A question about anime tropes.

[Azure-Supernova]

Typical anime do look relatively Asian when you compare characters that are supposed to look more European. Take a majority of the characters in Fullmetal Alchemist, with Amestris having a very European feel about it.

Even young Edward and Alphone have some definition in their jaw to separate themselves from typical anime characters. You only have to look at Mustang, Alex Armstrong, Heinkel, Bradley to see those features.

As for the hair, I once heard that the unique colours and styles help the characters stand out in the medium.

 

[Casual Shinji]

You wanna talk about anime tropes though. How about how most kids in anime have no frikking parents and just live on there own.

I'm not certain on this, but my belief was that the lack of parents represents the common situation of Japanese workers working 10-14 hours a day, and rarely being able to spend time with their children, which has gradually led to a disconnection between them. The fact that many anime have parents who have died may be a call out to the reverse situation in that Japan has an aging population with less children.

What is clear however is that having a story with no parents allows the main characters to do a lot of crazy shit which would be much less likely had said characters had any parenting at all. School Days and Yosuga no Sora are prime examples here.

I always figured the second part.

If you have a show filled with a meriad of teenaged characters, it's easier not to also have to create an entire family for each one. Though some shows actually manage to implement parents very well, like Kare Kano.

 

[crepesack]

The art style isn't conducive to drawing unique characters. Anime faces will all look the same when drawn by the same artist unless he or she does something really weird like give them all different eye shapes. So the next best thing is to give them different hair colors to id the characters.


Also NO I don't think it's a japanese culture thing that they don't have parents in most anime. That's just laughable. It's because it's convenient to the plot that there aren't any parental figure around. Just look at american cartoons, parents are normally out of the picture because it wouldn't make sense or it would be more unlikely for the story's events to unfold unintervened. Anime, being more plot driven than most american cartoons tend to have to make an excuse for why the parents are gone to maintain immersion.

 

[BrotherRool]

Now I think of it, a lot of the Japanese images that came up have whiteish looking people. But they're all white as in 'brown with the brightness slider turned up to max' whereas we're pink with the brightness slider maxed. Yet a lot of anime is definitely on the pink side.

This tone is more like what I#d expect, maybe a bit lighter

Spoiler

Why does that guy have six arms? Why does no one say "Dude, you've got six arms"? Not once is it questioned by anyone.

Whereas these don't have even a hint of that. All pink
http://wanabrar.com/blog/games/free-game-katawa-shoujo/
EDIT: It was the first Anime style thing I thought of, but we know the tone is repeated a lot elsewhere. If anything, the pictures of how they draw Western people make it stand out more, because they show just how much the Japanese people look like actual western people. The American ppl in an anime always look freakishly pale and colourless in comparison

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

For example even in a non supernatural series hair all colors of the rainbow goes unremarked. In for example a fantasy series or other supernatural thing I can understand, but in a series that supposed to be realistic setting it makes no sense.

Another thing is the base look of characters in anime is white. Even if they are supposed to be asian there skin tone is white.

I can't be a 100% sure on all these, but I can provide you some insight, as I've seen/read a number of series where these questions are addressed and/or answered.

Vibrant colored hair:
It's basically just the artist wanting to inject some color into their series. Sure there are plenty of series where everyone has realistic hair tones, but it fun and more distinct (among characters) to have them having colorful hair. In some series, their hair changes color temporarily or permanently to signify a change in their state of being or after acquiring some form of power, be it spiritual (white) or energy (yellow/red/black).

Monotone complexion:
Again, artists find it easier to have most of the characters in similar skin tones. To be honest, most male characters have a darker, peach tone while females have a lighter, cream tone. There are sometimes characters that have very dark complexions or very light (white) complexions, yet this doesn't always reflect their nationality.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Awww and here I was ready to quote TvTropes...

 

[Relish in Chaos]

Some anime tropes that I?ve questioned and/or otherwise been annoyed by?

Why does anime have a penchant for including androgynous males (e.g. Envy from Fullmetal Alchemist; I know he?s a homunculus, but still)?

Where are there so many stereotypically flamboyant gay characters (most of them even more feminine than the female characters) whose only purpose in the series is to randomly hit on underage boys for ?gag? purposes (it?s not even funny; it just reflects some bullshit 1950s mindset of all gay men being raging paedophiles apparently attracted to all males)?

Why the constant usage of those generic anime eyes?

 

[Souplex]

The hair thing is to make the characters look distinct from each other.
Sometimes multiple characters are drawn with the same face, and the easiest way to make them look different is to give them each a different hair style and color.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Why the constant usage of those generic anime eyes?

I can answer that. One reason is that the eyes are the most expressive part of the body so they are magnified to help convey emotions. Another is that large eyes are seen as more inviting, so you may see smaller eyes on an evil or reserved character.

 

[waj9876]

About the whole hair color thing.

There is this one anime, Ranma1/2, where a character has red hair. In the manga, it's black.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Monotone complexion:
Again, artists find it easier to have most of the characters in similar skin tones. To be honest, most male characters have a darker, peach tone while females have a lighter, cream tone. There are sometimes characters that have very dark complexions or very light (white) complexions, yet this doesn't always reflect their nationality.

I understand the idea of giving everyone the same complexion but my question is why go with that complexion.

take this [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Felix_von_Luschan_Skin_Color_Chart.JPG] skin tone chart for example. I'd say Caucasian would be between 5-15 whereas Asian would be 16-25. And the generic anime skin tone would be about a 14 putting it in the Caucasian area rather than the Asian. So why would they choose that?

If they wanted to go with a "neutral" skin tone I'd still say that'd be more like a 19

 

[Eric the Orange]

the one tanned chick with white hair

Just FYI that is actually a fashion trend in japan called ganguro.

 

[GloatingSwine]

For example even in a non supernatural series hair all colors of the rainbow goes unremarked. In for example a fantasy series or other supernatural thing I can understand, but in a series that supposed to be realistic setting it makes no sense.

When you've got a really limited animation budget and need to make a reasonably sized cast of characters visually distinct in a quickly recognisable way, it makes perfect sense.

Animation budgets, and the lack thereof, are also why you get a lot of scenes of standing around talking, because then you only have to animate the mouth (animators are paid by the frame, the more key frames you need the more it will cost), and voice actors are paid by the hour not the line.

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

No offense to anyone, but I think saying 'Anime characters only look white because of you" is sort of a cop out.

Here, one of the most famous animes that hit our shores, Gundam Wing. One of these will be an American, one will be Japanese. Which is which? Pilot Number one [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121202051425/gundam/images/thumb/8/8a/Duo_remastered.jpg/300px-Duo_remastered.jpg] Pilot Number Two [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121130042442/gundam/images/thumb/f/fb/Heero_remastered.jpg/300px-Heero_remastered.jpg]

Spoiler

Number one is Hiro Yuy, of Japanese Heritage. The other is Duo, an American

Now, there are cues. The facial tone, the way they hold themselves, but that isn't drawing style. That's what we were taught. A Japanese person acts this way in a serious role. An American might be more loud and boisterous. You can tell who is who that way, sometimes, but that has nothing to do with Art Style.

~edited, I knew I was a bit wrong about Code Geass. But in fairness, I said I had trouble following the show.

 

[spartan231490]

I've seen a fair number of anime in my time, and played games that use anime aesthetics. So I've see a lot of the common and over used Tropes associated with them (What's that a shounen protagonist who is energetic, eats a lot, and never gives up, never seen that one before). But there are a few that I still don't understand.

For example even in a non supernatural series hair all colors of the rainbow goes unremarked. In for example a fantasy series or other supernatural thing I can understand, but in a series that supposed to be realistic setting it makes no sense.

Another thing is the base look of characters in anime is white. Even if they are supposed to be asian there skin tone is white.

Anyway to the point, what is the reason behind these two things?

I'm no expert, but I believe hair dying to outrageous colors is fairly common in Japanese youth(I almost said fair common because I'm watching firefly right now ). As to the white thing, I think it's due to the ease of drawing, I think the whiter color pallet is easier than to get a darker color without it being too dark.

Those are just guesses, I know I've heard an explanation for the white color, but I can't remember if that's it. Hope this helps.

No offense to anyone, but I think saying 'Anime characters only look white because of you" is sort of a cop out.

Here, one of the most famous animes that hit our shores, Gundam Wing. One of these will be an American, one will be Japanese. Which is which? Pilot Number one [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121202051425/gundam/images/thumb/8/8a/Duo_remastered.jpg/300px-Duo_remastered.jpg] Pilot Number Two [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121130042442/gundam/images/thumb/f/fb/Heero_remastered.jpg/300px-Heero_remastered.jpg] (spoiler]Number one is Hiro Yuy, of Japanese Heritage. The other is Duo, an American[/spoiler]

Now, there are cues. The facial tone, the way they hold themselves, but that isn't drawing style. That's what we were taught. A Japanese person acts this way in a serious role. An American might be more loud and boisterous. You can tell who is who that way, sometimes, but that has nothing to do with Art Style.

One of the most confusingly drawn out animes that hit our shores in a long time is Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. The main character is Lelouch Lamperouge. I don't know how much of this is a spoiler now, but I'll compound my statements behind a spoiler tag

Spoiler

In this anime, Engla... Britannia has conquered and subjugated most of Japan. Lelouch is a brilliant student, being brought up Japanese and fiercely loyal to the Japanese plight. He later finds out that he's actually the son of the Britannia king. And not a son with a Japanese mother. The mother is Marianne vi Britannia. Now, I'll be the first to admit this anime seemed convoluted to me. But you're telling me in a place where all races are represented, A male child of a Britannia King and Britanna Queen could be mistaken for Japanese for all of his life... you're telling me that Japanese people don't drama themselves as Caucasian?

Now, if I'm wrong about any part of Code Geass, please correct me. But I went back to Wiki to see if it makes sense, and it sort of does.

He wasn't mistaken for Japenese, he always knew he was of Brittanian Heritage and he went to a Brittanian only school.

 

[GloatingSwine]

No offense to anyone, but I think saying 'Anime characters only look white because of you" is sort of a cop out.

They're also deliberately made pale because the cultural standard in Japan is that pale=attractive, just as the standard in many western countries is that tanned=attractive.

 

[bluerocker]

The different hair color is because most Japanese people have black hair. Imagine staring at a cast full of black haired people........ yeah...... it would get kinda boring. The crazy hair color/styles are there so characters stand out, are noticeable from a glance, and to make it more interesting.
.
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Anime characters often look white because they lack stereotypical racial features. Anime characters are like stick figures, if you draw a stick figure and ask someone what type of person it this, most people will identify the stick figure as being of their race because stick figures lack any sort of racial stereotype features that people use to identify people of other races with.

Anime creators have often been asked this question, and many of them dont know how to respond, because, to Japanese people, anime characters look Japanese.

/thread

But, jokes aside, the strange hair colors are usually to make a character stick out and fall into general tropes in of themselves, the shy blue haired girl; the fiery redhead, etc. This helps make a character more identifiable and easier to 'get' perse. Or, perhaps the aesthetics is what matters. It depends upon the creator.

Furthermore, this goes hand in hand with the skin tone thing; it makes it easier for the audience, generally, to project upon the characters. They lack any sort of racial features, so the reader can imagine themselves as that character, as well as the character designer not having to worry about offending anyone with a racial stereotype.

So, yeah, the first poster past the OP had everything going for this question.

*bluerocker out*

 

[Infernai]

Most of the responses in this thread have already covered what you were asking so i don't feel like being a parrot. However, i do need to ask: Have you read Berserk?

Ok ok, hold on, i know i go on about this series like nobodies business but in this case i need to bring up a theme that it ultimately subverts which is common as all hell in most anime: The power of Friendship.

Spoiler

Power of Friendship is, FINALLY, subverted in the most brutal possible fashion in Berserk. In the Golden Age arc Friendship and sticking together isn't what gets the cast out of their darkest hour, it's the reason that they got stuck in that situation in the first place! And, because of Friendship and misunderstanding, an entire army bar four people are killed with two of them driven to varying levels of insanity, the third having been the one who caused said disaster and a fourth who was just lucky enough to have been away at the time from the whole mess (Depends on your definition of luck).
After all of that? It takes the main character well over three years and two Arcs to finally start placing some small iota of trust in other living creatures. Ok yes, there is a bit more to the circumstances of the Eclipse then just "Friendship" but...as horrifying as it was to watch (Believe me i still have to force myself if i ever want to bear witness to the eclipse again when i show my friends the series: It is that horrible..) it does bring up something.

Absolute trust is a very dangerous thing. As i said it isn't the main theme of berserk, but it does tie into one of them: The Darkness of the human condition.

 

[Eric the Orange]

snip

OK look at this skin tone chart

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Felix_von_Luschan_Skin_Color_Chart.JPG

If they wanted a neutral skin tone I'd think they would go with more of a 19 rather than a 14.

 

[Yggdraz0r]

the one tanned chick with white hair

Just FYI that is actually a fashion trend in japan called ganguro.

And my god, is it creepy :x.