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5 Reasons You’re Never Too Old For Anime And Manga

February 20, 2017

You’re getting a little older, and you’ve been out of school for a few years. You don’t have your anime buddies to watch shows with every week night anymore. But don’t despair – now’s not the time to start a countdown of how long you’ve got left to enjoy anime and manga. There’s no need to feel the pressure to stop when you hit a certain age. Continue to enjoy what you love. There’s really only one reason to enjoy something: You simply like it. But for all the older folks out there, here are a few additional reasons to keep going.

Sailor Moon The Movies DVD collection from 2001. I was 13 when I bought this; I still have it!

It reminds you of your youth. I’m sure millions of fans around the world over the age of 30 rejoiced when it was announced that Sailor Moon would get a new anime. The young ‘uns who weren’t around when the original Sailor Moon aired missed the joys of weekday Toonami sessions airing Sailor Moon and other beloved anime such as Gundam Wing, Dragonball Z, and Cowboy Bebop. I’m sure it’s the older fans, with their disposable income (compared to their younger counterparts), snapping up all of the Sailor Moon merchandise to add to the collection they’ve been growing since the 1990s. Nostalgia is real and anime’s explosion in the 90s means the fans then, may still be fans now.

Animation is popular. Pixar and Disney films are popular with adults, too; so it goes without saying that there might be adults into other animated films. I know someone who loves Disney films and going to Disney destinations at 30. Whole families get dressed up for nerdy conventions for western or Japanese comics, and children and their parents have something to talk about. The popularity of animation is something that will probably not die out any time soon. And just realize that it’s probably an adult buying those movie tickets and costumes for their kids.

Your Name

There’s something for everyone. Calling anime something that’s only for children is a gross generalization. Considering the growing number of genres that appeal to specific or general demographics, means that there will surely be something to draw in new fans and keep old fans going. There’s no shortage of anime or manga. In fact, it’s a bit hard to keep up with – but that diversity of genres means no one is going to get left out. If you want to sound impressive, I’d steer clear of discussing anime like Uta no Prince Sama or No Game No Life (both series I happen to enjoy) with those who may be judgmental about your interests. If you want to introduce your friends to anime, try highly-acclaimed anime films with western recognition such as Your Name or the classic Spirited Away, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Enjoy mushy romances in manga form

It’s escapism like reading a book. Sometimes you don’t want something heavy to read or watch. You might work full time and have other responsibilities, but when you want to relax sometimes you want to read something fun and lighthearted. For me, I enjoy anime like STARMYU or read manga like Super Lovers to decompress at the end of the day. I don’t want to think, and I want something uplifting or maybe a little angsty to get away from my own life stress. If adults can read romance novels, watch violence on television, or get overly excited about sports games — then you can enjoy anime and manga.

And finally, why not? It’s nobody’s business what you like. Life’s too short to let naysayers tell you what’s appropriate to watch and read. Even if you are 100 years old and rewatching Yuri!!! On Ice, if it’s what you love — more power to you. You don’t have to scream from the rooftop your interests. It may be socially acceptable to enjoy some forms of entertainment compared to others, but at the end of the day just do what you want (most people don’t care). If someone gets hung up on your interests and tells you you’re too old for something, it’s probably safe to say they are dull curmudgeons.