Classical Anime

[DANDAN_THE_DANDAN]

So there's a conversation on YouTube amongst anitubers about classical anime and I thought that I'd bring it here.

(In order)
The Death of Classic Anime - Gigguk
Long Live Classic Anime - Mother's Basement
Anime: Classics Don't Die - Bonsai Pop
The Rebirth of Classic Anime - Hiding in Public
If anyone else sees the conversation continuing on any other anitubers that I haven't listed above please tell me.)

 

[May_Lily]

I have seen the first two videos and I have been meaning to actually have a conversation on the topic. However at the time when I learn of those videos I was feeling under the weather so I was not able to start it right away. Plus I need to rewatch them so I can write down my thought properly, and I am currently occupy with things to do so. So it's a good thing you started this conversation instead. ^_^ I would say that though that I lean more towards what was said in the video publish under Mother's Basement then I do with Gigguk.

 

[DANDAN_THE_DANDAN]

Here is my input. The term "classic" is only a title and should not matter.

Classics Shouldn't Matter​

Introduction​

When we hear the term "classic anime" we usually recall titles such as Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. However, we all know that the anime industry is far more diverse than that.

The otaku community has developed so much that we have more titles now: Land of the Lustrous - "hidden gem"; Naruto - "king of shounen"; Attack on Titan - "modern classic"; Your Lie in April - "tear-jerker"; Puella Magi Madoka Magica - "literally the only dark magical girl anime that works". These animes earned their title through spectacular animations and terrific writing, and yet we all know that titles are not everything. Let's roll back a few seasons to Bunny Girl Senpai. I'm confident most people will claim that this anime is extremely superb, but I haven't heard a title being awarded to this show. How about isekai - the most oversaturated genre in anime? We all know horrible examples _{^{cough Conception cough In Another World With My Smartphone cough Master of Ragnarok cough}} but out of a hot, steaming pile of crap, diamonds can be found! KonoSuba, Overlord, No Game No Life, Shield Hero, etc, etc, etc. What do we call them, "good isekai"? I haven't heard such a title before. And what about SAO, pretty much one of the most popular yet hated anime out there - why are so many people calling it trash meanwhile its fanbase is so enormous and still growing? I don't think anyone's gonna call SAO a "modern classic".

Why it shouldn't matter​

I'm gonna use one of Gigguk's conclusion from one of his videos here. People love classic animes in the past because the community was so small and not that much anime were released. Classic animes were used as guidelines to sliver into the tiny anime community back then. Since it was so miniscule, a lot of people has similar tastes thus why there are a lot of old anime that are, in a way, space operas.

And nowadays, this community has grown so big. Slice-of-life, action, fantasy, adventure, sci-fi, comedy, romance, isekai, shounen, shoujo, harem, yuri, yaoi, imouto ecchi... There are so many different genres one could enjoy within this medium that an idol fanatic may find Steins;Gate sleep-inducing or perhaps an ecchi-addict will watch shounen only to fap to the fanservice scenes while skipping all the action.

Such guidelines are no longer necessary because the wide range of options to pick from causes it to become obsolete. You no longer need to fit into the anime community, you now are able to search for a subcommunity within it that you automatically fit in.

"Classic anime" is a title awarded ubiquitously by the community; like an Oscar to a singer or a Nobel prize to a scientist. They have served their time as guidelines and have now retired alike other titles mentioned previously. The modern community is able to view a "classic anime" just as it would view a "good isekai", a "quality shounen", or literally whatever you can come up with. These titles are trophies served to show their great achievements to the brand new eyes. A newcomer would be attracted to a "hidden gem" because of said title which the community has given to the anime.

And heck, SAO doesn't have any of the above titles that I think it created its own unique title: "that one poorly-written anime that literally all animenoobs watch first". If SAO can do it, I'm pretty sure any other anime can. SAO is proof that you don't need to earn a title to be successful.

Conclusion​

Anime classics, at the end of the day, are classics. But "classic anime" is a title alike other titles. Titles are trophies awarded to the anime by the seemingly unanimous decision of the community as a whole. These trophies are clear signs to a new pair of eyes that the anime in question is of high quality, however, that is all. The anime community today is so large and varied that any anime would have its own targeted demographic and can be assured to fly under their wings; an anime does not require a title to survive in the modern era. Therefore, "anime classics" do not matter.

 

[May_Lily]

Wow! You got a small essay going on there, Dandan. Impressive! ^_^

Concerning how the anime community was in the past, from watching Gikku's video and reading your small essay I was reminded of something I have notice in those days long ago which is that the anime community in the U.S place high reverence over science fiction anime in general, which for me at least I guess I could describe is not being in full agreement with it. I do not hate science fiction, but am neutral towards the genre (despite being interested in science), and when I think about it the idea that in those days people mainly put focus on anime that were in those genres were limiting, especially when I think back on hearing how anime was suppose to be more diverse or something like that. Plus not everyone is going to be be in a mood to watch Sci Fi or care to watch a show in that genre for that matter.

Which leads to where we are today. I would say that anime has always had a variety of options to choose from, but for us who live outside of Japan it's only in the past decade or so that we begun to receive those options thanks largely to streaming services, and with it more opportunities for people to get into anime then before.

 

[fchiisaia21]

"Such guidelines are no longer necessary because the wide range of options to pick from causes it to become obsolete. You no longer need to fit into the anime community, you now are able to search for a subcommunity within it that you automatically fit in."

Interestingly, Eastern otaku community already doing that since the '90s.
Taste of otaku community here is so different that people rarely make a single "anime club." Every time an otaku club is created, it's always a fandom specific community. For example, in my city, there are more than 50 IRL otaku clubs which every single of them have its own specific focus. Mini 4WD club, 48 family club, Manga Time Kirara fan club, Shounen Sunday fan club, 2D idol club, military otaku club, Fujio F. Fujiko fan club, and so on.

If anything, the only people who claim as "anime fans" are newer fans who exposed anime from the internet (a.k.a Western community).

 

[Xzayer]

@DANDAN_THE_DANDAN

I’m in agreement with your statements. Classic is a term that is essentially overrated. If we’re talking about different generations of manga/anime some were more popular than others. But certain genres were more focused upon. What one person may have enjoyed another will be dissatisfied (Remember talking to my parents on certain anime or as they said Japanime they enjoyed as kids) Aka Kimba, Gigantor, speed racer, robot carnival.

Currently today there is a ever expanding list what what a series can entail. Each and everyone of us has our own personal favorites and _{guilty pleasure series}. I guess what I’m trying to say there are no classics. Certain series affects us more than others and we should just enjoy and share what we like.

 

[DANDAN_THE_DANDAN]

@Xzayer Eh I disagree on this part.

I guess what I’m trying to say there are no classics.

If we were to compare anime to music, it's easy to point out that both have classics; both classical music and anime have historic value. Long-time anime viewers who were essentially the founding-fathers of the anime community we see today, handpick these few animes and uphold them as classics.

And while this handpicking process may be awry _{(Gigguk himself pointed out an old hidden gem that failed to be a classic); it's Gankutsuou, I'm watching it and it's amazing)} humans make mistakes so why should it matter anyway? Human culture is no doubt filled with faults.

While you may be right subjectively, objectively you are kind of missing the point. Classics are titles, not a favourite list. You may feel nostalgic rewatching your first anime but only a veteran anime viewers can distinguish what is a classic and what is not as they are the ones who started it all.

 

[ABCsOfLife]

Wouldn't classic anime be something like "Doraemon" or "Gundam"?
You know, because it's hella old and very notable.

 

[Xzayer]

@dandan_the_dandan

You are right. My viewpoint was pertaining to it as a individual wearing nostalgia glasses. Hence my comments. But perhaps I need to look outward and view certain things as to not just being favorable to oneself. I have to admit some series are timeless. Not matter the date it was released or subject matter some series will have a certain flair.

 

[DANDAN_THE_DANDAN]

@ABCsOfLife Good point...

 

[ABCsOfLife]

Doraemon still airing if I remember correctly.

 

[DANDAN_THE_DANDAN]

Found a new video on this. https://youtu.be/DDWBfAgLXew