Well yup that the reference I used for the drawing. Well anime was the main style that got me into drawing. I see that your really good enough to tell that this is an anime inspired artwork. I wouldn't mind still drawing in this style but I have also been wanting to learn realism as well just can't find a good tutorial that can teach me well. Then I will be able to combine the two and semi realism as well.
Anime can look fairly realistic - just drawing big eyes on something doesn't make it Anime.
Anime itself is a simplified style with an line art approach for relatively easily animating movies/series.
The style itself mostly erases critical stuff like the noses and a lot of anatomical detail in order to be easier to draw.
Easier to draw for animation don't necessarily means easier to learn, since if you are just looking at things from an simplified end product, you won't ever know what's missing or why your stuff looks odd.
what every Anime style has is:
-form
-perspective
-light&shadow
and idealized proportions (that and the cel shading are the biggest 2 points which make it different from realism, aside from that it's about equal)
you should focus on the first three things. That will help you with your drawing in the long run for every style.
proportions are fairly easy to alter once you know how something looks realistically drawn.
Anime and Manga also can look pretty badass, like anything else, if done on a pleasurable skill level.
Ghost in the Shell, movie from 1995 (anime)

Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex

Berserk (Manga)

skill involved?
