Is anime strictly a pastime pleasure? Some people would strongly disagree.

Known for its diverse art styles and idiosyncratic storytelling, Japanese animation has played a major part in the lives of many adult millennials today—some of them have even started a family of their own and are more than keen on passing their die-hard love for anime to the next generation. 

Whether they are a working adult or a first-time parent, one thing will always remain the same, that anime will always be a crucial, if not sacred, part of their lives—past, present and future.

The Jakarta Post has assembled some of those adult millennials to discuss the first time they were exposed to the anime world, how it blossomed into something more, and how their love for anime became their saving grace as they navigated through that crazy, daunting adventure called “adulting”.

Bovie Sandhi, 33, private sector employee, married with one son

The first anime I watched was Saint Seiya. I was in elementary school and, if I am not mistaken, it was aired on either [domestic network television channels] Indosiar or RCTI. I got hooked immediately because it was the anime era in which the characters would wear armor, like Saint Seiya, B'T X and Ronin Warriors. I loved the characters and the zodiac concept in Saint Seiya, in particular.

I still love anime because, in its essence, all anime series have the same idea: It gives us something to relate to and encouragement in our daily lives. Back then, the big three anime consisted of Dragon Ball, One Piece and Naruto. All of them are about a weak, bullied nobody who grows stronger thanks to their friends who are always by their side. They go on with their lives stronger and more spirited.

I have my son watching anime with me—a little bit at a time, and as long as my wife does not find out. We watch next-gen anime such as Kimetsu no Yaiba and Jujutsu Kaisen—the more family-friendly titles.

Generational binge: Bovie Sandhi, a 33-year-old private sector employee, has started bonding with his son by watching anime together. (Courtesy of Bovie Sandhi) (Courtesy of Bovie Sandhi/Courtesy of Bovie Sandhi)

My wife once praised me for my hobby, though. She knew guys, like her ex-boyfriends who strayed away and fooled around, but I came off as devoted to her. That is why she came to the conclusion that guys who love anime are loyal to their partners. 

Also, my friend who has a daughter once told me, “Hey, once my daughter grows up, I think I'll just marry her off to your son.” 

I asked, “Why?” 

And he said, “Because your son will definitely turn out a wibu, so he must be good!” [Wibu is a localized bastardization of Weeaboo, which is a usually disparaging term for non-Japanese individuals who are considered to have an unhealthy obsession with Japanese pop culture.]

I think that stereotypes exist in society, that wibu are certainly good and devoted and will never cheat on anyone.

Luthfi Suryanda, 27, music journalist and manager at GHOSTY'S COMIC

The first anime that made me fall in love was, no contest, Neon Genesis Evangelion. I remember it clearly; I watched it back in 2010 and I was 15 years old at the time. I was looking for something different and fresh and when I watched Neon Genesis Evangelion, I felt like, “Oh, so there is anime with such beefy storytelling!”

Anime has become more than just entertainment. When I discovered anime and manga, I thought, “How can I get my foot into this creative industry?” Because I wanted to be a part of it. 

Childlike wonder: Luthfi Suryanda, now 27 years old and works as a manager at GHOSTY'S COMIC, argues that watching anime helps protect one's innocence. (Courtesy of Luthfi Suryanda) (Courtesy of Luthfi Suryanda/Courtesy of Luthfi Suryanda)

I thought about moving to Japan, but then, I was like, “If they can do it in Japan, why can't I do it in Indonesia?” That is the biggest motivation that drives me to follow the latest developments in the anime industry and its fandom. Funny enough, once you dive into the anime fandom, there are so many new and exciting things in it that you can explore.

Are you insane? Of course, for anime fans, age is just a number! I believe it is wrong if anyone thinks that anime is only for children. My friend once told me that most anime creators and tokusatsu (live-action series that make heavy use of special effects) creators wish to say something that they could not say back when they were children. But now that they have grown up and can create something, they finally get to say what they have to say—all for the sake of future generations.

I do not believe that watching anime will foster juvenile behavior. In fact, I believe that being juvenile is necessary in this crazy world.

Massagoes Yudiscitra, 34, private sector employee and F&B entrepreneur, married with one daughter

The first anime I watched was either Dragon Ball or Doraemon. My dad used to love to buy me Betamax cassette videos, and Dragon Ball was the one that sticks in my memory. 

However, the anime series that I find most impressive to this day is Saint Seiya. I have always harbored an interest in zodiac constellations and Greek mythology and Saint Seiya depicts those things really well. Moreover, the storyline keeps getting better as it progresses. The characterizations do not just focus on the main character and his five pals.

I still love anime. The way I see it, anime is realistic and resembles our daily lives. Western content like Marvel and DC, for instance, are all about superheroes, whereas the Japanese ones like Captain Tsubasa, Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket are based on what we do in our daily lives. Even Boku no Hero Academia is basically about daily school life—but it enrolls superheroes. 

Never too old: 34-year-old Massagoes Yudiscitra who works as a private sector employee and F&B entrepreneur still collects anime-related action figures. (Courtesy of Massagoes Yudiscitra) (Courtesy of Massagoes Yudiscitra/Courtesy of Massagoes Yudiscitra)

Outside of the characters from the Saint Seiya universe, I really love Nara Shikamaru from Naruto because I see a lot of myself in him. He is the what-you-see-is-what-you-get type of guy and all he aspires to do is to avoid fighting and to spend time with his family.

I have my daughter watch anime with me—the more contemporary titles like Attack on Titan and Kimetsu no Yaiba. Unfortunately, she is not that into them just yet—even though she was named after one of the characters from Saint Seiya.

Rizky Apriliya, 27, private sector employee, recently married

The first anime that I watched was Inuyasha. I think it was around 2006. I have two older siblings with quite a big age gap and I used to watch it with them on DVD. I fell in love with Inuyasha instantly because the visuals are striking, the characters appealing, and as a child, I could understand the storyline.

I still watch anime as entertainment, though the type of anime I watch now is different from the ones I used to watch. Back in the day, I was more into the lighter stories that do not require too much thinking, such as Inuyasha, Doraemon and Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! Now, the anime I watch is more varied and a bit cerebral.

Yes, anime does teach me about life. For instance, the love life as depicted in anime tends to be out of the ordinary, but, as it turns out, you can actually relate to it. Also, there is some stuff that we have not experienced before, but we can learn it by watching anime. 

I actually do not follow rom-com anime, but I really love the romance between Rin and Shirou in (dark fantasy anime series) Fate/Stay Night. Rin is depicted as this tough girl who can do everything by herself. But then she meets Shirou and, as it turns out, she needs a man after all. I just love how their romance plays out.

My husband does not mind because he loves watching anime as well. Sometimes we like to recommend anime series to each other. 

Stacey, 29, full-time content creator

The first anime I watched, if I am not mistaken, was Saint Seiya. Nonetheless, the anime that I fell in love with and dedicated my life to is Naruto. 

I have followed Naruto since I was in elementary school and, even though the story is about ninjas, it is also about friendship. I loved how the main character forges his friendships and rivalries. While everyone was idolizing superheroes, I dreamed of being a ninja instead.

Of course, anime is something more. Yes, it is a source of entertainment, but it also has pretty much become my livelihood, because the content I create is related to anime and Japanese culture. 

Living the dream: 29-year-old Stacey's love for 'Naruto' also serves as the genesis of her current profession as a content creator (Photo Courtesy of Stacey) (Courtesy of Stacey/Courtesy of Stacey)

Besides Naruto, the anime title that has impressed me the most is perhaps Attack on Titan because, if we dissect it, the storyline is very political. It has influenced the way I see the world, like how the world works and whenever you think you know something, there can be a twist underneath it, and nothing in this world is ever what it seems. You cannot see the world with blinders on.

Anime and manga, I believe, are for any age. It is wrong to think that imagination only belongs to children because there are so many anime and manga that cater to grown-ups. I believe there is no age limit for imagination. Just because you have gotten older, it does not mean that you can no longer be imaginative.