10 Anime Opinions Only Normies Have

The popularity of anime with global audiences has increased monumentally over the past decade. Each year, the medium becomes more relevant in mainstream culture, catching the attention of even those who had never considered giving it a chance. While it is true that the largest consumers are still the hardcore fans, there is no denying how important the casual audience has become for the international market.

Fans who grew up alongside the best and most iconic anime of all time have clear opinions about the medium that they are prepared to defend, and casual fans are the same. These takes might differ greatly from those held by hardcore audience members, but when studied carefully, they can help fans open their minds to new perspectives they may have never considered.

Dubs Are Much Better Than Subs

A debate that has been raging for decades continues today: is it better to watch anime in Japanese with subtitles or dubbed into English? While some fans prefer to hear the original voice actors and avoid mistranslations or censorship, there are some who appreciate the significant effort made by English voice actors to create a high-quality adaptation.

Casual fans do not tend to worry about these issues, as they are more interested in enjoying the story and adventures that a show has to offer over the voices behind the characters. Nonetheless, due to most occasional viewers having little experience with Japanese, it makes sense that they prefer to enjoy anime in their native language, as subtitles can be somewhat intrusive.

Long Anime Are Not Worth the Time

It is not a secret among longtime anime fans that certain shows, especially those with a complex plot, tend to run significantly longer than a standard seasonal series. Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece are among the most popular examples of this phenomenon, with each having over 500 episodes. For dedicated fans, this is a blessing.

Occasional fans do not see this as a positive, but rather a trait that can push them away from even attempting to start an anime. The most infamous instance of this comes in the form of Luffy’s extensive and still ongoing adventure in One Piece, which has already surpassed the 1,000-episode mark. Many casual fans just don’t think that spending the equivalent of weeks following a single series is worth it.

Openings and Endings Are Not Important

Although not pivotal to the story, anime openings and endings are widely beloved by fans worldwide, as they not only often include catchy themes that become synonymous with the show, but also feature outstanding animation. Hardcore fans consider these music videos an important addition to any series, as the amazing tunes and visuals can greatly augment the experience.

This is not the case for the large majority of casual fans, who tend to outright skip the intro and ending credits of any anime they consume. There are a handful of exceptions to this rule, mostly due to a song in a particular opening being too catchy to ignore. Still, if there is nothing outstandingly appealing, casual fans prefer to simply focus on the story and ignore distractions.

Mainstream Anime is The Best

Despite the fact that most anime fans begin their journey by engaging with one of the most popular anime in history, such as Dragon Ball or Sailor Moon, this often leads them to discover hidden gems. Shows that have become popular with multiple audiences are not the only ones worth recognition, as there are many examples of lesser-known anime that are just as good as any iconic show.

A significant portion of casual fans do not get to this stage, in large part because they never engage with the medium beyond what they have heard or already know about. This is by no means an issue, as mainstream anime has become popular for more than justifiable reasons. As such, most non-diehard fans will enjoy their time watching whatever has become popular online or has been directly recommended to them.

Animation Is One of The Most Important Aspects

Over the years, the anime industry has seen a massive shift in animation techniques, often aided by technology, that has given studios the ability to create cinematic-like experiences for their shows. These masterpieces of animation manage to attract audiences with beautifully crafted backgrounds, fluid movements, and vibrant color palettes that can make any fictional world feel fantastic and alive.

While hardcore fans are aware that stunning visuals cannot make up for a lacking or boring plot, casual fans do not really care about this. Since anime, for them, is another form of entertainment, they are more than happy to simply engage with a series because they enjoy the visuals, which is a completely reasonable decision given the stunning pieces of art being produced at the moment.

Power-Scaling is Completely Irrelevant

Anime is a medium that has brought to the world some of the most overpowered characters in fiction, capable of destroying and reconstructing entire universes with a single thought. Besides gifting fans hours of joy alongside these powerhouses, the existence of these mighty warriors has also ignited several discussions, as it is often hard for audiences to reach an agreement about who is truly the strongest.

These debates do not seem to bother casual fans in the slightest, as they do not tend to care about comparing the power or ability of their favorite characters. Seeing them engage in epic combats is more than enough for a hero to become beloved. Although neither side is inherently correct, there is no denying that occasional fans save themselves from many heated debates.

Anime is Mostly For Children

Throughout the decades, the anime industry has released stories that reach beyond vapid entertainment, often including life-changing tales about love, loss, morality, and what it means to be human. Dedicated fans know that this is a medium that lends itself to creators sharing their deepest and most complex tales, enriching the lives of anyone fortunate enough to discover them.

Due to their superficial knowledge, many casual fans seem unaware of these shows’ existence, leading them to believe that anime is a format utilized to tell child-centric tales. This can be somewhat understandable, as most of the most popular shows of the last couple of decades have been family-friendly, with only a handful, such as Attack on Titan, handling more mature topics directly.

Beloved Protagonists Are Too Gullible or Annoying

Few things make an anime fan as happy as seeing their favorite protagonist triumph over evil and achieve the dreams they had longed for. There is a certain satisfaction in reaching the end of a journey alongside a character who inspired them for several episodes that nothing else can reproduce. Heroes like Goku, Naruto, Luffy, or more recently Deku, have gained a spot among the most beloved because of how many lessons and emotive moments they gifted audiences.

For occasional fans, this does not always seem to be the case, as several have been vocal in the past about their distaste for the typical noble and innocent hero. Many casual audience members expect to see a protagonist who commands respect from day one. This is not a universal opinion among casual fans, since there are plenty who still enjoy a more sensible main character, but it is an opinion significantly more common among non-hardcore viewers.

Staying Up To Date is Optional

Albeit hard to admit for most fans, it is a fact of life that the anime industry has increased the output of new shows to the point where it is almost impossible to keep track of every new release. A substantial portion of the more hardcore fans spend hours every week trying to catch up with their favorite new releases, as they are aware that shortly after, a new batch of anime will become available to enjoy.

Such issues are not present in the minds of an occasional fan, who does not feel any obligation to their favorite shows. While they do enjoy keeping up to date and avoiding spoilers, missing an episode or two is not the end of the world. Some can go months without tuning back into their favorite anime without feeling any sort of anxiety or guilt.

Isekai is the King of Anime Genres

After its rise to popularity back during the mid 2010s, isekai has become one of the most dominant forces in the anime industry. Each new season, several shows revolving around an adventurer from another world being reincarnated into a land of fantasy and magic are released. This constant output of isekai has caused a large portion of the hardcore fans to develop what many have called isekai fatigue.

On the other hand, casual fans seem to never get enough of the tropes and fantastical elements befitting of the genre. Even among Japanese audiences, occasional viewers represent a large proportion of the views and revenue of the Isekai genre. When thinking about it, this does make a lot of sense, since most anime of this style take a simple premise and can transform it into a genuinely fun experience, without having to put too much pressure on audiences.