Anime becoming more mainstream

Not sure if this has been a topic considered but if nothing else Id like to know what others think of anime becoming more and more mainstream? It's obviously no secret that the past years it's been growing even in the western audience to the point I see it more and more being advertised and shown on TV. now that's fine and all industries need to thrive and make a profit to grow, as there have been anime's that only did good in the western audience. So if it's just getting more popular then it has to be within reason to assume that it's expanding and profiting. But how does that effect the anime community? or even more so the anime industry? for begging the community can change based on more new people being introduced to it, but what of people getting in through most newer anime's compared to that of the older community, as there is a large difference. but more so I for one am kinda admittedly not a fan of the new found growth, especially when it's been a repeating occurrence that when something gets popular in any industry some companies start to lower the quality of their product mainly because when you need to give the best to keep going that's what you will do, but if you can just throw it together with no effort but still receive great feed back because of stupid people or fans why bother (not pointing any fingers gaming industry). So much as it's definitely not debatable as there are plenty that do so, and the companies that take advantage of people that are just honest fans. Now I'm not saying that will happen nor anything I've said is right, just that I'm concerned personally not trying to pick up a pitchfork or get anyone to do the same, just thinking how others feel do you like the fact it's growing? or you don't really care for it, or the subject in general, thoughts?

I have kinda helped spread anime. I live in a place that anime is looked down upon almost hated because it's "too cute with too much fan service" then I turn around and recommend older more violent stuff and I get people to completely change there veiws. Eventually they start watching things they like. The industry itself will probably start to fill with garbage but there will still be diamonds in there. That and the otaku culture will be a bit more welcome.

Well I guess only time will tell, but to be honest I'm not sure if I will like the outcome that takes place. In the end you're correct there will always be crap, but I really would not like it to be flooded with crap, and then proceed to be supported to hell and back by people who don't realize they're getting less than what could be received. but I'm glad it's ever so different from games, as that's beyond trash as far as people getting no effort for their product 90% of the time, and pay too much money for not a correlating result but oh well. Still whatever happens happens there's no point complaining about something that cannot be fixed. I just feel there will be others that agree more popularity doesn't equal more quality, or better everything all the time, in fact more times often then not it can hurt the community. I for one support the industry any way I can, but I don't want to support something that puts no effort out, so again only time may hold the answer.

I wish more good anime was popular and not the 500+ episode narutarded crap. But they want stuff they can show on tv for awhile and they cut out all the edgy stuff so they can show to tweens. Essentially they don't show the stuff I actually want to see.

definitely, there are far too many anime's that are either bad, or just plain out lack a good story or just plain void of anything, yet stretch on for years getting praise and a lot of followers. then there's the extremely great shows that get little to no praise, and sometimes unfortunately have a lack of funding and get canceled. it's mostly repulsive for me to think about but what can you do.

I don't think non-jp audience have any impact on what kind of anime is being made. Entertainment industry in Japan is pretty much a close loop. I think its becoming mainstream as more young adults enter the viewership, plus watching anime and manga does not have the bad undertone as it used to be. People can talk about it in TV without being bashed, so more young adults girls are pouring in into the numbers. So with these new influx of audience, the stuff that being made is also will be geared towards the majority casual viewer. Plus all entertainment in Japan suffers the same disease of "squeezing it till it dry", be it Japan Variety TV, Games or Anime. So you can see all these rush to produce as much content as soon as possible despite the quality. Nowadays they are in the rush to convert Light Novels to Anime, and the quality suffers most of the time because of the rushed job. And the LN publisher only care about selling more copies so they tend not to care about the quality of the anime. IMHO

I'm reminded of the rise and saturation of comic books movies in recent years. Naturally anime hasn't grown to that recognition level, but just before the turn of the century, comics were nearly as niche as anime was. But now those comic heroes and their stories don't just belong to their readers. They're a global entity with companies who worry about what the reception of Chinese audiences will be for their films. Can/will the anime industry ever grow as large? I get the feeling I'll no longer be around to see a perfect live action adaptation of Evangelion, but a person can always dream.

@Riolis True to an extent, but there have been a few companies that would have lost funding if it had not been for the western audience? As far as effecting the production that to is subject to change, see with a growing audience comes the fact that its no secret the west is interested in anime, while it may not wholly effect it in most minds, I feel that's not the whole picture as anything can be altered if there is the fact that even people over seas have an interest, as that has happened with plenty of products for a very long time. while true it's not affected as a whole saying it's had no impact is not really accurate. and as far as most anything goes "anything" can change with time be it for good or worse doesn't matter if someone thinks something may or may not change the end result is that it will change eventually. but what of you? would you say a changed geared by a newer audience would be a warm welcome or not really, I'm not really asking for much just the thoughts on if you think it would become better or worse.

Well, I'm merely speaking based on my experience from working in those Japanese Creative industry, and had the chance to interact with such anime production company as well, and experience from other friends who was also in the same boat, but its mostly anecdotal, so pinch of salt and all. While its true such company in Japan is pushing for globalization by hiring native English speakers (westerners mainly) But its a drop in the sea compared to the number of SEA Asians/Chinese/Koreans they hired, whom have more affinity towards Japanese culture. So most of that feedback for that close loop is mainly coming from inland Japan itself. Most of the company doesn't even consider the Western input at all. Some yes, especially if the product were meant to sell outside of Japan, these company are the minorities rather than the majority. Games, anime and manga, unfortunately have minimal input from outside, which is why you can see some weird shit they are doing with their IP. e.g. Silent Hill pachinko spinoff, and any petition to get more season for an anime usually falls on deaf ear. Have you heard about QMA (Quiz magical academy?) It was a crazed when I was there and the outside world knows nothing about it. There is a huge disconnect. I'm not disagreeing that anime have became mainstream, but rather they have became mainstream because of Japanese audience themselves, rather than the effect from rest of the world. But to answer your question, I pretty much welcomes the new audience. Sure we get alot less of the deep, unique, thoughtful anime like cowboy bebop, gits (my personal selection) But the new audience also brings new type of genre to the mix. Variety is always good, its not like we are getting cut off from certain anime because the market has changed (like Erased)

anime isnt mainstream and it wont be...these "new" anime fans are just a bunch of weeaboo fangirling over naruto, one piece, and whatever else is popular. they arent real anime fans because outside of those anime they havent seen anything else. i dont consider them otaku nor should they consider themselves true anime fans. unless we have people supporting anime that goes under the radar things that you have to go searching for yourself. not whatever comes on toonami.