Age of anime fans.

I am now 33. I have been married for a while. I have not gone to an anime convention since I was 22 or so.
My big question is this:
Is it a phase?
Do we grow out of it?
I haven't read anything new manga wise in a long time with the one notable exception of Genshiken second series.
I find that I am certainly not relating to in anyway the current animes and their fans who are all now at least 2/3 my age if not 1/2.
I am still aware of what is happening, but I feel like none of it holds any value for me.
I am not saying I am no longer a geek.
I still go to gaming conventions.
I still geek out over a bunch of geeky stuff.

I guess that big point I am asking is:
Is anime fandom (for the most part) largely a rule of the young?

I think as people get older, they start to try and be more like what (they think) society says thay should be like. many people see anime simply as cartoons, and cartoons are for children. i watch a lot of cartoons, like spongebob and the like, and the looks "normal" people give me are the same as when someone mentions anime in their presence. a sort of superior smugness. i've seen the same attitude expressed towards video games. "when are you going to grow up?", "that stuff is for children.", etc.. it's easy for me to shrug it off because those people are usually wrapped up in stupid shit like reality tv, mindless consumerism, and easily stressed out over the littlest things.

i supose the only real difference is that some hobbies are more accepted as a "grown up". building model cars - childish. customizing/restoring a real car - adultish.

As life goes by we get busier.
As life goes by we have less time to watch anime.
As life goes by we learn to forget about things we no longer have time for.

I'm the same as i was when i was 13. I watch some shows regularly and try to keep up with my queue. Work and real life is in the fore front though. If i was living off moms or dads and no school then i would be watching and reading everything i could.

Age means nothing to me. If I still like anime at 80 years old then so be it. Of course, when I have a job I'll have less time to enjoy it but that's different. Interests may fade overtime but I'm not gonna hit 30 and be like "Welp, time to stop liking animu".

Ammy grandson: Grampa what that thingy with a hole in the middle of it?
Ammy: Well johnny.. that Asuna from Sword Art Online pocket pussy.
Ammy grandson:*look at shelf*
Ammy grandson: Fucking weeb paw paw.

Sounds about right.

I don't see any reason to stop watching anime just because I get old. True, I've slowed down considerably in the last month (I used to watch at least an episode a day) but that's just because Azumanga Daioh isn't one of those "I need to see what happens next" anime and I'm still waiting for some uncensored links (haven't checked yet) for some other anime.

Bottom line: I barely play games anymore (with the exception of Battlefront 1 and Republic Commando). It's not worth getting xbox live if I do not have sufficient time to play right? I actually changed my mind about getting Halo 4. I'd rather save that $60 for something or someone else and get the game when it drops in price a little. As for anime, I still try to squeeze in time for anime though.

Just curious, does your wife know how into anime you are? Like are your shelves containing a few things or are they bursting at the seams? It's cool that she doesn't really bother you over it.

As of this writing, I'm thirty-three. My fannish interests have definitely changed since I first started to like video games (about 24 years ago), and when a friend helped me get into anime/manga (almost 14 years ago). It seems like only yesterday that I was discovering new series from Suncoast or Coconuts Video, and mail-ordering fansub VHS tapes. But then I remember that most of my old favorite comics shops, bookstores, and rental outlets closed years ago.

These days, I find it very difficult to make time for watching long series, and I've finished only one lengthy video game in the last five years. I'm spending much of my not-work-related time outside, either exercising or meeting new people. Also, I've been fortunate to find a local fandom-related meetup group which is all adults.

ill be honest with you here, living in society shapes us into what we should be to fit in with everyone that also includes letting go of some questionable habits, but let me ask you, who do you want to become? what do you want to achieve? not what the others tell you.

Hmhm, I am 25 now been watching since I was 14 and seen over 300-400 different animes and so far no sign of slowing down.

As for conventions, never been to one so dunno, but been to Japan and going there again next year!

In my past 10 years I have gotten bored with a lot of things in life, but so far the one constant thing for me I havent gotten bored with has been the world of anime.

But everyone is different and we are all constantly changing, so who knows. In the end, do what is fun and have fun doing it.

Age is not the question when will people stop watching anime. If a person get's tired of watching anime and they get sick of it no matter what happens, then that's the time they stop watching it.

-DarkdaemonPK2

I like anime :computerized voice:

-Stephen Hawking

Pretty much agree with what's been said already, you're never too old for anime. Unless you're 90 and going blind. Or deaf.

We all get tired of something no matter what it is.

I'm 22 been playing video games since i can remember and always watched cartoons when i was little, and grew into anime when cartoon network started airing them.
Then for a while i stopped watching anime and reading manga, until about 4 years ago my friend at work loaned me his Chrono Crusade , and Mai Hime box sets.
Been heavy in it again since then.

OT - Thinking about this reminds of when i was maybe 10 or 11 and was up late watching sci-fi channel and an anime came on really late.
I rememebr that they were on a train in space. might have been some fighting but at the end i think the main character reached out the window and caught a frozen tear or something. cant remember anything else but i really enjoyed it.