I’ve been on social media lately…arguably this was possibly my first mistake. Anyways, I’ve seen a lot of unhappiness leveled at the anime community by the anime community. Friends and online acquaintances expressing their disappointment in the group. People pointing out how imperfect we can be at times.
I don’t entirely disagree. But I’m essentially a personification of cotton candy in many ways. I figured, it would be a nice little time to remind myself of the good sides of our community and why I love sometimes in spite of itself!
Here are my top 5 reasons for liking the anime fan community.

5) Anime (duh…)
I really like anime you guys. Like a lot… So of course, anything even remotely connected starts off instantly on my good side. It won’t necessarily stay there but it gets a head start. A whole community of people I can interact with to extend my anime experience is a great thing in my book.
Where else am I going to be able to let loose to my nerdy heart’s contempt without gathering suspicious and/or dumbfounded looks? Who else is going to seriously debate with me the psychological impact of dress length and colour on imaginary characters? Only special, lovely weirdos like me can appreciate the finer things in life!

4) Solidarity
99.9% of the time we seem to be trying to tear each other don or rip each other apart. We make fun of each other’s fandoms, sneer at each other’s preferences, judge everything from taste to hours spend watching shows. But once in a while, sadly too often after something very bad has happened, we come together.
And in those times, we are really at our best. When e can actually agree on something (which like I said, isn’t all that frequent), we can make just about anything happen. I think the very existence of cosplay is proof of that. So maybe e could just concentrate on those unifying factors and be the most powerful force in the world! Although maybe not…I do have anime to watch after all.

3) Creativity
The anime community aren’t passive fans. They want to get involved in the creative process. It’s amazing the talent and energy that we foster in our ranks. A new show comes out and within minutes of the first episode, you’ll have breath taking fan art and fanfics that will make your heart flutter. Amateur reviewers will spend time thinking about it and sharing their impressions and opinions with everyone. Occasionally creating posts that are art in their own right. Essays ill delve into the deep narrative questions; authors will offer free script doctor advice. Fans all over will create memes, and skits and sometimes even songs.
This is not a community that simply takes in their medium of choice. We transform it and recreate it. Anime is not just a passion, it’s a muse! Who doesn’t love being surrounded by creativity?

2) Always evolving (and devolving…)
Maybe because in many respects, the anime community is comparatively new and has grown very rapidly, it tends to be particularly mutable, or volatile depending on how you look at it. Within a year we can go from being openly bigoted to almost too sensitive on the same issue. We are still very open to and capable of changing our views. And that is amazing.
Sometimes it can be a bit uncomfortable. Change is always a little frightening and backlash is inevitable. Sometimes, it seems like we have taken some huge steps back instead of forward. But this capability of changing and adapting means that our community still has the potential to become just about anything and that’s plain exciting! I want to be there to see it bloom.
1) A home for us weirdos
I’m not really calling you a weirdo. I’m calling myself a weirdo. I like that word. If you want, we can be weirdos together. There’s plenty of room. Despite the best efforts of gate keepers and anime snobs the world over, our community has ended up creating a place where most people can find a spot.
There’s no dress code or popularity level requirement. You’re a clean cut, by the book nerd with few but loyal friends. Perfect! You’ll fit right in! You’re a wild anti-establishment loner with a penchant for insane and flashy fashion! Yup sounds like one of us! You’re the most popular kid in school and almost too perfect to be true. Welcome aboard, we have a few guys like you!
The one and only actual requirement is to not dislike all anime. That’s it. You can’t really tell who’s an anime fan unless they have decided to advertise it. For instance, I carry around a bag full of anime pins but otherwise need to have a conservative professional look at work (I manage it more or less…). A few weeks ago, a very professional looking lady gently asked me if one of my badges was the Seirin crest and when I said yes, we enthusiastically shared a few minutes of Kuroko fangirling before she had to go her own way. I would never have pegged her for an anime fan, let alone a Kuroko one for some reason, And it’s amazing that she was.
I don’t know your name but if you’re reading this HI! It was great almost talking with you!
That was fun. I do like being part of this community and it’s nice to spend some time remembering why exactly that is!
How about you? Are you completely disillusioned with the wider anime fan community or do you still love parts of it? What is your favourite thing about the anime community? Tell us about it, you’ll see it’s kind of therapeutic.

i love this post. i dont have anything in particular to say other than that it made me feel so welcome and appreciated. great post Irina
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it!
For me, what I love about the anime community is how accepting it is. People don’t judge you as much for being different or weird, because we’re all a little bit weird. Instead, we celebrate our uniqueness and our passion for the medium. I also love seeing all of the creativity from fans, especially the art and music. I know that sometimes the community can get toxic over certain issues, but overall I see a lot more love and acceptance in our community than the other way around.
It can be a very comfortable little community!
Hooray for weirdos! Happy to be a part of this lovely group!
I like the term weirdo too. It’s a fun term to me. 🙂
For me, I thin kI’ve been lucky. I tend to avoid msot of the engative sides of the anime fan community, so most of what I see is the good stuff.
That’s amazing! I want to go there too
When it comes to the anime community, I try to think of anime conventions where people are more positive with each other and are just there to enjoy everything and hang out with cool people to see cool people.
I try not tothink of the online community of angry anime fans as the majority, but it doesn’t work all the time. ☹️. Positivity needs to win somehow though.
I’m sure it will. Because reasons
I think I’ve said this before but I’ve loved the aspect of that “instant friendship” that you can feel with other anime watchers. It give a connection unlike any other medium that I witnessed.
I have that with video games as well but I know what you mean
I’ve always loved how this fandom’s compatibility with the Internet is off the charts. Like, I’m sure the sewing fandom and motorbike gangs can be creative, but if two members are half the globe apart from each other, the best they can do to share is sending some pictures, which is never the same. For us the data/ideas IS what we care about, so you get 100% value of the fic/art/song somebody two continents over made five minutes ago.
And that goes along with diversity. Not that long ago I discovered the idea of reaction videos on youtube, and you can see people of all races and nationalities, with all their differences, getting excited over the same stuff, the exact same moments. There’s a lot of warmth in that.
That’s true. I hadn’t thought of reaction videos but it’s a virtual shared experience that really shows us that a community does in fact exist.
I don’t necessarily think the community is as divided as your saying, but I do think it would be better if people started thinking more positively overall. It would definitely help me, lol.
I didn’t mean to make it sound quite that dire. I have a dramatic flair it seems
It’s okay, I know what you meant generally speaking, and I agree.
I try not to think of things in large, generalised communities or fandoms these days, because it’s much too easy to tar everyone with the same brush if you do that. Instead, I think about the individual people I’ve had the opportunity to interact with. Not everyone is into the same things, but if people are respectful and tolerant of one another’s tastes, whatever they are, it’s possible for everyone to get along perfectly well and perhaps learn things from one another!
Sadly not everyone has learned this lesson quite yet… but, again, that’s more of an individual thing rather than something you can tie to an overall fandom.
But they’ll get there! You’ll see. If they don’t I’ll owe you a drink. Win – Win!
Mine’s a Juicy Lucy.