The Influence of Anime Culture on the Gaming Industry

What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “Anime Culture”? This movement dates back from the early 1917 and has influenced the evolution of many other cultures. It has inspired many famous artists, innovators and trend setters. Known for the progressive element, innovation and creativity, anime is today the leading inspiration among creators and influencers.

The anime genre fascinated and inspired a lot of industries. It’s no wonder that it’s also making an impact on the casino industry. This genre at first referred to film, TV, comics and video games. But let’s be precise-what is actually anime, and how it can be defined? 

Anime is a shortened term that stands for animation which covers all forms of animated media. This style is often characterised by colourful graphics, interesting characters and fantastical themes. This culture approaches the world from an abstract perspective and spans across various genres including sci-fi and romance. 

How it all began 

The first format of anime originally began with short commercial productions. The first animated flips were known to be somewhat crude and hard to process. The technology behind the graphics was developing at a slot but steady pace. It was not until the 60s when the first televised series was broadcasted. Since then, anime remained as a popular original medium. Works released in a direct to video format were called original video animations (OVA). 

However, the home distribution of anime releases was not popular until the 80s. That’s when VHS and LaserDisc formats showed up. The VHS format was used both in Japan and the US and took the credit for elevating the popularity of anime movies in the 1990s. Those were transcended by the DVD format which offered the unique advantages, including multiple subtitling and dubbing tracks on the same disc.

Influencing the culture of gaming 

It’s anime’s sharp and vibrant graphics that make it a perfect basis for online games, including slot games. Anime films and TV shows deliver fantasy characters which grab players’ attention and interest. Perhaps what makes anime so recognisable is the drawing style. From characters with huge eyes and exaggerated body shape, this presents a unique portraying of characters. We can see this distinct style having an impact in slot games, portraying everything from ancient temples and towns to star galaxies and superpowers.

Slot games have moved away from one dimensional fruit symbols and colour schemes to a more delicate approach to the animation. For example, check out Starburst, one of the popular online slot games around. Today they are more of an artform, created with the player preferences in mind. Immersive and intriguing, these slots will surely captivate the atmosphere through the graphics and imagery.

Many players are no longer interested in pressing the spin button and seeing where the symbols land – they want more from these games. Action-packed storylines and exciting themes that will give an extra layer to the game will provide an adventure-themed gameplay. Anime games often portray battles and fighters, taking martial arts to a whole new level. There are martial arts-themed slot games with ninjas, samurai and sensei as main characters. 

Why are they so popular?

There are reasons why this niche has managed to influence the casino industry. In fact, there are several. The most obvious one can be credited to the high fantasy detail, amazing storylines and fantastical characters with superpower abilities. In these stories there are no boundaries – anything is possible. Therefore, game developers can really experiment with ideas when working within this genre. Not only the storylines are captivating, but the animation style is visually and aesthetically appealing. Players can root for their characters and become involved in the game in a way standard slots can’t. As technology is making its progress, more possibilities open for the casino world. This way, players will demand more from their gaming experience. These years we’ve definitely seen a shift in how slots are designed, with much more focus on the fantasy element. This is where anime steps in, as developers consider to incorporate more fantasy elements of this genre into casino games.