Poll: Is it inaccurate or offensive to call Anime "Cartoons"

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maddawg IAJI

I prefer the term "Zomguard"
Feb 12, 2009
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But isn't an Anime still a cartoon? Even if it offers a much deeper and complex story when compared to normal western cartoons, its still a cartoon. Cartoon isn't a title given to separate Western animation and Japanese Animations, its a title given to any drawn animation.

Ergo, Anime shows are also Cartoons.
 

Paksenarrion

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Mar 13, 2009
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You mean Japanimation?

Oh, hey! Who caught the last Family Guy anime last night? That's some quality animation.
 

Cerrax

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Feb 15, 2009
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I just default to calling it an animation, whether it be South Park, Batman, or Sailor Moon.
 

Digikid

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Dec 29, 2007
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Alphakirby said:
Digikid said:
An Anime IS A CARTOON. It is a Japanese cartoon. Pure and simple.
Ninja'd
But seriously,anyone who gets mad over Anime being called a cartoon is A.Oblivious to the actual definition of anime (I.E. Japanese animation or cartoon for the less refined) and B.One obsessive kaiwai.
:) Glad to see that someone here other than me have working brains. LOL!!!!
 

Bocaj2000

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Sep 10, 2008
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Daniel Laeben-Rosen said:
Bocaj2000 said:
Actually, I compared Watchmen to Calvin and Hobbes. They are both comics. I also compared Bleach to Family guy. They are both cartoons. How they hell did you misinterpret that?
Actually that's how it sounded the way you worded it. But I am sorry if I misunderstood you. I've been in too many conversations like this in real life where arguments like "All of X is the same" are common. And I've actually heard "Naruto/Bleach(both have been used) are *better* than Watchmen."
...
There was almost blood that time.
Sorry. When I don't revise, the translation gets lost.

As for your RL conversation, I find it shameful that Westerners obsess with the East to the extent of ignorant elitism. Their vicariousness is a sad sight.
 

sir.rutthed

Stormfather take you!
Nov 10, 2009
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Futuama, Animaniacs, Boondocks, Mighty Max, South Park and the Simpsons are all cartoons. They all manage to tell complex stories, have adult humor and storylines and can be enjoyed best by adults. Anime is just a name for Japanese cartoons. Saying they're all complex and that calling them cartoons is offensive is just stupid to me. On average anime is just as stupid/pointless/silly as American animation. There's just more anime, so we're able to point to more examples of great anime and somehow forget all the shit. Anime is a type of cartoon with a distinctive art style, and that's about it. I suggest people who think otherwise get over yourselves.
 

Daniel Laeben-Rosen

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Jun 9, 2010
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Bocaj2000 said:
Sorry. When I don't revise, the translation gets lost.

As for your RL conversation, I find it shameful that Westerners obsess with the East to the extent of ignorant elitism. Their vicariousness is a sad sight.
It happens. Happy to see it being a misunderstanding though. Gives me some hope for the world :p.
And yeah... that is sad as all hell. To be fair I've done stuff like that too back when I was a stupid 16-year-old. We all have phases in life.
When the person saying it is past 20 though it's just sad.
 

Wereduck

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Jun 17, 2010
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I don't find it offensive but it does create needless confusion - more of a mild annoyance.
 

New Frontiersman

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Feb 2, 2010
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Ugh. I had some friends like this once, they really got on my nerves.
Cartoon isn't an insulting term, it just refers to anything animated, which anime is. The only real difference between them is country of origin and sometimes style.
Your friends need to stop being so damn touchy.
 

Owyn_Merrilin

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May 22, 2010
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Eico said:
benzooka said:
No. Anime = Japanese cartoon.
Indeed.

Anime isn't an English word.
Technically it's an English loan word, borrowed by the Japanese, and is an abbreviation of "animation," or "animeeshon" if you want to take the Japanicized spelling. In Japanese, it literally means "animation;" Family Guy is every bit as much of an anime in the Japanese sense as Akira. It's only when English borrowed the word back from Japan that it took on the meaning of a specific country's animation output.
 

Daniel Laeben-Rosen

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Jun 9, 2010
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Eico said:
Indeed.

Anime isn't an English word.
No, but it's an abbreviation of the word "Animation" which is a variation on "Animate" which originated in Latin.
Animation in this case being a word borrowed by the Japanese when they started doing animated shorts and shows since there wasn't a good word in japanese.
So no, it's not an English word, it's a Latin word.

Etymology is fun.

**EDIT**
Curses, ninja'd.
 

direkiller

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Dec 4, 2008
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spartan231490 said:
Jonesy911 said:
First of all, backstory: I have a lot of friends who watch anime, some of them get angry at me when I refer Naruto and Bleach as 'cartoons' and say that I do this just because I personally dislike them. I'm told the phrase 'cartoon' is offensive because it "trivialises the depth and complexity of anime". I disagree.

Cartoons have brought us classics such as Rocco's modern life, Spongebob squarepants, Ed Edd 'n' Eddy, Cow and Chicken and many more. If anything I would consider it a compliment to be compared to such a great medium of entertainment.

So I put it to the escapist community, is there anything wrong with calling anime "cartoons"?

EDIT: Fuckin' poll being a ***** atm
I'm with your friends on this. I've yet to see a cartoon with even the depth of the simplest anime, and the word cartoon is indicative of children's entertainment, which anime is not.
Off topic: I hate cartoons.
DBZ has about the complexity of thunder cats and probably less complexity then say Batman
and cartoon isint just for kids shows(family, king of the hill south park, and so on)

There honestly just words to refer to a medium i don't see how they can be offensive.
 

Soviet Heavy

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Jan 22, 2010
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No, it is only offensive to people with very narrow or ignorant viewpoints.

I'm talking to you Weeaboos. Get off your fucking pedestals and let people have differing opinions.
 

justnotcricket

Echappe, retire, sous sus PANIC!
Apr 24, 2008
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If you're using the word 'cartoon' to mean an animated show/series/thing/whatever that involves drawings moving around, then yes, anime are cartoons just like everything else of that nature. For the most part, you could lump all similar things together on the basis that they have cartoon style; i.e. the drawings are stylised representations of things. I don't think the word cartoon is inherently offensive, and I'd like to take this moment to point out that there are Japanese animated series that are every bit as 'childish' as some western ones. Probably because they're, you know, *made for kids*.

However. the Japanese have leant towards tackling more overtly adult themes in an animated format, and as such if the word 'cartoon' conjures up images of kids shows, then you're going to take exception to it.

My view is that some anime are 'japanese cartoons', just like western ones except with a slightly different aesthetic and a Japanese soundtrack.

Other anime are somewhat different, and it's easier to refer to them as 'anime' to distinguish them from the more kid-oriented ones.

What I think people need to get over is assuming that because something is 'anime' that it's inherently better than a western 'cartoon'. It might be. It might not be. While I acknowledge the Japanese willingness to tackle more adult themes in their animation, I also point to the tide of overwrought, emo, painfully adolescent tripe that comes with it. Just like I acknowledge western 'childrens'' cartoons for their ability to subtly refer to adult themes in a way that goes over the heads of the kids but makes an enjoyable 'other layer' for adults, while pointing to the fact that western animation has yet to become really comfortable with overtly 'grown-up' themes.
 

Thyunda

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May 4, 2009
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It's a bloody cartoon. End of.


Yes, that seems somewhat harsh. But it's true...it's like saying that comedy films and Oscar-winning dramas are not in the same medium. When they are.
A cartoon with the depth of an anime, you ask for? Avatar: The Legend of Aang. Or The Last Airbender. Whatever it called itself on your TV screen.
No, it's not an anime. It's not Japanese, which is one of the requisites for an anime.

Also - you want deep anime? I will probably get a lot of hate for saying this, but 'depth' does not mean 'throw insane twists at the audience'.

Comedy is still comedy, whether it's Family Guy or Withnail and I, which barely makes it into black comedy...and science fiction is science fiction, regardless of whether it's 1984 or Star Wars. So in short - anime is equal to cartoons. I won't even go as far as to say they're 'mature' cartoons. Excess of 'mature' elements makes it immature.

Also - I actually like anime. I watch things for stories more than anything - unless I'm watching something for laughs. I like anime because it can show some pretty neat visual effects, and take some real risks, more so than a more mainstream medium.
I don't like Dragonball, Naruto or Bleach though. I'm odd like that.