in article 4215F1AF.83081DD@yahoo.co.jp, Eric Takabayashi at
etakajp@yahoo.co.jp wrote on 2/18/05 10:46 PM:

> Ernest Schaal wrote:
> 
>> in article 4214D322.DE6DF252@yahoo.co.jp, Eric Takabayashi at
>> etakajp@yahoo.co.jp wrote on 2/18/05 2:23 AM:
>> 
>>> Ernest Schaal wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I admit that some anime is good, especially Hayao Miyazaki, but most of it
>>>> is childish stuff that only an otaku or a Morning Musume fan could enjoy.
>>> 
>>> Then it is you who underestimate the range or storytelling quality of anime,
>>> and possibly manga, not appreciating both as valid alternatives to costly
>>> and
>>> time consuming live action film here in Japan. And live action shows and
>>> film
>>> in Japan are not much better on average.
>> 
>> No, I just realize that I am not in one of the two target audiences for
>> anime: the otaku (who tend to be losers with limited social skills) and the
>> Morning Musume fan (who tend to be preadolescent girls).
>> 
>> Some of it is amusing, but I wouldn't want a steady diet of it.
> 
> I wouldn't want a steady diet of any form of entertainment, including music or
> TV.
> 
> Then why don't you try to realize that the appeal of animation (or manga) in
> Japan is not limited to those two groups, nor is the subject matter limited to
> the kind of themes you object to? There used to be a period (I haven't checked
> the TV Guide ratings list in years) that the long running weekly "Sazae-san"
> was THE top rated show in Japan, with a viewership of just over 33%. Even the
> best of the trendy dramas would be fortunate to have a viewership of over 20%
> or in the teens. "Doraemon" is another modern classic which has been
> mentioned. Which of those two groups do they appeal to?

I agree that the occasional anime breaks out to reach a larger audience, but
the "target" audience of most anime is either the children's market or the
otaku market (teens or older, who get off on fantasizing about their
favorite cartoon characters).

"Doraemon" is an example of a children's program that reached a broader
audience, like the US "Toy Story" reached a broader audience.