Help Meh!

So, I recently came out in the open to my family about liking anime.  I say, "came out in the open", but in reality, I mean that they saw me fanboy out when we got Netflix and I saw all the anime.  3 days later, my mom comes up to me and says, "I googled it, anime is wierd." I'm not really sure how to counter her "anime is wierd" argument.  I'm not saying I want her to love anime, or even like it, I just want to be able to watch it without all the wierd stares...anyone know what I can say?

 

Nothing.  You don't really need to say anything.  She thinks anime is weird, and that's her decision.  There's no point in arguing with her or trying to change her mind.  You like anime, so keep liking it, keep watching it, and don't worry about what your family or anyone else thinks.  You liking anime isn't their problem, and their feelings about you liking anime isn't your problem.

 

Fair Nuff, thanks for the advice.  Still, its kind of hard to go to cons and stuff when they have that opinion.  Apparently, all she did was google "anime"...which is doubtless to turn up some wierd stuff.

 

Oops, and my sig didnt work.  Lets see if that fixed it.

 

Fair Nuff, thanks for the advice. Still, its kind of hard to go to cons and stuff when they have that opinion. Apparently, all she did was google “anime”…which is doubtless to turn up some wierd stuff.


I'm assuming you're a minor who still lives with their parents?  Yeah, it can be rough when parents aren't entirely understanding of something.  But that's okay.  If we could all learn everything we need to know from Google then there would be no need for any form of higher education, right?   So no, your mom probably doesn't have a firm understanding or foundation upon which she has based her judgement.  As far as going to conventions you'll probably just try to get your parents to understand why it is you want to go and why it would be okay for you to do so.  That's just how it is when your parents get to call the shots.  Best of luck to you though.

 

I would just leave it as is. My only advice would be not to hide your love for anime. If you have an income that supports getting figures, blurays, and other anime parafernalia, display it! Be proud of who you are and don't let anyone tell you any different. I have a Vocaloid calendar and seven figures that I show off in my room with no shame. My parents questioned why and I said because it makes me happy with a smile on my face. There's no counter argument for someone's happiness.

 

To be fair, anime is weird. It's so different from what we've come to expect in the west that it's natural for people to find it strange. To be honest the less you make a deal out of watching it the less your family will care. Just watch it as normal, of course there's plenty of stuff in anime which i doubt they'll like but that goes for any TV show regardless of where it was made. The more you watch it the more they will be exposed to it and it will become more familiar. Anime is such a niche thing that its bound to be strange to people who haven't watched it before.

That being said there's is a lot of strange stuff in anime which would horrify most people not acclimated to the genre, just don't go watching anything too ecchi or with gratuitous amounts of fan service and your family will get used to it and become tolerant, who knows they may even come to like it themselves. It's not your job to seek your families approval, its their position to accept you for who you are, just have patience and give them a chance.

 

well in time my friend your mother will accept it. though im not to talk here as anime shows are shown in free TV channels here in my country and we grew up with it. thats how i started up as well. my parents thought that anime are degrading to our minds (due to their mindset of looney tunes) but i showed theme anime series with real plot. the anime that we watched together were the shounen anime that i watched when i was 8 to name some, "lupin III, hunterxhunter, samurai x".

just watch them normally like how you watched movies. as of the moment, me and my siblings together with our mom watch anime in front of our tv.

 

My parents think anime is weird too. When I'm watching something and they walk through the room, they sometimes chuckle and say "You and your Japanese cartoons..." But they're completely fine with it, because a) It's a harmless leisure activity, b) I'm paying for it with my own earnings, and c) It's clear that I enjoy it muchly.
So my advice: Just watch as normal, and they'll eventually accept it as normal. And hope they don't walk in on an ecchi scene.

 

Thanks guys! You have been a great help.  I'm gonna make sure to take your advice.

 

You're welcome.
And regarding this:
And hope they don’t walk in on an ecchi scene.

It was on the very verge of happening to me today. XD
I was watching Bleach, just started ep 228 (the beach episode), and Matsumoto was talking loudly as my dad was walking down the hall on the way to the computer. It showed a shot of her showing off her bikini, and just as my dad walked into the room and a split second before he turned to look at the TV, it changed to a blank shot of the beach. He started chuckling and saying random Japanese words loudly (mostly brand names) as he walked off. When the TV was out of his eye shot, it then proceeded to have the rest of the characters showing off their bikinis. He then stood in the doorway, the TV JUST out of angle (I think one might be able to see a small portion of the screen... >.>), and continued saying more random words.

 

Haha, disaster averted!

 

We have similar stories you and I...

I also started watching anime because of Netflix in my senior year of high school, and quickly fell in love ^_^

Not a lot of people know about it, and wouldn't expect it for that matter. Plus it just never naturally has come up in a conversation, but if it ever does I never deny it, haters gonna hate.

Bottom line is you're simply watching eastern cartoons. Doesn't sound weird to me.

HOWEVER... some anime is weird. Don't let them catch you watching Kiss x Sis. (Still have no idea how I finished that series )

 

Yeah, that's my intent.  Oh and don't even get me started on KissXSiss...dear god...

 

Show her something like Angel Beats,an anime tha deals with serious stuff and is moving and fun! You can never go wrong with rocket chairs, you can then proceed to show hr something like Steins Gate, or someanime about something she likes, like zombies,or whatever she enjoyswatching. There's something for her in anime! there's something everyone in anime1



Desu ne.

 

So, I recently came out in the open to my family about liking anime. I say, “came out in the open”, but in reality, I mean that they saw me fanboy out when we got Netflix and I saw all the anime. 3 days later, my mom comes up to me and says, “I googled it, anime is wierd.” I’m not really sure how to counter her “anime is wierd” argument. I’m not saying I want her to love anime, or even like it, I just want to be able to watch it without all the wierd stares…anyone know what I can say?
Say perhaps, "And the cartoons on television now-a-days isn't?" And give her a strange look. Perhaps raise an eye-brow too, in disbelief.

 

Thx, will try.  I love Angel Beats, so will definitely try to show that, unfortunately, is gone from Netflix now...  Probably will try a Studio Ghilbi movie or something like The Girl who Leaped Through Time or Summer Wars or something.  Time of Eve might be taking it a bit too far though...

 

I hope it works!

What kind of genre does your family like? I would recommend something like Nausicaa, or Spirited Away- or maybe even Laputa! But I'm slightly biased. ^^;