The Other Anime Problem

With COVID-19 still running rampant throughout the world, it is safe to assume that anything that people had planned to do in 2020 has been pretty much canceled. Unfortunately, with this worldwide pandemic, it puts a stress on not only medical staff and first responders, which I’m thankful to have a mother who’s a nurse. But outside of them, some unfortunate people have lost loved ones from this and if you are one of them I’m truly sorry and even though we may not know each other just know one thing and that’s we are all in this together, and I hope we can all help each other get through this.

Now with each day passing more and more shows, films, manga, and even games are being affected by COVID-19. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but usually, when you build up so much momentum from one season and have few OVAs or teaser videos put out there can’t even help them when your production is immediately halted. Some BIG names in anime series that have been suspended are Black Clover, The Promised Neverland Season 2, Digimon, One Piece, Pokémon, Sword Art Online, Re: ZERO Season 2 just to name a few. Some big names like Pokémon and SAO have the nostalgia factor going for them. So they probably won’t get affected by this, but if too much time passes, it can hurt even a great series because the hype may overshadow the show itself.

When it comes to overhyped anime series, it can and usually does damage the series itself. For example, One Punch Man Season One versus Season Two. It took four years for them to release season two, and while season one has is ranked in the top ten for any anime database website for popularity, the follow up isn’t even in the top seventy-five. Now it’s fair to say that perhaps the same amount of people didn’t watch the second season, but for whatever reason its not always in the best interest to wait an extradentary amount of time to come out with another season. Another example where this it actually works to their advantage is Attack on Titan, and I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of the franchise, but respect has to be given to them.

Attack on Titan Season One is usually ranked in the top three on any anime website for popularity, and season two that came out four years later is respectfully in the top fifty. While I’m not the biggest fan of the series, the publicity behind this series can’t be denied its respect for the Anime nor even the manga itself. While time does pass and these series didn’t have to wait to come out due to the virus, and perhaps they wouldn’t have done so well if they did.

When a huge part of the anime creators, artists, voice actors, and even writers aren’t able to work, then what happens to their art? I’m sure they’re working from home, but if no one can see all the hard work and love that goes into it until a later date, then what other series or movies that were going to get made got put on the back burner? That’s the other side of this anime problem that people may not realize, and it’s a dangerous thing in and of itself. Manga and Anime are continuing to grow throughout the world, and though this pause will give its viewers time to catch up on their “to be read” and “to be watched” lists, it also hurts the industry in ways outsiders can’t even imagine.

I hope that Japan will be able to find a solid ground to pick themselves up from and continue to hold the standard in Anime, but for this time being, I believe we all will hopefully respect the patience. We know that Anime isn’t a life and death form of entertainment, but we will continue to support an industry that brings us happiness. No matter how long it takes, we will wait and watch whatever they decide to release in the order that they feel is best, even though a few shows I was hurt by to hear got postponed (TPN, for example). The best thing we can do is help each other out and just be thankful for what we have and who we have in our life.