If you're reading this right now, there's a good chance that you or someone you know enjoys watching anime. If by some rare chance you only have a vague idea of what anime is, allow me to briefly explain. Anime is essentially a style of animation that originated from Japan and throughout the years, has skyrocketed in popularity, especially among the younger generation. Many people who only know a little bit about anime assume that the only ones who enjoy it are nerdy Asian youth with nothing better to do than sit in front of a computer all day. This is probably the single largest misconception surrounding anime. In reality, people from all backgrounds and cultures can enjoy anime, and I'll explain why so many people are drawn into watching it day after day.

So, what makes anime popular, and why do so many people from all over the world spend so much of their time watching it? I don't believe that there's an exact answer to this question. However, one of the things that I feel makes anime very different from your typical Saturday morning cartoon is that there's just so much variety in anime. The storylines are more detailed, many people would argue that the animation is done better, and the extensive character development makes the fans crave for episode after episode. I do know for sure that any hardcore anime junkie (what one normally calls an anime fan) would agree with me on these points.

Some people might have heard their friends mention the action-adventure anime Naruto or Bleach and be under the assumption that all anime is similar to those series. Nothing could be further from the truth. While Naruto and Bleach are without a doubt two of the most popular anime series out at the moment in 2008, there are many others that are completely different. Say for example that you enjoy watching mysteries or Sherlock Holmes' style shows. One of the many mystery anime series out there is called Detective Conan. It is on-going and presently has over 500 episodes. It's probably one of the most well-written anime series that I've ever seen, and I've seen my fair share of anime. Craving a thriller? Something suspenseful? Check out the anime series Death Note. A mix between fantasy and psychological warfare, Death Note is definitely one anime you need to take a look at. Seen it already? Not to worry, there's always more. Code Geass is the complex tale of a young student's dream to reclaim his country back from the clutches of an evil organization - using military strategies and tactics. Maybe you'd rather watch something light, perhaps maybe a romance or a drama. Some of the more notable romance anime include Ai Yori Aoshi, Love Hina, Nodame Cantabile, Kanon, and Honey and Clover. I'd love to list them all out for you, but that would take quite a while. Love triangles, mysteries, dramas, action, history, suspense, fantasy - the list goes on and on. If it's something you can think of, there'll be an anime for it. Enjoy playing mahjong? Check out the anime Akagi. Like playing sports? Slam Dunk for the basketball fans, Major for the baseball players. Play in the orchestra or enjoy classical music? Check out Nodame Cantabile. How about something random, like vampires? - try Hellsing or Trinity Blood, just to name a few. I could keep going, but the list would go on and on. Basically, the point I want to get across is that if you just sit down and take the time to watch a few episodes of anime, I'm sure that you can find something that you'll enjoy.