GeekGirlCon Blog

Rekindling My Love For Anime As An Adult

In the late 1990s, I rushed over to my best friend Haley’s house so we could watch Sailor Moon every morning before school. Her favorite Sailor Scout was Sailor Venus, and I swore that I was the reincarnation of Sailor Neptune as we both swam and played the violin (I even dyed the tips of my hair turquoise as an homage to Michiru years later, which was pretty edgy when I was fifteen). We were also obsessed with Pokemon, slightly less obsessed with Digimon, and weirdly addicted to a short-lived anime about hamsters called Hamtaro. We walked around with Luna and Artemis plushies and acted out some pretty “vivid” scenes from our favorite episodes. We were fearless, and it didn’t hurt that just about every other little girl we knew was in love with all of the same things.

I moved a few times after that, since my dad was in the military, but my love of anime only grew with age. By the time I was fourteen and just about to enter high school, I had a massive collection of manga, a pretty impressive knowledge of the “hit” anime series of the time (regardless of whether or not they were being shown in the states), and a budding interest in Japanese literature. At that point, I was living near Seattle, and Japanese popular culture seemed to be far more common than any other state I’d lived to date.

Sailor Scouts via GIPHY

Then I moved, again. The summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school, my family packed up and relocated to Rhode Island. By then I had turned fifteen, my collection was getting even bigger, and I started studying Japanese folklore and language a little on my own. My new high school sponsored me to take up Japanese as an independent study for three years, as well as corresponding cultural courses. I was thrilled when my parents told me about the program, especially since it would let me spend a few hours per week studying alone (which seemed like a good way to acclimate to a new school). Unfortunately, it wasn’t kittens and roses from that point on.

Not only did my new peers view liking anime as “weird” (since the trend hadn’t quite hit New England), but my interest in Japan and learning Japanese was often criticized as being contrived, and both interests were inevitably judged. Like most teenagers trying to fit in do, I reacted by throwing away a big chunk of that long-earned collection of books and pretended not to know what anime even was. I continued learning Japanese but focused more intently on making sure that my interest in the genre was well hidden.

Almost a decade later, I now realize how immature that was. Anime is what triggered my initial interest in Japan, and that interest turned into years of language and cultural studies. While my knowledge of the language has since depleted due to a lack of practice, I continued to study Japan’s history and culture well into college and beyond. Years without watching anime passed, and I finally asked myself: “What the heck is Yuri!! On ICE, and why are all of my friends tweeting about it at 3 a.m.?” Let me tell you, if you haven’t watched Yuri!! yourself, there’s a solid chance you know someone who has.

Yuri and Victor via GIPHY

And, thus, I rediscovered my love of the genre as an adult.

My interest had been rekindled just before Yuri!!’s release, but it was the first big “fad” I’d participated in since jumping back onboard the fangirl train.  Now that I’ve sat down and revisited what I grew to love so much as a young girl, I truly appreciate how anime can be  filled with beautiful stories about diversity, such as Yuri!!. Anime is filled with mature, gripping worlds more often than, I feel, American media is. Women, POC, LGBTAQ+: there are stories about everyone, and for everyone.

Here are but a few series that have helped kindle my love of anime, many of which aren’t particularly new, but all fabulous nonetheless. They each star some strong leading ladies and are all bound to keep you watching way too late into the night:

Princess Yona via GIPHY

Yona of the Dawn

A coming of age story about a young princess forced to grow the heck up on her sixteenth birthday after her father is killed and starts her journey find a couple reincarnated dragons from the legends she was told as a child in order to save her kingdom? If you could read that without taking a breath, then you might want to check out Yona of the Dawn. Accompanied by her childhood friend and retainer Hak Son, she travels the land to save her kingdom—and she has really pretty hair.

Nanami and Tomoe via GIPHY

Kamisama Hajimemashita (Kamisama Kiss)

I am a sucker for a good romance, and Kamisama Hajimemashita delivers a surprisingly complicated web of love, drama, and fun comedy. Similar to the premise of Furuba (Fruits Basket), Nanami is a high school–aged girl who finds herself homeless and happens upon a man who grants her the power to become a land god. Casual, right? Nanami packs up and moves to his shrine, where she meets a moody yōkai named Tomoe. Kamisama Hajimemashita plays into some more traditional arcs from fable but, at the end of the day, it’s a romantic comedy. Chocolate, wine, and tissues may or may not be necessary depending on the strength of your emotions.

Izetta and Finé via GIPHY

Izetta: The Last Witch

I have yet to polish off this series, but after stumbling upon Izetta: The Last Witch by chance, I’m enamored with the level of complexity and world-building packed into this little twelve episode show. Izetta is the last from a line of witches who have the ability to manipulate and control any object that they touch. Izetta vows to help protect her friend Princess Finé and Eylstadt, a country located in an alternate Earth that faces the second World War. If you’re not sold yet, then what if I told you Izetta uses a machine gun as a broom and rides it into marvelous battle for her dearest princess? Yeah.

Shirayuki and Obi via GIPHY

Snow White with the Red Hair

Back to my not-so-subtle love of romance. Snow White with the Red Hair, similar in title to a classical tale we’ve been told since kids, is nothing like it’s namesake. Shirayuki is a young herbalist who has drawn the fancy of her local prince, Raji. After she rejects his advances, she is rescued by a mysterious man named Zen and his retainers, who invite her to reside and practice her craft in the distant kingdom of Clarines. Whilst this particular show is shamelessly romantic in nature, Shirayuki’s primary goal is to make it on her own by excelling in her trade.

Kōsei and Kaori via GIPHY

Your Lie in April

I’m sorry, but there probably aren’t enough tissues in the world to get you through this one. Without spoiling much, Your Lie in April is a gushingly beautiful story about a boy who rediscovers his love of music after meeting a violinist named Kaori. The dialogue is beautifully written, often reminding me of listening to an NPR review. It’s as visually stunning to watch as it is a pleasure listen to, as many of the musical sequences are shown in a surrealist light. You’ll be enamoured, and you’ll probably come for me with a pitchfork once you finish.

One of my favorite things about anime, by far, is the absolute quantity of shows to watch. There truly is something out there for every viewer, regardless of interest. There are so many series and shorts I could mention here to get you started (or keep you going), but it’s just as fun to sit back and discover what’s out there for yourself. I personally love a good fantasy with a sprinkle of romance (and apparently female protagonists with bright red hair).  

William W. Purkey is often underquoted for writing, “You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching.” If there was any purpose in writing this piece at all, other than to fangirl about a handful of shows that I’ve been head over heels with, it’s that we need to love what we love without hesitation. If something as small or seemingly unimportant as anime brings a little more perk into my day, then why shouldn’t I indulge in an episode before bed? There’s a lot adult-Indigo would tell teenage-Indigo, but I’d definitely tell her to ignore the haters and follow her heart (…and that she’s missing out on a ton of good anime). 

Indigo Boock
“Rock On!”