UlasanAnime.com – In 2013, the landscape of anime viewing for English-speaking audiences saw a notable increase in the availability and consumption of short-form anime. While not a brand new phenomenon, these shorter series, often overlooked in favor of longer, more mainstream productions, gained traction due to greater accessibility.
The author reflects on watching “gdgd Fairies” in late 2012, which coincided with the release of its second season in the winter of 2013. This led to an exploration of similar short anime such as “Straight Title Robot Anime,” “Teekyuu,” “Yama no Susume,” “Aiura,” and “Ishida & Asakura.” Additionally, web shorts like “Inferno Cop” and “Turning Girls” were part of this viewing trend, indicating a significant consumption of anime shorts throughout the year.
The article points out that short anime has existed for a long time, and while the number of such productions may have increased, it hasn’t been an explosive growth. However, for English-language viewers, more short anime became available, leading to increased engagement. These shows often don’t receive the same level of attention or fan-subbing efforts as typical TV anime, making them less likely to be watched by a wider international audience.
The author humorously notes the dedication required to fansub shows like “gdgd Fairies” or “Teekyuu,” and the specific type of person needed to translate something like “Straight Title Robot Anime.”
In contrast, the appeal of “Aiura” is more readily understood, with the author alluding to elements like “king crabs, the iPhone, and teenage girls’ legs” as potential reasons for its popularity, suggesting that further explanation is unnecessary.
The core issue highlighted is that due to their brevity and perceived lack of impact, these short anime often go undiscussed. While some shorts certainly “packed a punch” and exceeded expectations, the general sentiment is that their short format prevents them from generating significant buzz. The author suggests that this might simply be the nature of short-form anime.
You might also be interested in : Review Tahunan 2013: Pengantar
Year in Review 2013 Index:
- Introduction
- Shorts
- Literacy
- Figures
- New World Disorder
- Love Lab
- iM@S
- N-list
- Signs from a Mermaid
