Anime thrill
Anime is a relatively new art style. Its first commercial emergence traces back to the early 20th century, and it has been making regular comebacks in pop culture ever since. However, this time, anime aesthetics seem to be back for good, becoming more apparent, mainstream, and applicable to various audiences.
As we’re seeing more anime today than ever, let’s explore why this aesthetic is trending again, its key features, and various ways to integrate the style into your upcoming projects.
Why is anime and its aesthetics gaining popularity?
Multiple factors shape every trend in the creative industry, and Anime Thrill is no different. However, its popularity today is primarily conditioned to the return of Y2K aesthetics that took over the world in 2022. Thanks to Millennials and Gen Z that were nostalgic about their childhood years, different trends from the late 90s and early 2000s started getting a second chance. What is happening now is that people who watched anime in their childhood and adolescence are entering the job market and are bringing with them their references, just like previous generations did with songs and comics.
– says Monga D., a small design studio on a journey to create awesome and beautiful things. Film-like visuals, retrofuturistic vibes, and tacky aesthetics are back in fashion again, laying the groundwork for the revival of universal interest in anime that many enjoyed watching when DVDs were still a thing.
The growth of streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix—which intended to add 40 new anime titles in 2022 alone—gave a massive boost to the art style. Crunchyroll is worth special attention as well. This anime-only platform gets over 80 million monthly visits, according to Similar Web, with most traffic coming from the United States and Europe. Today, there’s also the phenomenon of people being less ashamed to acknowledge their tastes. The more people share that they like anime, the more people are open to giving this type of art a chance. Moreover, everything is easy and accessible for those who want to venture into this world. With more investment in the quality of productions, anime becomes even more attractive to larger audiences.
What’s special about anime aesthetics?
Years ago, there was a stereotype that "cool" people couldn’t be into anime. However, anime became mainstream as the notion of "cool" changed. What fascinates us about anime is the message of positivity that exists in most of them. Believe in yourself, trust your friends, and chase your dreams. A relationship with fantasy does us good and inspires us to find different ways of solving our problems, whether in life or design.
– say Monga D. Choosing to use anime aesthetics in our work is a way of showing that we like it, and there is no need to be ashamed of our tastes. We share it with the world because our tastes are part of who we are.
Indeed, anime is a noteworthy art style that, unlike traditional cartoons, is diverse and multifaceted. If you watched some classics as an adult or were a fan of anime in your childhood, you know firsthand how fascinating and complex anime plots are. They often feature well-tailored narratives with layered characters that are relevant, captivate attention, and inspire millions of content creators worldwide.
Anime aesthetics deserve special attention. Characterized by distinctive drawings, striking visual effects, exaggerated features, and often colorful solutions, this art style captivates audiences and lets them dive into fictional reality.
4 ways to integrate anime aesthetics into your projects in 2023
Brands and artists looking to liven up their routines and experiment with their work this year can find loads of ideas by exploring the peculiarities of anime. From using limited animation to leveling up the aesthetics with AR and VR technology; it all depends on how far you want to go.
Largely present in retro anime aesthetics, limited animation was and remains a go-to for content creators facing challenges regarding budgets or deadlines, especially during the recession. Why not add old-school vibes to your projects by trying one of the traditional anime techniques?
Anime culture is much more extensive than it seems at first glance. Various anime genres, categories, and styles—kawaii, chibi, moe, kodomo, and many others—give room for self-expression and experimentation.
Considering the anime style's complexity of characters and plots, those who want to run thematic campaigns or even create anime-inspired projects should improve their storytelling skills. Whether writing storylines, building characters, or inventing symbolic details, all these things require in-depth knowledge to produce quality work.
In addition to streaming services, recent tech advancements also brought anime further into the limelight. With AR and VR becoming even more accessible to everyone, content creators and brands have a chance to engage deeper with potential and existing customers and elevate their brand experience.
Get your creative juices flowing!
Anime aesthetics are one of the 2023 creative trends that will allow you to expand your boundaries in various ways. Find the art style you like most and go for it. You’ve got this!
