What do you define as “Gateway Anime” ? The term “Gateway Anime” to me stands for an Anime that wrapped you into its grasp and opened the door of exploration into more Anime, eventually spiraling you into this fandom. I remember watching older, popular mainstream Anime like Pokemon, Digimon, Cardcaptor Sakura, and my all time favorite… Sailor Moon. As a child, I had no idea that these shows could be categorized differently than the regular cartoons that we also had available to us such as Rugrats, Looney Tunes, and Gargoyles (do I sound like a 90’s baby or what?!). I was graced by their art, and admired how the characters were drawn. I completely fell in love with how different these “cartoons” appeared to me. It’s interesting to me, how at such a young age, I knew there was something more, something different to these shows I was watching on TV. I hold two very specific Anime’s dear to my heart.
I was the biiigest Pokemon and Sailor Moon fan as a child. These two, no matter how mainstream, how loved and admired they are to many others, will always hold a dear place in my heart. Always. I remember once, I was grounded from watching Pokemon, which my mother knew I never missed when it aired on TV. I was super devastated that day, but my father saved my day by insisting he was the one watching Pokemon, and I just so happened to be in the room. I will never forgot the episode that was playing that day; it was “Goodbye Burterfree”, when Ash and Butterfree part ways so that Butterfree may journey off with the great migration. Always a dear memory that holds a special meaning to me.
Sailor Moon was the Anime that made me feel that I could conquer the world and defeat all evil that came my way. I loved their outfits, I loved their powers, but most of all, I loved how their friendship could always come together and conquer whatever obstacle that came their way. My parents purchased many Sailor Scout dolls for me and my famed rolling backpack. I was in the clouds with my Sailor Moon rolling backpack I used during my first grade year! I have began rewatching Sailor Moons original series with my 6 year old daughter, and she loves the pretty guardians as well! Sharing those moments with her remind me very much of when I was that age! Just as I had asked my mother, she is also asking me for her very own Sailor Moon backpack to use for … wait for it… her first grade year of elementary school! Sometimes, we will get in the car and she will request the Opening Song which is always a nice break from COCO, Moana, or Frozen!
Watching these and other available Anime’s during early/mid 90’s really influenced my interest in art as well. I became fascinated by Anime and soon began to draw as best as I could the characters that I saw on television. I am no expert, but continue to practice every chance I get. When I gain some more confidence on my abilities, I may even post some here!
Pokemon and Sailor Moon continue to be my top two favorites, and I love how I can share these experiences and make new memories with my daughter. That is why I believe these two where my “Gateway Anime” that captured my interest and kept me going in exploring more of these fandom.
So now I ask you, what do you define as “Gateway Anime” and which Anime(s) do you hold dear?
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