I was too much into it. I don't think other people really did, but that is just "for the record". And anime is not always the best influence. *laugh*

Somehow, my fandom sort of went overboard, and then slowed down. Much of the reason being that the popularity of anime (which I had always wanted) annoyed me. And I didn't watch anime anymore (except Pokemon). This has given me more of a chance to remember just how much I love Japanese. And then, I began to remember that I really do love anime.

The truth here, is that I don't like the popularity of anime in a lot of ways. I don't like the "elitist" attitudes of people, I don't like the attitudes people have about just learning Japanese because of anime (Anime isn't Japan; anime is a piece of pop culture) or just being into the "popular" thing, I don't like people bashing Pokemon because it's one of my favorite things ever and they don't give it any respect whatsoever, and well, cons REALLY scare me. ^_^;

But I love Japanese. And I love the culture. And well... I love anime.

And so, now, here I am. A casual anime fan, who truly does love the language and the culture. I missed anime while I wasn't watching it... and I am SO happy that it made me want to learn Japanese again! I studied it a bit by myself. I learned Spanish and French in school (I love languages) through 12th grade, and I am glad I took the time to do so, but now, I am happy to say that I am finally, after much work figuring this situation out ("one way or another, I'll MAKE the chance to take Japanese *evil grin*") in a Japanese class! :D