My Disconnect With American Dramas (vs. Anime)

[@elronman]

fresh prince of Belair is slice of life just let that sink in

[@TheMiddleMan56]

Well duh. Will Smith was best girl. Though like a certain basement dwelling youtuber said, Cory in the House is and will always remain the best SoL anime of all time

[@volbla]

WHEN A COUPLE OF GUYS WHO WERE UP TO NO GOOD

[@ProxyDoug]

Bitch, don't even start, Carlton was best girl period.

[@Knight_Astolfo]

+Douglas Rosa Geoffry was bae

[@doctoreggnog6644]

I'd call it a sitcom. Sitcoms just naturally tend to have a bit of slice of life in them, Seinfeld being the best example.

[@khimeraQ]

My main problem with Western TV shows is that unlike animation, a lot of cinematography and camera placement in your average western show is incredibly boring. A lot of shows feel like it's just following the characters around and listening to conversation after conversation expecting the actors to fill out the time for them, and a lot of times just leaves a boring looking visual. It also doesn't help that a lot of shows don't try to have an aesthetic and just try and be in the real world, and I don't find that interesting at all. Visual communication and style is what really draws me to animation, and anime brings that and the interesting premises that I also enjoy.

[@themaster2851998]

khimeraQ Sounds like you would enjoy Hannibal

[@deadspacemasseffect]

Watch Hannibal,Band of Brothers and Breaking Bad

[@Son-of-Baghdad]

you should watch Breaking Bad, Mr Robot, Utopia, Legion, Fargo, True Detective and Better Call Saul.

[@DariusVladimirAuditore]

I really feel the same, and even though there are shows that do interesting cinematography like True Detective or weird crazy ideas like Mr Robot, I have to say that when it comes to most procedural police dramas or medical dramas, most of them have boring cinematography. Like I cannot stand the boring and drab setting of a hospital and the only reason I watch Doctor House is because of the titular character. It feels like HBO was the only one pushing for TV series to be at the same level as feature films in terms of production value and cinematography, and make that the standard.

[@joseph0098]

I really understand your opinion and kinda agree. Though I think that the reason of that visual style in western shows is because they want a "realistic" portrayal of real life and westerners feel that if you put artistically beautiful shots then the show would look to unrealistic. While I haven't watched many western shows I did watch the first 3 seasons of Breaking Bad and I think that the boring look is kinda justified since it wants to portray the "unglamorous" life of drug dealing. Also modern western shows and films are waaay more focused on telling stories with acting rather than looking at interesting forms on how to tell visually a story. I think it's a matter of taste since good directing isn't just pretty shots from my understanding.

[@toadboy7493]

I'd fucking kill to see Digi do a TED talk about anime in front of an audience of old white blue collared people.

[@HannibalHanslaughter]

vladroxyoursox omg yes that would be amazing

[@volbla]

A jug of booze hanging from his belt.

[@diegoantoniorosariopalomin4977]

vladroxyoursox Ted talks is shit

[@nickharper9181]

@vladroxyoursox I never knew i needed this. It would only work if he had the pajama bottoms, bath robe, sunglasses, and a stool to place his beer and/or vape which he would randomly partake in through out lol hopefully it would be like 2 hours long

[@Idontknowimhigh420]

Id love for digi to do the same thing to a group of blue collared BLACK people, cuz you know... apprently they are diffrent from white people other then their skin, biggot ass people

[@JuliesFailLog]

"I watch Romance shows to get jealous" I relate to thiiiiis

[@oklanime]

same, though it's really ecchi haram shows that get me extremely jealous.

[@eruno_]

I watch romance because I like romance

[@garak55]

Relatable.

[@lmaAsian]

SAME

[@drago3036]

lol, me too XD

[@buuburn7]

i don't necessarily think that anime is free from guilt of following common progressions. Most anime is very direct and basic in its storytelling with the more complex shows being hard to break from a niche appeal. It can be a bother for most anime to always tell, don't show for people. Anime definitely has more ideas though, which is honestly its saving grace. Early 2000s anime do this masterfully, as there is a ton of awesome lost shows in that era. They feel like novels almost.

[@TheMiddleMan56]

More recent animes are even more like this. They feel even more like novels. Except lighter. Like some sort of..... lightweight novellas?

[@KeeBlade]

I think Digi is moreso referring to good anime vs. good western stuff and leaving the more trashy, tropey stuff from either category alone for this discussion.

[@ripdot1904]

The main difference between Japanese and American narrative shows is how they go about having a point. Japanese shows seem to start off with a central idea, and then structure the characters and plot around reinforcing that core idea. American shows, meanwhile, seem to structure themselves around individual characters and moments, and allow the ultimate meaning to come as a side effect of these things.

[@buckwade3874]

Very fascinating. It sounds as though I might prefer the Japanese way, as it seems more focused.

[@MrBattlestar10]

What's more focused about the japanese method, buck?

[@buckwade3874]

+MrBattlestar10 Um...Aidan T literally pointed that out.

[@duckfilms5812]

Aidan T man, you are so correct

[@danielap295]

Either way, more focused doesn't automatically mean better. Both methods have their pros and cons.

[@LimeyLassen]

Digi is a vampire. After centuries of watching American television he's desperate to feel something, anything, even if only for a fleeting moment. Also, he never goes outside.

[@ravyntrahan7942]

Limey Lassen except television hasn’t been around that long. Maybe media instead

[@erilaz7449]

You hit this one on the bulls-eye. I would add that there is probably a difference in taste/ plus subject matter covered as well. One of the things that drew me to the medium was the fact that anime covered some ideas that were either to strange, or to sensitive to be made in another industry. Also, animation makes it easier to sell certain visuals that would be immersion breaking in live-action (imagine the more out there parts of evangelion in hollywood style live action).

[@trindrf4901]

"anime covered some ideas that were either to strange, or to sensitive to be made in another industry" Not really, there are lots of movies that cover strange, and taboo subject matter, but they're mostly obscure and arthouse stuff. And anime is definitely unique, some things just cant be translated to live-action, but you can't say that live-action is less unique. You probably haven't watched more movies and/or tv shows if you think so.

[@erilaz7449]

I have watched an unhealthy amount of both, and anime definitely has the highest concentration of strange/progressive/fashy content, no if, and, or but about it. Japanese media does not seem to be cowed by either the right or left, and I admire them for that. You probably have not watched that many animoo/cantonese cave-paintings if you hold such plebish views.

[@djinn666]

How many American shows or movies portray brother-sister incest in a positive light, the way Ore no Imouto (and a dozen other shows) does? How many have protagonists you'd look down on, the way you'd look down on Satou from Welcome to the NHK? How many have an all female cast the way Aria or Nanoha does? How many shows even pass the Bechdel test? I can't think of a single scene in any American show that's as weird and fucked up as the toothbrush scene from Bakemonogatari, and that's not even all that weird by anime standards.

[@erilaz7449]

This guy gets it.

[@trindrf4901]

Vathek Well i admit that i haven't watched enough of either to know, and if you're talking about the "concentration" of weird and unique animes compared to live-action, then i would agree. But you said it as a whole, so unless i watched everything then i won't ever know nor agree. And since you have watched alot of both, what would be the anime equivalent of Salò and Begotten. I haven't watched both but i'm curious and plan to.

[@Thegigachad248]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a better written and more intellectually sound show than any anime or live-action show ever made. It transcends all types of art. Or at least, that's what ThatAnimeSnob told me.

[@francie3169]

and he's right

[@papasinthehouse483]

RavegousHermage Except *HACKSAW RIDGE*

[@BFpro156]

Nah, its just blah blah blah. K-On is a better show

[@Thegigachad248]

I agree. K-On is objectively better than LOGH.

[@buckwade3874]

From my understanding of ThatAnimeSnob, his principles on what good writing is, appears to (my impressions) be basic and static; made worse by how he doesn't appear to consider directing, and presentation to be very important.

[@Zarkly15]

Huh.. I'm in deep thought about this. I do watch, read, communicate, and dive more into the anime community a lot more than Western shows. You know, the typical weeb that follows the news of the anime world, etc. However I also have no problem when it comes to Western shows. I still end up getting hooked just as much as anime. I just don't cross the two worlds together, I don't try to put them on the same paper like compare or contrast. Western shows has a different place I go to in my mind while the same for anime, it's just I tend to lean more on that. I still enjoy Western shows a lot like those respectable ones you mentioned, also comedy shows such as The Office, Sunny in Philadelphia, etc. So I'm in luck to be able to enjoy both worlds. :'D Just thought I'd give my thoughts on this.

[@cvs_en]

Zarkly yeah people are dumb af usually. Let's take my gf for example.She "hates" anime.But I easaly got her hooked on Baccano!,Erased(not overly proud of this one,but seemed fun at the time),Katanagatari and for a person who had the anime=dbz mindset I got her to see and love Magi,Bonguo stray dogs and now Fate Zero.It may not seem like much but I think I did a good job.What I wanted to say is that bouth worlds have shitty run of the mill generic shows and great shows.Why get stuck on "muh western tv shows" or "muh animu" when both have some great things that can be seen and enjoyed.

[@cdshop1301]

holy fuck now i realize that I don't watch Digibro After Dark for the well constructed points, I come for the atmosphere and mood of Digi. You've become an anime

[@hollyhandgrenade42]

My disconnect is very similar. I have a hard time watching live action because I can see through the artifice of it all. I can see that those are real people standing in-front of a camera. But with animation, there are no assumptions of reality allowing me to invest into the verisimilitude easier.

[@Trixiethegoldenwitch]

This is also a great and often overlooked point.

[@TheCorreDiego]

So you have it easier accepting that a series of drawings and voices are people rather than real people in live action? That's interesting.

[@LuckyBastard12345]

TheCorreDiego Its less that but more with animation its their own world and you actually feel that, meanwhile with live action after the actors are done with a scene they go out of their characters.

[@LuckyBastard12345]

Digibro Hey digi do you feel the same with western cartoons

[@nothing2069]

Alpharius im am the exact same way. thats why with live action i find nothing funny at all it feels so force and fake. but with anime i laugh all the time

[@Taka_Sakagami]

I've always said the key difference is that western shows exist spending lots of time while capturing the biggest audience. Anime spend less time while focusing on smaller audiences. I prefer the niche thing. I can get sucked into a weirdly specific idea or story as long as it is filled with passion. That's why I also enjoy documentaries.

[@NickonPlanetRipple]

"I liked the show, but nobody died." Wait... THAT'S something people complain about? What the hell? Can't people just enjoy a nice story without constantly wondering who's going to be killed off next? I get it that people like tension, they like the risk of the characters they follow being in danger, and if they're never in danger, they go "Well, why am I watching if I know the heroes are going to be okay?" Well gee, I don't know, maybe because you actually LIKE those characters? Hm? Maybe like them enough to want to keep them around and see more of them? Ever tried enjoying something that way? Holy crap...

[@jd7507]

NickonAquaMagna It actually happens, i know a guy who tends to prefer shows were a lot of people die (no matter how shitty it might actually be) of course i find that kind of moronic.

[@NickonPlanetRipple]

It gets really repetitive in these shows. Like, they'll introduce a character, and they'll be so frail and dainty you just KNOW that character won't last more than 2-3 episodes, so why waste energy growing attached to them? Why bother empathizing with them when they're abruptly killed off if that was their only role in the story? It's asinine.

[@jd7507]

NickonAquaMagna Besides i also tell him that way too many deaths generate cheap drama and gets pridictable.

[@rafaelandrade7627]

Nick on Planet Ripple i don't have a problem with characters not dying. What annoys me is when a show/movie/any piece of media goes for a fake death. One piece does that sometimes with supporting characters, like Pell for example. Him being alive only diminishes his sacrifice and the impact of the scene. If he were to contribute to the story in some way, maybe i could understand it. But so far, more than 600 chapters later, he hasnt done shit.

[@SarenthDricten]

I come at it from the opposite point of view. The problem I see in anime is one of stakes and power creep. A lot of (especially shonen) anime start off with very clear simple rules on how their world is supposed to work and then as the anime unfolds those rules are broken time and time again. I think it has less to do with the plot moving really well or deaths not being under a certain quota, and more to do with the narrative stakes being totally gone by the time we get even a quarter of the way through a long-form show.

[@Fadinano96]

Really love that you responded with this video, in terms of youtubers who talk about anime you're my favorite because your thoughts and opinions about anime is not only exactly like mine, but far more advanced in terms of how you explain it due to your vast knowledge about anime.

[@jimmeh9784]

I've always approached all mediums in the same way; I love all of the my favorite books, tv series, comics, films, anime series, paintings, and albums for the same reasons. All of them demonstrate a certain level of skill (e.g literary techniques, gripping narrative, animation, drawing, brush strokes, musicianship), atmosphere, feeling, exploration of themes, and of course doing all of these things in a unique or creative way. I guess I'm lucky that I've never had a disconnect with any one type of media, because I love The Godfather part 2 just as much as I love My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or Mad Men or Evangelion; all of them are equally fulfilling.

[@OdaNobunaga15]

I know this comment was six years ago, but it’s nice too see some likeminded people.

[@TheGamersCookie]

been waiting for you to do a video discussing American TV, couldn't really explain why I can't thoroughly enjoy American TV to my friends and this video definitely helped me better understand my perspective on American TV as a anime watcher

[@drago3036]

TheGamersCookie same here :v

[@ThumbWar2012]

Hearing this perspective on how the mood and feeling mattera really brought me back to Madoka Magicka. I thought about how the mood seemed very lighthearted at first, and then that moment when it suddenly twists and the feeling changes. That's something I feel like that show played off very well. Looking back, you can definitely see hints, but I feel like in the first viewing it comes out of left field for the viewer which was pretty fantastic.

[@kingaliyah3602]

i think my biggest hurdle when it comes to anime is more of a budget thing i think all visual storytelling (film tv & anime) relies on the illusion of movement and so often i find that illusion being broken in anime series and that really pulls me out of a show which is why when i mostly list my favorite anime things its mostly films because they tend to have a larger budget.

[@kingaliyah3602]

at the same time though the one thing i do appreciate in anime is the absolute rejection of realism in most anime

[@albachan7014]

i think anime shines more when It is a original project rather than a adaptation of manga or novels. like envangelion, flcl, cowboy bebop Code geass.

[@thevioletbee5879]

Code Geass? I mean, it's a fun show to watch ironically, but... A genuinely good show?

[@Chidon0]

@@thevioletbee5879 it has some good parts.

[@leonnewkirk1713]

I feel ya. For some reason I was always drawn more to an anime than to a western drama. I think my disconnect might be related to the use of animation itself because, in my opinion, there's a whole new avenue of the ideas and imagination you can explore.

[@toddgreener]

I think this is one of the best points you've ever made.

[@dannykazari]

I couldn't agree more with you Digi! When I go into anime I go in for completely different things than when I watch a Western live action show.

[@ZweihanderSteve]

I've been watching The Expanse at the request of a friend because I talked about Planetes and you just helped clear my head as to why I was not having that much fun. They are both, more or less, hard sci-fi but Planetes had a lot more personality to it in terms of its characters and setting. It set out to tell a story about how the Space Age isn't like Battlestar Galatica or Star Trek. The Expanse fells like a shows where they have a bunch of faces that just create drama and flow with it. Hell, I can't remember a single name from Expanse but I can list off every person who stepped in the Toybox. Although this all comes from my own lack of articulation, this video was extremely enlighting Digi. Really helped me understand why I like certain pieces media when compared to others that on the surface seemed so alike.

[@Well_Meaning]

"I watch romance shows to feel jealous." Too real my dude, too real

[@allansantos1615]

I think I like both equally. But I do agree that live action tv is much less diverse, it's basically just either a comedy or a drama. With anime you can expect all sorts of crazy ridiculous shit (which is a good thing). I think the [north american] tv industry is much to blame, they won't pick a show unless if fits their tired formulas. People like weird shows too, there is a bunch of weird stuff that it's popular in British tv for example, but the american industry is not willing to give a chance to most of them. Another giant downside for live action to me is that is too much of an investment to watch them. They're aimed to go as long as they make money, so most of them end up dragging until they become shit. You wasted years following a story for a disappointing payoff. Closed stories always work much better.

[@doesntmatter4136]

I can't even describe how much I enjoyed that interview. Life is fucking great.

[@frenci97xp]

I just wrote this comment on the video you replied to, but since I'd really want answers to this questions, I'll try copy paste it here as well. why do people think that a background drawing is so much less expensive than the drawing of a face moving it's mouth? I can assure you from experience that drawing a mouth and eyes opening and closing takes way less effort and time than drawing a background. *whispering* also why are we comparing animated features to live action? it's like comparing a painting to a photo.

[@juanpabloortiz1547]

My biggest reason for overall prefering anime and manga is just that those are the only mediums that are allowed to do ANYTHING. Do I want over the top battles that still feel smart and tactical? Jojo. Do I want a symbolical series of depression or anxieties that still has amazing fight scenes? Evangelion. This are the types of shows that only this mediums are ballsy enough to do. And while anime does mostly only feel as teen wish fulfillments, the mature shows like Berserk can easily compare with something like Game of Thrones (I would kill to see a debate or comparison between those two). "Western TV" just cannot present anything remotely similar to the Monogatori series which is a shame, because you just waste a new and artistic way to present your own artistic view. Western TV limits itself with what it can show and present mostly because the companies know that they would appear like a sore thumb to the general public, while anime simply won't give a shit since it can try to show whatever it wants to show, and godammit it might go to any means to get its point made.

[@buckwade3874]

Anime a lot of times feels like a big, "fuck you" to basic principles of what good storytelling is, which makes sense, given that many anime are adapted from manga written by independent writers. Jojo especially says, "fuck you". Why are there 19 year olds with insane muscles? Because, "fuck you, it looks fabulous".

[@Wuffskers]

I think this might go back to the video digi did on the why good anime is hard to make thing. Anime focuses more on very devoted niche appeal rather than widespread acclaim for the most part. Anime isn't trying to have an Game of Thrones viewership, just enough people dedicated to it to make it money. When you aren't aiming for more broad appeal it encouraged a bit more out there experimentation. Experimentation when targeting a broad audience can work but is much more risky, which is why if a show wants broad appeal, they typically keep experimentation to a minimum.

[@rodney2x48]

The only thing there you wont find in cinema or TV like in anime is lolis. Milfs and hot teenagers are still a thing in mainstream media in the West.

[@jonsnor4313]

Not true, anime can portrait supernatural stuff better physically, due to the medium more unrealistic. and. But there are ballsy western shows who are more ore less successfull, depending on the execution. Have an evil protagonist, Walter while becomes evil. Screw it, have fun, legends of tomorrow. Game of thrones tells that too. Canada has some of them like killjoys, lost girl who are ballsy. Battlestar is a gigantic humans are terrible drama, similar to evangelion i would say.

[@luna1515]

You are a very well spoken person. To think that this video is unscripted and you're just talking from the top of your head yet you hit the nail on the head..just wow, you're my inspiration and motivation !

[@DocChutney]

Yoh yoshinari is my hamboi, I'll have to check that interview out. Great points as per usual digi I'm happy that you got me thinking about this topic I probably wouldn't have considered it without this video.

[@volbla]

That... is a strange disconnect to feel. I find it particularly strange to "see the machine" when it comes to Game of Thrones, because that series is so big on going directly against conventional storytelling just for the sake of it. It builds up several characters as main protagonist/antagonist only to abruptly kill them off, because fuck audience expectations. I guess that too is a dramatic trick, but so is everything, and at that point i am personally not analyzing the structure of the show. I am caught up in the story and my own expectations. I relate more to Gbay. I remember that scene at the end of Shirobako when Aoi cries. No one is in words explaning why what's happening is important, but we understand why it's important because of our history with the characters. We have learned about their struggles and what they value. I think subtler drama like that is something that most anime is missing. There is a lot of reliance on dialogue and in-your-face obvious drama, rather than building up the character motivation and letting that speak for itself. "Showing", as it were. Maybe this is an unfair interpretation, but i want to translate your point into you being so familiar with Hollywood story structure that it distracts you from even a well made show, and anime _doesn't care as much about being great drama,_ so you can more easily appreciate the things it does care about.

[@nostoppa100]

This is probably one of your best videos I can connect with as I struggle to watch american shows.

[@shootingstarmax8778]

This video made me realize something. Maybe I like anime telling me stuff through characters stating their opinions is because the anime itself is just a prompting a big discussion for the viewer. They have differentiation of opinions on the theme or idea through their characters which shows their understanding of as many views of the theme or idea. The characters present the different sides, however the anime is itself is trying make their own stance through the narrative. What they do is try to get the audience to think about the topic and agree with their perspective. Using Fate/Zero as an example, Saber represents idealism, Rider represents joy in the journey and Archer represents supreme superiority. Those are three distinct views however the narrative treats Saber's idealism likes trash and makes Rider's larger than life approach more appealing to follow and Archer is plainly satisfied with whatever. Which suggests it is better to live like Rider or Archer. Through the discussion in the show it prompts me to have my own discussion with my self over the concept but the show is acting like another person within the discussion. I other words it prompts me to think more than western shows.

[@eruno_]

I like both Western live-action and anime. It's very different and enjoyable in different ways.

[@zUweebTripleA]

Yah i agree. I haven't found a way to put these similar thoughts in my head into words until i saw this video. People would always ask me why i enjoy anime so much more then western films and i would be all over the place describing things

[@kueller917]

I like how you kinda append LOGH as being expository heavy. I'm sure the characters in that spent more time commenting on their actions than actually doing them. But for maybe similar reasons to the points you made here, that really made me fall in love with the series more.

[@DJVulpus]

Your description of the 'systems' in Western TV (or HBO/cable dramas) might be why Transparent and Horace and Pete are the only Western shows I've been excited about for a while

[@DJVulpus]

Black Mirror's success makes me very happy though

[@TexTalksSometimes]

To say that western shows are more about technique and eastern shows are more about general mood is such a simple truth but so elegantly sums it all up. Extremely well said dude, I'm starting to find your blogs more insightful than your actual main channel videos.

[@therealpizzagirl]

Digibro for president.

[@ThatCreeNative1]

The real pizza boy fuck no

[@Epicrandomness1111]

There's no reason to say There's no reason to say president

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

There's no reason to continue this forced meme

[@therealpizzagirl]

m a d ?

[@Knight_Astolfo]

David fucking king did someone say forced meme!?

[@poposao1]

So what I can gather from popular opinion and from this video is that Anime have a much larger array of interesting and wierd premises and more space to "take risks" though it still falls to the trappings of it's own industry culture (bad adaptations, audience predictablility, inconsistent direction or budgeting). Meanwhile, western media, especially in the modern dramas , have fallen victim to it's surroundings by following similar story beats and formats that soly depend on the premise to engage, since most of the cast is written to be dark and jaded...cinicism is the theme on the West. None of them is without blame and viewer fatigue is understandable.

[@norbicsek]

Wow it was super weird to hear you actually closing the video and not just stopping abruptly when you were done with your thoughts.

[@Michneko]

I feel that. I talked with a friend that also watches the current season about Little Witch Academia, he told me that the show is boring cause there isn't enough "story". What I immediately thought was that this show isn't about the story but about the feeling and atmosphere it gives you but he didn't get it.

[@coffeefrog]

Would you please consider doing a formal video expanding on this topic? It's very interesting and relatable to many people yet hard to put into words, and I bet you could accomplish that.

[@CpnSpiritTv]

For me i find it easier to get attached to western shows quicker like in a epistode or two, but also lose intrest faster. Once i get attached to an anime show i simply can't stop watching it till im finished. In anime there is also a lot more idea's anddiffrent characters that are much more interesting then western ones.

[@Adrian.Christ]

Personally, I lump every show I watch into the category of just watching a show, rather than looking at them as either anime or not. Some shows are good, and some are shit regardless of where they're made. I also feel that you're generalizing both western dramas and anime a bit too much to make your point, although I definitely agree that there are cultural differences. EDIT: also, you're comparing a single genre of television to an entire medium

[@GeraltofRivia22]

Yeah, he was clearly comparing the whole medium of anime to just HBO dramas because of the guy who said he couldn't into anime but loved HBO shows

[@nicholasmocalis589]

I am wondering if your criticism of American Dramas is similar to your criticism of A1 Pictures in the sense that they are trying to create the perfect or standard something whether it be anime or drama with the same ideas and or formula instead of branching out and trying something different. It seems that both American Dramas and A1 Pictures recycle their standards to fit a specific mold of what makes their idea of their specific medium and amplify it towards popularity. Therefore it seems that both come across as mechanical or assembly line towards their ideas creating a sense of laziness instead of making more of an effort especially when you mention that other American Dramas are doing the same specific idea but doing it worse.

[@amirbutcher2147]

Funnily enough, one of the few western shows I could get into was "Our World War", a Band of Brothers-esque BBC military drama depicting historical events. Their characters are based off of real people (without the cutaways to said-counterparts since they're literally all dead rn), giving them an extra layer of complexity. It has dramatic and sad scenes, but isn't a constant downer because there are also scenes where the soldiers experience moments of levity and camaraderie amongst each other. Maybe give it a shot, Digi. Not like I need to tell you, but you will know whether or not it's your thing by the time the first episode is over with.

[@TheNopyu]

I may be the only person who feels this way but honestly the reason I hated AOT was because I felt like I was watching an american drama set-up and structure but in an anime setting. The show even follows the trope of ending the episode with some intense action and a cliffhanger leaving the majority of the episode to unfulfilling exposition. It's all just tiring and overplayed.

[@iLloyd6]

It's a good thing only the first season is like that

[@WalkingGirlKoi]

It seems that anime in general says, "Fuck the rules!" and does whatever it wants.

[@buckwade3874]

Is this a Jojo reference?

[@iceloveanime]

Honestly that's always what i like about anime. For one you get a premise for a show that nobody would think would work and then it goes about it in way that's so crazy it just might work. That is the honest allure of anime to me.

[@nowiecoche]

I think anime is following its own rules developed by decades of how they've been produced, but it does look like "Fuck the rules" from American perspective.

[@mr.cuddles6432]

Really ? when was this? the 90s? anime nowadays are so repetetive and formulaic it seems to be following the rules more than anyone else.

[@Jepze158]

Anime was always formulaic but i do miss 80s anime girls

[@Mrbudu700]

This is exactly why i like Acca 13... "Nothing" really happens but it has this atmosphere.

[@iamtwoawesomes]

When Digi talked about anime being more centered around creating a mood or emotions I made a connection with fanfiction, which is like, obviously very influenced by anime, but it holds true in stuff for Western books movies and TV shows. In fanfic there's like, Romance and Action and Thriller and stuff like that, but most of it, especially the shorter stuff, is categorized with emotional titles like Fluff or Angst or Hurt/Comfort, and that's definitely something I appreciate.

[@da_pikmin_coder8367]

What I find weird about Western dramas is that they always find a way to tie it into cops. Even if it's not a cop show or present time, they always find a way to make an important character either a cop or have deep ties with cops. Of all the Western drama I've seen, I can only name one where there weren't any cops or enforcement of the law tied into the story, and that would be Lost. In anime, it's completely opposite. I can only name three anime where any important character was a cop: Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass, and Death Note. Although you could argue that anime has the completely different problem of a cute fanservice girl that exists to be in all the posters and commercials and fanart on Tumblr. Off the top of my head, the only anime I can think of where there's no cute girl in the promotional art nor are they a main character in the show is Hunter X Hunter. Although if you expanded the characters of Hunter X Hunter from just the four, Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, you could find some cute girls that are recurring characters such as Shizuku.

[@carolinewheeler77]

You're making amazing and relatable points (especially as someone who's been trying to articulate this for years) but one thing is gnawing at me. Where did you get that shirt? It's amazing

[@Takumi_Did_Nothing_Wrong]

I feel a disconnection with live action American television shows the same way I'm disconnected with "realistic" video games. I prefer anime and cartoons because of their vibrant characters and aesthetics, which live action shows tend to lack. Plus, there are a lot more possibilities with what can be done with animation than in live action. Incidentally, I am not fond of many cartoons and anime that are grounded in reality, which I why don't like a lot of Kyoto Animation's slice of life shows.

[@dieblauebedrohung]

"We make our stuff for Japan" - Well that's excactly what I love about Anime. I wouldn't watch it if it was the same shit that we get here. Also among my biggest points about preferring anime is the watching behaviour. When I go to my living room and see my parents "watch" a *western movie*, I always get kinda *upset*. When I join them and watch a show that is already 1/5 through, it doesn't matter too much. While Anime conditioned me to pay attention, I can see the rest of my family jerk arround, talk to each other, leaving the room and making new food in the kitched, having conversations about random topics; missing about 1/3 of the movie but in the end still understand everything because it is made simple enough for viewers to get distracted by things. So when I once gave my parents an anime to watch - Madoka Magica to be precise - they followed their usual chatting like how they would do normally, and in the end they literally understood *nothing* and didn't know one bit what the story was about. And knowing that there are people putting so much thought into their shows and trying to express something by heart, it makes me extremely upset to see such *ignorance* being supported by western movies, to the point that you can pay extremely little attention to something and still don't get punished for it in any way. That's why I love Anime. Because it is *not* made just for western people who consume it and have a blast (although there are such shows in anime as well), but there are so many individual projects in which you can spot genius things, or need to see the necessity to *fucking pay attention* to understand something. So yeah. I still really like Game of Thrones btw.

[@Chimera-man-man]

Props to Egoraptor for doing that interview, the questions felt a bit stale at times but it was his first time and it must have been super tough doing it through a translator. I was gonna recommend you Mr Robot Digi but while it tries to portray loneliness and anxiety, it does do a lot of the stuff you have a problem with. Still I think there's something about that show that resonates with a lot of nerdy people, so maybe you'll get more out of it than your average crime drama

[@TTakatoX3]

And that's why I hate Monster. It tried to be so "perfect" and "realistic" that it just felt wrong to me. If you want to make a show that is so close to HBO drama as possible, then why not make an HBO drama? That's what this show was to me, an HBO show with anime flaws. It would work very well as live action, though. In anime they cut off everything that makes animation as a medium good.

[@Detaur]

I understand this debate, I always struggle with the fact that I can't get into American Dramas because I thing they're too prolonged and repetitive unlike anime. My relatives don't get how someone could like Chinese Cartoon but not shows with actual people.

[@jim7601]

Detaur anime not repetitive...what ?

[@Detaur]

Well it's repetitive in a different way. Anime repeats tropes, while tv repeats episode structure (magical girl shows, and shounen do this too though)

[@DoctersUnited]

Yup, more than anything it really comes down to cultural differences. Btw, nice Gintama shirt. How far are you into the series? Last time I remember it was the early 200s?

[@DiamondFang1]

I tend to look western shows and anime at different angles and watch either when I have the feeling to watch that kind of media for example I just finished stranger things because I wanted something that kept me caught in the suspense. Even tho I totally get why you wouldn't want to watch a drama that follows a certain mold it still keeps the viewer intriqued

[@MatheusRebelo]

I think that i got what you are trying to say. I Like Suzumuya Haruhi no Yuuutsu because of this unique acting that Hirano Aya does with Haruhi. The personality that she created is this little thing that always bring me a smile when i watch she interacting with Kyon and this is the kind of feature that only anime has imo

[@WhoWatchesVideos]

Whoa! Some of my favourite KZbinrs are colliding!

[@Tassooow]

I agree so much, the problem I have with live-action western shows is that they feel very samey. They are dark, serious, with drama and twists. Also very realistic. Yes anime has hundreds of similar shows, specially the shounen jump ones, but there's also Kill la Kill, Little Witch Academia, Luluco, Haruhi, Ika Musume etc. It's a very creative medium, without any borders, you can make anything you think of and that's really cool to me. I doubt you could make some live-action show about a squid girl working as a waiter on a beach.

[@CatCamryn]

Digibro put into words a lot of what I have felt about American dramas. One of the only live action TV shows I have watched recently is Castle (which I highly recommend) which I like for a lot of the same reasons I like the stories in anime. It never feels like a machine going through the same rules and motions around one plot like the shows you mentioned. It's always a mixed bag where sometimes you'll get episodes centered around the overarching narrative or you'll get contained stories (cases, really as it is centered around police detectives) that are still just as enthralling and good as the plot heavy episodes. The show never feels overly bleak and can perfectly mix in humor with serious situations, especially because of how fun the characters are. And because of this and its scenes that show the lives of the characters outside of the cases and narrative it can portray a lot of different emotions and atmospheres throughout the episodes. Now, there's probably other shows similar to this (again, I don't watch much TV), and the show still has it's flaws, but I just think it at least serves as a good example.

[@KatoBeyond]

I feel like you and Gbay both do a good job of covering the appeal of Western shows, and you do a better job of distinguishing the appeal of anime. This may sound ironic coming from anime KZbinrs, but both myself and Hoodie, the guy I share the channel with, fall into the category of "Western fans who also watch anime" and I think this video really hit the nail on the head as to what I like about Western dramas and how that effects my taste in anime, and maybe why I once had a hard time getting into it. -Zero.

[@Flowtail]

Hey Digi, have you seen the tv series adaptation of Fargo? Do you have any thoughts on it, or no?If you haven't seen it, maybe you'd like it! I'm far from being as much a coneseur of media as you (also I don't have your mind or existance so I don't understand your taste as well as you), but I'd definately call Fargo "weird" for a western show.

[@KaimanBitAi]

where did you get that Gintoki shirt though

[@brsn2991]

ayy never thought i'd see Digibro making a response video to Gbay what a time to be alive

[@jazz4778]

This video has just reminded me of the main reason why I like anime so much, and why I prefer it over Western shows and films: because it's so damn varied. You can find an anime or a manga with practically any premise imaginable, and there's so much stuff that's just so out there and completely breaks from the mould. By comparison Western shows/films feel kinda samey. In the UK, where I live, about 50% of what's on TV can essentially be summarised as "whodunnit mystery set in some quaint rural town that has a higher crime rate than Central East London for some unexplained reason". American shows are a bit less samey in terms of their actual premise, but like you said, they're completely formulaic. And while they're enjoyable, they aren't my favourite shows simply because they're just not as interesting. And even Western animation (with perhaps a few notable exceptions) isn't as nuanced because it's all trying to evoke the same emotions out of the same audience.

[@Kuudere-Kun]

My favorite Western television show is Pretty Little Liars. Once it ends this year I mostly won't even need my TV anymore.

[@Knight_Astolfo]

Digi pounding a Melchizedek... wait that's for wine, not beer...

[@LimeyLassen]

Hey Digi, have you seen Lexx? They broke the mold with that one, it's one of the strangest TV shows ever made. Dark, absurdist sci-fi that was made in Canada but really popular in eastern Europe and the early web.

[@21Angelsong]

holy shit man...i have been trying and trying for ages to figure out why i don't like western TV-I only keep up with one show and every time i try to watch something else I come away laughing or pissed off (this has also happened with some movies.....yikes) and you articulated this so well...thank you. Though this was about dramas specifically-what would be your take on someone who is a fan of both anime and cartoons? I feel as though this is something that goes beyond being a fan of animation, but I struggle to see what would be similar about the two that draws me to both. They are incredibly different yet I watch LWA with so much excitement because it is this bizarre cross between a western cartoon and an anime-one I can pick apart and say "that scene felt super cartoony" or "that moment was super anime"

[@moseshamlett3887]

The Miller Highlife gives this guy so much more credibility in my opinion.

[@cloudierbus]

Digibro im quite curious about this but what do you think about tokusatsu's? shows like Garo, Kamen Rider, and sentai

[@HeyLookaSandwich]

YES! I have been waiting for exactly this video! :D

[@felyndiira]

I'm reading through the comments, and I'm starting to wonder if Digibro's audience is going the same way as TAS's audience in elitism, except with K-On! as their banner rather the LoGH.

[@09philj]

I think a lot of these are part of the reasons the old episodes of Doctor Who are cult classics. A lot of weird ideas were thrown about, often with an ambition that stretched the budget and technology available. Each serial had it's own particular ideas. Even though certain archetypes came back on multiple occasions (IE Base Under Siege stories), there was generally a fresh spin on them. Not everything worked, but a lot of it did and it was always interesting to see what they'd try next.

[@Kukuichimonji]

*looks at the gintama shirt* *cries because digi still hasnt finished the first season* *looks wistfully into the distance*: One day...

[@Liu484]

thank you for not attacking gbay. I like your approach here

[@ernestotorelli1209]

Gbay and Digi? Wow, never thought these two youtubers would ever make contact.

[@Kalazar321]

I'm curious what you would think of LOST. It's by no means a dark gritty HBO type of show. By the end of it it goes to places that are a little more creative and unique then a typical American TV show would. In fact I know a lot of people who didn't like the show as it went on because it went to weirder places that they weren't really expecting.

[@5oulPower]

Hey, I'm into western cinema just as much as I am into japanese cinema. In fact I come from a western cinema background as I only started getting really into japanese animation (aka anime) much later. Hell, the first japanese cinematic works I got really into weren't even works of animation - Akira Kurosawa is my personal favourite director to this day (and I got into him because I was a fan of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola... all of them revered and imitated the late great japanese director.) Digibro did mention a few anime titles that western audiences tend to appreciate more, and I totally agree with that. I remember being really into some of them when I first started off in anime. Eventually though, my tastes broadened as I watched more. Today I watch both and I like both in equal measures. I'm a fan of cinema in general, regardless of the format... so why can't I just have both? I've always hated limiting my own capacity for appreciation and enjoyment simply because of my own personal preferences (read: bias) so I've learned long ago to enjoy different works of art on their own terms. Also, japanese directors have always learned and taken inspiration from western directors, and japanese directors in turn have also inspired and influenced a whole generation western directors. Cinema doesn't work in a vacuum. It's a two-way thing. Artists regularly bounce ideas off each other, regardless or race or culture. I find that learning more about one format improves my perception (and appreciation) of the other. The two go hand in hand.

[@KlutzStreaky]

At this point, Digibro should might as well write a book on all of his philosophies.

[@buckwade3874]

The book would be called, "The pretentious philosophical rambles of Digistotle".

[@chrisclarke4665]

My disconnect with actual quality and taste.

[@CaraDoesThings]

Once again you manage to put into words so easily what I have been struggling to communicate for years. Btw, what do you think about cartoons compared to anime? Do you like them the same or do you feel a disconnect similar to American dramas?

[@michaelbohannon527]

You should really revisit horizon on the middle of nowhere. I know it's nuts, but it is a really underrated show. The exposition dump makes way more sense the second time...or the abridged knocks the whole first season out in thirty minutes.

[@heliowolf5042]

"You come to a fuck'n weird show when you want to see some fuck'n weird shit" -Prominent anime critique Digibro 2017

[@JoshRushingartist]

You've talked about how these After Dark videos are often expressions of underdeveloped, unfiltered thoughts, and I haven't felt that more strongly than with this vlog. You're definitely on to something with your point about anime usually having more varied (or at the very least, different) dramatic structures, but I think this may be a case of overgeneralization. Your argument ignores a lot of the specific Western directing habits that feel more standardized and homogenized than they are in anime. A huge factor at play here is also the inherent differences between the presentation styles of live action shows and animation (Also, you're comparing all genres of anime to one specific genre of Western television). This topic is something I think would be perfect for a main Digibro channel video, if that's something you'd be interested in writing.

[@WIZA327]

Good discussion man. Although I agree with the points Gbay made about how anime just explains everything to the audience instead of just doing things. It's not all the time, but I think animes do this too much. It's a subjective point though, and obviously other people could enjoy that animes do that. I can agree with you as well that animes of all different genre simply want to give off different feelings, and there is anime out there for everyone for whatever mood you want to feel.

[@yekko500000]

i think its important too note that western dramas are limited by the medium where as anime can be very imaginative and unpredictable because it can be whatever the artist wants to draw anime is unilimited with how crazy and weird it can get

[@Thegigachad248]

You should check out Westworld and Fargo. Both shows are dope as hell.

[@Michirin9801]

I like animation, don't care much for watching real people acting in front of a camera... (Unless they're talking about Video Games, or Anime and maybe Cartoons) I like anime because it often looks good, detailed and it actually has shading in it most of the time, and when it has a good story then that's a nice bonus! Anime also often has meaningful continuity from episode to episode, so it feels like it's building up to something that I can look forward to, and well, anime shows also tend to have a conclusion so it's good that I can see what happens with the characters I've been watching for the past so-many episodes and be able to move on, because honestly, as much as I feel that I'd love to continue watching the characters I've grown attached to and their antics, it would most likely get boring after a while, and I'd be missing out on other shows that I could be watching... Of course not all anime is like that, that's why I kept saying "Often" and "Tend to", heck maybe it's not even most of them, I know that there are some anime running that just refuse to end and others that are just as episodic and have just as little continuity as Dexter's Lab or Spongebob, but most of the anime I've watched and enjoyed fit what I've described above... It also helps that I tend to prefer Japanese music over Western music (unless it's Eurobeat, nothing beats Eurobeat!)

[@MJCKCA]

Digibro commenting on two videos I watched a couple of minutes ago? I'm pleased

[@MJCKCA]

and personally I think that a reason that I don't like western media is that it's very heavily trying to leave you in suspense for the next chapter, and then the next one, leaving you in a cycle of cliffhangers to keep the suspense. And while it's entertaining to watch I just got tired of it by now

[@BFpro156]

The public target thing is a problem. 90% of the shows are be about teenagers characters for teenagers viewers. Thats why its rarer to find guys whom are 20ish/30ish that are still into anime.

[@Thegigachad248]

Most of the older anime viewer audience prefer "retro anime" I'd assume.

[@RogerSmith2004]

That's not true. There's plenty of oldtaku.

[@TheMiddleMan56]

God yeah I agree so much. I'd be into anime if we could just ditch these lame stupid high/middle/elementry schoolers for once and follow some grown ass men and women. School sucked. Being a teenager sucked. I am tired of reading and watching characters go through the same trite cliche boring school bullshit

[@BFpro156]

I like good anime(those wich suits my taste) It can be old or new, if it has what I am looking for, I will enjoy. And it's not like I am looking for every anime to be like Legend of Galactic Heroes. I like a variety of genres. But I cant help to feel that most anime hold to certain elements and archetypes it didnt have to... ...

[@angryyordle4640]

well, i go to a lot of anime conventions and the average age is between 18 and 25 years, maybe many younger people just dont go there but its that way, also I know many adults who are into anime like Naruto or Sekaikei stuff

[@MrOzzification]

One of my pet peeves is when people complain when no character gets killed off therefore to them the show didn't hit hard enough or the stakes weren't raised high enough. There's a multitude of far more creative ways to rev up emotional torque in a show or to indicate the gravity of a situation without killing off characters or even threatening to do so.

[@DarkenedArc]

Since we are talking about American dramas and animes, this gives me the perfect opportunity to ask this to any seasoned anime fan and viewer. Who is the "Negan" of anime?

[@Sunaki1000]

Well spoken. All Animes I see, except for some simple Shounen and Harems are all unique. Even bad animes, had her own style. The atmosphere is so important. This is one of the Mainreason, why Tim and Stuppi/Rintintin was a desaster. It dont show the same atmosphäre as the origin Version. Its maybe the same Plot, but not the Same soul, so it was instantly a downfall.

[@TheCapedCrusader94]

I totally agree with your points. I can't deny that almost all of the popular dramas are well made but I can't bring myself to watch them often or to even finish them. I think that I didn't finished even one of those shows you talked about. Can't really put my finger on it but somewhere-something just lacks appeal for me. Breaking Bad didn't suck for sure but I didn't even finished the 1st season. I don't have that problem with animation at all, doesn't matter if it's from Japan or the West.