I’m sure most of us collect anime figurines for the same reason – They’re stylish, cool, aesthetically appealing, and cute. They have nice creatively designed outfits, and well, they can be sexy. From my standpoint, they’re just that – aesthetically pleasing PVC. Artistic, dynamically sculpted, and capture the original character in a state of suspended animation. And in a way, a statement of your fandom towards that particular series.
So why do people think you’re perverted?! You’re puzzled. You think “What is it about my hobby and fandom that lets you pass that sort of judgement on me, a perfectly normal person?” To them, they see a figurine wearing practically nothing, posed in a provocative manner, usually with large breasts, and even they themselves are often tempted to peer underneath the skirt to see what panties these pvc girls wear, if any.
I just discovered that Arin, from Super Swing Golf Pangya wears polkadot panties, thanks to a coworker that decidedly looked up her skirt. After owning her for so long, I actually never thought to look. My mind has now been tainted.
They mock you on your perversions and fail to understand that these are not a substitute or an appendix to your “sick fantasies“. They don’t understand that you collect these figures with the intent of admiring them like how a comic-book fan would admire a Wolverine or Spiderman statue.
But why? Why is this link not there? What is it that makes them think you are perverted? The answer is simple yet not so obvious. It’s a relation between reality and fantasy when the lines of appreciation are blurred. Let me give you an anecdotal story on what I mean:
My friend had a bachelor’s party. We got him drunk, we got roudy, and then we went to a strip club. This was supposed to be Vancouver’s Best as well. I was more than amused at the setting. Girls wearing white single-piece, cotton dresses almost like a Chinese Dress look, with plunding front and back and probably nothing underneath. Short skirts, and netted tank-tops. It seemed pretty “standard fare”. Then the dancers on stage – they were wearing very exotically cool outfits. Some looked like persian/arabian princesses, silk sarongs, elaborate embroidery, mixed with leather corsets with lots of buckles, and knee-high leather boots. One of them wore a completely red outfit – leather boots, corset, short pleated skirt, and black angel wings with long blonde hair. Tall slender body and legs, prancing on the stage floor.
What am I getting at? I looked at these outfits and was thinking “Wow, they look super cool! Stunning!” I found myself critiquing every one of their outfits, analyzing every detail, every frill or buckle…
… much like how I would with an anime figurine. And then it hit me. “These costumes would look great as a figurine…”
My artist rendition of one of the strippers that appeared on stage. Yes, she was blonde, and that slender, and yes, she did have that sort of sensuality about her, and no she was not an anime character.
The link between reality and fantasy… the very reason why people think we’re pervs. I’m at a strip club, and these outfits are considered “sexy” and “taboo”. Honestly, yes you would never ever want to wear that kind of clothing on the streets, nor would you allow your girlfriend to wear that kind of clothing on the streets. But for some reason, it’s okay when it’s an anime character.
Why is that?
Simple : you watch anime. You see these characters do that all the time. Parading on city streets, revealing their panties, and even fighting in combat. Of course it’s acceptable that anime characters wear these types of clothing. And to those that don’t watch anime, all they see in those figurines are naughty/dirty little girls from strip-clubs. An insult and offensive representation of females. Degrading.
I was in reading in Wired Magazine recently about how Manga and Anime are taking North America by storm, and how this came to be. (it’s the cover story)
It starts off with a brief history of how Anime showed up in the 80’s in North America starting with you know, Speed Racer, Kimba, Robotech, etc.
However, anime didn’t really take off until series like Akira and Ghost in the Shell came along. The reason being was that during this era, a lot of bored teens needed something to amuse them. The whole futuristic themes of Terminator etc were rampant and Akira took that to a whole new interesting level. Extreme violence and sex was something unseen in cartoons, and Akira quickly established the “norm” of Anime.
In Japan, they have just as many, if not more, varieties of shows as they do here – children’s anime, anime with violence, drama, romance etc etc. However, it seems that only the violent or sexy anime make it state-side. It’s like a vicious cycle.
This is my point – Anime is deemed as violent or sexual because the shows that appeal to North American audiences are violent and sexual in nature. They are effectively creating their own stereotype.
Nowadays, we have a much broader range of anime genres appearing in North America. However, the less informed typically still stick to the stereotype that anime is violent and sexually explicit. They’ve been indoctrinated with the ideas that Anime = sex/violence. Even the slightest thing can be twisted into something it’s not. These non-collectors who see it from “the outside”, if you will, have most likely never seen what true perversion on the extreme is in terms of anime figures. However, they relate it to the general culture of Anime, which is typically not suitable for kids. They seem to fail in making the connection that Pokemon and Dragonball and Sailormoon fall in that spectrum also.
There is definitely a double standard applied between fantasy and reality when it comes to anime, regardless of what genre the anime falls into. Ones that seem more sexually liberated are the major targets, especially in North America, where religions such as Christianity and Catholic are the norm. “But ah, fine sir. How do you explain North American comics with revealing characters, such as Wonder Woman being acceptable?“
Wonder Woman is quite scantily dressed, and brings quite a bit of sex appeal if you look at it critically. She carries a whip, and if you’re able to cross her gauntlets, she becomes entirely submissive. There’s a tonne of implied sexuality right there, and in comics, no doubt! Morrigan also radiates sex appeal on the same level, but yet it seems that Wonder Woman is more widely accepted than Morrigan. So why, indeed?
Familiar Wonder Woman (left), compared to Unfamiliar Morrigan (right). I chose a cosplay photo, and a photo of the Wonder Woman TV show as an emphasis on example of applying real-life views to this case.
The answer is quite simple, actually. Familiarity is a major part of acceptance. We’ve grown up seeing Wonder Woman in North American culture, and have accepted that style as norm in Noth American comics, where as unfamiliar, relatively newer content is judged more harshly and differently. This sort of double standard exists not as an anomaly, but part of the habits, views and values of modern society in North America. It’s the whole reason why back then, Rock and Roll was considered bad and violent influence for kids, just like how video games now are considered bad influence for kids.
Side by side comparison of Blanc Neige (left) and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus (right).
It doesn’t help with the stereotype when figures are generally half naked. While attractive and artistic, the double-standard that people have really distort the way they see things. Above is my coup de grace example of the double-standard drawn upon the difference between accepted art, and the art that is otaku-ism. If you’ll notice, Venus is actually wearing even less clothes. However, if you show the Blanc Neige to any non-anime educated person, they would consider Blanc Neige “perverted”. You show Botticelli’s Venus to those same people, and it is considered art.
Go figure (pun intended)
Read more!
interesting topic…
Seems like people doesn’t appreciate these stuffs though they like art.. Yep this is art…
A friend of mine has a naked body of a woman(face not revealed) as his wallpaper on his phone(it was Aoi Sora, a Japanese AV idol before that) and some of his friends considered it as perverted pics but for both of us, it was art… And these figurines are also a work of art and most of my figures had enough clothes on.
Interesting indeed. Thankfully everyone that comes to my house and don’t watch anime (mostly adult older friends and some of my age) they find my figures amazing and extremely cute, no pervert, no crazy, no nothing, they find it interesting and always ask where I get them from.
If there’s one that would call me crazy he/she wouldn’t understand a thing about art and sculptor. One of the other reasons why I buy PVC figures is because of the art itself, Mirei-san is a work of art, the underwear very detailed, the face is divinal, the human forms are gracious even with a bit exaggerated breasts and her pose makes everyone astounded that sees her here.
very good article here.
Those things that you mentioned (especially about the figurines) seems like the common mindset of non figure collector (but friends usually understand).
When people ask, I usually told them that my figurines are my photo models ^_^ (and then they will ask why there’s no male figurine? ._.)
Stumpled on your article from Anime Figurines Network. Although I have not collected figures, I do enjoy looking at the quality shots of the figures from enthusiasts, or simply just the details and the art of the figures themselves. It is true that such hobby of figurine collecting often gives negative impression to some outsiders, who may associate anime with violence and sex. For me it’s shame for people who are either narrow-miinded or are misled by stereotypes. Sometimes it’s the general impression of ‘being an otaku’ is more of a problem than simply collecting figurines, as there are often negative things about them from public view. Even one of my friend, who is into anime and games, have this view on otakus too.
I do want to start collecting some too, but I do not know where to start with (and space is already a problem as I have collected too many 1:144 tanks already). Besides there is a general negative view on otaku culture from most people I know of. I’m sorry to hear that you often have to bear with these problems when you have to face your co-workers joking about you.
By the way nice blog! Wish I can be active on mine but I often lack inspiration. Will see whether you’ll more photos on AFN.
Nice comparisons! Though I got to point very quick on the whole Wonder Woman to Morrigan… yes it’s familiarity, but I think that also what each of the character portrays and stands for has merit too. Wonder Woman is known to be an Amazon warrior for Justice, her whip and gauntlets aren’t really used to dish damage since they are more used mainly for defense. While on the other hand, Morrigan portrays the opposite. She’s a wild party seeking Succubus! Succubus are known to be alluring beautiful females thus they have the curves and flaunting of their weapons i.e: breasts and ass to lure their victims in.
Bottom line I think is people need to be a bit more open minded than to fast assume just because they have or own so and so figure that they’re this or that. A lot of times… likely 80-90% of what they think is totally off the chart in why the person got the figure.
As well, each type of figure has it’s own genre and label. Like I mentioned briefly in the Anime Figurines Network… there’s Adult Figures, Standard Anime Figure/Video Game Figures and Child Toys. I’m sure there are a bunch of others in between, but you get what I’m saying…
Very good article.
Thanks everyone! It’s good to know that my efforts are appreciated. 🙂
@Samejima : I don’t know if you can qualify Sora Aoi as art, considering she does mostly a/v. But, a woman naked and posing artistically represented (as in, not lewd) should be considered art. In most cases it is. Perhaps your friend has already been branded? I’m quite sure that if I put an artistic naked woman as my wallpaper on my cellphone, it wouldn’t be appreciated either.
@Belela-san : From the looks of your figure collection, with the exception of Sera-Chan and Sei, they are all fairly decently dressed figures – as in you probably wouldn’t feel awkward if they were dressed like that on the streets (maybe Ignis is stretching it a bit) or in the mall. But who am I to judge, considering what I consider to be decent. heh heh.
@ron : LOL I get the same question asked to me too! I have to prove that I do indeed have male figures and collect figures for their art.
@Q : hey! Good to see you on here too! I agree with you on the points of those that are considered “outsiders” Someone at some point raised a good counterpoint in that modernly speaking, because of series such as Naruto and Sailor Moon, anime isn’t as associated with violence as we are led to believe. It’s true – in that generation, those kids grew up with Sailor Moon. My generation grew up with Akira and other violent anime flicks.
@Varyle : I can’t say much about the portrayal aspect of it, but you could be right. But if you show someone who has no idea what Wonder Woman represents, but knows of Wonder Woman (seen her lots) which is 100% possible given the amount of out-of-context exposure she has had, and show them the relatively new and unrecognized Morrigan, I think you’ll agree, Morrigan will stand out as being “sexier”. I totally agree with your bottom line. We’re definitely on the same page. Hope to see you more on AFN btw. 🙂
Pretty interesting article.
You can apply all that in France as well.
If you could see the faces of some of my friends/family members when I get a new figurine…
The way of thinking here is pretty much the same. Anime/manga culture is more and more accepted and considered by the young generations, but there are still many that can’t drop the old stereotypes.
For instance, my brother’s wife (wich is a teacher in grade school) was once worried because one of her students reads manga and asked me if it was OK for a – year old boy to read manga. I had to explain her it depends of what he reads, and that her question sounded to me like “Is it ok for him to read books, or to watch TV ?”. Here as well, it depends of what he reads or watch…
That means that in her head, manga = violence (and/or sex).
It all started in the 80s when animes appeared on French TV in shows for children. The fact is that some of the chosen animes weren’t really meant for children (Hokuto no ken, saint seiya, city hunter, and other violent and/or suggestive stuffs) and were drastically censored (sometimes the episode wasn’t even understandable because there were to much missing scenes). Since then anime and manga are either considered childish or violent/sex (paradoxical isn’t it?).
So they are not for children because of violence and sex, and they are not for adults because it’s anime. So nobody can read/watch it.
Anime/manga culture is making its way, but still a long way to go…
So I only show and talk about my mangas and figurines with people that like it (I could convert some friends ^^).
Hope my English is good enough for you to read. (And if I may, you say “coup de grâce” in French. No “e” at “coup”).
Thanks again for the interesting topic.
Now I’ll go read the rest of your blog ^^.
By the way, people don’t understand why I buy figurines, but they can’t refrain themselves to touch them regardless of the “Do not touch” notice I place near resins…
Wow, Even France? And I had always thought that European countries are much more liberal. If your friends and family give you a look of disgust when you get a new figurine, then that is pretty bad… perhaps they need to understand more of why you collect figurines – sometimes it does need to be explained, but even still, the barrier is difficult to break down, especially when old stereotypes exist.
You raise a good point – people tend to generalize things that they don’t understand until you put it in a perspective that they do understand – reading anime equating to “watching TV” is a good comparison for context of the question.
The same sort of labeling happens here with cartoons as well. Take Duckman for example. Obviously an adult oriented cartoon, but part of the reason for it being canceled was because people complained “it’s not for children!” The same goes for video games such as Grand Theft Auto and other rated M games.
Thanks for the note about Coup de Grace. Changed! 🙂
LOL people want to touch them because they are dirty minded. naw just kidding. it just shows that they’re curious. It’s at that point you can explain to them the differences in plastics via my web article, and the whole idea behind collecting anime figures. 😉
Well, European countries ARE actually more liberal.
As I said, anime and manga are more and more popular among young generations (some says that France is the second country that buys manga after Japan, dunno if it’s true) but there are still many that have no interest and do not understand (people above 30 generally, but I won’t make that a generality sine I actually “know” via IRC some people over 30 that are anime fans).
Concerning my figurines, there are no look of disgust, but rather a look of incomprehension. They consider it totally useless and way too expensive (for something THAT useless that is). And since some of them show some skin you can add the perverted stuff on top of it. Artbooks seems to be accepted more easily depending of the content.
I’d like to add something about the Wonder woman / Morrigan comparison.
As said by Varkyle, “Wonder Woman is known to be an Amazon warrior for Justice, her whip and gauntlets aren’t really used to dish damage since they are more used mainly for defense. While on the other hand, Morrigan portrays the opposite. She’s a wild party seeking Succubus!”.
As far as I’m concerned, I agree with that statement. BUT:
Since Morrigan IS a Succubus, she is meant to be sexy!
On the other hand, Wonder Woman is an icon of Justice, but does she need to wander half naked and use a suspicious whip to be so?
She could wear a less revealing outfit and use a sword (which fits more the “Justice” part than the whip IMO).
So, Wonder Woman IS sexy although it’s not her point. Basically, she’s been made so to “attract” male audience/readers.
How about that ?
He consider anything naked as art…cuz he’s uber pervert. hahah…
Beautiful post, Radiant.
I’m sure that this article resounds the sentiments of anime fans everywhere.
@ Samejima : haha it doesn’t sound like he’s helping our cause!
@ skyre : thanks. feel free to share the article with friends or your own blog. 🙂
Yeah… Anyway, He’s seen my room and collections and he’s not ignorant… saves me from explaining stuff…
Individual spontaneity will always subject to the prevailing moral sentiments of our societies, restraining what is “considered” pernicious
to a member himself and affront to the wholesome image that his “politically-correct”community defends to portray. The power of morality breaks a man’s fall into vulgarity and intends to bridle a man’s worhip
of his belly- the seat of all his appetites and aversions to which we will never fail to succumb; and no man can protect himself against self-degradation as the control of himself. This self-control is one kind of
virtue that Aristotle and Friedrich Nietzsche would extol.
In contrary to your comment, exposure to the realm of all anime genres that were once alien to someone does not always guarantee in him
a deep sense of appreciation for such art. And a German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, says in one of his works, “Prized Essay on the Freedom of the Will,” that a man’s predilection emanates from the
depths of his soul. Since habits make a man, useless it is to dissuade
him to a socially approved contrivance of his brethren.
I share with your assertion on “double standard” which pervades in our opinions when we render our disapproval one of the two arts that are distinctly similar; yet we do not always see the true Idea of their forms.
I find no fault with anime and their merchandises that evoke sensuality
for I too cherish, for their aesthetic value, my collection of anime figures
(e.g. Max Factory’s Kureha and Kasumi (Black Ver.), GSC’s Kanu Unchou, Ryomou Shimei.)
Even if I were to meet an otaku who admires such art that is perceived
as an aberration, I can never confer him a stigma of moral depravity because it is unjust when no one could see some “inherent” goodness
in him.
I am one of those typical critics of anime and otaku. I dont consider myself a fan of anime but I enjoy watching some of the cutesy and girly animes. I enjoy them more than the kiddish north american cartoons because of the romance content in anime.
I don’t think all otakus are hentai. Though there are some figurines and anime series that I simply disapprove, which in turn makes me wonder what kind of person would like something like that? Of course, the scanty clothing and voluptuos physique stand out…. Hm, this guy must be hentai!
Something is just not right about some of these figurines/characters. The super cute innocent cartoony face, with big boobs, supermodel legs and controversial outfits don’t go. Anime, which I simply see as Japanese cartoon, meant for children and teens should be kept clean pure and simple. Before I knew that the target audience for some animes are actually adults, it shocked me the amount of violence and subtle or not so subtle sexual content there are in some of these animes. My instinct is that these are bad cartoons.
Before I watched the Haruhi Suzumiya anime, I thought the bunny outfit guitarist Haruhi figurine was shallow — it was another one of “those” figurines”. After watching the anime, everytime I see the figurine, I would link it to all the quirky little things Haruhi did in the series, how I enjoyed the series, and well, the figurine has slid from my “disapproved” list to my “approved” list. As for the anime, I still think that the storyline is interesting enough that there’s no need for the bunny outfit or for Mikuru to be so well-endowed. Same for Chobits… Chi’s power button could have been better located.
Since many popular series have a little bit of nudity or sexual content, even when they are not necessary to plot development, it is no wonder people stereotype otakus as hentai. These little additions/character designs won’t be in the anime if they didnt appeal to otakus.
My take on Wonder Woman is that she is not overtly sexy, and that is not played up in any of the cartoons.
So while I see both sides of the coin, if you ask me if I think otakus are hentai, my immediate response would be to nod, but very cautiously. I’m not saying all of them are, but many are, to some degrees. For me, sex and cartoons are not a good mix. Leave the sex-appeal to the Victoria Secret models.
Wow! Very well said! It’s good to get an honest perspective from the non-otaku (or at least half anime fan). I agree with you on all counts that it’s not necessary to show panty-shots or provide sexual innuendo (like they did to poor Mikuru in Suzumiya Haruhi). There is a term for that – it’s called “Fan Service”. The “opportunity” to please fans and provide them with what they want. In this case, horny otaku nerds. I personally don’t care much for that, as it rarely adds anything to the plot other than comic relief (if used effectively).
It’s interesting to hear that you’ve grown to understand anime. The biggest, would be the realization that certain anime is definitely not meant for kids. You have pretty much proven my point in that people who don’t understand something, will inadvertently label it according to a predefined social stereotype, until they are able to grasp a better understanding. Everyone is guilty of that, no matter what it is that they’re looking at – from anime, to wind surfing.
I agree that it’s almost like a begetting cycle – the otaku want to see panty shots, the publishers provide it in order to catch demand. Fortunately, the anime genre is broad enough that there is appeal to suit any variety of needs – from super cute and innocent anime, to ultra violent anime, sexuality can sometimes be absent from either spectrum (as can be seen from series like Card Captor Sakura vs Dragon Ball Z)
In regards to Chii’s power button, apparently it was located there for a reason – in that the main character had to choose between lust and love. He was willing to abstain so that he could love her, because hitting that power button would reset her.
Overall, good response, and it gets people thinking about who they really are and what they stand for.
I was showing off my Final Fantasy 8 Leviathan figure to a guest and the first things she asked about were “Why are her clothes ripped, and why does that girl have a whip?”
Quistis was using Leviathan to help protect Selphie who was injured in battle.
– Mike
That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Completely ignoring the actual art of the statue, and focusing on the small little details that seem “against the social norm.”
However, that ignorance is not uncorrectable. Among individuals. Though I have yet to figure out exactly how to do it. Perhaps it differs from individual to individual. onepeachsoda’s response is a very good one – this is what most non-otaku think about though for her, she’s already had some exposure to begin with.
@Radiant: i read this article months ago and i still link some friends to it when needing to explain why i buy my figurines! the blanc neige to venus comparision works VERY well.
so, GREAT article.
Thanks Mecha Trueno! I’m glad that my articles are useful to people! Hope you enjoy the rest of my site too! 🙂
Nice read sir! I just saw this linked from Dannychoo and having read some of your materials in the passed, i must say i’m very pleased with all your work on this blog. I like how thoughtful your posts are and how intelligent much of the discussion is surrounding them. I look forward to contributing my thoughts to your future posts.
This is why I love this site!
I will tell you why Wonder Woman is more accepted, because she doesn’t go around moaning and spreading her thighs everywhere she goes, American comics and cartoons are just better, let’s face it, better storytelling, no horrible stale and dry humor, and no gay sex stuff, by gay I mean stupid. The sex and fanservice is so lame, and every single anime does it along with the crappy humor, it doesn’t make any sense, mangas too. How am I suppose to think that the same joke is funny the thousandth time I’ve heard it? Anime is just beyond nerdy, comics are nerdy, but anime is worse, and the Japs that make it are too sexist, the shows and books are always about young boys, which is grosse, and they are usually about teens in general, still grosse, and the main characters, or villains, are never women. Take Nights for example, from the games, in the new game for the Wii, they call Nights a guy, though Nights has a female voice actor, and a girlish figure, it is disgusting, why does very character they make have to be a non-homo homo. And anime’s have bad storytelling, period. It is never deep or satisfying, just overly outrageous or in a high school. And who cares if it is shocking, shocking would be a snuff film, I wish I could see a GOOD snuff film by the way…
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but wow, your comment added absolutely nothing to the discussion. It sounds to me like you just have issues with anime and want to vent. It seems pretty obvious to me that you’re ignorant to the broader spectrum of anime – ones that have no fan-service, sex, or violence, but have an excellent plot with excellent character development.
Everyone take note. This is exactly what I was referring to about people who don’t get anime, or the otaku lifestyle. Watch out for these people, because if given the chance, they WILL burn you at the stake.
Oh btw, Nights for Wii is a terrible game. I can’t believe you bought it. And Nights isn’t anime.
Thanks for writing.
this one spouts ignorance. anime never has a heroine as the main character or a villainess as the main baddy? bull. how many have you watched? even in the list of manga and anime that made it to america there are several titles with both. and your american comics? *sarcastic* oh yeah they have tons of female main characters. not to say that there aren’t any, that just isn’t the demographic. I can’t name any because I have read and watched so many that I can’t remember what is going on untill I go back to them. and the ones that cast teens as the main characters do so because that is the demographic that they are targeting for that anime or manga. and in my opinion the only good cartoons from america ended a long time ago and had their own questionable content it was just hidden more. and as for cliches, they are in everything. like american fiction novels there is almost always a traitor. and if you have seen one crime drama you have seen them all. in my opinion american comics aren’t as good as japanese manga. they over use onimonopia and the art isn’t my cup of tea.
sorry about the rant. I will leave a relevant comment next since this post is so long.
A good post and a good analyses (i’ll add a link to it in my own post and probably on the next who’re gonna treat the same kind of figures).
In my surrounding, people have mind open enough and so don’t critics those figures and their sexy side. On the other side they critic more the fact that this kind of collection is useless. But rare are collection who have are useful, right ?
I agree. It is rare for a collection to be useful. The whole idea to collect is to collect, and only that. I never actually thought about that! ^_^
It’s good that people around your area have a more open mind. In North America, it’s so different!
I just read this whole article, and suddenly i agree with you. Like, everything you said is sooo true… ( and i’m not even an otaku but i do watch some anime and read manga =D ) I mean c’mon already! Most people i know these days are too damned quick too judge things based on their looks and not take an “in-house” look-see of it’s real purpose. (This applies for people judging other people too!) I mean wow! They see something they’re used to viewing, and they just think something like “oh, it’s just another one of those ______s.” It’s just so rediculous! = /
My comment will have nothing to do with hentai in anyway haha but it is more about other people not understanding why you collect and bashing your hobby in their own terms. I mainly collect gundam model kits and whenever I get another one, my friends and family will question you haven’t even build the previous one and you are getting another??? Why waste so much money on such toys….
Like how you like the little details, poses etc on your figurines, I loved the myriad of details, weapons, design of the mecha! These days I just ignore their comments and proudly walk in with my loot ^^. I am more of a simple person, if I like the figure/model kit just get it!
And I loved your last picture! It sealed the deal of your entire post!
You’re right, these types of views definitely apply to virtually any hobby that “outsiders” can’t understand, or even bother to take the effort to. We all do what we like for our hobby however we please, and it may be different from what others may do. It’s a hobby! People should get over it.
Me collecting anime figures is just as “quirky” as the next guy who buys hockey cards. The only difference is that hockey card collecting is more widely accepted.
What you say totally makes sense, and while it’s not in the same context as this article, most definitely applies!
Looks like we came up with the same analogy 😀 Only you figured it out already back when I was still in my diapers.
It seems the contemporary outside view now has been warped into the even more immoral and illegal pedophilia, but the fact that you were able to write this article back when manga/anime became too prominent in North America to be ignored in the last decade proves that the trend is constant. That people involuntarily apply their own cultural norms and morals to compare and contrast immediately when judging a foreign culture, regardless of place, age or time. When one’s super-ego is a product of one’s own society only, it’s understandable.
Not looking under a figure’s skirt is nonsense. I make sure that it’s the first thing I do when I unbox one. But of course, that’s just my youthful testosterone speaking.
That brings me to another point, actually: figures and series often are intended to have sexual connotations apparent even to members of our subculture; simply because this appeals to a target audience of a relatively younger half which possesses greater testosterone levels. The less culturally-artistic half of the subculture, the commercial half, is awfully chemical. That saddens me a little, so I’ll just return to our original ideology.
I think that trends of acceptance are only constant until the subculture is accepted. My example of Rock and Roll proves that to be true. It’s just like how a religious belief is only but a cult until accepted into society, usually from a majority acceptance.
While anime has become more mainstream now, it’s still not nearly as accepted as say North American comics (at least not in North American culture). But why is North American comics more easily accepted in Asian countries? That’s just their part of their culture I suppose.
Seriously, not looking under the skirt is common for me. I have no interest in it because it’s superficial detail that I can do without. If you read my post on crap figures, you’ll understand that I actually hate cast-off features.
It most definitely seems intended that figure and anime in general (a lot of series, but not all) intentionally have a more sexual connotation. I think though, that this is due more to capitalist suggestions, much like how they are changing the meaning of ‘otaku’. There have been many times I’ve wanted to buy a figure because of how cool it looks, but had to refrain because of the superfluous sexual details. You know what I mean – “This figure has awesome pose, color and detail. Too bad her breasts are bare.”
It’s not that I have a problem with this in general, but with social pressures existing already, I don’t need to encourage it by “proving them right.”
Great post! You bring up lots of good points about most Americans’ misconception of anime. From my experience, if they don’t think it’s perverted, they think it’s just kids shows like Pokemon and Dragonball, and wonder why an older person would be interested in it. Unfortunately, most Americans are ignorant of the many great anime titles that exist between the sexy/violent ones and the kid ones.
I agree that familiarity has a lot to do with it, like your examples with Wonder Woman and Botticelli’s Venus. Since anime girls look more cute and stylized rather than realistic and “serious” like the typical American style of illustrated women, it’s foreign to Americans. Thus, anime is judged more harshly because it’s not established as accepted art in America. I look forward to the day when it is, but I’m not holding my breath.
At my old part-time job, my coworkers used to tease me, saying I liked “hentai” because they knew I liked anime. But when it comes to figures, nobody’s said anything like that about them, mostly because the only people who have come to my house are good friends and fellow anime fans =) Also, I’m a girl, so perhaps a girl having figures of girls doesn’t seem as perverted as a guy who collects them.
At my previous job, I used to have a lot of anime figures on display (video game company. figure displays are fairly common there). And yeah, it’s the same idea – people look at these figures in perverted ways, even when clearly they’re not any representation of perversion. And then when you ask them if they watch anime, they say they don’t watch kids shows. This sort of double-standard frustrates me to no end.
It’s definitely an indoctrination that make these familiar icons acceptable, where as subjects that are foreign or new are immediately judged with a different light under the microscope.
I think that you being a girl does “soften” the impressions of you collecting anime figures. It leaves a sort of pre-impression that you don’t collect these because you’re some closet hentai freak. Even though almost all of my anime figures are “decent”, that veil of stigma still exists.
I mean, if my own wife had difficulty accepting and reversing this psychological stigma, you can imagine how a coworker, friend or stranger might think.
Later post but o well ^^”
anyways i do collect mainly female figures and posters myself and being a guy it puts quite a bit of agitation in me when i am critiqued when other people, who usually don’t know me well, makes jokes about my preference. It just so happens that the characters i like are either loli, catgirl, tsundere or a combination of the 3 ;P
speaking of catgirls though imo Felicia from Darkstalkers would have been a better example, just given by how her personality actually is in the game and anime (and not by how the creators intended her to be xD), Where as felicia wears no clothes, has fur only coving 30% of her body maybe less, but her character shows a more playful, happy, and is portraying to become a nun (in some games).
but i guess the point is clear that familiarity and first impressions are a mayor bugger in real life =.=…
I think that the figures you’re interested are really all the types of figures available in the market anyway. 🙂
So you’re saying Felicia would have made a better example over Morrigan? I wanted to illustrate two VERY similar characters, one being familiar in modern American pop culture (Wonderwoman) and one that is not. Feature-wise, both Morrigan and Wonderwoman have very similar features and sex appeal. That was the whole idea.
Ah very good points. I totally agree with what you say about anime being newish, and so that is why it is held to different standards then other things that are so deeply enriched in our culture. The point about how early anime was sexual and violent has been made time and time again, and I do agree that has lead to the perception of it being nothing but violence and sexual trash. However this way of thinking is even more rampant in the UK, at least how I understand it, then in the US.
I had a friend once who saw me reading manga said it was perverted. It was something pretty tame too, but the girls were dressed kind of scantly I guess. it’s the same exact thing as the example of the anime figures you give. Then whenever I’d read manga he’s say it was something perverted…it’s ignorance really, although no one is really to blame. It’s kind of hard to understand something you know nothing about, and have no reason that you should know about. I’f I’m not really interested in something, then I usually don’t know much about it either…Still it is a shame that anime tends to get a bad rap sometimes.
You bring an interesting point of view to the table! I had been referring to mostly North America, but I had no idea that the UK was also having the same problems if not worse.
I’d have thought that the Europeans were more liberated than us stuck-up North Americans, but then you’re talking about UK, and not EU in general. 😉
I think it’s definitely a bad habit of humanity to judge something one doesn’t know about. It happens all the time, and serves absolutely no good to society. In fact, it’s incredibly terrible because it causes people to vote based on perception and ignorance rather than fact.
It’s definitely bad rap and ignorance at play. First they say it’s violent and perverted, and then with they say it’s kid’s shows because of Sailor Moon, Bakugan, etc. I can’t say that anime is “perverted kid’s shows”. 😛
Well the way I understand it, is that many of Manga UK’s shows were violent, and sexual in nature, but got a lot of attention back in the 90’s. So that is what stayed in the British minds, when they think of anime. There even more then in America, it is looks at as something sexual and violent. Anime like Overfiend, Akira, Cyber City, Ninja Scroll, Mad Bull 34, Angel Cop (some of which I like btw) etc, got pretty well known in the UK (well England anyway). And so that is what got associated with anime. Of course this is just what I’ve heard, I’ve never been to the UK so perhaps someone who lives there could give us a better picture then I can. I’m just recalling what others have told me.
And yes I agree, that it’s a bad habit of humanity really. But it happens time and time again.
I think the same happened in North America too, with Akira and Overfiend etc. Ghost in the Shell was another one of those anime. After that, it sort of stuck. Nowdays, I think people think “sexy girls” when they think anime. I just picked up a copy of ImagineFX featuring Manga tutorials, and all of them feature illustrations of sexy females.
I love stories of all kind; novels, movies, anything else. my whole family knows that, but I have a hard time telling them anything about it, especially anime and manga. simply because I know that almost none of them will understand it. they don’t even understand why I spend tons of money on video games or my obsession with computers. most people can never seem to take a good long look at someone else’s hoby and appreciate the good points of it. anyway, I sadly have no figures because there is no place I can find that has them and I don’t trust paypal or any site to keep my info safe. however after reading this I will put up some nice wallpapers on my computers and ps3.
this has to be one of the truest articles i ever read in terms of comparison to anime. I definitely have to link this to my friend who is judging me on my hobbies and look at my Altar’s Mio figure weirdly.
I found this pretty funny
ah, major points already stated above, totally agree with your article.
What funny is, looking back in a glance of eyes, don’t you think most of these points did actually apply in an anime called Gintama? That’s a troll maybe xD
not sure what you mean.
wow, this is such a late response I should’ve written so long ago. but I think using Birth of Venus as a comparison kinda goes both ways as it defeats your purpose but also amplify your points.
1. Birth of Venus was seen as a sexual and inappropriate painting when it was done. If I recall correctly from class, it was NOT a widely accepted painting like it is today. Thus using a not so widely accepting painting of its time with a not so widely accepted figurine of our time doesn’t really make the contrasts.
2. However, it DOES make the point that EVEN IF it is not widely accepted. Look at how Birth of Venus is seen as a “renewed” classical art today. That means one day there’s a good chance that people will look back on figurines and anime culture in general and accept it as art more than it does now.
In fact, I’m pretty sure a good population already accepted it as art and find it very difficult to sculpt and appreciate it.
I shall now redirect everyone who looks at my figures funny to this post and make them read it
That’s generally what everyone should do. hahaha
In all fairness, isn’t everyone a pervert at least ONCE in their lifetime?, cause if you have never had a perverted thought about someone you like or something on TV then your a bit strange :).
And also, many otaku’s might be hentai-freaks but, why neglect them?, people shun other peoples beliefs and feelings like gays and lesbians we’re all human in the end of the day.
What they air on the children stations for anime, most of the time in UK (not sure about now cause they stopped airing after a while) it was mainly Naruto/Shippuuden, Shaman King, and Pokemon if you classify it as anime, which technically it is.
Different Countries have different laws.
For people who watch Ecchi anime, I myself am a fan of pretty much all genre but a few like for the Bish?nen, Yaoi Harems (-.-), Josei (But i really do like Usagi Drop :3), Not a huge fan of horror.
But back to the main part, there is quite a lot of really good anime that is Ecchi examples such as; Ben-To, Mayo Chiki!, Love Hina and Kampfer *the list doesn’t end*, but not all the time i watch these for the Panty-shots or the boobies :3, many of these have a huge amounts of comedy in them which makes it overall very good.
As to the figurines, there’s nothing wrong with it, to be honest i would rather continue to collect figurines of characters instead of living a dull and boring life of going to school coming back and sitting on Facebook until I’m like 18, what’s fun about that? I would rather have a hobby of watching anime, collecting figurines and drawing manga characters. I just can’t stand people who neglect others for something they do cause ‘they’ believe it’s perverted and sad, I collect figures cause they look cool and it’s a good piece of art that should be appreciated and not hated by people who don’t know true art when it kicks them in the ass.
If people would only understand the amazingness of anime 🙂
Quite a long rant about stuff there but i think i cleared all i had to say ;]
I think that in your comment, you’ve pretty much answered your own question. People shun people because they are different, they are not like them.
Ecchi anime isn’t accepted anywhere, even in Japan. It’s looked upon the same way as we look upon it. But it’s just more open in Japan than it is here/UK/everywhere else. It just “seems” like it’s acceptable in Japan simply because we’re looking at it through a filtered lens. It gets lost in translation, so to speak.
This is why the term “Otaku” is not a good word in Japan either. It’s seen as a person who is perverse in his own interests, and anime falls into that category. It’s perfectly acceptable for a Japanese salaryman to read wholesome manga, but not ecchi manga, at least not in public. Same goes everywhere else.
On the note of ecchi anime like Love Hina, I found that comic relief to be overused, and therefore quite shallow and boring. 😐
But yes, the main point of the article, and I’m assuming of your comment as well, is that anime is amazing, and a lot of people aren’t able to see past the so-called ecchi stuff to appreciate the beauty of it.
Man.. I’ve only read a couple of your articles and I must say they’re all really good and most of us anime and manga lovers can really relate to them. If only I can make my friends and family members read this article. I don’t collect any figures (at least not yet, but I want to start with nendos), however I do collect gunpla. My parents look at me weirdly too when I get a new shipment of gunpla. They ask me: “Why did you buy another one? You haven’t even finished the XX boxes you got last month.” Occasionally I even get the: “Aren’t you a little too old for toys?” question even after I explain to them that they’re not toys and that I don’t even touch them after I’m done building/painting. Even when friends visit my house they always automatically assume that I play with the kits that I own. Sometimes I don’t even bother explaining anymore because its a pain in the ass to do the same thing over and over again.
My family is pretty conservative (at least they think they are). So pretty much everything I enjoy like video games, anime, manga, gunpla building/collecting or anything out of the “norm” is pretty much looked down upon by them. I’m pretty much the black sheep of our clan and its not fun, believe me. Thank god we moved away from the rest of the family so I don’t get much of that nagging anymore.
Otakus are seen are pervertic bastards in my country -_-
Not the first. -_-
You know why Japan allow perverted things a little? Specially in the Otaku Kingdom or so called “Akihabara” in Japan.
It’s because they’re low on birth rates… The majority of foreigners in Japan is higher than the natural citizens of Japan.
Mostly because of Men who don’t have any courage to take a girl out and they became old and live alone.( Is what I heard from a Japanese friend )
And I find it quite true~ Basically because “Japan” is like the holy place of Otaku and if there’s lot of Otaku in the world, of course there would be a lot of otakus in Japan( and those otakus I mention off is those ‘men’ who don’t have courage to take a girl out, they prefer 2D girls instead )
If there’s ‘Men’ of course there’s Womens too.
Surprisingly there’s a lot of ladies in Japan who lives alone.
And many of them are otakus.
So why does this happen? Of course it’s not just because of ‘not having the courage’, it’s because of past experience that made them lost the trust of Real world or what we call off “3D”
We prefer the term and people in the realm of 2D.
And we call then our: Waifus and Husbando
And a lot of normal people see us as “Trash” or ‘Weeab’
Okay I’m done ranting… :v call me whatever you wanted!
Trash Weeab Idiot Otaku Pervert anything!
I’m still your Lolicon Shiro. A perverted Weeab who like anime and manna and love waifu.