21-22 The Whirlwind - Issue 1

New Age Nerds

Anime x Comeback

CURIOSITY AND BOREDOM HAS LED PEOPLE INTO DISCOVERING THEIR LOVE FOR ANIME

By Cecilia Greene

S

ociety as a whole has been amazed at some of the because I got made premieres made by Netflix and Hulu, but shortfun of and decided to ly became bored with controversial characters do the same thing,” jusuch as Joe Exotic from Netflix’s “Tiger King” and the nior Mason Chambers wait for new seasons to start. Pretty soon, old and new said. There’s generally popular series from the anime genre were adapted to a lot more time to do the popular platforms, taking the western hemisphere literally nothing and by storm. And with the release of Koyoharu Gotouge’s most people got tired “Demon Slayer”, and the return of Tsugumi Ohba and of “The Office” and Takeshi Obata’s hit show “Death Note” on Netflix. The needed another form genre that had once been made fun of and looked down of T.V. upon were brought back in the spotlight with the help Junior Mason Chambers As of now nobody of social media knows why society Tik tok became one of many outlets for everyone to practically abandons a trend only to slowly revive it voice their opinions in regards to the quarantining situ- years later. Some argue for aesthetic, others say it’s just ation and recommended activities to do if boredom ever what’s going on now until the word boredom becomes occurred. Many of the app’s audio associated with it. Smoking (cigclips would come from popular arettes specifically) is another exshows including “Cowboy Beample of a bad and outdated trend bop,” “Death Note,” “Naruto,”and that typically came back for the “Attack on Titan.” This would ‘aesthetic’ it gives off. create a larger fanbase not only for With the common characteris“I think some things that the shows, but a safe spot for the tics helping the genre back on its could come back are old feet, the Japanese anime industry anime community to finally come fashion movies or old together. would experience sales dropping The genre has been attractrive to fashion shows, ‘’ fresh- down 1.8% throughout the begina lot of different people, creating ning of the pandemic for the first man Onaya Johnson said. time in a couple years as stated special bonds between communities. With the help of influencers “My favorite shows at the from “Japan Times.” In regards to on Tik tok and many other social moment would have to the US, Koyoharu Gotouge’s “Demedia platforms, there’s likely to mon Slayer: Mugen Train,” had be Psychic and Demon made a total of 503 million USD be more of a cult following to the slayer.” art style, along with making new from it’s premeire that would set connections to express feelings the bar for movies to come in the and different works art. future.

Although anime had just got back into style, it was Whether those movies will meet these expectations is often recognized as something for kids and used to label up for debate. While anime is relevant now, who knows people as weird or just plain strange. if its popularity will last or if it’s just another passing “I stopped watching anime when I was in fifth grade trend.

“

We asked 91 students if they started watching anime over quarantine. 24.2% said yes and 75.8% said no.

By Marie Guthrie

15

OCTOBER 2021