Quote:
Originally Posted by The Batlord
Obviously animation is only a medium, but in general it is just for kids because that is the target audience. Even in Japan the age limit is just high school. There are a lot fewer animes that are legitimately targeted at people older than that and most of them are for college kids. Just because it doesn't have the same stigma as in America doesn't mean that a thirty year old obsessed with Naruto isn't considered a loser in Japan. I agree with Urban these days. I used to love anime, but for the most part I've lost interest, with the notable exceptions of Evangelion, Hellsing, and Studio Ghibli films. I'd rather watch Toy Story or even Justice League.
|
The difference is the line between obsession and simply retaining an appreciation for those things that made your childhood.
How many girls do you know over there in america who still love all the old disney films and their princesses? I dunno if it carries over, but here in the UK, most any girl who isn't involved in some sort of defined alternative social "scene" seems to have that glow of nostalgia about disney films, and will show no fear whatsoever in clarifying their favourite princess or whatever.
There's nothing wrong with that and none of them will ever be called childish for it - Unless they're obsessed with it.
And that isn't really an issue with the thing itself, so much as it is an issue with the idea that as adults, the act of childish obsession is something destructive to other areas of our lives. The fact we have more responsibilities precludes our ability to *be* obsessed by something - whereas for a child, making something your whole world, even if only until the next fad comes along, is kind of...well, its just a thing that kids DO, and are expected to do.
Also there's plenty of animation, western and otherwise, that is absolutely not for kids. I mean, take for example DyE - Fantasy, which is french: (NSFW)
DyE - Fantasy - Official Video - YouTube
I don't think there's any doubt of two things here - One is that the video is actually very visceral and adult, and two is that its actually very well animated and directed - In fact, the director has arguably used the lack of credence given to animation, and/or the "Distance" created by using a medium which is obviously not real, in order to represent material which if this were live action would be unduly disturbing.