Who can honestly say anime has changed thier lives?

[Hitokiri]

It's easy to say that anime and manga has changed your life because you watch/read it alot and it you maybe draw it.

However you can honestly say that anime/manga has changed your entire life, viewpoint, career choices, personal choices, etc?

I just realized this that because of that first episode of DBZ that I saw with my friend, that was the turning point of my entire life. This 5-6 year long hobby has given rise to me learning the Japanese Language and then applying it to my career choices and viewpoints. At first I wanted to learn Japanese just because I like anime and manga but as I go further into the language, hirigana, katakna, and kanji I am disovering that what I am studying is not to further a hobby but to prepare myself for my future involving the Japanese language.

All thanks to that first DBZ episode aired on Toonami.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[rii namuras]

(I never thought of being a professional artist before manga and anime. I have no clue what I was planning before that (I was seven when I discovered anime as an art style), but now I am going to be a professional artist drawing in the anime style, as well as a mangaka. I don't think I would've even stuck with drawing without anime.)

[CrimsonRyu17]

whoa! i'm like the same way. i'd love to learn the japanese language ever since i got my first anime DVD ( Full Metal Alchemist ) but my mom is making me do spanish AAHH!!. i don't know what it is exactly but it is true that anime can change youre life. my elders only think they are cartoons but they are not just cartoons. i used to think that war is a place where you could be a hero and defeat all the bad guys. but ever since i got into anime seriously my perspective has changed because of it. of how war can be a place of death, sorrow, and horror. now i guess i changed my mind of going into the airforce. instead of killing i think i'll try something a little more peaceful. i wish i could go to Japan * sighs *

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but yeah i feel the exact same way. anime is definently different than just some entertaining cartoon (well most of them anyway). i just whish my parents and grandparents could understand that.

[Hitokiri]

I think they will if you continue to pursue the dream. I am a sophmore in college and 20, I just realized that this may be the calling God has for me. And because of this my parents are supporting me 101%. I am sure they will support you but in order to do so, you need to show them you are dedicated to learning instead of just it being another hobby.

[Sennin]

Well, I also got into learning Japanese due to my interest in manga. However, I am not sure whether I wish to pursue a career with it yet. If I were to do that, it would probably be as a teacher or translator. I can say that it has changed my way of thinking about things.

For example, a kappa is a type of strange monster in Japanese folklore, so I can't help smiling when I hear a sorority girl say, "I'm a kappa." On a more serious note, the Japanese word kokoro means both heart and mind. Thus, one cannot be good only by knowing what is good: one needs to cultivate one's emotions in order to act according to one's beliefs. If this seems similar to chinese concepts, that's because they believe the same thing.

[CrimsonRyu17]

yeah i know that anime to me is'nt just a hobby. but i guess my parents think it is. but the only problem for me is that i guess i just have'nt found that calling yet. at first i thought the calling was to go into the airforce cause i know just about all the fighter planes and thier anatomys and all. but i guess that was something "I" wanted to do. but later on i knew it just was'nt my thing to do. i'm sure that calling will come, and it might have already come, but i guess i just have'nt found it yet. i've been asking God "what is it" but i guess he wants me to get up and find it. instead of just lying around going " what is it? what is it?" like a little ignorent kid, i guess we just gotta stand up and pray seriously and atleast try and find it with His help. sorry if i got alittle too into it:sweat:

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oh and by the way has anyone tried sitting in a tree or some place high and praying and reading His word? it really brings me closer I know it sounds a little wierd but to me it really works ^ ^

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but yeah anime can really make you think hard about things eh?

[Nate]

Anime has changed my life, but not for the better, that's all I'll say about it.

However, it is an enjoyable hobby for me, and if I wasn't into it, I wouldn't be here, so, there ya go. ^^

[ClosetOtaku]

Anime has changed my life in a lot of ways, not all of which I'll disclose here, but on the whole has done so for the better.

I'd watched anime on and off between 2000 and 2003; by late 2003, I'd almost completely stopped watching. I was (wrongly) convinced at the time that anime was pretty much derivative, mostly unimaginative, and simply hard to get access to.

In March, 2004, I watched Haibane Renmei, and that set a lot of things in motion.

I joined probably the most comprehensive Haibane Renmei discussion board on the net, [url=cff.ssw.net]Sekai no Hajimari[/url], and made many friends and acquaintances. I met people skilled in Japanese, in art, in writing, in music.

Now, I have always been interested in all of the above, but anime was the catalyst that made me decide I finally had to act on it (even at my 'advanced' age). I started studying Japanese language and writing, and reading Japanese literature. I started drawing again, this time taking it in disciplined steps. I began writing again after a long time, this time fanfiction, and putting it in front of others for comment and criticism. I began listening to other kinds of music, and started taking piano lessons. I also started watching other anime that came highly recommended from other members of the board.

Most importantly, though, I started taking trips to Japan. Living in Korea at the time, it was much easier to do than it would be from the States, so I tried to fit in as many trips as I could in my time remaining. I knew there were hard-to-find HR-related publications in the States that could be easily located at Mandarake, Animate, or even Kinokuniya. Armed with nothing more than a couple websites and a couple recommended map books, I traversed Tokyo, learned the subway system (not as easy as it sounds!), used survival phrases... and found everything I was looking for. By the time of my fourth and final trip to Japan, I was traveling on the Shinkansen, planning every detail of my own trips through websites and guidebooks, seeing sights like Hiroshima and Kyoto that I'd never thought I'd see.

I have to say that, without anime, I strongly doubt I would have done much of this -- I might have taken a side trip to Tokyo without full knowledge of all the things to see, the history and the culture... I might have done some drawing... maybe some writing...

Today, I find myself extremely busy with my job, unable to get free time to do much outside of work or family obligations. However, when I do, I am either playing board games (my first hobby), watching anime, writing... and thinking about drawing and playing piano (next on my list).

And, of course, if it were not for anime, I would not be here at CAA.

[Debitt]

Anime got me started on fanfiction, and writing as a whole. Without it, I doubt I would have the same passion for my craft that I do today.

[Wakarimashta!]

My focus on anime has grown over the five years I've been a fan and I can easily say it's had an impact on my life (as well as my budget ). Most of my entertainment now is centered on anime and manga, though I still retain my love for my other hobbies.

[mitsuki lover]

One definite thing I can say is that watching anime and reading manga has changed my political outlook.I'm more of a Pacifist now and also more liberal than I was pre-anime.Wheter or not this would have happened if I had never watched
anime though I cannot say.

[avidrkfan]

Life changing? Hmm. I have a lot less spare cash now that I've discovered you can order anime online! Does that count as life changing?

On a more serious note, like Kokoro Daisuke, it's encouraged me to start writing again.

I think it's also made me more sensitive to the nonconformists and oddballs of society, since a lot of anime characters don't exactly conform to societal norms!

[starwarsboy90]

I dress totally in black now due to Anime. Anime has drawn me to knew Ideals and ideas as an Author, Producer,whatever,lol. Plus, I eat tons of Ramen now, since then, and I didn't like it to begin with!

[CrimsonRyu17]

Are you serious Starwarsboy90! I like Ramen too now because of anime before i used to hate it but now i love it. umm . . is that life changing?

[GuItArFrEaK15]

Well, seeing Dragon Man Z made me want to yell a lot and Card Captor Sakura made me want to light all my Yu-Gi-Oh cards on fire.

[starwarsboy90]

Well, eating Ramen is life changing for me,lol. Actually, becuase of Anime, I really got into fanfiction and became a Producer of an Anime Short Story Series on Angels, Demons and so forth,lol. Now, I'm even cosplaying becuase of it!