I’ve always been fascinated by animation in general and it’s way to create worlds that could normally exist only in imagination. Even in a realistic setting, by using a particular art style, they can create a unique mood or tone.
As far as why I tend to have more appreciation for anime than other types of animation, it just seems like the Japanese have more respect for the medium and are willing to take on more varied topics. As far as culture & philosophy are concerned, it’s not unusual for me to encounter ideas I don’t actually agree with, but that doesn’t keep me from finding it interesting or entertaining.
Finally, in regards to my current obsession with anime (probably to a degree that’s not entirely healthy for me :P) Without getting into details the past couple years of my life haven’t been pleasant ones. My initial motivation for getting back into anime was probably largely nostalgia & escapism. But to my surprise I keep encountering topics that really resonate with where I’ve been recently. I could give numerous examples of individual episodes or scenes, but I think the best illustration is a recent series called My Roommate is a Cat which deals with coping with grief after the death of one’s parents as an adult. But also the awkwardness/stress/annoyance of social interactions when you’re a natural introvert. And in that respect I find it therapeutic to interact online with people I have a common interest with.
Thanks for your patience if you made it all the way to the end.