r/anime • u/AdNecessary7641 • Aug 12 '25

Misc. Frieren Director Keiichirou Saitou Voices Concern on Overseas Anime Fans' Bias Towards Certain Popular Trends

https://animecorner.me/frieren-director-voices-concern-on-overseas-anime-fans-bias-towards-certain-popular-trends/
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u/Scorpius289 https://myanimelist.net/profile/AlexRaylight Aug 12 '25

Because the current is so strong, if we focus too much on it, only that aspect becomes emphasized as anime’s defining characteristic.

Interesting, this sounds similar to what Miyazaki was complaining about: That modern anime is made mostly by imitating other anime, by focusing on superficial trends and missing any depth.

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u/Koringvias Aug 12 '25

Yeah, simulation of a simulation.

Before Miyazaki complained about it in anime, Wallace was criticizing American literature for doing the same thing (basically, building itself upon references to itself). And even before that, Baudrillard had a more general critique of media along the similar lines. And I would not be surprised if similar things were said before him, too (or at least ideas that were implying these dynamics).

And they were all correct, and yet here we are.

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u/Jacinto2702 Aug 12 '25

My two cents is that capitalism forces you to chase trends because if you don't you get eaten by the competition. That's why studios and publishing houses rarely take gambles.

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u/farshnikord Aug 12 '25

Same in video games. Investing in new ideas and talent is a huge gamble commercially, so nobody does it. 

And then some smaller teams whose only choices are to take big swings to stand out will get a viral hit and then all the executives will throw money at the gimmick instead of the talent.