I'm assuming you're interested in our personal responses here.....unless you're wondering if any of us have actual academic knowledge on the subject.

I got into watching anime because while the cartoon style appealed to the kid in me, the themes and subject matter that some anime delved into actually appealed towards a more adult mentality. This disparity has always peaked my interest and even though in Japan these cartoons are actually focusing on the younger audience, American cartoons were always treated their kiddie audience a little TOO simply. As Miyazaki's Spirited Away proved, you CAN deal with difficult issues of good and evil, and moral relativity and still entertain the 9-yr-old. In terms of anime subculture influencing mainstream... I think that fairly obvious when you look at new cartoons that have come out during hte past few years. Samurai Jack is one.... I would think Kim Possible is another but I haven't really watched that show to actually vouch for it.

I'd write more, but I gotta go. Hope this helps.