But how big, and in what ways? Let’s dig in. Working with Vox Media’s Insights and Research team and market research group The Circus, our results show that not only is anime’s popularity growing significantly with each generation, but that - among younger audiences - it’s even surpassing cultural touchstones like the NFL. To better understand just how vast anime culture has become, Polygon surveyed more than 4,000 Americans over the age of 18 about their anime consumption habits. And as fans of anime know, bubbling beneath the mainstream was a major cultural cornerstone many still consider niche. But in an era where people rarely gather around the TV at the same time, and with services like Netflix only now offering viewership data from their splintered audiences, it can be hard to get a sense of what’s Actually Popular. On the surface, it’s easy to point to examples, with shows like Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, and My Hero Academia flooding streaming services and merch popping up everywhere you look ( some Polygon staff favorites). Then, one day, they break through.Īnime has finally reached that tipping point. No matter how many billions of dollars they generate, mainstream success remains a tough final hurdle to clear. The Toyota Corolla AE86 Sprinter being the most famous, followed by the Nissan Skyline, and the S13 SilEighty.Eventually, all the biggest forms of entertainment reach a tipping point.Īfter spending years establishing themselves, building an audience, and becoming indispensable to fans, they still find themselves in a no man’s land where outsiders see them as toys for a bunch of kids messing around. Friendly, kind characters who are usually the protagonists have large, open eyes that show compassion, honesty, and empathy. The cars used in the series are also all real models that would be found on city streets. One of the staple designs of Anime is the eyes of the characters. Any terminology used that would be considered niche is translated by the characters into an easy to understand language for the benefit of lesser characters like Itsuki, and in turn helps the audience understand as well. The plotline is very simple, but the highly detailed races are engrossing and almost ballet-like in their design and execution. 'Initial D' is an easy Anime for newcomers to the genres due to it being set in a real-world scenario, and not featuring any supernatural elements. The songs ‘Around the World’ and ‘Gamble Rumble’ were used as the intro music for most episodes in the series. Initial D also helped bring the band m.o.v.e to prominence in the west, introducing many (including myself) to their music. Black Americans account for 17 of the anime fan audience over 18, compared to 13. Initial D is well-known for using Japanese Eurobeat as its soundtrack, mostly during the races as the rapid beats and synths helped match the fast paced speed of the races. Looking into the audience, we found that anime fans as a group are more diverse than the broader U.S. Due to the location being a gas station, racers from out of town also pull up to issue challenges or to ask for information on the town’s team. This also serves as the place where the audience learns more about the cars in the series, and the characters also discuss their personal lives, problems, and romantic interests. This is where most of their interaction takes place since Takumi spends the rest of his time driving for the Tofu shop, at school, or racing. Sub-Plot 4 – Takumi along with Itsuki and Koichiro work at a gas station part-time. Their similar upbringing as child prodigies with single fathers helped them form a strong bond. The second is named Mika Uehara, a skilled golfer who was the first person to share a ride with Takumi without being scared by his driving skills. Upon graduation, they separated when she left for Tokyo and he remained in Gunma to race. When they started dating a brief rift was caused when he found out that she was seeing a rich man on the side to substitute her meagre income. The first is Natsuki Mogi, a girl whom he defended when she was slandered in school. Sub-Plot 3 – Takumi’s girlfriends: He has two girlfriends over the course of the series.
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