When Katrine and her roommate Adrian were teenagers, they were bullied for liking anime. – They called us weird, emo and nerds. Now they think it’s cool, Katrine laughs gently. They are part of the generation of young adults who grew up obsessed with Japanese culture – and haven’t let it go. For 25 years, “Pokémon” was what everyone was talking about when it came to anime, but recent times show that a lot has happened. Anime is now so popular that it has become Katrine and Adrian’s livelihood. She is an anime tattoo artist in a studio in Oslo and an illustrator at Neo Tokyo, a shop that sells Japanese products with anime motifs. He is the logistics manager for the same store. – It is both strange and funny how the view of nerd culture has changed, says Katrine. As a 12-year-old, Katrine Pagiwan Helland spent all her pocket money on manga series she found on Kiwi. For Adrian Harald Meyn (12), it started with Pokémon. Photo: Sahara Muhaisen / news In both the street and the living room Japanese games and cartoons have been part of Norwegian life since the 1980s. But now we are also excited about Japanese-style books and comics, so much so that we have created the phenomenon of “Nordic manga”. Norwegian Helene (27) makes a living from just that, and in January this year alone we got three new debutantes in Nordic manga. Many of the manga series also exist as animation in films and TV series, and this is what we call anime. The current cinema film “Gutten og Hegren” by Japan’s film legend Miyazaki was given a six by news. The anime genre has long since grown big on TikTok among Norwegians. Anime posters along streets and train stations have become a more common sight in the cityscape, and not least in Norwegian homes. The living room of Katrine and Adrian Harald in their 58 square meter apartment in Drammen. The couple still have some figures in their cardboard boxes, because the display cabinets in the bedroom and in the living room are full. Eren Yeager is one of the few figures that has been given a place on a table, and not inside the display cabinet. The figure is from the manga series Attack on Titan. Katrine and Adrian’s home is oozing with Japanese pop culture and anime. On bed covers, curtains, key rings, fridge magnets, spice boxes, tea cups and clothes. Even on their bodies. – We have spent around NOK 200,000 on the collection over the years, says Katrine Paret had no plans to turn her apartment into an anime paradise, but that is exactly what happened. It all started with a few figures in the bedroom, but as soon as they grew up and got a stable income, the collection grew all over the apartment. – For us, it’s about keeping the memories of the characters and stories we are happy with, says Adrian. Katrine Pagiwan Helland and Adrian Harald Meyn found each other in the Japanese class at high school. Photo: Sahara Muhaisen / news – Adults fill the cinema halls What has made Norwegians more interested in anime in recent years? – I think the corona pandemic inspired many people to explore new hobbies, says manga instructor Eden Melles. She travels around the country holding manga workshops. Even outside of Oslo, the anime wave has created new meeting places and events, such as HaruCon in Grimstad and SmaragdCon in Eidsvoll. In 2020, a separate manga line started at Hadeland Folkehøyskole in Innlandet. In the capital, the shop Neo Tokyo has tripled its income in three years. – What was seen as strange in the 2000s suddenly became accepted and popular, says Melles. “Girls” by Cathrine Sandmæl “Soluna” by Camilla Dahlstrøm “Free fall” by Emily Sørensen The people demanded anime, and major actors such as Netflix, Disney+ and Norwegian cinemas jumped into the battle to show it. When the film “One Piece RED” rolled across the cinema screen in 2022, Melles experienced a packed hall for an anime film for the first time. – It is absolutely incredible to see people of all ages gather. Before, anime was mostly for children, but now you see adults filling the cinema halls. A global phenomenon The popular anime series “One Piece”, which first appeared in the 1990s, is now appearing on Netflix along with its live-action version. Katrine has seen a few episodes, but Adrian is a more ardent fan. He both watches every episode and reads every manga page. Norwegian fans have shown great enthusiasm for “One Piece”. Social media is packed with pictures, videos and discussions. Especially in the Gear 5 scene when the main character Luffy discovered a new power, many went berserk. When Monkey D. Luffy activates Gear 5, he undergoes a major transformation that greatly enhances his gum-like abilities from the gum-gum fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi), a devil fruit he ate. Gear 5 takes these abilities to a new level.Toei Animation / Netflix Fans hunted for merchandise, candy and products with his designs. – Luffy’s straw hat was sold out at Neo Tokyo because everyone wanted to dress up as Luffy for Halloween, says Adrian. In the tattoo studio where Katrine works, customers ask to have this exact moment from the series tattooed. A customer wanted the Gear 5 scene from the series One Piece tattooed on his arm. He got that. Photo: Sahara Muhaisen / news It is not only in Norway that anime has become more popular. The anime wave is a global phenomenon. Manga instructor Eden Melles believes it’s because anime not only hits the mark with the art style, but also because of the themes they address. – They show characters and emotions that everyone in the world recognizes, such as loneliness, love drama, friendship and the fight for justice.
ttn-69
Has gone from niche to mainstream – news Culture and entertainment
