how has getting older as a anime fan affected you?

I've been watching anime about as long as you have. I'm not sure if it's me getting older or if it's because of the volume of anime I've seen that have changed my perspective over the years. When I started out I only watched mystery shows and then seeped into all the other genres to the point now, I'll watch anything. An action thriller? Okay. A kid's cooking show? Why not. How about one about gay people even though I'm not gay? Go ahead, enlighten me.

The greatest thing I believe is seeing the evolution of anime. Watching how moe came to be. Understanding why incest subplots are so prevalent. Understanding the references and pastiches. Anime today is built upon the anime of the past. By seeing more you understand anime as a whole. Like a living organism.

You also start looking behind the scenes. You can pinpoint who directed what just from watching a single episode. You understand the economics behind what shows get green-lit and so on.

I picked up anime in about 5th grade. The first anime that I ever watched on my own was Shugo Chara, though I had seen bits and pieces of Death Note, Naruto, and Bleach from my older sister showing me things (that I ended up watching on my own when I got into anime).

The way it has effected me, I don't really see it as such a 'great' (in amount, not variety) way. It's small changes, I think.

It makes me take up a lot of time to watch anime and read manga. It influenced my drawing dramatically; where I used to draw potato people, I now draw human-looking people and I'm getting better. It has made me dramatically more open-minded and accepting; and it has influenced my 'likes' to say the least. It also has helped make some of my friendships better when I can relate with people about anime(:

I'm sure it's done more, but that's just all I can think of really.

Hmm well I've been watching anime for about 13 now. So since I was 5 basically.

As time went by I switched from Pokémon / Yu gi oh / Shaman king / DBz / Detective Conan etc. To Bleach / One Piece / pretty much all Shounen shows, but that didn't last long since it was only a matter of time since I started to hate that type of forced writing and not very deep plot. However that did not make me hate anime, but only made me love the good ones more, and switch to shows like Code Geass / Fullmetal alchemist brotherhood / Evangelion / Death Note.

So what am I on about anyway?

I believe that me growing up and also sticking with Anime for a long time has helped improve my thinking / writing and observing skills, as well as created some principles and ideals for me as a person, and it also created the idea of having standards for me, although that made me dislike many things that otherwise I would have loved, like Movies / Music and so on. Growing up with anime as a huge part of my life has caused all this which I believe was a positive change.

I don't really think it has. Though, I must say that the graphics and animation for anime has definitely gotten better. Storylines seem to stagnate with the same cliche and fanservice. Though it really hasn't affected me much cause I happen to like some fan service.

I've been watching anime for over 20 years. The first anime I watched was "Fist of the North Star", which to a kid, was way cool. Exploding heads? Shoot yeah. Didn't see that on Saturday morning cartoons. I have a MAL too but got lazy with putting in anime. I think I stopped last year. Making a list of all the anime I've watched in 20 years got REALLY REALLY boring.

Edit: Yep. sometime last year cause the last thing I did was put that I was watching Zettai Bouei Leviathan, which ending in July 2013. I've watched way more since last year. Guess I could always go in and fix it. Guess once a year isn't to bad.

Here is mine

http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Guardian_Chaos

It's changed what I like about anime, it used to just be about the action and slapstick comedy, but now it's more about the story and how much I like the characters

Before, I would hate just about every anime that I thought were "girly" like anime with lots of girls in the main cast, but now, I watch just about every kind of anime and I don't care for the genres (except for yaoi and shounen-ai, I stay away from those). If I didn't grow out of the phase where I liked nothing except shounen anime, I would've already given up watching anime long ago.

Been waching anime from since i was around 7 or 8 though during that time didnt know it was till i made my research resently. I am now 26 and i am have already graduated from a 3d animation school and now going to art school...... yea i think it affected me a little lol. Still watch them to this day and just like you because of my studies i judge it on a professional level such as story telling, animation quality, techniques use, colour. timing etc. Cant stand when they do 3d animation though, because my background is in 3d animation is annoying to not notice the lack of amount of poses not used or when they allow the Program to to do the animation. Just hate when the characters feel to robotic but i also know its not something you can do in a week with a small team. example "Berserk new movies/ova. the models and everything else were good but i couldnt watch it because how bad the animation was"

I dont think i have any attention of giving up on it, my taste might have change but still love to watch them anime. Also like to read them alot. I use anime as a form of insparation to especially for art..... well i rather watch artist on youtube like FZD but its what i like so i will stick to it no matter how old i get.

It hasn't really changed for me. I've been watching anime for 19 years and the only things that changed for me is I'm more into subs and think most dubs are horrible with their voice acting and more open about what anime I watch. I used to think sports anime is boring but now think it's interesting and funny

I like better stuff now. You should get all your shonen in by age 16 before it starts getting basic. Cowboy Bebop is the best plot in anime, FLCL is the best anime all around, Bakemonogatari is the second best. I also tend to avoid moe

now since it's just marketing/******** fan pandering that sells well. Yes, they're cute but that's not a story. That's why Bake is good, 10/10 characters and story. Most new anime is not good or smut so I rarely search for new anime.

Manga is better.

I like this question:)

Ive always watch Amine as a kid, back then it got harder to find an Anime that made me feel the way I used to.

Now a days i finding very good ones that are gonna build new memories!!!

To answer your question I like the new Anime genre even better then the old ones, New ones have ,better written story's, better graphics, More blood, More cursing.

I think is that like most drugs after while one would craved for something new, something that challenge you way of thinking, Like I started watching action, shounen anime, then move to other genres like ecchi, harems, that eventually move to slide of life, comedy, Romance, shoujo and from there I went to horror, thrillers, psychologic, etc... So I went from watching Dragon Ball, and Naruto all the way and beyond the Bakemonogatari series, Free!, My little sister can't be this cute, Magical Madoka, Violence Jack, ghost in the shell, etc.. those are like anime that I would turn down if I had started with them, but boy I am glad I got one of my comfort zone and ventured into new things......where was I going with this? Any way there are times when I want to watch them all and times when I want to distance myself for a while. Like a on and off relationship. And I have to say that if it wasn't for anime (and video games) there are so many I would not have try IRL.