Anime Viewing and Media Literacyamong Adolescents:A Study on the Ability to Differentiate Between Positive and Negative Values

Abstract

Anime has become a significant part of Malaysian adolescents' daily media diet. This study examines how adolescents understand and interpret the values embedded in anime, focusing on their ability to distinguish between positive and negative moral content. Using a qualitative focus group discussion (FGD) involving seven adolescents aged 13 to 16, the findings show that participants could identify positive values such as courage, friendship, cooperation, and justice, while also recognising negative ones including aggression, inappropriate language, bullying, laziness, and selfishness. Most participants showed basic moral reasoning when evaluating character behaviour, though some tended to excuse negative content as comedy. The study concludes that anime is more than entertainment but it is a space for value learning that calls for family guidance and structured media literacy education. Implications include strengthening media literacy in schools and encouraging parental involvement in adolescents' media consumption.