[Psychological and Emotional Aspects] I like that psychological aspect with tons of emotion. Now, this is not to be mistaken for mind fucks, because I don’t really enjoy those as much. I’m not trying to get a degree in bullshitting in order to like certain anime. I like symbolism and hidden messages and try to look for them, though I am not very good at doing so and sometimes rely on friends or the internet. I’m talking about the sad endings and the emotional breakdowns of characters. Those are what really get to me.
[Heartwarming Stories] The heartwarming stories are something I enjoy because it makes me like anime and the world. However, I am not a sap and no forced emotions will get to me. They need to be more on the pure side. I enjoy the stories of building friends, overcoming everyday obstacles, finding love and growing up. What I love more are children in anime, not the ecchi but, the cute children that learn about the world slowly or are taken care of by responsible adults. This also includes the true slice of life stories and not the “cute girls do cute things” kind of anime. Those are the things that feel very heartwarming and nice to watch.
[Strong Female Characters] The strong female characters have always been appealing to me ever since I overdosed on shonen action. I crave for them and I may stick around and watch a show just because they exist. I am not talking about muscular strong but a strong presence. They are witty, intelligent, take the initiative and learn from their mistakes. They are not cardboard cutouts but far from it. They are the types of characters you might see in some of the better Josei demographic type anime and manga.
[Comedy] Comedy in the anime and manga industry is usually a hit or miss, in most cases the latter. This is due to the heavy references and word play that seems to be popular in Japanese comedy. This, of course, makes it remarkably hard for anyone who does not know the language or has not grown up in a Japanese environment to understand the jokes. I try to avoid these kinds of shows because I will simply be wasting my time.
[The Weak Protagonist] The weak protagonist or “everyday” protagonist does not appeal to me because he is nothing like the everyday guy. He does not have lusts, goals, shame, wits, or respect. He is a empty of everything that makes a human being. How can someone relate to that? How does that make the show interesting to watch?
[Main Antagonist] The weak antagonist is also something I absolutely cannot stand. What makes a great antagonist is his or her ability to use wit to get what they want and to have a goal that is somewhat relatable or understandable. They are able to question what is right and what is wrong. They are able to go beyond the boundaries that humanity has set for them and question aspects of philosophy, religion and everyday norms.
[Ecchi] For me, ecchi is not the amount of times boobs and panties flashed on the screen but rather how far the anime or manga is willing to go with its words and actions without making it into explicit sex. In other words, how much foreplay is there and is it able to get to you?
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