While watching a recent episode of America’s Next Top Model, something unexpected occurred. “Ann drew the last supper, anime version, on a napkin that we taped to the wall.”
Talk about words I never thought I’d hear on this show. This means that not just one, but two of the girls know what anime is; the girl who drew it, Ann (below, bottom), and the girl making the comment, Jane (below, top).
When thinking about what I’ve learned about these two over the course of the show, I am less surprised. Ann is a self-proclaimed shy nerd, who is slowly coming out of her shell, so I find it easy to believe she might be an anime fan. As for Jane, she is probably the most worldly of the bunch having attended Princeton, so again perhaps not too shocking that she has an idea of what anime is. But that it was brought up on a widely popular show, even for a brief moment, must say something.
So is this another instance of anime having come into the mainstream and making itself known, at least on a basic level? I’m not sure, but damned if that short moment between Ann and Jane didn’t surprise me.
Lol, I think I’m more surprised to hear that you watch America’s Top Models.:p
How did I know that was going to be the first comment? >:P
-Narutaki
After Anne wins America’s Next Top Model, she should go win America’s Greatest Otaku.
In the Israeli version of “Beauty and the Geek” one of the geeks is (by the subtitle) a “Anime and Japanese manga lover”.
In one segment a chick ask him to make a serious face and what does he do ?
Swings an invisible sword and cries “Shine, Kisama” in “glorious” weaboo style…
You know one of the contestants on a former season of this show was a 4chan camwhore called ‘creepy-chan’. The More You Know.
In any case, I think almost everyone where I live knows at least the word ‘anime’ and has a very broad idea of what it is.