♪
[chuckles]
Actually this one, it's like:
♪ [lyrics in Japanese] ♪
Honestly, I don't know how I haven't done an episode
on anime yet.
It is literally everywhere.
I bet you if I open my TikTok or YouTube page right now,
there's probably a trending anime sound or AMVs on YouTube
being watched by people all over the world.
In this video, I got to talk to a Toronto cosplayer,
VickyBunnyAngel, about how she's been a lifelong
fan of anime.
So stay tuned for that interview.
Now let's get into it.
You may have seen social media blowing up about the new
Sailor Moon Eternal movie hitting Netflix in June.
All over social media platforms, like TikTok, Instagram,
and Twitter, Sailor Moon fans have been sharing their
reactions to the trailer.
They've also been comparing and contrasting the new movie's
visual treatments with the old series.
Or showing off their best Sailor Moon outfits.
[water gurgling]
But that's just the beginning.
Netflix subscribers are going to start to see a lot more anime
on the platform in the next coming months.
At Anime Japan's 2021 expo, Netflix announced that they are
going to be releasing 40 new anime titles.
Are Netflix executives just a bunch of secret anime fangirls
and fanboys?
Well, according to Bloomberg, in 2020, the worldwide anime market
was valued at:
And it's expect to go up to $36 billion by 2025.
I'm no market share expert, but I can see why Netflix wants in
on the anime game.
♪ ♪
Anime is an animation genre and style created in Japan.
Its origins can be traced to the early 1900s when Japan started
using animation in films and advertisements.
But the ball really got rolling in the 1950s when animation
studios became a thing and started producing popular mangas
into anime films and TV shows.
Then in the 1960s, Japanese anime content became repackaged
for a North American audience.
Since then, generation after generation of kids have been
drawn to anime.
From some of the big names in anime from the '90s,
like Sailor Moon and One Piece, to more recent animes
like My Hero Academia and Death Note, anime seems to be in it
for the long run.
♪ ♪
First off:
You heard me drop this term earlier because a lot of animes
are adapted from manga.
Manga is a Japanese comic style that is traditionally
black and white.
You might notice that you can't read this like a regular book.
Manga is actually supposed to be read right to left.
When you open it, it actually says,
"Hey, you're reading the wrong direction."
The second term is:
A dubbed anime is exactly the same as an original anime,
except the characters are voiced in a different language,
so that it appeals to more people around the world.
I've heard a lot debate about dubbed and sub.
I watched a dub, and everyone was like,
"Wow, she watched a dubbed.
Just read the subtitles."
Number three is AMV which stands for:
It's when fans put together clips from their favourite
animes and put music on top of it.
Number four is kawaii which is the Japanese term for "cute".
- ♪ ♪ - [laughs]
Number five is weeb or otaku which basically means that you
are a diehard anime fan.
But it's important to note that "otaku" is actually a derogatory
word in Japanese, and "weeb" has been used to make fun of people
who love anime, so be careful how you use these words
because they can be hurtful.
Number six is:
Cosplay actually comes from the two words "costume" and "play."
You wear a costume and you play the character.
Lots of anime fans cosplay their favourite characters.
And not going to lie, they are pretty bold.
Speaking of cosplay, let's jump into the interview
with VickyBunnyAngel.
How did you get into cosplaying, and when did you start?
Well, I got into cosplay nearly half of my life ago,
so you can guess how old I am [laughs].
I started in high school, and I went to Anime North
in Toronto--that was my very first convention,
and I didn't really know that not dressing up wasn't
an option.
I just knew that people dressed up to go to these conventions.
You know, when I got to the convention,
I met so many people who had the same interest as me,
and it was just really, really exciting.
I think as a teenager, it's really important to find people
who like understand you and have the same interests as you, and
finding that sense of belonging I think is what everyone wants.
Why do you think anime has like an appeal to like so many
generations and it's like ongoing?
It's always reinventing itself.
So anime is just so broad, right?
There's so many genres.
There's absolutely something for everybody.
The stories themselves and the way I think Japanese animation
depicts narrative and the way they animate is just
so beautiful and different from what we're used to usually here
in the west that I think we just naturally gravitate
towards that.
Netflix is actually working on adding more anime titles
to their like streaming platform, and as an anime fan,
what do you think about that?
Well, as an anime fan, I'm actually really excited
that Netflix is going to be expanding or thinking--at least
expanding their offering of anime programming.
As we all know, Netflix has become such a powerhouse
for content and programming, and they really do have the funding
to take more risks, so they can really bring to life
new stories.
For anime fans, is there anything to gain or lose
from anime becoming like more mainstream?
I'm always of the opinion that it's not bad when there are
more people who like what you like.
And as someone who did grow up when anime was very,
very scarce, and it wasn't something you could just easily
turn on, like the computer and watch whenever you wanted,
we had to get really creative with finding anime.
And there also wasn't as much choice.
Whereas now, you literally have whole libraries online that you
could pick from.
Also, there's merchandise now, so you could buy Funko puffs,
you can buy boardgames based off of your favourite anime,
you can buy clothing now.
It's like--it's a great time to be an anime fan, I think.
Do you have any advice to kids or teens who are wanting to get
into cosplay or just starting cosplay?
I would say just jump right in.
There's a lot of good websites you could start off with if you
just want to see if dressing up is for you.
You can buy a lot of costumes online now,
really good quality ones.
And if you are more of the handy type of person and you want to
try sewing, then I definitely think you should try taking up
a sewing class once in a while, or maybe watching
some YouTube tutorials.
You can learn a lot on YouTube nowadays.
Would you rather be an anime protagonist or antagonist?
VickyBunnyAngel: That is such a good question.
I would rather be an antagonist because I think they get
the best designs.
They do.
They get--the villains, honestly,
get the coolest outfit.
Would you rather go to Karasuno High School from Haikyu!!
or the U.A. from My Hero Academia?
Hands down U.A.
Can you tell I wanna be a superhero [laughs]?
Last question:
Would you rather be a Pokémon trainer or a Super Saiyan?
VickyBunnyAngel: Pokémon trainer.
Because who doesn't want to surround themselves
with cute Pokémon?
I love it.
I play--I used to play so much Pokémon GO.
Yeah.
I would in a heartbeat have all of my babies with me [laughs].
Yes.
♪ [lyrics in Japanese] ♪