I’ve always been curious about what it was actually like to be an anime, tokusatsu, or gaming fan in Japan during the 90s and early 2000s.
For people who lived through that era, did it feel more special back then compared to now? To me There was something very magical or melancholic vibe to things like the quality of shows, games, toys, merchandise, magazines, events, and the general fan atmosphere.
Nowadays it feels like there’s so much content and merch that everything is crowded and oversaturated. Was it easier back then for certain shows, games, or toy lines to feel like a big cultural moment?
For those who experienced both eras, how would you compare the 90s/early 2000s to the 2010s onward? Did the fan experience get better because of streaming, social media, online stores, and global access? Or did something about the older fan culture feel more exciting or personal?
Also, did anything noticeably change after 2019, streaming, event culture, production schedules, and the way fandom works online?
Would love to hear personal stories, specific examples, or comparisons from people who were actually there.
by Easy-Chipmunk7367