Do people usually 'grow out' of Anime?

[ModusOperandi]

Originally Posted by Umihito

I'm curious as to whether people (especially Western) usually grow out of anime or not?

I don’t like the term “outgrow.” I think it’s a silly form of self-entitled superiority for those who have lost interest/do not have interest in something or other. I believe that people outgrow things such as specific clothing, furniture and so on, but I do not believe people outgrow forms of media. You either have no interest in it, lose interest in it or move on to a different aspect of it that accommodates -and reflects- your current interests (Not watching Barney sing-alongs doesn't mean I've outgrown it or outgrown tv, it just means it's not interesting/relevant to me. Who knows, it might be a useful learning material for a 40-year-old English learner).

Dosage is another issue all-together and can be detrimental to people all around if overdone - no matter what it is they may be engaging in.

[NanteNa]

I agree with Modus. ''Outgrowing'' is like saying "oh, I grew up and realized that there are better and more important things than Japanese cartoons - cause I'm mature like that".. I like interpreting things a lot. Anyway, I don't think there's any ''statistics'' for how often or rare people grow out of it.

I have a few guy friends at 23+ who still watch it. A friend even got a tattoo of Ryuk on his shoulder..

[Rinai]

Anime is really any animation from Japan. So uh. Yeah. I think it's easier for Westerners to grow out of it. At least, that's my opinion. As far as me, I've had my ins and outs of it. I guess I just need a break from that and I'll usually go to watching western cartoons for a while and then switch back to anime.

*plooka plooka*

[Umihito]

Originally Posted by ModusOperandi

I don’t like the term “outgrow.” I think it’s a silly form of self-entitled superiority for those who have lost interest/do not have interest in something or other. I believe that people outgrow things such as specific clothing, furniture and so on, but I do not believe people outgrow forms of media. You either have no interest in it, lose interest in it or move on to a different aspect of it that accommodates -and reflects- your current interests (Not watching Barney sing-alongs doesn't mean I've outgrown it or outgrown tv, it just means it's not interesting/relevant to me. Who knows, it might be a useful learning material for a 40-year-old English learner).

Dosage is another issue all-together and can be detrimental to people all around if overdone - no matter what it is they may be engaging in.

Originally Posted by NanteNa

I agree with Modus. ''Outgrowing'' is like saying "oh, I grew up and realized that there are better and more important things than Japanese cartoons - cause I'm mature like that".. I like interpreting things a lot. Anyway, I don't think there's any ''statistics'' for how often or rare people grow out of it.

I have a few guy friends at 23+ who still watch it. A friend even got a tattoo of Ryuk on his shoulder..

Woah woah, I definitely didn't try to put myself off as superior if that's what you got from what I said...
'Outgrown' was simply just the first word that came into my head to describe it, I didn't think any deeper than that. But yes, changing interests so anime doesn't play much part in their lives any more is another way to put what I mean. I maybe should of made it clearer, but I mainly mean it in the sense of moving from childhood into adulthood and losing interest in it because of that. In that sense, I don't think there's any difference between 'outgrow' and 'lose interest' because you're quite literally growing out of interest for it. When you put it in the sense of a 40 year old English learner, you change the context of the show from children's entertainment to language learning, so the same can't be applied. But to each their own.

And I know what you mean NanteNa, as a film student we do nothing but interpret things in many ways. XD
He sounds dedicated!

[ModusOperandi]

Originally Posted by Umihito

Woah woah, I definitely didn't try to put myself off as superior if that's what you got from what I said...
'Outgrown' was simply just the first word that came into my head to describe it, I didn't think any deeper than that.

I didn't imply that you are placing yourself on a superior pedestal, although I had a feeling that you might feel like my post was directed entirely at you. My problem is with the terminology and its use in this particular subject. That's why I made it a point to solely quote your first sentence and not your entire post. You do not grow out of interest, you lose interest.

Originally Posted by Umihito

But yes, changing interests so anime doesn't play much part in their lives any more is another way to put what I mean. I maybe should of made it clearer, but I mainly mean it in the sense of moving from childhood into adulthood and losing interest in it because of that.
In that sense, I don't think there's any difference between 'outgrow' and 'lose interest' because you're quite literally growing out of interest for it.

Perhaps it's not your intention, but when you use the term "outgrow" or "grow out of" you're automatically implying that there is a predetermined limit, age-wise, that dictates a specific point which its acceptable/not acceptable to watch anime.

When you put it in the sense of a 40 year old English learner, you change the context of the show from children's entertainment to language learning, so the same can't be applied. But to each their own.

quite the contrary, Barney shows are designed specifically to facilitate learning (educational, moral etc) through entertainment for young ones. It can provide the same level of education to those who are early in their second language acquisition process. Being an individual who is capable of speaking English at a native level, I have no interest in it but, on the opposite side of the spectrum, it could prove to be a valuable tool for someone older who is learning the foundational aspects of the language. You see, you view Barney as a show designed to entertain children and thus see it as being useful for only them, but another person - perhaps a significantly older person - follows it religiously because it's become a great source of learning material.

So to sum it up, interest in itself is subjective, but that's all that it ever was and will be..."interest." It's either there, not there, dwindling or morphing no matter the reason. The term "outgrowing," to me at least, creates some kind of standardization that's off-putting to people whose interest are still invested in that particular medium.

Of course, I'm no wordsmith so I have no right to tell how or when to use a term, but I'm just voicing why this specific term, when used in this type of context, disturbs me.

[alisia]

I don't think people really grow out of anime. I love anime but I haven't really had time to watch it lately. It's hard to find time between jobs to watch it and do other things I love doing. =(

[josebrown]

I would say people tend to grow out of anime. Im 32. I started when I was 14. I went to many cons, I even threw a convention, founded 2 clubs, etc. hard core.

At this point in my life I dont really watch anime at all. I might once every 6 months catch a series, but barely thats it. Now I can afford to buy all these dvds, I just dont have the time for it. I really don't feel the need to watch anything.

I used to think I would never EVER stop watching. One day I just stopped. Thats it.


Maybe I am just anime'd out. Some other guys I know are still into it, but in general, there are other pressing things to take care of. Enjoy it while you do.

[tohruchan7]

well for me lately i have been going in and out of anime for a while. its mostly about whether i have enough time for it, the story of it is starting to bore me, or im just not feeling it at the moment. to me anime/manga is just another form of entertaiment. i try not to take to seriously like iv seen some people. now dont get me wrong i would love to like cosplay for once in my life but uuhh were was i going with this??? ya when i think of it some people just grow out of it or because of the above'd. i grew out of watching some cartoons like the jetsons so its perfectly normal i think.

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by ModusOperandi

So to sum it up, interest in itself is subjective, but that's all that it ever was and will be..."interest." It's either there, not there, dwindling or morphing no matter the reason. The term "outgrowing," to me at least, creates some kind of standardization that's off-putting to people whose interest are still invested in that particular medium.

You know, i just realized something curious; I read an awful lot of children's literature and no one has ever once said to me "oh, didn't you outgrow that yet?". Funny, I can indulge in a medium solely aimed and designed for children and no one even considers if it can be outgrown or not, but manga/anime, well...

Strange huh?

[NanteNa]

Originally Posted by Umihito

Woah woah, I definitely didn't try to put myself off as superior if that's what you got from what I said...
'Outgrown' was simply just the first word that came into my head to describe it, I didn't think any deeper than that. But yes, changing interests so anime doesn't play much part in their lives any more is another way to put what I mean. I maybe should of made it clearer, but I mainly mean it in the sense of moving from childhood into adulthood and losing interest in it because of that. In that sense, I don't think there's any difference between 'outgrow' and 'lose interest' because you're quite literally growing out of interest for it. When you put it in the sense of a 40 year old English learner, you change the context of the show from children's entertainment to language learning, so the same can't be applied. But to each their own.

And I know what you mean NanteNa, as a film student we do nothing but interpret things in many ways. XD
He sounds dedicated!

Well, I still believe that when you ''outgrow'' something, it's because of your AGE changing - not your interests. I lost interest for Barbie when I was 14 - that may be a late age for some.. but oh well.. That doesn't mean I 'OUTGREW' Barbie, I just lost interest.

I think that if you ''outgrow'' something, you're of the idea that ''Oh, I'm older now. I'm too old for this, actually, so I cannot watch/play/do these things anymore..''

I'm a linguistic student. During literature classes me interpreted EVERYTHING. -__-"

It's a pretty freaking awesome tattoo, I tell you! I clapped my hands like a kid at Christmas Eve.. The details are wickeeeed