Anime was first introduced to Filipinos during the Martial Law period. Some anime series in the ‘70s mirrored the country’s political climate, which was marked by the presence of authoritarian leaders and the emergence of several heroic icons.

Voltes V (1977), aired by television network GMA in 1978, focused on an abusive ruler who exercised violence and corruption. Despite claims made by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, speculation circulated that the banning of anime may have been due to its subversive message.

Anime had already developed and carried various themes and plots when it emerged once again in Philippine television; however, it remained a challenge for viewers to fully grasp the context of anime series. “[ABS-CBN] didn’t even translate the white subtitles,” says Kristine Santos, History instructor.

Anime culture’s diversity can have different kinds of fans. For Sam Eustaquio, Toushin Assistant Vice President for Member Formation, it is the plot-driven storylines that are the most attractive in anime. However, she mentions that some fans also depend on well-received reviews.

Anime stereotypes can also arise depending on one’s initial introduction to the said media. For some, liking anime starts with shows they liked growing up. This then leads to two common correlations: Those who associate anime with nostalgia, and those who see it exclusively for kids.

 

But anime with darker themes such as suicide and violence can target adults as well. “For those living outside Japan, they’re probably not aware of the anime audience’s wide spectrum [of ages], and just easily stereotype or typecast anime as something for young kids,” says Santos.

 

Another stigma regarding anime is the weeaboo, used for a person who pushes away their culture in favor of Japanese culture. This comes from a racial slur associated with term “Wapanese” or Westerners trying to imitate Japanese.