This is basically a long getting-something-trivial-off my chest thing so I don't expect much of a response, but here goes.
I'm basically checking the "Naruto" anime out because I enjoyed the episodes I saw on Cartoon Network, I'm curious about the mixed opinions of this popular series, and because this friend told me I should watch it after I told him to watch "One Piece". Mostly because my friend told me I should, that's really what started it. I thought it was only fair. So far I'm three episodes into Chunin, and so far the series has been decent. What's frustrating is that this out of a friend's recommendation, and for years I've been talking about how much I love "One Piece" and want him to watch it. He couldn't get into the art style of "One Piece", then he decides to watch it because he said he's more open-minded now and that I've been talking to him about it for a long time. He watches about the first eight episodes and told me he liked it, and that he never imagined he'd enjoy it. Then like months later again he tells me he couldn't get into the art-style, I told him it takes a while to get good, and he said that he'd give it another chance. He doesn't but that mostly has to do with being busy and other things he's interested in taking up his time. A month-and-a-half ago I was talking to him on Facebook, we were talking about anime and he was talking about how great "Naruto Shippuden" is, and mentions how he couldn't get into "One Piece". When I tell him that "One Piece" has made me cry and how I showed clips of it to another friend who cried from them despite not knowing the story, he was surprised and asked what it is that my friend and I get so enraptured with in "One Piece".
He asked me to spoil it a little bit for him so I start telling him about how the main characters have these tragic pasts that they overcome through perseverance and comradery. Then he says, "No no no, who's the villain?" So I start telling him about the antagonists and the conflicts surrounding the main characters, so I'm basically telling him stuff that I don't think encapsulates what really makes the show appealing. So again he says he'll check it out, last time I asked about it he says he hasn't had time. I see him a few nights ago and he says once again he couldn't get into the art style after only a few episodes, and I'm sure he still hadn't rewatched it. He says he has a problem with all the colors, fair enough. If you don't like the way something looks I understand that, like how some people have a hard time watching black-and-white films.
But from the conversations I've had with him, it feels like his problem with the art-style have more to do with how since it's a silly-looking show, that it will be reflected in the story itself, not necessarily thinking the drawings look bad. I say this because he seemed surprised when I told him how it's made me cry. Still, one of his beefs with anime is how they can go from wacky to serious so much, and "One Piece" certainly does that. And I can understand if he'd rather not see an action/adventure cartoon that looks like a comedy, we talked about that too.
And yet, he said he enjoyed those first few episodes. He got to around the Buggy, that's pretty much right before the series starts showing it's less silly moments. I don't know how far he got into "FMA Brotherhood" but he said he really enjoyed it more than the first "FMA". Compared to the first series, it's got way more of that wacky to serious thing going on. He criticized the show for that reason, and yet he still enjoyed it more than the first series. He enjoyed "Avatar the Last Airbender", a show he didn't think he'd get into because of out-growing Nickelodeon shows. I wouldn't say it has that wacky/serious thing going on, but there were times where the drama was at odds with the childish humor. I think a mix of comedy and drama is necessary but there were times where I felt the humor was placed inappropriately in "Avatar".
I rarely ever try to recommend "One Piece" to someone, I honestly feel this guy will enjoy it. But oh well if I can't ever convince him or he doesn't take it upon himself to check it out, his loss. I know this is a really long rant but I felt like getting it out there, and maybe I'll actually get some comments out of this.