New
Apr 30, 9:44 AM
#1
| Popularity isn’t everything when it comes to a show; I get that. But at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge that without popularity, the "Anime" as an industry itself wouldn’t be the same what it is today. For instance, series like Frieren, Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, and Dandadan are often criticized because of their massive popularity. But higher popularity simply means they’re reaching a broader and more diverse audience. And it’s not just about recent hits; there have been incredibly popular shows from both the pre-2000s and post-2000s eras- One Piece, DBZ, Sailor Moon, Bleach, Gundam, Monster, FMA, and FMAB, just to name a few. So why is popularity so often treated as a negative trait in the anime community? Shouldn’t reaching more people and expanding the medium be something worth appreciating, not discrediting? |
Apr 30, 9:49 AM
#2
| Due to the perception of the inherent lack of value in something with appeal to the lowest common denominator. It's not so much that they are thought to lack quality; oftentimes those critiquing them will readily, sometimes begrudgingly, admit their quality in multiple respects (especially in technical qualities like animation). It's moreso that this is written off as a superficial veneer and substitute for what it is otherwise lacking. |
Apr 30, 9:59 AM
#3
Apr 30, 10:01 AM
#4
| From what I've seen from anti-popular criticism: Frieren - mostly criticized by elitists brings no novelty to the table (nothing is new if you take any Frieren element on its own), yet people are awed how much an elf journey is so "brilliantly" executed and overrate it Demon Slayer - mostly criticized by older fans who don't like it the most recent Action Shonen on par with the classic Big 3 Solo Leveling - mostly criticized by anti-RPG / anti-Generic-Protagonist fans Not that "popular" to me, but yea. Kirito (SAO) had its bashing, now it's time for Solo Leveling. Dandadan - idk this one So, it's mostly tied to why the show is popular in the first place, or to a generation gap war. |
EldinisApr 30, 11:50 AM
There is only one truth in this world かわいいは正義 Also, robots are your friends ✿❀(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.゚⋆˚✿˖° Check our anime affinity, Senpai! Fellow cute girl lovers FR accepted. Watch NGNL, ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ you bastard~~desu Yuri is life. Now, break a sweat. ★May the stars shine upon you.★ |
Apr 30, 10:25 AM
#5
| Probably they had disappointing experiences with popular anime. |
DesuMaiden said: Nobody resembles me physically because I don't even physically exist. |
Apr 30, 10:39 AM
#6
| Because patterns exist. "In order to be massively popular among a certain demographic in a certain period, an anime almost certainly has X, Y and/or Z and lacks A, B and C, but I know I like A, B and C and dislike X, Y and Z." |
Apr 30, 10:51 AM
#7
Apr 30, 11:10 AM
#8
| I think that association is more prominent from Contrarians, especially if they have a hipster thinking of Popular = slop for the unwashed masses. Clearly if everyone likes it, and most people are stupid/uncultured tm , than it must actually not be very good. It can also just be plain fatigue from overexposure. If you're not a fan but see a particular series fucking everywhere (especially if it's at the cost of something you do like), you get pretty darn tired of it. Doesn't matter if it's the best show on earth; they're sick of it. |
Apr 30, 11:43 AM
#9
Reply to Eldinis
From what I've seen from anti-popular criticism:
Frieren - mostly criticized by elitists
brings no novelty to the table (nothing is new if you take any Frieren element on its own), yet people are awed how much an elf journey is so "brilliantly" executed and overrate it
Demon Slayer - mostly criticized by older fans who don't like it
the most recent Action Shonen on par with the classic Big 3
Solo Leveling - mostly criticized by anti-RPG / anti-Generic-Protagonist fans
Not that "popular" to me, but yea. Kirito (SAO) had its bashing, now it's time for Solo Leveling.
Dandadan - idk this one
So, it's mostly tied to why the show is popular in the first place, or to a generation gap war.
Frieren - mostly criticized by elitists
brings no novelty to the table (nothing is new if you take any Frieren element on its own), yet people are awed how much an elf journey is so "brilliantly" executed and overrate it
Demon Slayer - mostly criticized by older fans who don't like it
the most recent Action Shonen on par with the classic Big 3
Solo Leveling - mostly criticized by anti-RPG / anti-Generic-Protagonist fans
Not that "popular" to me, but yea. Kirito (SAO) had its bashing, now it's time for Solo Leveling.
Dandadan - idk this one
So, it's mostly tied to why the show is popular in the first place, or to a generation gap war.
| @Eldinis Been a while I've seen such a coping and superficial analysis, and the word should be elitists, not elites. |
Apr 30, 11:51 AM
#10
Reply to JoeChip
@Eldinis
Been a while I've seen such a coping and superficial analysis, and the word should be elitists, not elites.
Been a while I've seen such a coping and superficial analysis, and the word should be elitists, not elites.
| @JoeChip Thx for the typo. But there's nothing substantial to say on the topic. As OP said, popularity is just a metric. Now, if you have anything to add, feel free to do so. |
There is only one truth in this world かわいいは正義 Also, robots are your friends ✿❀(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.゚⋆˚✿˖° Check our anime affinity, Senpai! Fellow cute girl lovers FR accepted. Watch NGNL, ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ you bastard~~desu Yuri is life. Now, break a sweat. ★May the stars shine upon you.★ |
Apr 30, 12:02 PM
#11
| First, you need to realize that anime is essentially an advertisement for the manga/light novel, which is where the real money is made. Second, very few anime drive success from overseas popularity vs domestic popularity (Shield Hero is one that did though, for example). Third, if something is popular as well as trendy, and therefore recent, it means that normies like it and normies have trash taste. If something has endearing popularity it becomes a classic, such as Monster which people are still talking about decades later. Something like Dandadan? Nobody will even remember that garbage a couple years after it gets its last season. |
| Taiga best girl forever. |
Apr 30, 12:38 PM
#12
| If you don't know what populism means, try a lecture from Trump's textbook and decide whether you like it or not :) This attitude is also the case with anime. Just because it impresses the majority of viewers doesn't mean it's good. Just like Trump, Anime also tries to appeal to the majority, but it's just a manipulation technique. |
Apr 30, 1:50 PM
#13
| I find that a lot of anime that grow into mainstream tend to cater more to an eight mainstream audience and does play it safe. I'm just generalizing here of course because I'm sure there are some exceptions, but that's usually the reason for me. That along with the fact that due to its popularity of the fan base won't stop talking about it which can grow tiring. |
Apr 30, 2:43 PM
#14
| Probably because an anime that's only known by 5 people is better, according to them. And if this anime becomes popular it goes straight to their trash can. |
| Imagine how boring this world would be without Japan - a comment at youtube |
Apr 30, 2:50 PM
#15
| Cause they wanna think of themselfes as beeing this unique guy that doesn't care about what other people do. They are not like everybody else and what everyone likes or thinks doesn't matter. When the reality is: It does matter. Popular things are popular for a reason. |
Apr 30, 3:00 PM
#16
| Good animation quality =/= good anime. Id rather watch something with shit-tier animation, but good plot, worldbuilding, charcters, original concept, a soul, amazing OST etc. etc. Its not about it being popular, it's about it being popular for superficial reasons. |
Apr 30, 3:09 PM
#17
Reply to Merve2Love
Cause they wanna think of themselfes as beeing this unique guy that doesn't care about what other people do. They are not like everybody else and what everyone likes or thinks doesn't matter.
When the reality is: It does matter. Popular things are popular for a reason.
When the reality is: It does matter. Popular things are popular for a reason.
| @Merve2Love I was just thinking that Beastars was a brilliant example of a shit populist show, and lo' and behold it's in your favs 😂 Which would have been fine on its own, but you just had to post something stupid enough for me to check your list just to confirm so L + ratio plus u fell off + ur waifu is shit + ur husbando is gey + oh boy is this twitter? + I am 12 and this is deep |
Apr 30, 3:17 PM
#18
Reply to BirdyTheMighty
@Merve2Love I was just thinking that Beastars was a brilliant example of a shit populist show, and lo' and behold it's in your favs 😂
Which would have been fine on its own, but you just had to post something stupid enough for me to check your list just to confirm so L + ratio plus u fell off + ur waifu is shit + ur husbando is gey + oh boy is this twitter? + I am 12 and this is deep
Which would have been fine on its own, but you just had to post something stupid enough for me to check your list just to confirm so L + ratio plus u fell off + ur waifu is shit + ur husbando is gey + oh boy is this twitter? + I am 12 and this is deep
| @BirdyTheMighty What can I say?^^ Seems to me like you're really special and not like all these other idiots who actually liked that populist Show :P You, unlike the masses, saw through all the bullshit. Damn it! You really got me 😅 |
Apr 30, 3:20 PM
#19
Reply to Merve2Love
@BirdyTheMighty
What can I say?^^
Seems to me like you're really special and not like all these other idiots who actually liked that populist Show :P
You, unlike the masses, saw through all the bullshit.
Damn it!
You really got me 😅
What can I say?^^
Seems to me like you're really special and not like all these other idiots who actually liked that populist Show :P
You, unlike the masses, saw through all the bullshit.
Damn it!
You really got me 😅
| @Merve2Love absolutely. I watch Boku no Pico (only), on repeat, 24/7. Anything else on my list is just to distract the normies from the true treasure. Bask in my brilliance |
Apr 30, 3:23 PM
#20
| Snobs feel threatened if other people value the same things as they do because it undermines their self-image of being elite. So they have to distance themselves (publicity at least) from anything that is too popular. Quality is not a factor. |
Apr 30, 3:36 PM
#21
| People sometimes see "popularity" as a bad thing because they think it means something is only liked because it's trendy or mainstream, not because it actually has quality or depth. It can give off the vibe that people are just following the crowd instead of genuinely enjoying it for what it is. |
Apr 30, 3:43 PM
#22
nirererin said: But higher popularity simply means they’re reaching a broader and more diverse audience the question though is how they do it. are they able to reach a wider audience because of their inherent qualities in terms of storytelling and character building, or are they comprimising on those aspects and dumb down their narrative to the essentials to meet the lowest common denominator? Solo Leveling is a great example of a show that people watch primarily for its flashy fights, not its story or characters. I have never heard anyone talk about FMA/Brotherhood, One Piece or DBZ in a negative way in regards to their popularity. Brotherhood was the highest rated show on this website for more than ten years, and probably still is if we take Frieren's recency bias into equation. Frieren itself is a show that earned its popularity due to its writing. yes, it does have some flashy, pointless fights, but it's largely a slice-of-life adventure show with fairly mundane situations. something your average Battle Shounen college bro wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. yet everyone loves it because it is just a pretty good show. it's when a show with subpar writing gets popular that people get annoyed by it. I mean, look at the communty's perception of Sword Art Online. It's number 5 in popularity, but has the lowest score in the entire Top 50 (besides Tokyo Ghoul). and that's for a good reason. |
Apr 30, 4:02 PM
#23
| Really popular anime tend to be geared towards children (Pocket Monsters, Sailor Moon, Yuugi-ou, Dragon Ball, Pretty Cure, etc. etc.). People looking for something a little more mature tend to be disappointed by those. Anime that are only a little popular (Frieren, FMA, Code Geass, Boku no Hero Academia, Kimetsu no Yaiba, etc. etc.) are being over hyped. Even when they are great, they rarely live up to their inflated reputation, often leaving viewers with a bit of disappointment that the show didn't turn out to be the second coming of Christ or whatever. |
Apr 30, 11:10 PM
#24
Reply to Subarctic-Forest
First, you need to realize that anime is essentially an advertisement for the manga/light novel, which is where the real money is made. Second, very few anime drive success from overseas popularity vs domestic popularity (Shield Hero is one that did though, for example). Third, if something is popular as well as trendy, and therefore recent, it means that normies like it and normies have trash taste. If something has endearing popularity it becomes a classic, such as Monster which people are still talking about decades later. Something like Dandadan? Nobody will even remember that garbage a couple years after it gets its last season.
| @Subarctic-Forest Honestly, that’s a pretty narrow take. Sure, some anime exists to promote the manga or light novel, but plenty stand strong as great works on their own. These days, overseas fans matter a lot, streaming platforms and global hype bring in serious revenue. Just because something’s popular doesn’t automatically make it bad. Calling it “normie trash” feels more like gatekeeping than genuine critique. |
May 1, 12:00 AM
#25
nirererin said: often criticized because of their massive popularity Does it not make sense to you popular anime gets more criticized? It is more watched. Some people liked to talk about the wine they consume, we like to talk about anime, get on with times. Solo leveling "relatable part" is "Poor young adult takes the exams to become a government worker. Ends up as a dangerous low paid miner in stagnated society. Probably indebted for life, because of hospital bills. But after he almost dies in a mine accident, discovers that he can qualify and go up, taking private corp secret deals, hiding about improvement work/evading taxes he resurfaces". This is Breaking Bad cool. But then every dark edge choice the work does gets cringier, up until Necromancer/drug dealer. We criticize less popular work too, but it is out of your radar and ears. We criticize shows with more unique premises but less popular too. Now it is easier to not get criticized if you don't dare to anything Raunchy, Dandadan takes risks and that is nice. Demon slayer does it. You can't blame people for not liking Big Scale and a Kaioken aura fight, a boring 1 or 3 people team survivor ground arc, training arcs, we are as blasé to some of those as Frieren is to life. |
May 1, 12:01 AM
#26
nirererin said: Anime communities are the place where anime fans gather. Comment posters are especially keen fans. As they know many deep masterpieces, average shows don't satisfy them. Contrary to this, the most part of people prefer rather plain shows. That would be the reason.why is popularity so often treated as a negative trait in the anime community? --- popularity [n] the fact that something is liked, enjoyed, or supported by many people. (not "by keen fans or critics") |
May 1, 4:21 AM
#27
Reply to TransferUser
Really popular anime tend to be geared towards children (Pocket Monsters, Sailor Moon, Yuugi-ou, Dragon Ball, Pretty Cure, etc. etc.). People looking for something a little more mature tend to be disappointed by those.
Anime that are only a little popular (Frieren, FMA, Code Geass, Boku no Hero Academia, Kimetsu no Yaiba, etc. etc.) are being over hyped. Even when they are great, they rarely live up to their inflated reputation, often leaving viewers with a bit of disappointment that the show didn't turn out to be the second coming of Christ or whatever.
Anime that are only a little popular (Frieren, FMA, Code Geass, Boku no Hero Academia, Kimetsu no Yaiba, etc. etc.) are being over hyped. Even when they are great, they rarely live up to their inflated reputation, often leaving viewers with a bit of disappointment that the show didn't turn out to be the second coming of Christ or whatever.
TransferUser said: The MAL Popularity Ranking hasn't a single kids show. Also, children usually do not crowd MAL discussions, teenagers and twens do. Are you sure about your claim?Really popular anime tend to be geared towards children I rather think popularity can only be achieved if a media product caters multiple audience. Take Disney's formula as an example. They cater kids, their older siblings and the parents paying the whole shit in one serving. The kids get a simple story with kid protagonists. The teens get action scnenes with superb animation and a little romance. And the adults get references to older works (so they "know more" and can shine explaining that to their offspring) and double layered humor. That's the formula. In anime it's a little different, you need to collect the teen boys first, and fill up with adults and the occasional girl to mix a popular show. That's due to different overall demographics of anime consumers, but the idea is similar. |
inimMay 1, 4:40 AM
May 1, 4:26 AM
#28
Reply to inim
TransferUser said:
Really popular anime tend to be geared towards children
The MAL Popularity Ranking hasn't a single kids show. Also, children usually do not crowd MAL discussions, teenagers and twens do. Are you sure about your claim?Really popular anime tend to be geared towards children
I rather think popularity can only be achieved if a media product caters multiple audience. Take Disney's formula as an example. They cater kids, their older siblings and the parents paying the whole shit in one serving. The kids get a simple story with kid protagonists. The teens get action scnenes with superb animation and a little romance. And the adults get references to older works (so they "know more" and can shine explaining that to their offspring) and double layered humor. That's the formula. In anime it's a little different, you need to collect the teen boys first, and fill up with adults and the occasional girl to mix a popular show. That's due to different overall demographics of anime consumers, but the idea is similar.
| @inim Most people don't even know MAL exists. Most people know who Pikachu is. Yes, I am sure about my claim. |
May 1, 4:41 AM
#29
Reply to TransferUser
@inim
Most people don't even know MAL exists. Most people know who Pikachu is. Yes, I am sure about my claim.
Most people don't even know MAL exists. Most people know who Pikachu is. Yes, I am sure about my claim.
| @TransferUser Most people of millenial generation, which is just a fraction of audiences. I think you are projecting too much here. I never watched a single episode of Pokemon, neither as adult nor as a kid. I watched Heidi and Maya the Bee. |
May 1, 5:09 AM
#30
| The audience. A lot of the recent big hits (in western communities) seem pretty overhyped. Even though we've had a large anime scene for a while, and most places don't consider watching anime "nerdy and cringe" anymore, that doesn't mean we have a lot of the general public watching. If someone who doesn't normally watch anime watches a good/decent anime, they're gonna think pretty highly of it because "wow anime can be good". Those who are more experienced (this applies to any media) usually know how to rate things properly and call things average. |
| "I'm enjoying the journey. So if your destination is the same as mine, enjoy the side trips. A lot. Something more important than the thing you're hunting could be right there by the side of the road." |
May 1, 5:10 AM
#31
Reply to inim
@TransferUser Most people of millenial generation, which is just a fraction of audiences. I think you are projecting too much here. I never watched a single episode of Pokemon, neither as adult nor as a kid. I watched Heidi and Maya the Bee.
| @inim Popularity is when people that haven't seen it know about it. For example, I know who Thanos is, despite never having watched or read anything with him in it. I know him because he is popular. |
May 1, 5:16 AM
#32
Reply to TransferUser
@inim Popularity is when people that haven't seen it know about it. For example, I know who Thanos is, despite never having watched or read anything with him in it. I know him because he is popular.
| @TransferUser Other than from 3rd hand mentions in memes and forums, I know nothing about Thanos. I haven't watched any Marvel or DC movie, because I deem them trash. In my world and peer group, he doesn't even exist. Isn't ignorance bliss. That means what is left to calculate huge crowds of consumers are age cohortes. Popular is extremely dependent on your peer group, your focus determines your reality. MAL as a real world server has a real demographics of users. The voter majority of MAL is with fans of action, male coming of age stories, and power fantasies. So be it. Knowing what pleases the crowd is a billion dollar industry question, btw. Glad we solved it in a forum :) |
May 1, 11:45 AM
#33
Reply to nirererin
@Subarctic-Forest Honestly, that’s a pretty narrow take. Sure, some anime exists to promote the manga or light novel, but plenty stand strong as great works on their own. These days, overseas fans matter a lot, streaming platforms and global hype bring in serious revenue. Just because something’s popular doesn’t automatically make it bad. Calling it “normie trash” feels more like gatekeeping than genuine critique.
| @nirererin Gatekeeping is a good thing. |
| Taiga best girl forever. |
May 1, 6:38 PM
#35
Reply to Eldinis
@JoeChip Thx for the typo.
But there's nothing substantial to say on the topic. As OP said, popularity is just a metric. Now, if you have anything to add, feel free to do so.
But there's nothing substantial to say on the topic. As OP said, popularity is just a metric. Now, if you have anything to add, feel free to do so.
Eldinis said: Now, if you have anything to add, feel free to do so. Shade! 😂 Shut them up real quick! Whew! |
May 1, 6:40 PM
#36
Reply to Merve2Love
Cause they wanna think of themselfes as beeing this unique guy that doesn't care about what other people do. They are not like everybody else and what everyone likes or thinks doesn't matter.
When the reality is: It does matter. Popular things are popular for a reason.
When the reality is: It does matter. Popular things are popular for a reason.
| @Merve2Love But the opposite isn't true. Just because something is unpopular, doesn't make it bad. |
May 1, 7:10 PM
#37
Reply to Sasori56483
nirererin said:
often criticized because of their massive popularity
often criticized because of their massive popularity
Does it not make sense to you popular anime gets more criticized? It is more watched. Some people liked to talk about the wine they consume, we like to talk about anime, get on with times.
Solo leveling "relatable part" is "Poor young adult takes the exams to become a government worker. Ends up as a dangerous low paid miner in stagnated society. Probably indebted for life, because of hospital bills. But after he almost dies in a mine accident, discovers that he can qualify and go up, taking private corp secret deals, hiding about improvement work/evading taxes he resurfaces". This is Breaking Bad cool. But then every dark edge choice the work does gets cringier, up until Necromancer/drug dealer.
We criticize less popular work too, but it is out of your radar and ears. We criticize shows with more unique premises but less popular too. Now it is easier to not get criticized if you don't dare to anything Raunchy, Dandadan takes risks and that is nice.
Demon slayer does it. You can't blame people for not liking Big Scale and a Kaioken aura fight, a boring 1 or 3 people team survivor ground arc, training arcs, we are as blasé to some of those as Frieren is to life.
Sasori56483 said: We criticize less popular work too, but it is out of your radar and ears. We criticize shows with more unique premises but less popular too. This is very true. I've criticized popular and unpopular works alike. I get the most shit for my criticisms of popular works. |
May 1, 7:17 PM
#38
| I believe it's more common to see popularity as good impression. People will say "how can xxxxxx be bad if it's the most popular show?" |
| If you're a fanboy, please don't waste my time. Watch more movies, please. Perhaps, this is hell. |
May 1, 7:18 PM
#39
| Niche shows tend to stay within the bubble of its intended audience. Popular media, however, enjoy much more exposure and will often find viewers outside their intended target and therefore attract more dissent. Add selective attention to the mix, and all of a sudden it feels like only hit series suffer criticism. All in all, the worst thing you can do is let others dictate your preference. Enjoy what you enjoy. Life is much more fun this way. |
May 2, 5:43 AM
#40
Reply to Subarctic-Forest
@nirererin Gatekeeping is a good thing.
| @Subarctic-Forest Thanks, glad to hear that. |
May 2, 7:14 AM
#41
| I am typically turned off by more popular shows at the height of their popularity. I don't see it as an inherently bad thing, but it does take away some of a show's appeal to me if I haven't checked it out by the time it's popular. I don't think it's purely a contrarian response for me, though I'm sure that is a small part of it. Mostly, for me, knowing something has achieved mass appeal kind of takes away some of the mystery or surprise for a show being good. When I start a show, I'm always curious if it'll turn out to be really appealing to me or miss the mark, and that's what excites me the most about new shows. When a show is extremely popular, I am pretty confident I'll find it enjoyable, so I get less excited to discover if I'll like it. So a show that's flying under the radar, or is past its prime, or is more actively disliked, tends to have a lot more appeal for me. But popularity isn't "bad" in this sense, just less appealing. |
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