In these days, I am wondering why the enticing world of modern anime is failing to capture my heart. I have grown weary of it. I dislike modern anime now. Was anime a mistake?
Anime was a mistake
-Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki made the remark in a 2014 interview with Golden Times, in which he accused modern animators of not paying attention to the real world. Even though the phrase ‘Anime was a mistake’ became a viral meme among anime fans, it was taken out of context.
Although Miyazaki expressed concern over the commercialization of the industry, he has since clarified his views, recognizing anime’s importance in entertainment.
Miyazaki’s Real Concerns
Miyazaki’s actual concerns were about the industry’s shift towards pandering to otaku preferences. He felt that this shift compromised the quality of storytelling and artistic expression. According to him, many modern anime creators lacked real-world experiences and were creating content based on their own narrow, self-referential perspectives. He believed this was leading to a decline in the overall quality and depth of anime.
The Impact of Miyazaki’s Critique
Despite the misquote, Miyazaki’s critique does highlight some genuine issues within the anime industry. There are numerous shows that prioritize fan service, over-the-top tropes, and formulaic plots over innovative storytelling. This has led to a saturation of certain genres and a perception that anime is becoming stagnant.
Gif From the Anime Sword Art Online
Anime’s Golden Age: The Appeal of Nostalgia
A time when hand-drawn cells and intricate storytelling were the hallmarks of anime was the golden era. Our hearts still thump for timeless classics like “Cowboy Bebop,” “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” and “Akira,” which are still great to watch to this day. Its great artwork, originality, and profound narratives spoke to the soul in a way that modern anime are not able to do.
The Anime of the past was captivating because of its depth of characters. A character’s struggles, aspirations, and transformations left an indelible mark on the psyche of the viewers. These characters were bursting with life, and they were relatable.
Art Style and Cookie-Cutter Tropes
Modern anime often prioritizes aesthetics over substance in an effort to attract a wider audience. As time progressed, the art of anime transformed. Modern anime’s vivid colors and dynamic animations are undoubtedly a source of its charm. However, in spite of its technological advancements, it seems to have lost touch with its poetic side. The storytelling that used to be the hallmark of anime has taken a back seat.
An abundance of clichés and overused cookie-cutter tropes make it difficult to distinguish one anime series from another. With derivative storylines, generic characters, and lackluster plot development, watching any new anime has become disappointing.
Intricate plots, well-developed characters, and deep philosophical themes were hallmarks of traditional anime. It led the audience on a journey of self-discovery.
Fan Service vs. Substance
Real substance in anime has been replaced with a never-ending rhyme scheme, losing its depth and artistry. In modern anime, the narrative is often shallow, oversimplified, full of fan-service and gratuitous. The industry has shifted from a pursuit of originality to a formulaic one.
A large portion of today’s anime is made by anime fans, not storytellers. This could be a major reason why anime has gotten so… ‘meh’.
Anime becoming mainstream was another major issue. Since anime has to appeal to a global audience, that’s not possible because everyone’s tastes and cultures are different, so anime now appeals only to anime fans. It has become a culture in and of itself. On the other hand, Studio Ghibli’s masterpieces could be enjoyed even by non-anime fans.
I doubt anything revolutionary can come out of this situation since anime used to be written and drawn by older, more experienced authors, writers, and artists.
Modern anime makes me feel resentful, but my distaste isn’t permanent. I want the magical era back, with its originality, character depth, and story.
What do you think? Is the quote “Anime was a mistake” is true?
Credits: Links to the Image sources in order of appearance
- Featured image of ‘beautiful-anime-character-cartoon-scene‘ : Image by freepik
- Hayao Miyazaki image
- Gif From the Anime Sword Art Online
- (Movie poster Image Cowboy Bebop) Check on IMDB, (Movie poster Image Evangelion) Check on IMDB
- Image from Anime Name : Gleipnir
- Yukong from Honkai Star Rail
