One comment about my anime podcast at a comic shop stuck with me for months

I was at a comic shop in Austin last spring, just browsing the manga section, and this guy next to me heard me mention my podcast to a friend. He said, "You know, you talk about filler episodes like they're a crime, but my 8 year old only watches anime for the filler." That hit me way harder than it should have. I've spent like 6 years complaining about pacing and canon vs non-canon, treating it like some objective thing. But he wasn't wrong, for a kid, those silly beach episodes and cooking contests are the whole show. I realized I was so busy analyzing structure that I forgot anime is entertainment first for most people. Now I actually ask my listeners what they skip and what they love, and the answers surprise me every time. Has anyone else had a moment where a casual fan made you rethink your whole critical take on something?

1 comments

1 Comment

stellabennett21d ago

Stop treating your audience like they need a lecture instead of a show. Filler exists because most people watch anime to unwind, not to grade it like a term paper, and a kid laughing at a beach episode is just as valid as your pacing analysis. If you really wanted to rethink your take, you'd admit that calling half the show worthless is the actual crime, not the filler itself.