Let’s Transform The Anime Industry
I’m not an Animator, Cosplayer, or Manga Author — Yet I aspire to completely transform the Anime Industry. You in?
Backstory
It’s not a story in which the characters grow up, but a story in which they draw on something already inside them, brought out by the particular circumstances. I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they, too, have such a wish.
— Hayao Miyazaki
I first discovered Miyazaki’s animated feature film Spirited Away nearly two decades ago. Like many others, I was blown away. I’ve only owned a couple of DVD’s in my life, and Spirited Away is one of them. From the beautiful imagery, music, and storytelling, the fact that I became hooked was a no brainer. The main character in the film, Chihiro, is just an ordinary girl on an extraordinary adventure. She makes the coolest friends in the most unique of experiences. Not surprisingly, I couldn’t help but see so much of myself in her. She left me aspiring for extraordinary adventures of my own one day, too.
And yet, most of my life I hadn’t had too many overly extraordinary adventures. America succeeded in teaching me to chase straight A’s, to chase a college degree, to chase a corporate job, you know, all the generic stuff.
All the while, though, I managed to keep one thing in tact. My joy for anime.
Every night, even into adulthood, I’d dance and sing along with every intro, cry at every remotely emotional scene, and cheer with joy when my favorite heroes/heroines make their dreams come true.
After reflecting on passions and happiness, I realized that anime really is that one thing for me. That one thing that, without fail, makes me happy on my saddest of days.
I can’t tell you how badly I wished I could partake in the industry that I loved so much. I wished that I could draw — that I could write manga — that I could do something. On more than one occasion I honestly remember being brought to tears thinking that there’d be no way that I could add value to that industry. Crazy right? That you could want to partake in something that badly?
Well, one day, while browsing online, I realized that I wasn’t at all the only one with that wish — not by a mile, not by a long shot.
Not Alone
In the U.S. alone, there are hundreds of thousands with this shared passion. With the boom of anime in the U.S., combined with the adulthood of the internet and social media websites, creators are stepping up to create in a space that they believe in, that they love.
Whether they’re on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or other up and coming socials, they’re out there. In droves. Making bomb AMV’s, providing hilarious commentary and memes, providing genuine reactions and insights, and so much more!
The best part? They love anime just as much as I do.
The worst part? They aren’t supported by the anime industry.
Transforming The Industry
That brings me to SUGOI and that transformation that I teased in the title of this story — I want to transform the anime industry to include its hidden heroes: Anime Content Creators.
Hidden heroes because they help de-stigmatize anime around the world, they provide free marketing, they build communities, they’re hidden heroes because they could provide so much more — and I want to unlock that potential.
Beginning with SUGOI Media, I’ll provide a safe, easy to use means of accessing anime clips for digital content creators. I envision SUGOI Media becoming the go-to place for anime content creators to easily source their clips and for studios to learn about the awesome creations that they inspire their fans to produce. Additionally, I will encourage donations to a cause that I believe will ensure the future of anime for generations to come; paying animators fairly.
All under the banner of creating a world where everyone, regardless of artistic ability, can have the opportunity to drive a new era of growth, passion, and imagery into the anime sphere. You aren’t an animator or a manga author? Cool. Create in a way that suits you best. Become an Anime Content Creator while helping the anime industry that creates the fuel which inspires us.
Now, I’ll level with you guys. I know that I’m some nobody out in this world, so I don’t intend for many of you to believe that this vision is possible. In fact, I’m actually just some ordinary girl on an extraordinary adventure.
But if you believe in the vision, if you wish more than anything else that you could contribute to the anime industry that provided us with our favorite mages, warriors, and more, then — Please, consider connecting with me.
Whether you’re also some nobody who wants to become somebody of value to the anime industry, or you’re a solidified Anime Content Creator who wants to join me in this challenge, I’d love to have the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow from one another.
Interested in helping out with this journey? Or maybe you’d just like to follow along and see how things progress? Please,
- If you’re an Anime Content Creator — either aspiring or current — Join our Discord. It’s new, but I’ll be offering feedback to help you grow, as well as throwing ideas back and forth if you aren’t sure where to start.
- Signup for our monthly newsletter via our Coming Soon Site.
- Follow our journey on our Instagram
Thank you so much for your time, and as always:
Adventure on anime enthusiasts!
