What makes an anime an anime?
16 years ago
Posts: 574
Quote from Kiyomori
I don't think it's that simple. One explanation I've heard turns the entire argument on its head. Anime itself is derived from early American cartoons, Disney in particular. This is the reason why old anime looks so similar to old Disney cartoons. The big eyes, small noses and wildtakes were inspired by Disney's earlier works and expanded upon. Even the word "anime" derives from the English word, 'animation".
I don't think it matters where something "actually" comes from. Anime is from Japan. It is Japanese. I wonder what the Japanese in Japan call American animation. "Anime", I would suspect. Why? Because they are Japanese and in Japan :\
16 years ago
Posts: 1899
Quote from Kiyomori
I don't think it's that simple. One explanation I've heard turns the entire argument on its head. Anime itself is derived from early American cartoons, Disney in particular. This is the reason why old anime looks so similar to old Disney cartoons. The big eyes, small noses and wildtakes were inspired by Disney's earlier works and expanded upon. Even the word "anime" derives from the English word, 'animation".
Now, one could argue that anime is anime simply because it comes from Japan and thus has its own nuisances. To that, I as you to watch this ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvbVF2Q9qgM ). That song is called "Ai, Just On My Love" and it's clearly Jazz, even though it's Japanese. Jazz, however, is an African-American musical style but it has transcended language and cultural barriers. A song doesn't have to be sung by African-Americans to be jazz.
In that aspect, I ask are such shows like Avatar and Teen Titans not anime? They do have an American flavor (much like the opening theme has a lyrical style that common among Japanese songs) but should that exclude them? If so, when does anime stop being a cultural work and transcend into an artform?
Jazz is a genre. Anime is not, there's largely no limitation to the diversity of titles other than the fact that they are universally produced in Japan. Therein you can find the fundamental difference.
@mewnbrite: Actually, Japanese people refer to anime/manga as "Japanese animation" or "Japanese comics" when you speak with them in English. You're exactly right- the word just means animation and in Japanese you would use it to refer to any and all. In its global usage it refers solely to Japanese works.
@akari: That's actually a point for contention, but largely if it's produced by a Japanese company for Japanese released I think it's safe to call it anime. There are actually a lot of foreign staffers out there if you look. The issue isn't whether or not the actual creator is of Japanese nationality, but whether or not Japan is the producing country and initial market.
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16 years ago
Posts: 1366
What have I done!?
I should never have brought it up. But I can't help it when someone calls avatar anime. It's just not and there's nothing anyone can say to make me think otherwise.
Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.
16 years ago
Posts: 963
i was happy when "loosecannon"
explained to me that its simply called western anime instead of just anime
it makes total sense and afterword i have nothing to argue about. anime is the japanese animation. yet if the westerners produce it than it is known as western anime. makes sense to me.
just like we would title an african male as "african"
if he had a son in america we would title his son african american.
why because i am the president of the student council of course
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16 years ago
Posts: 3229
Quote from tokyo_homi
i was happy when "loosecannon"
explained to me that its simply called western anime instead of just anime
it makes total sense and afterword i have nothing to argue about. anime is the japanese animation. yet if the westerners produce it than it is known as western anime. makes sense to me.
just like we would title an african male as "african"
if he had a son in america we would title his son african american.
My word is law.
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16 years ago
Posts: 574
Quote from tokyo_homi
i was happy when "loosecannon"
explained to me that its simply called western anime instead of just anime
it makes total sense and afterword i have nothing to argue about. anime is the japanese animation. yet if the westerners produce it than it is known as western anime. makes sense to me.
just like we would title an african male as "african"
if he had a son in america we would title his son african american.
Don't you mean western animation?
16 years ago
Posts: 963
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime-influenced_animation
tell me your thoughts
why because i am the president of the student council of course
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16 years ago
Posts: 510
I've always been of the opinion that country of orgin decides it, period. If it's not japanese it's not an anime, not that there's anything wrong with not Japanese cartoons.
Similarly I actually don't call Korean or Chinese Comics Mangas.
16 years ago
Posts: 574
Quote from tokyo_homi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime-influenced_animation
tell me your thoughts
It still is not anime. "Western anime" sounds really...stupid (for lack of a more polite word that gets my point across.) If it was anime, it would not be western.
16 years ago
Posts: 963
animation. thats it! there is only one title for everything animated. and its animation. so no matter how you look at it there all the same. no matter if the quality is greater or who it is being produced by. it is still universally catagorized as "animation".
japan took this word and said lets shorten it and call it anime.
america says lets switch it up and use the french word carton
(which later on turns to cartoon)
why because i am the president of the student council of course
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16 years ago
Posts: 1353
Crenshinibon explained everything very well. Anime is Japanese produced and their styles can be varied.
Korean, Chinese or any other Asian country's animation products are Korean or Chinese, etc. cartoons or animation. They are not anime either.
16 years ago
Posts: 574
Quote from tokyo_homi
animation. thats it! there is only one title for everything animated. and its animation. so no matter how you look at it there all the same. no matter if the quality is greater or who it is being produced by. it is still universally catagorized as "animation".
japan took this word and said lets shorten it and call it anime.
america says lets switch it up and use the french word carton
(which later on turns to cartoon)
😐 Things that come from any other country other than Japan are simply animation in my language, or animación in spanish, or whatever other language calls "animation." Japan just happens to be known for calling their stuff Anime.
16 years ago
Posts: 963
Quote from mewnbrite
😐 Things that come from any other country other than Japan are simply animation in my language, or animación in spanish, or whatever other language calls "animation." Japan just happens to be known for calling their stuff Anime.
exactly. and so the reality is. the only difference is what the language preferably chooses to call it.
why because i am the president of the student council of course
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16 years ago
Posts: 257
If we're talking about how it differs from other animation, I agree that it's simply because it's Japanese. Japanese animation is unique in the same way Western animation is unique. It's just the cultural influence. Same way we classify Latina music and Country music.
If we're talking about the name though, I think it makes sense to call something by it's native name. For example, if someone's name was Sakura, I'd call them Sakura and not cherry blossom. But if someone's name was...Cherry Blossom...(just work with me here) then I'd call them that, and not Sakura.
So I just like to refer to things in the language they would originally be referred to, when I know the words. Of course then you could debate on how the word 'anime' is an adaption of 'animation', but that's going too in depth for me.
16 years ago
Posts: 12
Quote from tokyo_homi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime-influenced_animation
tell me your thoughts
I never take anything written in Wikipedia as law. It's too easily changed.
