The Best Anime About Internet Subcultures

Key Takeaways

Recent anime like Mayonaka Punch and VTuber Legend explore these subcultures and internet popularity.
Anime like Dennō Coil and Serial Experiments Lain delve into the fusion of cyberspace and reality.
VTuber Legend cleverly explores VTuber culture, resonating with fans who enjoy such content.

As someone who’s spent more hours than I care to admit scrolling through YouTube and Twitch channels, these upcoming anime series sound like they’ve tapped right into the heart of the streaming world!

The digital era, around three decades old now, has seen a remarkable evolution since the birth of the internet. With the internet transforming into a worldwide phenomenon and technology making significant strides since its early web days, numerous anime and manga series (alongside movies) have been created to explore the repercussions of our increased interconnectedness and its influence on society. Some recent anime series even delve into emerging and established aspects of internet culture and various subcultures.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve found myself immersed in two fascinating aspects of digital life that have become an integral part of my experience – streaming, whether it’s through YouTube or its counterpart, VTubers. So, if you’re curious about the best anime that delve into internet culture and its subcultures, here are some recommendations:

What Are “Internet Subcultures“?

In This Era, The Internet Is Ubiquitous

The Best Anime About Internet Subcultures

The internet’s capacity to unite people globally and provide unprecedented access to information has transformed its usage into a means for forming and sustaining relationships online, impacting offline connections as well. As logging off becomes less common due to the growing fusion of online and offline life, it is natural that regular internet users have evolved unique ways of interacting, shaped by their high level of online activity. This evolution has given rise to a digital culture among internet users, which thrives in online spaces, thereby creating the term “netizens”.

Just like offline subcultures such as hip-hop, goth, or hipster have distinct identities, online cultures have developed unique expressions, especially with the rise of internet personas, celebrities, and influencers. For instance, shows like “Mayonaka Punch,” “VTuber Legend,” and “The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio” from Summer 2024 and Spring 2024 respectively, are anime influenced by internet culture. However, there are other anime that reflect the broader impact of the internet, like the classic “Serial Experiments Lain” from 1998. Today, people like YouTubers, streamers, influencers, and VTubers have gained fame online, and shows like “Mayonaka Punch” and “VTuber Legend” explore the intricacies of this digital era, although not as deeply or psychologically as “Serial Experiments Lain” or certain anime from 2007.

Let’s Start With Something Older…

The Series That Imagines a Fully Augmented Reality

This is definitely an article about subcultures that emerged online, but we can’t have this conversation without talking about the psychological, speculative masterpiece that was Serial Experiments Lain and its prevailing influence nearly 30 years since it aired. With its perspective firmly rooted in the 1990s, Serial Experiments Lain is a series that spawned a lot of interesting titles in the 2000s, like Madhouse’s 2007 sci-fi title, Dennō Coil, which is a series that is as l33t as can be with the world it presents. It is set in the year 2026, eleven years after the breakthrough of the “Dennō Megane” (Cyber Glasses), a device that enables the wearer to perceive and interact with an augmented reality. The series juxtaposes traditional Japanese scenery, folktales and nature with a futuristic, digital setting superimposed upon it, following children as they play in a half-real, half-digital city and slowly uncover its many mysteries.

The show “Dennō Coil” is another beloved cult classic, delving into speculative fiction about the impact of rising digital advancements and the blend of cyberspace and reality. Even when it first aired, some of these changes were already starting to occur. With abundant internet, programming, and tech terminology integrated from the get-go, and its innovative portrayal of how the digital world interacts with our own, “Dennō Coil” stands out as one of the essential anime for individuals who remember the early internet days, understand programming jargon, and have a passion for technology. This series offers a unique perspective on a world where life isn’t just lived physically but also in cyberspace – a concept that differs significantly from Reki Kawahara’s precursor to the “Sword Art Online” franchise, “Accel World,” in terms of the extent to which it merges the digital realm with the physical.

An Anime About Vampire YouTubers

Call of the Night Meets Streaming

2024’s “Midnight Punch” is an original anime produced by P.A. Works and crafted by Dōga Tōkō Shōjo (Video Submission Girls). The story revolves around Masaki Sonoue, a “NewTuber” who was expelled from her group after a heated argument led to her punching a collaborator. Her online reputation suffers, and she’s inundated with hateful messages. Struggling to regain her online standing, she attempts to create videos independently, but they fail. In an attempt to record a video at an abandoned hospital, Masaki encounters Live, the leader of a group of vampires, and strikes a bargain: if they can garner 1 million subscribers on NewTube, Live can feed on Masaki’s blood. The series skillfully intertwines character development with an astute understanding of the challenges faced by those striving for success in the realm of social media or streaming. While the idea of incorporating supernatural beings into camera footage isn’t novel, the contemporary focus on streaming and video content gives it a fresh twist.

The series is directed by Shū Honma, with scripts by Hideaki Shirasaka, original character designs by Tsukasa Kotobuki and character designs by Ryōta Arima. The cast includes Fairouz Ai (Jolyne Kūjō, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean) as Live, Ikumi Hasegawa (Übel, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) as Masaki, Hina Yomiya (Anna Yamada, The Dangers in My Heart) as Fū, Hitomi Ueda (Aki Hiyami, World Trigger) as Tokage and Yuina Itō as Ichiko.

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral After Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream

Uniquely Hilarious and Extremely In Touch With Its Target Audience

“VTuber Legend: The Unintended Viral Success After Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream

As a devoted VTuber enthusiast myself, I can’t help but appreciate the deep affection for VTubers that VTuber Legend showcases. It’s a must-watch for any fan of this burgeoning streaming trend, offering an entertaining, insightful look into one of our beloved internet subcultures. In many ways, VTuber Legend seems to be a series that truly grasps the essence it represents and connects with its fellow fans on a deeper level.

2024-10-02 20:33