Whether you're a novice, casual, or die-hard fan (i.e., otaku), there's a strong chance you've been exposed to the anime scene in some form. Whether watching it on daily morning shows as a child or knowing someone who participated in cosplay events, anime has been a constant presence in Filipino popular culture for years. It has developed a devoted following of fans who grew up with their favorite character and series and contributed to its current popularity.
The Beginning of Anime Culture in the Philippines
According to otakus, the Filipinos' love affair for anime began in the early 2000s, when television networks introduced a variety of Tagalog-dubbed series. This aided in making anime content more accessible to children in urban and rural locations. Some fans grew up watching anime as a result of their parents' fandom, which had been ingrained in their childhood, from the toys they played with to the clothes they wore.
Roxanne Kho, cosplayer and MSI Gaming Philippines ambassador, shared that her mother has supported her interest in anime since she was young. "When my mom realized that my sister and I love watching anime, she started buying us a lot of anime merchandise like pillowcases, bedsheets, and Video CDs so we can watch our favorite series over again."
Kho added that her first anime memory was "watching Dragon Ball and Cardcaptor Sakura."
Another reason Filipinos enjoy anime is the relatable life lessons and characters with which they grew up.
Jin Joson, World Cosplay Summit 2021 Philippine Representative and Winner of Special Award for Costume-Making, shared that "what makes anime special is it has an overarching theme that makes you want to keep on watching."
Joson also added that "what is unique about it [anime] is you grow up with the character. The audience for anime is also wider; it can tackle serious themes that aren't often seen in other cartoons that are made for younger children."
The Anime Effect
The intimate love fans had for their favorite characters opened the path for the emergence of cosplay conventions in the Philippines, which eventually became their venue for self-expression, promoting their hobby, meeting new friends, and keeping up with everything anime.
Moreover, conventions featured a variety of activities for fans to enjoy, including Artists' Alley, where independent creatives sold artworks, Dealer's Hall, where sponsors sold collectibles, Industry Guests, where attendees interacted with voice actors, producers, and other key figures from the anime show, and the Main Stage, which featured cosplay competitions.
Further, through these occasions, their interests developed into a lifestyle, and some even developed into a career path. Their passion for their craft pushed them to develop professional abilities such as tailoring, photography, and cosmetics, which allowed them to expand their artistic horizons and maintain their unwavering love for their favorite shows.
Julienne Muñoz, another otaku, believes that anime's boom has been revived because most fans are now adults, and she utilizes her influence to raise awareness of anime in her circles.
Muñoz shared that in her case, as an employee in Viu, she uses her job "to bring in good anime shows that a lot of people can enjoy and relate to."
Viu Philippines, a video-streaming website, just added the most popular and fan-favorite anime titles to its growing library of legal and free Asian entertainment.
Joson shared that "watching anime shows on Viu is really convenient" because users "can stream on-demand." He also loves that "there is now a legal streaming site" to watch anime shows.
Diane Sabandeja, a cosplayer and anime fan, said she" used to watch on different websites." With Viu, she now has a platform where she can watch all her favorite shows.
"As mentioned in one of my anime review videos, I love how Viu brings nostalgic shows like Slam Dunk. I'd also recommend a new anime show called Takt:op Destiny," said Sabandeja.
What's especially nice about Viu is that its subtitles are the closest to the original, preserving the actual meaning or essence of a famous scene.
Fran Añonuevo, a fellow otaku who works in Viu, shared his experience watching anime with a good translation.
"I really love Haikyuu!! and the way that I was able to get the character's point of view. This is why good translation is very important for every fan," said Añonuevo. "With Viu, it has the nearest Japanese translation in the subtitles, which gives us fans more feels while watching the show."
With the growing popularity of anime among Filipinos, it is unavoidable that it will continue to expand in the next five to ten years, creating an infinite number of opportunities for people to turn their interest into a passion and vocation.
"There is a magic charm that only anime can give us, it takes us to another world and makes us temporarily forget our worries and problems," stated Kho. "Who knows, a few years from now, cosplaying can be a profession, or Anime culture will be taught in universities too."
You can watch your favorite anime for free on Viu. You can download Viu on Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or Huawei App Gallery.
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