Post 4: The Effects of Anime

        Do you listen to the news and hear about people addicted to smoking, to drinking or using drugs? Why do you think those people do those things? Is there any benefit to what they are doing? No, smoking, drinking and drugs, they just cause ailments to the mind and body but my addiction on the other hand gives inspiration and knowledge to its fans.

Anime is not just an addiction it also gives you a lot of benefits. For me, Anime gives me inspiration, it provides me a reason to pursue and continue my craft: Art. It also releases me from the stress of day to day life. As a student in college, my parents continuously chastise me to stop watching anime and start paying attention to my studies but no, I cant stop. When I watch anime, I imagine myself as one of the characters in that anime, I go to another world and have as much fun as I want. But to other people particularly students, there are other effects that they do not know they are experiencing.

According to Amy McNulty's The Effects of Anime on Students, there are certain changes a student experiences when he/she watches anime. 

Social Interaction

Some students are victims of a stereotype that casts them as loners and being antisocial. When students become interested in anime, they share a common connection to each other. Once they are accepted by other anime lovers they overcome their shyness and start making friends of their own. Students who partake in anime conventions or join online anime communities open up more to others. Anime conventions are the home of otakus, these get-togethers make them interact more to people who love what they love.

Art

Many students who take interest in anime also take interest in art. This happens when avid anime enthusiasts realize that they want to create their own stories and characters. Teachers may think that these students are too hung up on drawing big-eyed, anime characters but nevertheless this will be the starting line to introducing these students to take up other forms of art. Anime art is something worth imitating, it opens up the doors to the students creative minds. An example would be the works of Hayao Miyazaki, a lot of animators strive to recreate the smooth flow of animation that he makes, they look to anime as a new way to approach their works.

Japanese Language and Culture

Anime comes with a Japanese audio and culture. Students naturally pick up or take interest in learning Japan's native language: Nihongo. Students who pursue careers in Japan say that their love of anime was their drive to study the language.I, myself have learned how to speak Japan's native just by listening to anime and reading the subtitles that comes with it.

To others, Anime might just be a common show that one can pass time with or another tentative hobby but to me and other Otakus out there, Anime isn't just a simple addiction, it is a medium of education, it is an escape to fantasy and most of all Anime is a lifestyle.