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Anime didn’t change after 9/11, but 9/11 changed how I watched anime.

A writer's perspective on how 9/11 influenced their viewing of anime.

By Roland Kelts·Sep 10·japantimes.co.jp·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)

A writer reflects on how the 9/11 attacks changed their approach to watching anime.

Why it matters

This story offers insight into how global events can impact personal media consumption habits.

The 9/11 attacks made the writer look at their favorite anime shows differently. Before, they just watched them for fun. Now, they look at them more critically and wonder if the shows are trying to make a point about the attacks.

Analysis

The 9/11 Attacks and Their Aftermath

The 9/11 attacks took place in the United States, causing significant destruction and loss of life. The writer, Roland Kelts, was in Japan at the time, experiencing the event through the lens of their apartment's morning sunrise. The writer describes the feeling of being forever destabilized, as the skyline of New York City, a symbol of global power, was now a target.

The Writer's Experience with Anime

After the attacks, the writer returned to New York with a new job writing about anime. They describe their coffee table being overwhelmed by stacks of DVDs and manga paperbacks, including titles they had previously seen as fans. The writer notes that the attacks brought a new perspective to these works, as they looked at them with a critical eye.

The Impact of 9/11 on Media Consumption

The writer reflects on how the 9/11 attacks changed their approach to watching anime. They describe a shift from casual viewing to a more critical and reflective engagement with the medium. The writer suggests that the attacks made them more aware of the potential for media to be used as a tool for propagandaing, and they began to see the works they were watching in a new light.

Key points

  • The 9/11 attacks made the writer look at their favorite anime shows differently.
  • The writer became more critical and reflective of the works they were watching.
  • The attacks made the writer more aware of the potential for media to be used as a tool for propagandaing.
  • The writer suggests that the attacks made them more aware of the potential for media to be used as a tool for propagandaing.
  • The writer notes that the attacks made them more aware of the potential for media to be used as a tool for propagandaing.
The Upside

The 9/11 attacks may have made the writer more critical of anime, but they also made them more aware of the potential for media to be used as a tool for propagandaing. This could lead to more thoughtful and nuanced discussions about anime in the future.

The Downside

The 9/11 attacks could have also made the writer more cynical about anime, thinking that the shows are trying to make a point about the attacks. This could lead to a more negative and dismissive view of the medium.

Originally reported at

japantimes.co.jp

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsanime911japanmediaviewing

Author

Roland Kelts

Intelligence analysis by

Qwen 2.5 (3B)

Published

Sep 10, 2026

Source

japantimes.co.jp

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Topics

anime911japanmediaviewing

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