At first, I had planned on making a long list of misconceptions people have about anime and the anime community. However, when I asked several people who don't watch anime what they think of when they think of anime and anime fans, I noticed an unmistakable trend. The image people tend to envision is that of a recluse sitting in front of their computer all day.
The common term for someone like this is "otaku".
The word "otaku" is defined as a young person who is obsessed with computers or particular aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills and is often used in a negative light (similar to the way "weeaboo" is used). Despite the negative connotation, some people take pride in being an otaku and associate themselves with the otaku community.
While some people do fit this description, to call every anime fan an otaku would be hasty and inaccurate. A large portion of anime fans do not fit the otaku mold. Some fans, such as myself, simply enjoy taking some time to watch anime. Most people, mainly millennials, can remember watching Dragonball Z or Pokemon as children. Simply hearing those titles can bring back memories of being a kid and wanting to go superseiyan or head out on a journey to "catch 'em all".
Most anime fans from today's generation have those same memories. Their enjoyment of anime continued into adulthood and even some esteemed celebrities continue to express their love of anime. These celebrities include Terry Crews, Avril Lavigne, and the late Robin Williams to name a few.
Terry Crews, star of movies such as "White Chicks" and "The Expendables" has admitted his love of "Ghost in the Shell".
Famed recording artist Avril Lavigne has expressed her love for anime and manga, even contributing two songs to the movie "One Piece Z".
The beloved movie star and comedian Robin Williams kept no secrets about his love for anime. He went so far as to use his own figures from "Neon Genesis Evangelion" in his 2002 movie One Hour Photo. Williams also admitted on a Reddit Q&A that he loved several anime titles including Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop. The full Q&A can be found here:
These celebrities are three very different people who all share a common love for anime, and none of them fit the otaku stereotype. My personal experiences have introduced me to many anime fans, none of whom could accurately be described as an otaku. What people should take from this is although there are some who embrace the otaku lifestyle, simply being a fan of anime doesn't make someone an otaku. Just like there are many different kinds of people who enjoy comic book heroes, people from all walks of life enjoy anime.
