The Rise of Popularity in Anime: From Edo to Current Day

Abstract

Abstract Anime has been relevant since the mid-1900s and has continued to grow in popularity. With this popularity, it has become more known and garnered more watchers overall. This study aims to look at factors that have led to the rise of popularity within the United States of this medium. The research method is based on using Google Forms to fit with the current COVID pandemic taking place at the time of this study. This research includes conversations from 108 peers. The individuals selected to participate in this research have been contacted via social media, personal interaction, and assistance from acquaintances to spread the essential questions. The rise in anime was assessed through the varying questions asked to garner an overall idea of the shows, genres, and fan interactions that appear relevant to each individual. The research question is: How has anime risen in popularity since coming to the United States? The significance of this study is to understand how anime has become more popular with many Americans allowing it to become commonplace with many individuals via genres, opportunity, and other such instances. Anime has risen due to the fans sharing the shows and creating works that garner interest from different people that previously did not look at the medium itself. Along with this push from the fans, the medium works as inspiration for other such shows, such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, which has allowed people to be introduced to the show itself. Keywords: anime, popularity