My Journey to Otaku: How My Hero Anime Changed Everything
When I first started diving into the vast world of anime, it was through a single gateway that truly transformed my perspective. Like many of you, my entry point wasn't necessarily what you might expect. It all began with Naruto, but it was through My Hero Academia that my love for anime blossomed into a full-fledged otaku lifestyle.
The Gateway to Anime: My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia was the first anime I actively sought out, despite my initial lack of knowledge about the broader world of manga and anime. At the time, I was a fringe enthusiast, what some might call a non-weeb. However, my English teacher and a few friends introduced me to this gem just as we were transitioning into the 7th grade.
The year 2020 was a significant turning point. With my academic performance in question, a move to Tennessee opened up a new chapter. This period marked the beginning of my serious engagement with My Hero Academia.
I had to resort to using Crunchyroll without an ad-blocker and without a premium subscription. The experience was far from ideal, but I managed to use an intro skipper extension to catch up rather quickly. Watching it in the middle of the night, I was often blissfully unaware that my mother was snooping around.
The Allure of the Fans
While it might seem that anime or manga fans, especially those of My Hero Academia, can be quite loud and sometimes considered eccentric, it's important to remember that we are all weebs. Our passion should be celebrated, not stigmatized. The fandom might look bad on the surface, but the weirdest fans aren't the only ones in the group.
Like many of you, I’ve dabbled in a range of genres, from shoujo ramune to Schmentai to even a re-do of Healer. It’s crucial to embrace all kinds of interests, as long as they're genuine and from the heart.
Digging Deeper into Anime
As a child in the 90s, I was familiar with a variety of shows, including Pokemon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Beyblades, and Naruto. Cartoon Network's Toonami was my primary source for anime back then. While not all were mainstream, I did catch a few lesser-known gems like Get Backers, Sorcerer Stabber Orphan, Dark Angel, and Samurai Champloo.
It wasn't until middle school that I came across some broader anime channels. Unfortunately, one channel that I missed out on completely has since shut down, leaving me to wonder what I might have discovered.
For me, Tokyo Ghoul and Danganronpa played a significant role in cementing my love for anime. However, they came later in my journey. Bayblade, Bakugan, and Pokemon were the primary shows I watched as a kid, the only options available on the limited TV channels.