In the eyes of the observer, there are many ways in which your perspective can influence how you feel about a show, and that can ultimately dictate your viewing experience. What you see is dependant on how you see things, thus it can very much vary between individuals.
I think the most obvious reason for the differences in opinions simply stem from these different perspectives. What one individual sees may not necessarily be what another ends up seeing. Which is why no one opinion is necessarily superior to the other. Some shows may bother you, annoy you and dare I say even disgust you. Yet that very same show may be of immense satisfaction to someone else. Can you fault them for that?
The basis here is that every individual has their own reasons for liking or disliking a show. Today, I’ll take a look at the various types of audiences and their perspectives, and show how it might influence their level of enjoyment. Let’s read a little more.
***Do take note that things get satirical from here on out***
The Layman
Every one of us has our own personal preferences. Depending on what we prefer, naturally our own disposition toward something changes. If you love action and detest horror, then it’s a given that you’ll enjoy One Punch Man a lot more than you might have enjoyed Another. We’re all at the mercy of our own interests and preferences, and that’s why sometimes we just can’t help but be prejudiced in our appreciation for anime.
Opinion level: Background noise
The Emotionally Attached
Ah yes, the emotionally attached. The ones that try to look deeper into meanings and cling onto any sentimental notion they can find. They’re soppy people, they are, and they’ll be moved by every little thing. By putting themselves into the shoes of the various characters, they’ll immerse themselves in the emotions at play. They’re passionate about their stuff, that’s for sure.
Opinion level: Loud, almost hysterical, with traces of sobbing
The Overexcited
There’s always that one person that reads up on every little news and information about that upcoming show. They watched all the promotional videos, and even read the manga just so they could know what to expect from the anime. Now that they’re all super hyped up and are expecting only great things from the anime, they decide to tune in, only to find out that it wasn’t worth the hype. Let this be a lesson folks. Expecting too much can sometimes negatively affect your enjoyment of something.
Opinion level: Grunts of utter disappointment
The Easily Influenced
These people are the followers. The minions whose souls have been sold to the majority. They latch themselves onto any popular opinion and make it their own. Did they like Tokyo Ghoul? Pfft, the manga was better. Did they like JoJo? They’ve never watched it, but they love it! The opinions of others clearly mean more to these people than the show itself, so you can bet your dollar that they’ll love any show that you and your friends talk about. Well, as long they don’t find out that you’re amongst the minority.
Opinion level: Has no own opinion
The Moodswings
You best be wary around these people. You can never truly know what they’re feeling. If they’re happy, they might just decide to watch all the fillers of Naruto and Shippuden and love every bit of it. You’ll have a great time sharing your opinions of anything with them, and you’ll probably be wondering why they aren’t already your best friend. But if they’re moody, then it doesn’t matter how epic a show is, for they wouldn’t like that art style anyways. Long story short, mood influences your appreciation of shows.
Opinion level: Highly unstable
The Virtuous
These self-serving little angels scrutinise everything using their lofty moral standards. Oreimo might be a decent show, but since it had incestuous themes, you’ll still be deemed a degenerate for enjoying it. You best bet that they will report anyone who would dare proclaim that a thousand-year-old loli is waifu material. These guys won’t even allow fiction to stand in the way of their virtues. So make sure you don’t get caught watching One Piece around them. After all, it is a show that glorifies pirates, pillaging and plundering, and that’s just not right!
Opinion level: Obnoxious
The Critic
These lot are the most critical ones of the bunch. They’ll find anything they can to bash on a show, but they’ll also find anything they can to compliment that show. They’re an intelligent lot these guys, and they’ll do anything to show off their intellect. As long as logic permits them to, they’ll definitely enjoy the show.
Opinion level: You hate to say it, but they talk sense
Phew, that was fun. Hopefully I succeeded in showing the various types of audiences and their perspectives. Ultimately, I wanted to show that opinions are simply two sides of the same coin. This post serves as a plea for the respect and understanding of all forms of opinions. Well, maybe not the ones that are toxic.
Thanks for reading! I tried to give this post a humorous tone to make things more entertaining. Believe me when I say that this wasn’t meant to offend anyone. So let me just apologise right now if anyone were to take offence. Maybe I’m not that funny after all…
Let me know how you feel!
TigerAnime 
That was a fun read! I always love your posts that separate blank topic into categories.
Hmmm, if I had to base myself off of one of your perspective types for funsies sake, I’d say I’d match the Moodswing more. I’m definity not a Critic by any means haha they’re on another level.
I personally believe it’s hard to categorize perspectives when an individual can have just so many types and alterations. Frankly, everyone’s thoughts are different and thus, hard to put in a group with the exception of pure followers. That’s just unorganized me tho. Nonetheless, this was a nice breakdown on the common types
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Hmm now that you mention it, I guess I do write a bit of these categorising of topics.
Bahaha, I think the moodswing does fit you to a T, but you’d definitely fall under the critic as well. Thanks for playing along with my whole scenario painting though haha.
Yeah you’re right. There’s no way I could ever list out the reasons why someone might like/dislike an anime. I just sort of decided on my own that, excluding some very situational reasons, most fall under these categories
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I like to think that I’m a critic with an emotional attachment problem. If the characters can bond with me, I will always watch to the end, but I will still tell them if they do something stupid.
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Sounds just like you, at least from the posts I’ve read. Thanks for playing along with my haphazard categories though!
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I’m definitely in the second category. I get way too emotionally attached to anime I like, to the point that I will often rewatch my favorites over and over again. If a series doesn’t affect me emotionally, chances are I won’t like it even if it’s technically competent. I’ll go on and on about the deeper meaning of a series I like, and then realize the people I’m talking to aren’t paying attention and are only watching it for the cool fights or something. >_<
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I appreciate this! I somewhat belong in the 2nd category as well, so I can very much relate to you in this. Some people prefer fancifulness, while I’d often just be satisfied with being emotionally invested. I mean, SAO isn’t really technically competent but its still my fav
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Hahaha! Great post. I certainly see myself as the critic, but there are times where I go into The Virtuous category especially when it comes to film plagiarism controversies or media having racist themes. Those two cases are when my “virtuous” side pops up the most.
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Don’t worry, you are most definitely not obnoxious as I jokingly stated in the post haha. And I must admit that I can totally see you being the critic and the virtuous! Of course, being morally right is of utmost importance. It’s nice that you stand up for these things.
For me, I try to understand the film and its intent before deciding if there’s an underlying malicious connotation involved. If I don’t see that or feel that, then my usually virtuous self won’t bat an eye. But if there’s malice, then that’s a whole different story
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That’s good to know. Haha! I knew it was a satirical post anyway. I think it’s funny that you noticed it about me, too. However, I don’t want to come off as a SJW whenever I do bring up serious moral issues.
Is that so? I partially agree. Sometimes it’s pattern recognition from the same creators or companies and other types it involves hypotheticals like what something would like like in different scenarios and if it would still be acceptable. Any examples for you?
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Examples of? Well the only time I can remember that I was discouraged to watch a show was when I found out about Kokoro Connect’s Voice actors and actresses bullying the newbie Seiyuu. I watched a few episodes but it didn’t sit well with me so I stopped.
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Gotcha. That sounds really bad when it comes to Kokoro Connect. Nobody should have to go through that. So I take it you don’t separate the art and artists?
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I honestly can’t say for sure myself. My feelings aren’t the most consistent, so I don’t really know
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Okay, I was just curious, that’s all. For me, it’s really hard for me to separate the two.
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Understandable!
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Thank you, Tiger.
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A thousand year-old loli is indeed waifu material.
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Your tastes have always been impeccable. I don’t regret considering you a role model
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That was quite an entertaining read indeed. I would like to think of myself as a Critic, but as a matter of fact, I am somewhere in between The Emotionally Attached and The Easily Influenced. I get attached to shows wayyyy too easily, and then proceed to give people opinions on shows I have not even watched (then watched it later and realized I shouldn’t have recommended it) xd.
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Hahaha that’s interesting to know. Goes to show that there are really all sorts of influences behind our anime enjoyment. I often times am easily influenced as well hahaha
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