I sometimes like to toss out big questions on J-List’s X/Twitter page and start a discussion about various topics. The other day, I asked, “What does anime mean to you?” hoping for some interesting feedback about why J-List customers enjoy anime. Let’s explore some of the reasons why we love anime in this blog post!
Happy New Year from your Friend in Japan, J-List! We hope 2026 is a year of happiness and peace for you. To get things off right, we’re having a huge site-wide New Year’s Sale through Jan. 6, giving you 15$ off all in-stock products. Start browsing now!
What Does Anime Mean to You? Let’s Explore Why We Love Anime!
Most of us discovered anime at an impressionable age and were instantly delighted at the fresh, new kinds of stories and visuals. I’m old enough to have seen the original runs of Speed Racer and Kimba the White Lion. (I remember thinking that Africa owned the copyright to lions, so Japan must pay them some kind of licensing fee.) Of course, we all became anime fans at different times, but many of our reasons for loving anime are the same. Let’s explore some reasons why we love anime!
Anime is a Doorway to Another Cultural World
No matter what country we live in, it’s great that we can visit Japan any time we like through the power of anime stories. Japan is a country that lacks a lot of the cultural baggage our own countries might have, and this helps the stories we encounter in anime to be even more special.
It’s a Playground for Creators to Tell Compelling Stories Without Limitation
What drew me into anime, back in the early days, was how shows like Star Blazers and Macross could tell big, hairy, audacious stories about humanity being wiped out by aliens, which delighted my young brain at the time. I was always frustrated with rules requiring animation studios to insert “family values” and ensure no character was ever put in actual danger, let alone experience a beautiful and dramatic on-screen death.
But anime has almost zero limitations on the kinds of stories it tells. What other medium could tell hugely dramatic stories one moment, then pivot to sex robots the next?
Anime Lets Us Access Strong Emotions
Anime is great because it provides an emotional scaffolding for telling stories that couldn’t be told any other way. It regularly exposes us to stories no other medium could, including darker stories involving grief and loss. And fans are better for having experienced these stories together.
Anime Is a Place to Find Community
I’ve often heard about the positive effect anime fandom has had on fans. I’ve even been told, “Anime saved my life” at least two dozen times. Imagine how important the convention scenes, learning about cosplay, and drawing fan-art of your favorite characters helps us mentally.
Why We Love Anime! J-List Customers Respond
Pure escapism. It’s the same as reading a good book or getting deep into an epic game.
Anime means a mindful escape. The existence of the multitude of stories is great and there is quite literally something for anyone. One person’s trash show is another’s golden peak. In modern age, I myself am fortunate enough to be able to watch shows from the 70s to Now.
Escape from everyday stress, and a source of entertainment. Plus, it is so much better than most TV shows in America. Dramas, “reality shows,” and meh comedies. All these (apart from reality) are done so much better in anime, at least in my opinion.
Two words: Mental getaway.
It’s a place to find other people who understand me. A way to form online friendships which can sometimes go beyond the Internet. And for that I’m eternally grateful.
Anime is an art form where the freedom to explore every facet of the human experience is relatively untouched by socio-political currents (assuming you watch more than just what’s streaming on Netflix), and the artist’s intent is clearly visible. I love it because it’s so different than Western media.
An ultimate escape from the hell that is reality, and (depending on the genre or show) a cure for depression.
Why Do You Love Anime? Tell Us Your “Anime Fan Origin Story”!
Thanks for reading this blog post exploring what anime means to all of us, and why we’ve allowed TV programs from a far-off corner of the world to shape our lives. Why do you love anime? Tell us in the comments below, and Peter will reply!
Let’s Chat
You made it to the end of this post! Thank you! As a token of our appreciation, enjoy an extra 5% off your next order when you use the code BLOG at checkout. Also, don’t forget to follow J-List on all our platforms!
- Twitter / X, where Peter posts anime booba for you
- Bluesky, where we post several times a day
- Facebook, where we used to share memes and discuss anime
- Discord, if you want to chat with other J-List customers of culture
Happy New Year from your Friend in Japan, J-List! We hope 2026 is a year of happiness and peace for you. To get things off right, we’re having a huge site-wide New Year’s Sale through Jan. 6, giving you 15$ off all in-stock products. Start browsing now!
