English Learning Content: New Wave of Japanese Anime Worldwide
Dialogue
Alice: “Hey Bob, have you noticed how Japanese anime has completely taken over the world lately? My grandma even asked me about ‘that show with the cute spy family!’”
Bob: “Alice, absolutely! It’s like you can’t scroll through social media without seeing someone cosplaying a Jujutsu Kaisen character or debating whether Denji is a good boy. Who knew chainsaws could be so adorable?”
Alice: “Right? It’s gone way beyond just us ‘otakus.’ My coworker, who only watches historical documentaries, is now quoting Attack on Titan theories. I think he secretly wants to be a Survey Corps member.”
Bob: “I wouldn’t be surprised! The animation quality these days is just *chef’s kiss*. And the storytelling? They’re tackling such diverse themes, not just giant robots and magical girls anymore.”
Alice: “True, though I still have a soft spot for giant robots. But seriously, the global reach is insane. Netflix, Crunchyroll – they’re pumping out new seasons faster than I can keep up.”
Bob: “It’s a double-edged sword, isn’t it? On one hand, access is amazing. On the other, my watch list has become a monstrous beast I can never conquer.”
Alice: “Tell me about it! And the merchandise! I saw someone with a Spy x Family plushie for their cat. For their cat, Bob!”
Bob: “Well, Anya would approve. Speaking of which, have you seen the fan art? The creativity in the community is just mind-blowing.”
Alice: “Totally. It feels like this wave is different from the Dragon Ball Z/Sailor Moon era. It’s more mainstream, less niche, and everyone’s in on the joke.”
Bob: “Definitely. It’s no longer just a ‘kids’ thing or a ‘nerd’ thing. My gym buddy, who looks like he eats barbells for breakfast, is openly weeping over Demon Slayer plot twists.”
Alice: “That’s beautiful, Bob. I think it’s the emotional depth. These stories just hit differently, you know? They make you laugh, cry, and question the meaning of life, sometimes all in one episode.”
Bob: “Exactly! And the music, too. The opening themes are total bangers. I’ve added way too many to my workout playlist.”
Alice: “Mine too! So, what’s next on your watch list? Are you diving into anything new?”
Bob: “I’m thinking of checking out that new rom-com everyone’s raving about, My Dress-Up Darling. Gotta expand my horizons beyond just shonen battles, right?”
Alice: “Good choice! Prepare for maximum fluffiness. Maybe I’ll finally finish Chainsaw Man and see what all the fuss is about.”
Current Situation
The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented ‘new wave’ of Japanese anime popularity. Unlike previous surges driven by a few blockbuster titles like Dragon Ball Z or Sailor Moon, this wave is characterized by its broad appeal across genres and demographics, fueled by global streaming platforms such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Disney+. High-quality animation, sophisticated storytelling, and a diverse range of themes – from complex fantasy and intense action to slice-of-life and romantic comedies – have captivated audiences worldwide.
Anime is no longer a niche interest; it’s a mainstream cultural phenomenon, influencing fashion, music, and social media trends. International box office successes for anime films, sold-out conventions, and a booming merchandise market further underscore its immense global impact, demonstrating its powerful position in the entertainment landscape.
Key Phrases
- taken over the world: become extremely popular or dominant globally.
- Example: Japanese streetwear brands have really taken over the world in the last decade.
- scroll through social media: to look at content on platforms like Instagram or Twitter by moving down the screen.
- Example: I love to scroll through social media to see new fan art of my favorite characters.
- beyond just us ‘otakus’: appealing to a wider audience than just dedicated fans.
- Example: Anime’s popularity has gone beyond just us ‘otakus’; even my parents watch it now.
- chef’s kiss: (idiom) signifying perfection or excellence.
- Example: The animation in that new movie was absolutely chef’s kiss!
- a double-edged sword: (idiom) something that has both advantages and disadvantages.
- Example: Having so many streaming services is a double-edged sword; there’s a lot to watch, but it gets expensive.
- mind-blowing: extremely impressive, exciting, or surprising.
- Example: The plot twist in the latest episode was truly mind-blowing.
- in on the joke: understanding and being part of a shared humor or cultural reference.
- Example: It’s great when everyone at work is in on the joke about that trending anime meme.
- hit differently: (slang) to have a stronger or more profound emotional impact than usual.
- Example: The soundtrack for that scene just hit differently; it made me tear up.
- total bangers: (slang) excellent, very catchy songs (often used for pop or energetic music).
- Example: The opening and ending themes of that series are total bangers; I listen to them all the time.
- expand my horizons: to broaden one’s experience, knowledge, or interests.
- Example: I usually only watch action anime, but I want to expand my horizons and try a romance series.
- what all the fuss is about: why there is so much excitement or discussion about something.
- Example: Everyone’s talking about this new show; I need to watch it to see what all the fuss is about.
Grammar Points
- Present Perfect Tense (e.g., “has taken over,” “have noticed”):
- Function: Used to describe an action or state that occurred at an indefinite time in the past or began in the past and continues to the present. It emphasizes the present result or relevance of a past action.
- Structure:
Subject + has/have + past participle of the verb. - Example from dialogue: “Have you noticed how Japanese anime has completely taken over the world lately?” (The takeover began in the past and its effect is still evident now).
- Example from dialogue: “My watch list has become a monstrous beast…” (It transformed in the past, and it still is one now).
- Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs (e.g., “faster than,” “more mainstream”):
- Function: Used to compare two people, things, or actions.
- Structure for Adjectives:
- For most one-syllable adjectives:
adjective + -er(e.g., faster, colder). - For adjectives with two or more syllables:
more + adjective(e.g., more mainstream, more beautiful). - Irregular forms: good -> better, bad -> worse.
- For most one-syllable adjectives:
- Structure for Adverbs:
more + adverb(e.g., more quickly, more loudly). - Usage with ‘than’: Often followed by “than” when explicitly comparing two items.
- Example from dialogue: “…pumping out new seasons faster than I can keep up.”
- Example from dialogue: “It’s more mainstream, less niche…”
- Phrasal Verbs:
- Function: Combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a new meaning different from the original verb. They are very common in informal English.
- Examples from dialogue:
- take over: to gain control of something; to become dominant.
- “Japanese anime has taken over the world.”
- keep up: to stay informed about or abreast of something; to manage to do everything that is necessary.
- “Pumping out new seasons faster than I can keep up.”
- check out: to look at or investigate something.
- “I’m thinking of checking out that new rom-com…”
- take over: to gain control of something; to become dominant.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Key Phrases)
Complete the sentences using the most appropriate key phrase from the list.
taken over the world, chef’s kiss, double-edged sword, mind-blowing, expand my horizons, what all the fuss is about
- The graphics in the latest anime film were absolutely __________. I couldn’t believe how detailed they were.
- Working from home can be a __________: it’s flexible, but it’s hard to separate work and personal life.
- Everyone’s raving about this new video game; I need to play it to see __________.
- I usually stick to sci-fi books, but I want to _________ and read some fantasy novels.
- Social media has really _________ in terms of communication and influence.
- The ending scene was __________; it was so unexpected and emotional.
- chef’s kiss
- double-edged sword
- what all the fuss is about
- expand my horizons
- taken over the world
- mind-blowing
Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation (Grammar – Present Perfect)
Rewrite the following sentences using the Present Perfect tense.
- (Anime / become / very popular globally) → Anime ________ very popular globally.
- (I / not finish / watching / that series yet) → I ________ watching that series yet.
- (He / add / many anime songs / to his playlist) → He ________ many anime songs to his playlist.
- (My friend / never watch / anime before) → My friend ________ anime before.
- Anime has become very popular globally.
- I haven’t finished watching that series yet.
- He has added many anime songs to his playlist.
- My friend has never watched anime before.
Exercise 3: Phrasal Verb Matching
Match the phrasal verb to its meaning.
- take over
- keep up
- check out
a. to investigate or look at something
b. to maintain the same pace or level as something else
c. to gain control or dominance
- take over – c. to gain control or dominance
- keep up – b. to maintain the same pace or level as something else
- check out – a. to investigate or look at something
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