Japanese Artist Refused to Draw Anime and Lost Followers

We, as artists, are always chasing followers.
Bloggers do the same — followers mean “my art is loved, people like me.”
You feel a surge of energy and motivation when your post gets 500,000 views and 30,000 likes — maybe even new art clients.

When Creativity Becomes a Trend Trap

However… sometimes you have to step over yourself for the sake of trends and market demands — doing what you don’t like or care about, just to keep those numbers.
And that’s tragic.

In Japan, anime has become the foundation of culture.
It can be slightly artistic or completely commercial like TV shows, but it’s always anime.
Japanese people grow up drawing it since childhood.
You rarely meet a Japanese artist who draws realism.

Cultural Expectations in Japanese Art

Society — and the anime community — expect to see a slim girl with big innocent eyes, a bratty attitude, a full chest, and a frilly dress.
Even the collectible characters people buy all look like that…
except mine.

I introduced a new aesthetic — no silly oversized eyes, no lace.
There’s subtle elegance, clean colors, and emotional individuality in my characters (see link here).

The Story That Inspired Me

Yesterday I came across an incredible story of a Japanese woman artist.
It was a short video with a crying cat, where she shared that she had lost 100 followers and all her likes and views — right after deciding to draw what she loves, not anime.

She started painting semi-realistic portraits in soft cream tones — like an old woman with vegetables — and instantly lost her audience.
Her Instagram handle is @uminmr.

This story touched me deeply, and I left her an encouraging comment.
I’ve been in the same situation myself.

Losing Followers While Finding Yourself

Growing up in the anime community, one day I simply stopped wanting to draw.
It felt like torture.
My works didn’t bring me joy anymore.
But I loved seeing realism — nature, vegetables, objects, animals, or portraits like those by Sam.

I became irritated with repetitive anime characters — I had learned all their types and predictable storylines.
I got tired of the pattern and of how mindlessly people consumed it.

When I started searching for my own style, I also lost about 300 active followers.
I get views — sometimes 11,000 on Facebook — but most people just don’t understand what I’m doing or offering, and scroll past.

Why People Fear Change

We’re all used to patterns that make us comfortable.
It’s like saying all Chinese women must be thin, pale-skinned, with big eyes and black hair.
We feel safe when we see repetition — something predictable, understandable.
It saves us mental energy because we don’t have to think how to react.

Art works the same way.
People might feel bored or unsatisfied, yet they keep consuming what the studios feed them — by template.

Breaking the Mold with “The Witch’s Pie”

When I began creating The Witch’s Pie, I tried to find a “selling” template — but soon realized it wasn’t for me.
My characters will not scream like Naruto or cheer like Luffy, or kill cruelly and act toxic.

I’m searching for new personalities — and I invite you to read and support The Witch’s Pie on my website.

Choosing Yourself Over the Crowd

That Japanese artist decided to go against the collective system — she chose herself.
And I hope she continues to speak about it and draw what she loves, not what the crowd demands.

What do you think?