Have you ever found yourself glued to an anime, so invested in its characters and storylines that you couldn’t stop watching? If yes, you are not alone. Anime have been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years, with shows like Naruto, Death Note and Dragon Ball Z, capturing the hearts and attention of Indian audiences.
For many viewers, anime is just a form of entertainment, but research has consistently shown that it can have a great impact on your mental health, influencing how you look at yourself, your body, and other genders, while also contributing to disorders such as addiction, anxiety and depression. Let’s dive deep into the mental health effects of anime so that you can enjoy them with awareness, without compromising your well-being.
The Impact of Anime on Mental Health- An Overview
| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Body Image | Unrealistic body proportions can lower self-esteem and contribute to eating disorders. |
| Female Representation | Submissive or sexualized portrayals reinforce gender stereotypes and distorted perceptions. |
| Violence | Graphic content may normalise aggression and cause nightmares. |
| Mental Health | Anime fans may face higher risks of anxiety and depression, but relatable characters can also reduce stigma and inspire resilience. |
| Addiction & Escapism | Binge-watching can lead to poor sleep, social isolation, and loss of productivity, though it may also provide temporary stress relief. |
| Awareness & Learning | Can encourage conversations about mental health, emotional struggles, and coping strategies. |
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Anime and Body Image
Body image issues are a potential side effect of watching anime. In a lot of anime shows, you’ll notice that the characters have heads that seem bigger compared to their bodies. In addition, most anime characters often have small and very similar body shapes with little diversity. Research shows that unrealistic body portrayals in the media can contribute to low self-esteem and eating disorders among young people.
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Anime and female representation
A common criticism of anime is how it portrays its female characters. Most anime shows female characters being submissive, which contributes to gender stereotyping. Another criticism of anime is that they show female characters in an overly sexualized manner, which might have negative impacts on the minds of female and male viewers.
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Anime and violence
Some anime series might include extremely violent and graphic content. This can not only contribute to normalising aggression but also lead to other mental health side effects, such as nightmares.
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Anime linked with anxiety and depression
Anime is a form of animation that has its roots in Japan. Researchers in Japan have been studying the mental health impact of anime for a considerable time. In recent research conducted in Japan in 2022, it was found that young people who identify as anime fans are at an increased risk of facing mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression.
Other psychological effects of anime
- Anime, like any other form of entertainment, can be addictive. This can lead to a loss of productivity in other aspects of life.
- Binging on anime can cause sleep issues.
- Overuse of anime can lead to escapism from real-life issues.
- Binging on anime may also cause social isolation and excessive screen time.
The brighter side of anime
One of the positives about anime is that it brings mental health issues into mainstream discussion. Multiple anime depict characters going through mental health issues and overcoming them. For instance, the popular anime character Naruto is said to have been suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). By creating characters with mental health conditions, anime challenges the stigma around mental health. These characters can also act as inspirations and role models for someone who struggles with mental health issues.
Conclusion:
Like other forms of entertainment, anime has both positive and negative effects. It can be an effective coping mechanism on the one hand, but it can also lead to escapism, unrealistic expectations, and exposure to violent content on the other. The impact of anime is heavily influenced by how much it is consumed and influenced. You can reduce the negative effects of anime on your mental health by managing your anime consumption.
References:
- Brumfield, S. (n.d.). Column: The culture surrounding anime. The Ithacan. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://theithacan.org/42771/life-culture/popped-culture/column-the-culture-surrounding-anime/
- Exploring the Dark Side of Anime: The Negative Effects of Anime on Mental Health. (n.d.). Gidgymode Tech. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://www.gidgymode.com/2023/03/exploring-dark-side-of-anime-negative.html
- Halovic, S. (2020). Using the manga/anime Naruto as graphic medicine to engage clients in conversational model therapy. Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia, 8 (1). 8.
- Life, U. (2021, April 21). How Anime Brings Mental Health Into The Mainstream. Unwanted Life. https://unwantedlife.me/representation-how-anime-brings-mental-health-into-the-mainstream
- Liu, Y., Liu, Y., & Wen, J. (2022). Does anime, idol culture bring depression? Structural analysis and deep learning on subcultural identity and various psychological outcomes. Heliyon, 8(9), e10567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10567
- Yassin, F. (2023, August 4). Exploring Anime and Adolescent Mental Health. The Wave Clinic. https://thewaveclinic.com/blog/exploring-anime-and-adolescent-mental-health/
