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

[TilMorrow]

Well I usually associate cartoons with more humourous or possible immature content whereas anime is usually more serious or has humour put in the context rather than randomly happening throughout. But either way Anime and cartoons are both animation but it'd sound better to say anime is japanese cartoons as they are different in style from other cartoons.

Captcha want to get involved by coming up with an anime title: tlove FILE.

 

[gamefreakbsp]

I mind simply because there is a more accurate name to describe them than cartoons. That word is anime. But if someone has no prior knowledge about anime, then it is understandable that they would not know the more specific/accurate term.

 

[Something Amyss]

Wait... People are OFFENDED by someone calling Anime cartoons? That's just ridiculous, pathetic, hilarious and a few other nasty words.

You kidding? It gets worse. Go to any anime board, club, etc., and bring up Avatar.

I guarantee you, 95% of the time or better, they will freak.

 

[Therumancer]

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"?

They are cartoons, they just tend to be stylized differantly. Any anger over the term is because of how older generations look down on cartoons as being strictly for children. Japanese animation was inspired by western animation as well (like most of their culture) which is part of why it has success accross cultural borders.

I think part of the problem is also that a lot of hardcore anime fans want to lionize their interest a lot more than it deserves. Most anime being intended for a teenage or below audience (though there are exceptions), all just about all of it being pop culture of the most disposable kind. A lot of fanatical fans have odd ideas about the place Anime occupies in Japanese society and that misunderstanding leads to a lot of the resentment, especially when someone is clearly intended for a youngr age group. I've even heard claims that in Japan adults prefer to read manga to reading the newspaper and such as a matter of course, which is pretty crazy when you get down to it, but once you understand that mentality the rest of the misplaced anger is easy to grasp.

 

[Grey_Focks]

The thing is that, if cartoons in America are made for adults, they're ALWAYS comedy/satire/audacious. They almost NEVER have a serious story with actual god damn continuity, they're all single episodes in a never changing never evolving never aging universe that try and jam jokes or social satire in them when they're not taking refuge in the audacity and sex joke heaven.

Batman: The animated Series
Gargoyles
Samurai Jack

Geared towards children? Kinda, but that doesn't mean they don't have complexity, deep characters, a constantly changing world, etc, etc, all the other things you claim anime have that western cartoons don't.

Please stop belittling western cartoons...can't we all just admit that there are deep, engaging cartoons in BOTH the east and the west? Please?

 

[Uncle_Brainhorn]

Anime is just cartoons.

Terrible cartoons, yes, but still only cartoons.

 

[Pyro Paul]

To classify something into a category you first need a definition, so let's find a commonly used one (from Merriam-Webster):

Definition of CARTOON
(...)
3: animated cartoon
(...)

Definition of ANIMATED CARTOON:
a motion picture that is made from a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects (as puppets) and that simulates movement by slight progressive changes in each frame

Ergo: anime are animated cartoons. Anime would still be a better term to describe Japanese animation though, as it is more narrowed down (cartoons from Japan).

Offensive because they are 'deep' and complex? Although there's definitely good stuff, the bulk of it (especially these days) is bad shonen (action for kids), slice of life or panty flashing/suggestive crap.

That definition is wrong.
You can not use a word to Define itself.

Further more, the Second definition is also wrong.
Any feature Length film that has a car chase, camera pan, or explosion is Cartoon by that definition.

 

[Koroviev]

I wouldn't say it's offensive, but I do think it's incorrect. In general, western cartoons pander to children. They very rarely seek to appeal to an adult audience or to experiment with anything other than a humorous key. Anime, however, is made to appeal to a wide range of people, including adults. There are dramatic shows, as well as those with comedic value. Moreover, the term "anime" denotes a certain artistic style that is rarely found in western shows other than those purposely trying to imitate that style.

tl;dr: Anime is often, though not always, a more sophisticated medium than standard cartoons.

 

[Raven's Nest]

There are just as many American cartoons, but they don't have a specific name. Ballywood movies still have the word movies at the end.

No but the industry itself is known as Bollywood in India. "Bollywood Films" is actually a genre but there do exist many films that are produced by Indian filmmakers that don't follow the "Bollywood film" cliches such as long running time, singing and dancing, love triangles and the infamous dramatic close up carousel.

As Bonsaik pointed out earlier, the term "Anime" does not imply an inherent quality, it just refers to Japanese made animation, which in itself doesn't warrant any particular qualitative statements.

I'd also point out that since Japan itself is tiny, its remarkable that such a distinct style has emerged from it. American cartoons just aren't that diverse from eachother to warrant an additional label, and if they are, there simply isn't enough of them produced, being affiliated with a particular location. But I would make the case for Warner Bros style cartoons like bugs bunny or any Hannah Barbera productions are worthy of a specific title of it's own. As do The Simpsons and Family Guy types which are social satire shows built around a dysfunctional American suburban family.

But since America is so large, it's unlikely that a region affiliated label would stick unless the cartoon style had a real tie to a certain state or city... That said, these labels do exist in the USA for other mediums like music, Seattle Grunge, Nashville Country and Motown to name a few.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

[Nasal voice] It's not a comic book, it's a graphic novel! [/nasal voice]

Same thing here, anime is the same as cartoons. The reason so many anime fans dislike the phrase 'cartoon' is because they think it sounds immature and they're acutely aware that their hobby can be seen as childish. Quite often they feel this themselves and this makes them insecure.

Not to mention all the Autistics, dear maker, all the autistics. (Off topic, it's odd that the number of autistic teens went up as Anime gained popularity. I'm calling it, Anime causes Autism.)

 

[Pyro Paul]

because Cartoon =/= Animation

Cartoon is a short unrefined gesture drawing.

it eventually evolved into its own type of art work and style which went hand in hand with early printing press. given that a cartoon is short and quick to produce, as well as being unrefined consisting mostly of simple line work allowed it to be worked into the simple 1 color printing presses of the time.

....posting the EXACT SAME ARGUMENT three times in a row doesn't make it any less wrong, you know.

Your definition of cartoon is severely out-dated. Was that true a few decades ago? Ofcourse, but the definition of words CAN change, as societies change. Cartoon USED to be used to refer to those things, and it still is, but over the years it's definition has broadened to include animations.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/animated+cartoon

OT: Yes, they are, by definition , animated cartoons. People who say otherwise are either pretentious or using outdated definitions of words.

You can NOT use a Word to Define that Word.
that definition creates a Paradox.

Cartoon: An animated Cartoon.
Animated: to give motion.
Animated Cartoon: A Moving Cartoon.

do you see the paradox
Cartoon = ????

it is never defined using those terms.

edit:
By the Definition you posted.
Full Length live action Films are Cartoons.

 

[Hap2]

A cartoon is a one 'panel' comic-like work with a caption attached one can usually find in a newspaper.

It's an inaccuracy made out of ignorance, sometimes out of insecurity for some about their 'maturity' amusingly enough.

 

[Goldenkitten01]

They describe two different things. However as someone who is obssessed with anime I can say that while I would never make the mistake myself I don't hold it against anyone who does. Most people who do aren't trying to be insulting, they simply don't know the difference. My grandmother for instance would be hard pressed to know their true title, they'd just be cartoons to her. By and large this is the same for anyone else who did that, they'd be making the comment not out of being demeaning but simple ignorance of the subject. And those few that do mean it as an insult are just being aggressive flaming trolls and aren't worth the time contemplating.

So while inaccurate it is not offensive.

 

[GeneWard]

My knowledge of cartoons goes about as far as the Simpsons, but fortunately my vast knowledge of western humour allows me to comment on this subject. first, I do not think that a show should be called anime merely by its artistic direction; rather by the audience should it be defined. for example, i would be willing to bet good money on the fact that avatar: the last airbender has very western humour because of the fact that it is written in (and for) the west. adversely, Naruto (this I have watched) has very Japanese humour and style. as such, I do not think the term should be defined merely by its artistic style, nor a book by its cover.

 

[Denamic]

Well, anime are technically cartoons.
The word 'anime' is simply short for 'animation'.
It's specific to Japan and as such is best used used to describe Japanese animations.
It's a pretty useful distinction to have, since it's short and widely understood.

 

[Pyro Paul]

Cartoon =/= Animation.

Period.

 

[Grey_Focks]

because Cartoon =/= Animation

Cartoon is a short unrefined gesture drawing.

it eventually evolved into its own type of art work and style which went hand in hand with early printing press. given that a cartoon is short and quick to produce, as well as being unrefined consisting mostly of simple line work allowed it to be worked into the simple 1 color printing presses of the time.

....posting the EXACT SAME ARGUMENT three times in a row doesn't make it any less wrong, you know.

Your definition of cartoon is severely out-dated. Was that true a few decades ago? Ofcourse, but the definition of words CAN change, as societies change. Cartoon USED to be used to refer to those things, and it still is, but over the years it's definition has broadened to include animations.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/animated+cartoon

OT: Yes, they are, by definition , animated cartoons. People who say otherwise are either pretentious or using outdated definitions of words.

You can NOT use a Word to Define that Word.
that definition creates a Paradox.

Cartoon: An animated Cartoon.
Animated: to give motion.
Animated Cartoon: A Moving Cartoon.

do you see the paradox

I also don't see how that really changes my argument, other than the fact dictionary.com used poor wording in the definition of "cartoon". Okay then, this time, JUST the definition of an "Animated Cartoon"

?noun
a motion picture consisting of a sequence of drawings, each so slightly different that when filmed and run through a projector the figures seem to move.

There. Anime is, by definition an animated cartoon.

EDIT...in response to your edit-...how, exactly? Live action films are not a "sequence of drawings", except in the storyboard stage, and they aren't filmed that way so...huh?

 

[Soxafloppin]

I think Anime is a sub genre of Cartoons.

Saying that Anime is not cartoons is like saying...umm

Its not a car, its an Audi. or It's not a video game it a FPS.

 

[omega 616]

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"?

In your terms yes, those cartoons you listed are crap. Rocco is just fucking bizzare, spongebob isn't even funny and the same goes for the other two. There a form of entertainment that you switch off your brain and droll while you watch.

I would call them cartoons on there style, or should I say look. I don't consider them deep but I think there more mature, in Rocco two of the things are talking frogs that wear clothes ... bleach has people actually dying and mature language (as I found out yesterday).

 

[Weskerbot3000]

I think this would shed some clarity on the matter
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Anime