Anime Was a Mistake

2015Troll quote / fake quote image macroclassic

Also known as: "Anime and Its Consequences" · "Miyazaki Was Right"

Anime Was a Mistake" is a 2015 fake-quote image macro falsely attributed to director Hayao Miyazaki, expressing exaggerated disdain for anime and otaku culture.

"Anime Was a Mistake" is a fabricated quote falsely attributed to legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki, used online to express exaggerated disdain toward anime and otaku culture. The troll quote originated in January 2015 on Tumblr, built from a real 2014 interview where Miyazaki criticized the anime industry's reliance on socially isolated creators. It became one of the most widely shared fake quote memes in anime fan communities.

fake quote memesanime mangatumblr memesironic memesgif memes

Overview

The meme takes the form of captioned GIFs or images of Hayao Miyazaki, one of anime's most respected directors, with invented quotes like "Anime was a mistake" or similar statements expressing disgust with anime culture. The humor comes from the irony of attributing anti-anime sentiments to a man who spent his entire career making some of the most beloved anime films ever produced. The format works as both a self-deprecating joke among anime fans and a trolling tool aimed at the community2.

What makes the meme effective is that it's rooted in something real. Miyazaki did express genuine frustration with the anime industry in a 2014 interview, just not in those exact words1. The gap between what he actually said and the exaggerated meme version is where the comedy lives.

On January 27, 2014, Japanese website Golden Times published an interview with Hayao Miyazaki. In the interview, Miyazaki was filmed sketching a young girl while delivering pointed criticism of anime's creative direction. He argued that modern animators lack real-world observation skills, saying: "Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people" and "It's produced by humans who can't stand looking at other humans. And that's why the industry is full of otaku!"1

Three days later, on January 30, 2014, English-language site RocketNews24 (now SoraNews24) translated the interview, bringing Miyazaki's comments to Western audiences1. The translation spread quickly through anime forums and social media, setting the stage for meme-ification.

The actual meme didn't appear until a year later. On January 25, 2015, the Tumblr blog "old-japanese-men" posted two animated GIFs featuring footage of Miyazaki from the 2013 documentary *The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness*2. The GIFs were captioned with made-up quotes expressing extreme dissatisfaction with anime and otaku culture, far more blunt than anything Miyazaki actually said.

Origin & Background

Platform
Golden Times (original interview, 2014), Tumblr (meme creation, 2015)
Key People
old-japanese-men, Hayao Miyazaki
Date
2015

On January 27, 2014, Japanese website Golden Times published an interview with Hayao Miyazaki. In the interview, Miyazaki was filmed sketching a young girl while delivering pointed criticism of anime's creative direction. He argued that modern animators lack real-world observation skills, saying: "Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people" and "It's produced by humans who can't stand looking at other humans. And that's why the industry is full of otaku!"

Three days later, on January 30, 2014, English-language site RocketNews24 (now SoraNews24) translated the interview, bringing Miyazaki's comments to Western audiences. The translation spread quickly through anime forums and social media, setting the stage for meme-ification.

The actual meme didn't appear until a year later. On January 25, 2015, the Tumblr blog "old-japanese-men" posted two animated GIFs featuring footage of Miyazaki from the 2013 documentary *The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness*. The GIFs were captioned with made-up quotes expressing extreme dissatisfaction with anime and otaku culture, far more blunt than anything Miyazaki actually said.

How It Spread

The Tumblr post gained traction immediately. The next day, January 26, 2015, Imgur user Ondaheightsofdespair reposted the two GIFs under the title "Old sage drops some wisdom," and the post hit Imgur's front page with over 8,800 points.

From there, the fabricated quote "Anime was a mistake" condensed into a shorthand phrase used across platforms. Reddit anime communities picked it up as a running joke, Twitter users dropped it in reply threads whenever anime discourse got heated, and it became a go-to reaction in comment sections on anime-related content. By March 2016, the original Tumblr post had accumulated 271,725 notes.

The meme thrived because it sat at an intersection of several internet comedy traditions: fake celebrity quotes, self-aware fandom humor, and the ironic enjoyment of anime by people who simultaneously mock it. Miyazaki's real reputation as a grumpy industry elder gave the fake quotes just enough plausibility to land.

Platforms

4chanRedditTwitterDiscordYouTube

Timeline

2015

Phrase originates in anime communities

2016-01-01

Anime Was a Mistake started spreading across social media platforms

2017

Becomes widespread as ironic self-criticism

2018-01-01

Brands and companies started using Anime Was a Mistake in marketing

2020

Is still going strong meme in anime circles

2025-01-01

Anime Was a Mistake is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The meme is typically deployed in a few ways:

1

Reaction to bizarre anime content: When someone shares a weird anime screenshot, clip, or plot summary, responding with "Anime was a mistake" or a Miyazaki GIF with the caption signals mock disgust.

2

Self-deprecating fandom humor: Anime fans often use it about their own hobby, acknowledging the absurdity of certain anime tropes while still being fans.

3

Fake quote format: Users sometimes create new fabricated Miyazaki quotes in the same style, pairing them with images of the director looking stern or disappointed. The quotes are intentionally exaggerated for comedic effect.

4

Trolling: Dropping the phrase in anime fan spaces to provoke reactions from people who either don't know the quote is fake or who take the bait regardless.

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

The meme tapped into a real and ongoing conversation about anime's creative direction. Miyazaki's actual 2014 comments about otaku culture and the industry's insularity were substantive criticism from one of anime's most accomplished figures. By turning those comments into an exaggerated meme, internet users simultaneously amplified and diluted his point.

SoraNews24 noted the inherent irony of Miyazaki criticizing otaku for staffing the anime industry, comparing it to "boxing is full of dudes who really like punching stuff". The meme captured this tension perfectly: the medium's greatest artist expressing contempt for the people who love it most.

The phrase also became a template for similar fake quote memes. The format of attributing absurdly critical statements to respected figures within a fandom spread to other communities, though "Anime was a mistake" stayed the most recognizable example.

Fun Facts

Miyazaki's actual quote never uses the word "mistake." His real criticism focused on animators who "can't stand looking at other humans" and called the industry "full of otaku".

The documentary *The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness* (2013), which provided the source footage for the meme, follows Miyazaki during the production of *The Wind Rises*, his supposed final film.

SoraNews24 joked that Miyazaki's ever-present cigarette might be "some sort of growth that protrudes from Miyazaki's mouth, given the rarity of seeing him without one".

Over 95% of Japan's population has watched at least one Miyazaki film, making him arguably the most universally known anime creator in his home country.

The original Tumblr post reached over a quarter million notes within about 14 months of being posted.

Derivatives & Variations

Variations criticizing specific anime genres

A variation of Anime Was a Mistake

(2015)

Self-aware anime fan memes

A variation of Anime Was a Mistake

(2015)

Ironic anime fan content

A variation of Anime Was a Mistake

(2015)

Frequently Asked Questions

Anime Was a Mistake

2015Troll quote / fake quote image macroclassic

Also known as: "Anime and Its Consequences" · "Miyazaki Was Right"

Anime Was a Mistake" is a 2015 fake-quote image macro falsely attributed to director Hayao Miyazaki, expressing exaggerated disdain for anime and otaku culture.

"Anime Was a Mistake" is a fabricated quote falsely attributed to legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki, used online to express exaggerated disdain toward anime and otaku culture. The troll quote originated in January 2015 on Tumblr, built from a real 2014 interview where Miyazaki criticized the anime industry's reliance on socially isolated creators. It became one of the most widely shared fake quote memes in anime fan communities.

fake quote memes anime manga tumblr memes ironic memes gif memes

Overview

The meme takes the form of captioned GIFs or images of Hayao Miyazaki, one of anime's most respected directors, with invented quotes like "Anime was a mistake" or similar statements expressing disgust with anime culture. The humor comes from the irony of attributing anti-anime sentiments to a man who spent his entire career making some of the most beloved anime films ever produced. The format works as both a self-deprecating joke among anime fans and a trolling tool aimed at the community.

What makes the meme effective is that it's rooted in something real. Miyazaki did express genuine frustration with the anime industry in a 2014 interview, just not in those exact words. The gap between what he actually said and the exaggerated meme version is where the comedy lives.

On January 27, 2014, Japanese website Golden Times published an interview with Hayao Miyazaki. In the interview, Miyazaki was filmed sketching a young girl while delivering pointed criticism of anime's creative direction. He argued that modern animators lack real-world observation skills, saying: "Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people" and "It's produced by humans who can't stand looking at other humans. And that's why the industry is full of otaku!"

Three days later, on January 30, 2014, English-language site RocketNews24 (now SoraNews24) translated the interview, bringing Miyazaki's comments to Western audiences. The translation spread quickly through anime forums and social media, setting the stage for meme-ification.

The actual meme didn't appear until a year later. On January 25, 2015, the Tumblr blog "old-japanese-men" posted two animated GIFs featuring footage of Miyazaki from the 2013 documentary *The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness*. The GIFs were captioned with made-up quotes expressing extreme dissatisfaction with anime and otaku culture, far more blunt than anything Miyazaki actually said.

Origin & Background

Platform
Golden Times (original interview, 2014), Tumblr (meme creation, 2015)
Key People
old-japanese-men, Hayao Miyazaki
Date
2015

On January 27, 2014, Japanese website Golden Times published an interview with Hayao Miyazaki. In the interview, Miyazaki was filmed sketching a young girl while delivering pointed criticism of anime's creative direction. He argued that modern animators lack real-world observation skills, saying: "Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people" and "It's produced by humans who can't stand looking at other humans. And that's why the industry is full of otaku!"

Three days later, on January 30, 2014, English-language site RocketNews24 (now SoraNews24) translated the interview, bringing Miyazaki's comments to Western audiences. The translation spread quickly through anime forums and social media, setting the stage for meme-ification.

The actual meme didn't appear until a year later. On January 25, 2015, the Tumblr blog "old-japanese-men" posted two animated GIFs featuring footage of Miyazaki from the 2013 documentary *The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness*. The GIFs were captioned with made-up quotes expressing extreme dissatisfaction with anime and otaku culture, far more blunt than anything Miyazaki actually said.

How It Spread

The Tumblr post gained traction immediately. The next day, January 26, 2015, Imgur user Ondaheightsofdespair reposted the two GIFs under the title "Old sage drops some wisdom," and the post hit Imgur's front page with over 8,800 points.

From there, the fabricated quote "Anime was a mistake" condensed into a shorthand phrase used across platforms. Reddit anime communities picked it up as a running joke, Twitter users dropped it in reply threads whenever anime discourse got heated, and it became a go-to reaction in comment sections on anime-related content. By March 2016, the original Tumblr post had accumulated 271,725 notes.

The meme thrived because it sat at an intersection of several internet comedy traditions: fake celebrity quotes, self-aware fandom humor, and the ironic enjoyment of anime by people who simultaneously mock it. Miyazaki's real reputation as a grumpy industry elder gave the fake quotes just enough plausibility to land.

Platforms

4chanRedditTwitterDiscordYouTube

Timeline

2015

Phrase originates in anime communities

2016-01-01

Anime Was a Mistake started spreading across social media platforms

2017

Becomes widespread as ironic self-criticism

2018-01-01

Brands and companies started using Anime Was a Mistake in marketing

2020

Is still going strong meme in anime circles

2025-01-01

Anime Was a Mistake is still actively used and shared across platforms

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The meme is typically deployed in a few ways:

1

Reaction to bizarre anime content: When someone shares a weird anime screenshot, clip, or plot summary, responding with "Anime was a mistake" or a Miyazaki GIF with the caption signals mock disgust.

2

Self-deprecating fandom humor: Anime fans often use it about their own hobby, acknowledging the absurdity of certain anime tropes while still being fans.

3

Fake quote format: Users sometimes create new fabricated Miyazaki quotes in the same style, pairing them with images of the director looking stern or disappointed. The quotes are intentionally exaggerated for comedic effect.

4

Trolling: Dropping the phrase in anime fan spaces to provoke reactions from people who either don't know the quote is fake or who take the bait regardless.

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

The meme tapped into a real and ongoing conversation about anime's creative direction. Miyazaki's actual 2014 comments about otaku culture and the industry's insularity were substantive criticism from one of anime's most accomplished figures. By turning those comments into an exaggerated meme, internet users simultaneously amplified and diluted his point.

SoraNews24 noted the inherent irony of Miyazaki criticizing otaku for staffing the anime industry, comparing it to "boxing is full of dudes who really like punching stuff". The meme captured this tension perfectly: the medium's greatest artist expressing contempt for the people who love it most.

The phrase also became a template for similar fake quote memes. The format of attributing absurdly critical statements to respected figures within a fandom spread to other communities, though "Anime was a mistake" stayed the most recognizable example.

Fun Facts

Miyazaki's actual quote never uses the word "mistake." His real criticism focused on animators who "can't stand looking at other humans" and called the industry "full of otaku".

The documentary *The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness* (2013), which provided the source footage for the meme, follows Miyazaki during the production of *The Wind Rises*, his supposed final film.

SoraNews24 joked that Miyazaki's ever-present cigarette might be "some sort of growth that protrudes from Miyazaki's mouth, given the rarity of seeing him without one".

Over 95% of Japan's population has watched at least one Miyazaki film, making him arguably the most universally known anime creator in his home country.

The original Tumblr post reached over a quarter million notes within about 14 months of being posted.

Derivatives & Variations

Variations criticizing specific anime genres

A variation of Anime Was a Mistake

(2015)

Self-aware anime fan memes

A variation of Anime Was a Mistake

(2015)

Ironic anime fan content

A variation of Anime Was a Mistake

(2015)

Frequently Asked Questions