Do people usually 'grow out' of Anime?

[Umihito]

Thanks for all the new input everyone, looks like the trend is standing out pretty well.

> Columbine, I guess it's because it's foreign, and of course all the stigma attached with Anime. It must attract attention more than local medias.

But the main reason I think it stands out more is because for one, some people who like anime take it way too far, and make themselves a beacon of "when will they grow out of / lose interest in it, they're taking it way too seriously!" opinions.
Also probably because of all sorts of things like style (the whole cartoons is for children thing), and obsessive Otaku make people think that way.

I'm not sure if that's the point you was trying to make, but that's how I interpreted it.

> NanteNa and Modus, I understand you both completely, and being students of literature I can see your basis' entirely. When I wrote the thread I never thought of it that deeply, so I'll be sure to keep it in mind if I find myself talking about a topic like this in the future.

[xkmkmlmx]

Originally Posted by 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.

Haha I am pretty much in the same boat as you with a surprisingly similar history. Friends and I were watching anime since we were 12-13. Now, in my 30's, I can't even bother with it. I will still watch Ghibli stuff and the like (just borrowed "Summer Wars" from a friend), but I have no interest in watching anything at all anymore. In fact, the last time I was and the last thing I probably watched as a fan was Bebop.

I still read a manga from time to time, though.

[xXdeathnotexX]

Anime is amazing.
I mean, Im only fourteen, so im not actually sure If Ill grow out of it
But for now
Anime is my only friend
*noms anime and looks insane*
Haha jk
But really
I cant imagine life
Without
Anime

[PoissonApple]

You don't have to grow out of anything! I mean with Animes and Mangas it is the same with western cartoons! Everybody in every age can watch it. If don't there wouldn't be a series like 'The Spimpsons'. You don't need a reason to watch cartoons, Animes and so on. Also you don't need a reason to read Mangas or stupid romance novels!
You know even my grandfather still watch cartoons, like Pink Panther and so on! Why? Because it is funny, god knows much better than those soap operas, you know about love and who betrayed who, and who loves now someone esle..
It's just a fantasy world. Who doesn't like fantasy worlds? No matter if it in your mind, or aired on TV!

[tokusatsufan]

Expecting that is like expecting me to stop watching Power Rangers or collecting toys. I think if you're the kind of person that grows out of things then you will,if you're not you're not. It's not like you're obsessed with something really childish. I let go of very little. I got out my old Bionicles the other day[I've lost pieces and things] and I thought I could sell them and start again,but there's just a lot of memories.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by Umihito

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

The majority of people I see talking about it or being major fans of it are either in their young or mid teens.
Of course there are many older fans of it which I don't deny, but they seem to be in a relative minority.

So have you personally watched a lot of anime before and stopped now?
Or has someone you know or know of grown out of it?

When I say this, I don't mean anime that's MEANT for children such as Pokemon or Dragonball Z, athough I have no doubt there's probably older people still watching those somewhere out there...

I'd consider myself someone who has grown out of anime. I'm 18 and I just don't find it appealing any more. All the mainstream anime just seems a little too younger-oriented to me, and I don't even find any non-mainstream animes that much different. There are maybe one or two series I still hold onto, but nothing near the amount of series that I watched before.

I am 34, I grew up reading manga and watching Japanimation.. i still spend wad of money buying them every month, so I definitely am someone who didn't grow out of it...

My wife is also supportive of this "weird" hobby of mine

[PockyMePink]

Originally Posted by PoissonApple

You know even my grandfather still watch cartoons, like Pink Panther and so on! Why? Because it is funny

Actually, it's probably because it's nostalgic, rather than the cartoon being funny or good.

[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by PockyMePink

Actually, it's probably because it's nostalgic, rather than the cartoon being funny or good.

I love the Pink Panther cartoon. It's "good" to me.

[visualkeito]

i dont think that ill grow out of anime for a long time, but ive noticed that ive toned down my attitude towards it.

for example, when i first got into anime i used to buy anything and everything associated with a certain series, no matter if i was going to use it or not. i used to do those really loud gasps or squeals when i saw something i liked too. i dont do that anymore.
also, when i would watch a series, i would always say things like "this is the best series ever!", and now that im older and ive taken higher english classes and film analyzation classes, i can look at the series on a deeper level and make better judgments towards a series.

i havent grown out of it just yet, but now im a bit more reserved when it comes to anime.

[bluedaydream]

I have only watched a couple partial episodes of anime with english dubs, and I feel if that is the form you are watching, you certainly will find it childish. The dubbers in the us just make it very cartoon-like. Try watching some with subs if you haven't already. I am also very picky about the animes I watch. Try looking them up and reading a synopsis first to see if the story will go in a direction you may actually be interested in. I could give you some suggestions of shounen that are semi-deep, but all of our tastes are SO very different, it's almost hilarious to me.