Finding your Anime: TIPS & TRICKS!
- NOTJUSTANIME
- Oct 22, 2022
- 3 min read
:) Are you interested in watching anime? Not sure where to start? From classics like Hunter X Hunter(HXH) and Naruto to romantic comedy like My Love Story, there’s an anime out there for everyone.
There are a lot of people that watch cartoons and adult animation to relax and feel relieved. It's an easy way to laugh or blow off steam as well.
Like you, I was once in the same spot. Maybe you think Anime is for Nerds or "weird people" (no offense). Or maybe you think that it is childish and boring. I THOUGHT THOSE SAME THINGS! But I am here to tell you, Anime is SO MUCH MORE than what meets the eye. It is not just an entertaining show, but a great way to learn valuable lessons that one can apply to their own lives. Most animes have a central theme in that You can do great things if you improve, work hard, and believe in yourself. Even more so, it teaches you about the nuances of friendships and relationships and how to be a better person in general.
So, where the heck do you start? Don't worry, I got some tips for ya!
Tip #1 - Find your Genre
This is especially important. For those that don't know, a genre is a particular type of literature, painting, music, film, or other art form which people consider as a class because it has special characteristic.
For example, in your everyday life you may prefer to watch action movies (think Marvel), sci-fi (worldy or magical), or even romance (like the notebook). Well, Animes are categorized in a very similar way.
Finding your genre may help you get into animes that actually align with what you are used to seeing. Take me for example, I am an ACTION/ADVENTURE girlie. If it doesn't catch my eye in 5 minutes, I am NOT watching it!
Types/Genre's of Anime:
There are a ton more genres to explore! So go on and look up some more.
Tip #2 - All about the Platforms! (I'm not talking about heels either)
Now, you've decided what kind of anime to watch but WHERE the heck do you watch it at? This is important because some platforms require monthly/yearly subscriptions and others are free. Think of platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. These are all streaming platforms right? Anime is available on these platforms BUT there are others that are specifically curated for anime content. Here are a few to check out!
NETFLIX
CRUNCHYROLL
FUNIMATION
HIDIVE
AMAZON PRIME
HULU
TUBI.TV
Tip #3 - ANIME VS MANGA
A lot of new comers, like myself at one point, do not know that SOME animes (what's on television) is based off of it's manga (the book version). In laymen terms, Manga is, an umbrella term for a wide variety of comic books and graphic novels originally produced and published in Japan.
Think of Hunger Games. It was a BOOK before it became a movie. Or even Harry Potter. They ALL started as books. Therefore, most animes we see today originated from their Manga counterparts.
As we all know, tv shows can often leave out specific details, characters, or other plots that add to the story. Also, (now here is something I just found out) Ongoing animes are usually 2-5 YEARS behind their mangas. The first Anime I fell in love with was HunterXHunter (HXH). The anime series ended a LONG time ago BUT the Manga was recently picked back up. As a result, there is typically TONS of new stuff going on that you may not know about if you only watch the Animated version. So try to look up the manga version if you're interested in learning more about that anime.
Tip #4 - Time Keeping
How much time do you want to dedicate to a new anime? Some animes have VERY long watch times. Animes can range from being 5 minutes to 30 minutes long per episode and some of them have over 500 episodes.
Some long but popular animes:
Naruto Shippuden (500 episodes, 20 mins /ea)
One Piece (904 episodes, 22 min /ea)
Bleach (366+ episodes, 20 min /ea)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (152 episodes, 34 min /ea)
HunterXHunter 2011 version (149 EPISODES, 23 MIN /ea)
Tip #5 - Jump Right In!
Now I'm not saying to go off the deep end, BUT it's important that you just do it! There is NO "real" or "perfect" way to get into anime. WE all learn by trial and error. Some animes that fit into your genre, YOU MAY NOT LIKE. Others that don't fit into that genre, YOU MAY LOVE. So it's important to just get out there and try new things.
SUMMARY
In conclusion, I hope this blog/article is helpful to you and your anime journey. The tips above are tried and true and will help you get to know a better you. If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to reach out by jopining our member forum or through our social media.
XOXO,
Clair
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