Well, when people talk about "anime" 99,99% of the time they mean "animation originated from Japan".UberNoodle said:
And in that regard it definately has become a genre, and a terrible one at that.
Everything You Know about Anime Is Wrong
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And in that regard it definately has become a genre, and a terrible one at that.
"Everything You Know about Anime Is Wrong"
No i know plenty and most of it is crap. Recycled regurgitated crap, seen one you have seen em all.
There are a handful of good and decent ones but it is not worth wading through all the crap to find them.
No i know plenty and most of it is crap. Recycled regurgitated crap, seen one you have seen em all.
There are a handful of good and decent ones but it is not worth wading through all the crap to find them.
I think you missed part of my post. I didn't call anime a genre, I called it a collection of genres. To the wider world (or, at least, the west), 'anime' seems to be a collection of genres that are at least influenced by Japan. I guess what I'm trying to say is that anime basically doesn't exist. It's certainly not a medium separate from animation, and it's too broad to be a genre. A lot of people defending anime here are saying it must be a medium because it's not a genre, which simply isn't true.UberNoodle said:
LOTS of great stuff there Noodle, great to hear someone who's lived in Japan for a long time chime in on the matter (why I never thought to go "hey guys! Maybe the reason why you guys think all anime characters look like little girls is because the standards of beauty for women is different from those in America?" I have no clue).UberNoodle said:
Going to disagree with you that Osamu Tezuka's style had no influence from America though (also, I'm not American, so there's no "very hopeful America-centrism" in my case
). I've read multiple times that he was influenced by the cartoons of the time (Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop etc) and he apparently was a big fan of Duckberg comic book artist Carl Barks. In fact, he even wrote a postcard to him
But yeah, big eyes also have the qualities you mentioned that Japan adores. But it took a guy from Osaka with a medical degree for Japanese comics to go from this:
To this:
The Walking Dead has a child in it and I doubt very very much it is aimed at children... I rest my case good sir.
SmashLovesTitanQuest said:
I can admit that BLEACH was the anime thaat hot me interested in the whole anime 'culture'
Though i can also agree that the fact that a lot of people associate anime as 'cheesy kiddy cartoons with squeeky voices and gigantic eyes' but those are only a sub-genre of animation that has been dubbed as the face of anime
The sad part is that many people can't look past that to see that there are some amazing anime's (most of them based off of mangas) that have amazing storylines that can rival a hollywood production
Both the original ghost in the shell movie and akira have mind blowing plots and were in a class all their ow, yet so many people don't watch these amazing pieces of ART, because, in their words, "Its anime"
Miyazaki's films also have such a great artistic value to them, going farther than the average cookie cutter cartoon formula
And as far as american animation being second to japanese animation
FALSE
I love many american animations just as much as I love japanese animation
The Boondocks
Archer
Family Guy/American Dad
Adventure Time (yeah I enjoy it)
So I can say I am an otaku, even though I already know that it has negative connotaion in japan (over there it means someone who is obsessed with a certain subject I.e. military otaku, car otaku)
But I applaud this post because this just might be the most straightforward, clear, rational, and even educational article, and if the 'sheep' read this, they might just change their minds
Btw: I hate naruto and if they do make a live akira movie, id probably go see it but it can't beat the original.....ever
Though i can also agree that the fact that a lot of people associate anime as 'cheesy kiddy cartoons with squeeky voices and gigantic eyes' but those are only a sub-genre of animation that has been dubbed as the face of anime
The sad part is that many people can't look past that to see that there are some amazing anime's (most of them based off of mangas) that have amazing storylines that can rival a hollywood production
Both the original ghost in the shell movie and akira have mind blowing plots and were in a class all their ow, yet so many people don't watch these amazing pieces of ART, because, in their words, "Its anime"
Miyazaki's films also have such a great artistic value to them, going farther than the average cookie cutter cartoon formula
And as far as american animation being second to japanese animation
FALSE
I love many american animations just as much as I love japanese animation
The Boondocks
Archer
Family Guy/American Dad
Adventure Time (yeah I enjoy it)
So I can say I am an otaku, even though I already know that it has negative connotaion in japan (over there it means someone who is obsessed with a certain subject I.e. military otaku, car otaku)
But I applaud this post because this just might be the most straightforward, clear, rational, and even educational article, and if the 'sheep' read this, they might just change their minds
Btw: I hate naruto and if they do make a live akira movie, id probably go see it but it can't beat the original.....ever
I, admittedly, fall victim to generalizations of anime. In general, I do not like it. I don't find the humor appealing, I don't like the art in most cases, it's just not my think.
What I -hate- are the things that actually -do- fall into the stereotypes, which I think is probably a much smaller percentage than I'm even aware of.
Not to say I have -never- liked -any- anime. I'm a huge fan of Paranoia Agent, and I enjoyed Akira. But saying that makes me feel like I'm saying something along the lines of, "I'm not racist because I have a black friend."
What I -hate- are the things that actually -do- fall into the stereotypes, which I think is probably a much smaller percentage than I'm even aware of.
Not to say I have -never- liked -any- anime. I'm a huge fan of Paranoia Agent, and I enjoyed Akira. But saying that makes me feel like I'm saying something along the lines of, "I'm not racist because I have a black friend."
Thanks for your kind words! I just hope that non anime fans also find it straight-forward, clear, rational and educational!Aeroastrix said:
C'mon, EVERYONE loves Adventure TimeAeroastrix said:
Well, as I've already said, not all anime share the same style of humor, or the same style of art.Element Zero said:
Also, since you said you liked Paranoia Agent, for the love of God, go watch all of Satoshi Kon's other films, the man was a genius who was taken well before his time. In order, that's:
Perfect Blue
Millennium Actress
Tokyo Godfathers
Paprika
He also wrote the Magnetic Rose short in the Memories film, so watch that too. Tokyo Godfathers isn't psychological like the rest of his works, but it's probably one of my favourites since the story is so touching and the characters are very likeable, and it's funny to boot! Also, Paprika and Perfect Blue where part of the inspiration for the films Inception and Black Swan, so that's cool too.
Watch it, read it and like it, show it to me and I might like it to and if I don't that means its just not my thing.
That is one of my laws in life and it apply's to everything. just because I don't like the idea of high school of the dead doesn't mean I hate it but people are under the impression that when something is not your preference means you think its shit
This is just me though, Iv'e made it a thing of mine to not hate till I see it/play it/whatever. (despite the negeative vibes things like twilight and the forbidden skirim joke give out
that said i was unsure about most anime but Iv'e seen some personal gems:
That is one of my laws in life and it apply's to everything. just because I don't like the idea of high school of the dead doesn't mean I hate it but people are under the impression that when something is not your preference means you think its shit
This is just me though, Iv'e made it a thing of mine to not hate till I see it/play it/whatever. (despite the negeative vibes things like twilight and the forbidden skirim joke give out
that said i was unsure about most anime but Iv'e seen some personal gems:
Thanks for the nice reply. I was expecting to meet with angry retorts from whoever bothered to reply. Is there a type of PTSD for forum users? I have it.FireAza said:Going to disagree with you that Osamu Tezuka's style had no influence from America though (also, I'm not American, so there's no "very hopeful America-centrism" in my caseUberNoodle said:
Sorry, I didn't mean to say that Tezuka wasn't inspired by Walt. What I was trying to say was that the large eyes were logical to Walt, not because he was some genius, but because he was a great, thoughtful and innovative artist. I guess that in today's Net world, people (and by that I mean the whole anti-anime/manga crusaders, many of whom probably giggle daily at the Encyclopedia Dramatica's entries for 'weaboo') tend to use that noted influence from Walt to Tezuka (and thereby Japanese comics and animation as a whole) as a means to diminish just how much Japan has completely personalised, innovated and OWNED their comic and animation production from the get go. On this very site, there's an article with the sensationalist and entirely disingenuous title, "How Walt Disney invented Anime". That's like saying, Jean Luc Goddard invented Japanese cinema. Granted, many of the greats from Japan were fans of French cinema, and the classic Japanese cinema aesthetic is in many ways closest to French than any other country, it also draws so much more from traditional theatre ideals and general cultural sensibilities towards emotional expression, Wabi-Sabi and what have you.
Anyway, I've enjoyed this thread! To celebrate, I rewatched Tokyo Godfathers. RIP Mr. Kon.
BTW, the DVD of Tezuka's Metropolis (as adapted and directed by Rintaro, one of the Old School, Tezuka Studios artists and animators) in your region may have an entertaining interview with Rintaro. He talks about how artists from his generation have a pencil in one hand and an eraser in the other, yet the 'young kids today' just churn out the art flawlessly, like aliens.
Interesting. A few of my students here in Japan are the same.
Informative article, I who've been watching anime since the 1990's, already knew most of this but its good for the newbs
I actually have something to say with reguards to anime being a medium, of course it is for one any one thats watched a few know that their are many genres in anime. However, maybe its just me, maybe im a bit jaded who knows, but its seems that many new(or just arriving) anime fall into the same category EX: Magical spirit school whose students are in the low teens(hell any school/academy setting) where the supporting cast shines but the lead is kinda dull.
Well I do like mostly action, sci-fi, and supernatural stuff but Ive expected more. Ive been wondering what anime thats come out in the past year that is worth watching over some of my favorites(Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Rorouni Kenshin, G Gundam, Wolfs Rain, Outlaw Star, Eureka Seven, EVA, xxxHolic etc...) and I cant think of anything recent that I can put as "Must watch, instant classic" The last new anime I watched was "Tiger&Bunny", a sci-fi superhero anime, it was the first in a long time that I thought had a unique twist on it.
Now I do like somewhat "normal" anime like Beck, but only if its done right and makes me laugh.
Am I wrong? Has anime decended into only a few genres or are their still many unique stories out there?
I actually have something to say with reguards to anime being a medium, of course it is for one any one thats watched a few know that their are many genres in anime. However, maybe its just me, maybe im a bit jaded who knows, but its seems that many new(or just arriving) anime fall into the same category EX: Magical spirit school whose students are in the low teens(hell any school/academy setting) where the supporting cast shines but the lead is kinda dull.
Well I do like mostly action, sci-fi, and supernatural stuff but Ive expected more. Ive been wondering what anime thats come out in the past year that is worth watching over some of my favorites(Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Rorouni Kenshin, G Gundam, Wolfs Rain, Outlaw Star, Eureka Seven, EVA, xxxHolic etc...) and I cant think of anything recent that I can put as "Must watch, instant classic" The last new anime I watched was "Tiger&Bunny", a sci-fi superhero anime, it was the first in a long time that I thought had a unique twist on it.
Now I do like somewhat "normal" anime like Beck, but only if its done right and makes me laugh.
Am I wrong? Has anime decended into only a few genres or are their still many unique stories out there?
Yes, "PTTD": Post-Traumatic Troll DisorderUberNoodle said:Thanks for the nice reply. I was expecting to meet with angry retorts from whoever bothered to reply. Is there a type of PTSD for forum users? I have it.FireAza said:Going to disagree with you that Osamu Tezuka's style had no influence from America though (also, I'm not American, so there's no "very hopeful America-centrism" in my caseUberNoodle said:
Oh yeah, that's very much true. The Wright Bros. may have invented heavier-than-air flight, but that doesn't mean the guy who invented the helicopter shouldn't be given any credit.UberNoodle said:
Well, the first step is to stop watching shounen titles, since like 99% of the anime from this genre are like that. There's still plenty of anime with unique stories out there, the key difference is there's a lot more anime out now, so these unique ones will be buried under the much more popular T&A and moe shows. The trick is to go though the aniDB's calendar and read the synopsis for that month's shows and see if any take your fancy. The Anime News Network also have season previews, so this give you an even better idea of what's good and what to keep your eye on.Primus1985 said:Informative article, I who've been watching anime since the 1990's, already knew most of this but its good for the newbs
I actually have something to say with reguards to anime being a medium, of course it is for one any one thats watched a few know that their are many genres in anime. However, maybe its just me, maybe im a bit jaded who knows, but its seems that many new(or just arriving) anime fall into the same category EX: Magical spirit school whose students are in the low teens(hell any school/academy setting) where the supporting cast shines but the lead is kinda dull.
Well I do like mostly action, sci-fi, and supernatural stuff but Ive expected more. Ive been wondering what anime thats come out in the past year that is worth watching over some of my favorites(Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Rorouni Kenshin, G Gundam, Wolfs Rain, Outlaw Star, Eureka Seven, EVA, xxxHolic etc...) and I cant think of anything recent that I can put as "Must watch, instant classic" The last new anime I watched was "Tiger&Bunny", a sci-fi superhero anime, it was the first in a long time that I thought had a unique twist on it.
Now I do like somewhat "normal" anime like Beck, but only if its done right and makes me laugh.
Am I wrong? Has anime decended into only a few genres or are their still many unique stories out there?
As an example of a recent anime with a "unique" story is Usagi Drop, it's about a thirty-year-old bachelor who adopts his recently-deceased grandfather's illegitimate child. It's not a wacky comedy though, the core of the story is about the difficulty of adjusting to life with a child, especially for the protagonist who's never had any major responsibilities until now. It's a very sweet story, and actually gives me the same "feeling" of a lot of live-action movies (like The Pursuit of Happiness) with similar stories have.
Aside from that, there's been a lot of recent anime that I've really enjoyed. I tend to go for the "unique" ones, so these would be good candidates if you want a list of the more unique anime from the last seven or so years. Be aware that I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi, high-fantasy etc, so my tastes may not align with yours. Anyway, here's a few recent anime I've loved.
Kino`s Journey -the Beautiful World- - This is one of my favourite anime. It's about a Kino, who travels around a fictitious version of the world, staying for three days in each country. It sounds really basic, but each country Kino stays in has a philosophical story attached to it.
To give an example, Kino travels to a country that's in ruin and meets one of the last inhabits, who tells Kino of how the country fell. The country used to be ruled by a tyrannical king, who would to execute all who opposed him. One day, the citizens of the country staged a coup d'état and over-threw the king, executing him after his trial. The citizens decided that the best way to govern the country would be to give everyone equal rights, and vote on all issues. What happened was the government of the country was slow and inefficient because EVERYTHING had to be voted on, until eventually one of the citizens suggested voting for a single person to have the power to make various decisions himself. Having been under the rule of an iron-fisted monarchy for so long, this idea didn't go over well with the majority, who voted to have the man who suggested this dangerous idea executed. The vote passed, and the man was executed. The country found that execution was a very quick way of dealing with the problems associated with voting, they would simply execute those who voted in the minority, and thus, the country would be able to agree on most issues. Time passes, and the country is in ruins, as there's no one left alive to make the country function. It's down to three people, a husband and wife and a doctor, who take a vote on leaving the country. The husband and wife vote negative, and the doctor is executed. Soon, the wife falls ill, but as the husband has no medical training, his wife dies, living him the last citizen of his country.
It's a VERY good series.
Mushi-Shi - In the world of Mushi-Shi exist small organisms, they're neither plants nor animals, but more like primeval life, called "Mushi". Throughout human history, the events that humanity has attributed to "the supernatural", have actually been the effects of these Mushi. The story revolves around Ginko, a "mushi-shi" someone who studies these creatures. He travels around a fictionalised version of Japan, meeting people who's lives have been effected by the mushi. Each episode revolves around a particular person who is experiencing some bizarre phenomenon, and Ginko helps them resolve their problem with his knowledge of the mushi. It's a really fascinating and clever series, with a really strong "nature" feel.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - What seems like a typical comedy anime, is actually hiding a very clever, well-written story. The plot is Haruhi, a beautiful yet-weird high school girl, is actually a goddess with the power to remake the world as she sees fit. The twist? She doesn't know she is one. One the first day of high school, she meets "Kyon" (not his real name, we're never told what his real name actually is), sarcastic and bored with life, who narrates the show. She ropes him into helping her start a (illegitimate) school club called "The SOS Brigade", which is dedicated to seeking out the supernatural.
Ok, it's really hard to describe The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya without making it sounds like clechéd tripe. But there's something... "Magical" about it, despite being full of stereotypes and a massive mishmash of genres, the show somehow manages to be really unique, funny, with an engaging story and interesting characters. And Kyon's sarcastic narration and inner monologue never gets old. Just trust me, it's FAR better than the sum of it's parts.