Anime in South Africa – What is the state of it?

[GrahamZA]

During the early 00 (2000 to be precisce) there was an explosion of anime in South Africa. We were, then, treated to Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Digimon and later Yu-Gi-Oh!. These titles contributed to a generation of kids watching more than just American/European animated shows.

In recent years anime seems to have decreased in South Africa and even several anime/manga dedicated sites are but shadows of their former selves.

This is a (or should be) a personal topic to most of us. How is anime in South Africa doing? Is it growing? What’s your personal opinion?

[GrahamZA]

I’ve personally noticed a sizable decrease in stocked titles. Even Sandon (Sandton?) Entertainment doesn’t seem to be shipping in Manga Inc. titles these days.

[NeoN]

Keen to read what you guyz have to say, as I've been outta touch with this one since starting work (seems to be the bane on all fronts T_T).

[DarkPrince]

Anime in South Africa is doing just fine, there are 3 local Anime shops within 30 minutes of each other in Joburg and they seem to be doing very well.

There is also quite a lot of dvd's being sold in normal CD/DVD shops, even with their own anime sections. The selection may not be huge but this never use to exist a few years ago.

There isn't anything wrong with the anime in south africa itself it's more down to the people that don't support or support it.

[BanzaiBoB]

@ DarkPrince - does AnimeDirect still exist? Cos everytime I try to follow a link to their site - I end up at AnimeWorx.

[DarkPrince]

Nope it doesn't, merged with AWX.

[BanzaiBoB]

Thanks - figured as much...

[Kage]

So...after a bit more than 7 months...dead thread.
What are your opinions on Anime in South Africa now?

Personally?  I think that anime and manga lifestyle is alive and well in South Africa but it is tenous and spread too thin.
There is not enough done for South Africans that do not belong to a university or society that creates the same feeling of a society.  A place or community to belong to.

Hopefully I can create this with Anime-Ima!

[NeoN]

Sadly, over the last few months my anime viewing has greatly decreased. Still love it to bits, but can hardly find time to balance everything, so I end up neglecting certain hobbies. :/ Planning to jump onto the anime bandwagon full-force once I get One Piece. ^^

[BanzaiBoB]

Sadly, life gets in the way somewhat. Where weekends were once spent watching anime, they're now spent with my girlfriend (although that has other compensations  ).

I also have a lot of other interests which take up the bit of spare time I have - so what do I do? Read manga or a graphic novel, or watch a movie, or series, or documentary, or build a model, or watch anime?

Thankfully I've been able to watch anime on my work PC during lunchbreaks, which at least keeps me in the picture.

I miss being able to geek out with fellow fans, but as Kage mentioned, unless you're part of a Uni society or somesuch, its not always easy getting in touch - or keeping in touch - with other fans. Thankfully, I can come here and at least hold onto a bit of my otakuness.

[NeoN]

^ Same here! If not for LO, contact with the outside otaku world would be lost. T_T

[Kage]

Same here!
Life intervenes at times and there are times where I don't watch anime at all.
What I am more concerned though is that there is no one society or "glue" for all of us!

[jGLZa]

Yeah it sucks, I'm on about 6 different SA anime forums. It would be awesome if we could all just go to one central active place!

[Kage]

Teh biggest problem with those 6 anime forums is that even all 6 of them combined cover what can be covered for us.
Let's see what happens with digitalnatives...there will be some changes coming along.