Anime has always pushed boundaries, but can you believe how fast it’s changing these days? New genres keep appearing, new styles of animation keep becoming strange, and even AI is sneaking in on the production process. Some fans love the changes, while others simply wonder whether anime is losing its soul. Is anime changing too fast, then, or is this simply a sign of an even greater leap? Let’s look at the new trends that are shaking the world of anime.
The Surprising Rise of New Anime Genres
We are familiar with the test-and-prove anime genres—shonen, shojo, mecha, and isekai. With changing tastes in fans, there are new subgenres emerging which disrupt the style of storytelling being presented. Some of these few are making the waves:
- Hyperrealistic Sci-Fi – The Future Feels Too Real
Science fiction in anime used to be all about space wars and robot battles, but these days, it’s near-future realism—sagas that feel like they could genuinely occur in ten or twenty years’ time.
Example: Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song (2021)
Instead of a traditional robot uprising, this anime is all about AI consciousness, emotion, and technology ethics. It’s breathtaking, thought-provoking, and uncomfortably relevant.
- Post-Dystopian Healing – Hope After the End
We’ve grown used to apocalyptic bleakness in anime, but this new wave has its sights set on rebuilding, not destruction. Hope, healing, and the survival of humanity are the themes of these shows.
Example: Dr. Stone (2019 – present)
Rather than surviving a sadistic wasteland, humankind works together to rebuild civilization using science. It’s oddly comforting and leaves you grateful for the little things in life.
- Isekai, But With a Twist
Isekai anime (where the protagonist is sent to another world) has dominated for years, but audiences are growing weary of the same power-level broken heroes and same-old same-old story. Newer shows are turning the genre upside down.
Example: Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World (2016 – ongoing)
Instead of gaining absurd powers and immediately winning, the hero dies repeatedly, suffering from trauma and real consequences. It’s a severe but refreshing change from the traditional genre.
Animation Techniques Redefining the Industry
As storytelling in anime evolves, production styles for anime also evolve in a revolutionized fashion. Some changes are exciting, but others challenge animation’s future.
- AI in Anime – Blessing or Curse?
Artificial intelligence is coming into the anime world, helping with background design and in-betweening. This speeds up production, but others worry it will replace human animators.
Example: The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Studio Ghibli allegedly tried using AI to perfect backgrounds, but Hayao Miyazaki himself has also spoken out against AI-generated animation. Will AI assist animators or supplant them? The argument is only just starting.
- The Emergence of 3D Hybrid Animation
CGI in anime has appeared stiff and unnatural for years, but more recent approaches combine it with classic animation in a form that looks more natural.
Example: Dorohedoro (2020)
This dark, gritty anime uses CGI without losing the hand-drawn quality, demonstrating that 3D anime can be visually appealing if done right.
- Higher Frame Rates – Too Smooth for Anime?
Most anime is produced at 12 frames per second (FPS), which gives it a distinctive look. Some new productions, though, are experimenting with higher frame rates, which smooth out movement.
Example: Suzume (2022)
Makoto Shinkai’s movies were already excellent eye candies, and now they are being elevated to a whole new level of animation smoothness. However, some say that employing high FPS takes away the special anime feel. What do you think?
So, Is Anime Changing Too Fast?
As new genres revolutionize the boundaries and technology alters the landscape of animation, the world of anime is racing at warp speed. Some of these innovations are exciting, but others make die-hard fans nervous. Will technology ruin the art of anime? Will 3D graphics eliminate hand-drawn classics? Or is this an age of gold for innovation?
No matter where anime is headed, one thing is for sure—it will keep surprising us. What are your thoughts on all this change? Take a minute to reflect on how anime has progressed and where it could possibly go from here!
