Liking What I Learned to Hide

Have you ever been embarrassed by the things you used to like?

Anime was one of my favorite things to watch growing up, and it remains so now. As a young child, I was very fond of cartoons and animation. Loving the different art styles, fight scenes, and dynamic storytelling. It all melded together well, and anime became the bread-and-butter of that masterpiece. Reflecting, I remember always being excited to pull up my favorite illegal websites to watch shows like Naruto and Dragon Ball Z because I didn’t appreciate all the ads back then. Don’t judge me, we've all been there. Anime was really enjoyable to me, but it wasn’t as enjoyable to everyone else. 

Back then, anime wasn’t a mainstream thing to watch before the COVID-19 lockdown era. It was seen as “weird” or “childish.” People weren’t allowed to express what they watched, whether it was talking about it, dressing like the characters, or even acting like different characters. A vast majority of people who watched anime were bullied for it. Thankfully, at my school, I found friends who enjoyed anime and the things that I enjoyed to help me enjoy my time in elementary and middle school. Still, that didn’t stop others from making fun of me for watching it, even if it wasn’t as bad as what some people experienced. I can understand why people never enjoyed anime at the time–it was unfamiliar, exaggerated, and different from what most people were used to. Certain extreme sides of the fanbase, such as unhealthy obsessions with fictional characters, made anime fans easy targets for ridicule. Seeing this and experiencing it made me feel embarrassed to enjoy anime and led me to hide that part of myself

However,  deep down for me, anime was never about obsession or being “weird.” It was about imagination, creativity, and storytelling in a way I hadn’t seen anywhere else. Anime showed characters who struggled, failed, and grew, often dealing with emotions and situations that felt real despite the exaggerated art style. It is also not childish whatsoever; it possesses mature themes and even graphic content, offering depth and meaning. Watching these stories made me appreciate different forms of expression and helped shape the way I view art and narratives today. Despite when people mocked it, anime was something that made me feel comfortable and understood, and that mattered more than just fitting in. 

Now, anime is far more accepted and even celebrated. It definitely surprised me. What was once considered strange has become mainstream, with people openly talking about their favorite shows and characters. Looking back, it feels rewarding to see something I loved for so long finally gain recognition. Anime has remained important to me, and I don’t have to hide that part anymore from different people that I meet.