By DAVID THORNTON, Photographer
Anime became a much-watched genre during quarantine period.
Wind blowing at the most dramatic moment, lethal injuries that don’t kill, unrealistic body standards and perverted male characters can only mean one thing: Anime.
The coronavirus pandemic has kept people in their houses, so the practice of streaming shows has became popular.
Binge-watching shows has been a popular trend in recent years, and the anime genre has grabbed the attention of a lot of people during the global pandemic.
Regardless of the language change, Chinese and Japanese shows have grown in popularity across the United States — and even in Alva.
There are many reasons why anime has become increasingly popular. Erika Salemme, a reporter from St. Petersburg College, said in an interview: “Anime is very diverse and stretches the boundaries of the logical world with unique characters and stories.”
For Northwestern political science major Alexa Leyva, anime helped pass the time in quarantine.
When it comes to anime, the plot and character development is what attracts her.
When a show called “Naruto” put her to tears, that’s when she knew she liked anime, she said.
“I remember I cried on an episode, and that’s when I knew I was getting attached to these characters,” Leyva said.
Leyva binge-watched “Naruto,” “Hunter X Hunter” and “Death Note” while in quarantine.
She has a full list of anime shows she plans on watching in the future, she said.
In October, the anime show “Demon Slayer” released its first movie in Japan, and it had positive reviews in the worldwide box office, making it the second highest-grossing anime show of all time. It followed just behind first-place winner “Spirited Away,” which was released in 2002.
In late 2021, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train” will be released and streamed in the U.S.
According to Crunchyroll, the U.S. has the highest demand for anime titles.
Crunchyroll is the world’s largest collection of anime, it’s a streaming site that hosts every anime show and movie.
It streams new shows every week, and with a membership, you get access to the full collection of anime series and movies.
Daryl Harding is a news writer for Crunchyroll. He said, “Anime has become mainstream in the American culture.”
The Crunchyroll website sells merchandise, publishes press releases and allows users to play games on the website.
Since 2019, Cruchyroll has gained more than two million subscribers and 45 million registered users.
Other streaming sites for anime include Hulu, Funimation and Netflix, which have less varieties of anime shows, but still stream big shows like “Attack on Titan” every Sunday. They also show the full seasons of “Naruto” and “One Piece.”
Anime is mostly aimed toward an older audience. The picture is animated and colorful like a cartoon, but its content is for teens or more mature audiences.
Northwestern mass communication major Eric Livingston said he used his time during the pandemic to bring back childhood memories.
He re-watched anime shows he saw as a kid and tuned in every week for the new shows. Livingston finished seven different anime productions in the past year.
Anime decor is part of the trend as well.
Northwestern nursing major Jada Overly has posters in her apartment of her favorite show.
“I love my ‘Attack on Titan’ poster,” she said. “It hangs in my living room.”
Apparel, accessories and other decor from Crunchyroll feature anime themes.
“Recently, I bought a ‘Naruto’ hoodie off Crunchyroll,” Livingston said.
Leyva said she loves anime merchandise and wants to get more into reading manga. Manga is a type of Japanese comic, and most anime shows originated from manga comics.
The artistic component is a huge part of the enjoyment of anime.
Funimation graphic designer Michele Sontag said, “Anime is also known for being far more aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching than American animation.”
The five most popular animes are “Black Clover,” “Attack on Titan,” “One Piece,” “Jujitsu Kisen” and “Naruto.”
Livingston has seen all of these shows, and Leyva and Overly have only seen two of the five.
Anime reflects Japanese spirits and beliefs. It also reinforces the values of relationships and community. Fans of anime have a chance to get an intimate look into Japan’s history, language and worldview, according to Crunchyroll.
The popularity for anime grows higher every week that an episode releases on Crunchyroll.
“All the shows are different, from horror to comedy or romance,” Livingston said. “There is a show for everyone.”