Can Americans Make Anime?

[Fbuh]

Well, it depends on what you would classify as anime. It hink it should be rephrased to "Can American's make Japanese-style anime," which to me is generally 'No'. Avatar was decent, but it came off as a bit stereotypical/cliched (I do like it, though.)

I think the problem is that Amercan anime strives to emulate an artistic style based off of another culture, and misses the mark because it does not have the same background as said culture. Everything about Japanese anime is a sort of culmintion of Japanese culture, and one would have to understand bits of that culture in order to understand Japanese anime.

I think that the potential is there, but why even try to make something that copies another culture? America has it's own artistic style, and it doesn't necessarily have to emulate Japan's. It comes off more as a cop out for cash, and puts me in mind of a group of executives saying "Hey, that anime stuff is prety popular with kids. Let's do that!"

EDIT: I would also like to point out that a lot of die hard anime enthusiasts do not really agree that American voice acting is good quality. Most of it completely misses the mark on emotional depth or tone. Full Metal Alchemist is an example of terrible voice acting.

 

[Kittyhawk]

Hi all.

Felt compelled to sign up and add to this.

I think Suki said it right, which is anime just means animation, regardless of country or origin. Anything else is nonsense. Adopting and changing words to suit your needs, is not always a good thing, and in terms of anime, and just creates not only confusion but a bad sphere of negative elitism, of the kind that can destroy what you love, and put fans of stuff at each others throats.

Oban Star Racers and Wakfu are still anime, though their creators are french.
And Avatar, Avatar The Legend of Korra are still anime, though conceived and created in N-America. All they need is their country of origin before the 'anime' word.

Enough with the elitism and labels. For if you are right, what does that make Ulysses 31, Jayce and the Wheel Warriors, and the Mysterious Cities of Gold? All of those are French/Japanese co productions. Does this mean they are some how less anime? No, they are Franco/Japanese anime, simple as.

Some may play the style card to differentiate animation per country (as a fan I admit I've done so in error), in truth, all animation is anime and vice versa. What we get from japan is japanese anime.

What do I use? Just anime, because the people who I'll talk to, will know exactly what I mean.
Personally, I try to appreciate all forms of animation, so long as they entertain. From Avengers EMH, to Young Justice to good japanese anime. (no harem moe, pandering crud though)

With regards to The Legend of Korra, while its obviously influenced by japanese anime, (its creators admit this much and interviews with them are worth checking out) it has done so in a positive way. I really enjoyed, Korra and its watchable by all ages. Just a shame so much (not all) recent japanese anime isn't to this high standard anymore.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

I honestly think the world would be a better place when anyone was allowed to do what their dreams are without being judged, because they dreamed of doing something more commonly found in a different Place/Culture.

The first 5 episodes of TMNT were animated in Japan. Does that stop TMNT from being a cartoon? Fook no.

The Simpson's were animated in Korea, does that stop it from being a Western cartoon?

If "Anime" is a type of animated show, then any show that fits the criteria should be allowed to have the title without needing to have been made by someone born in Japan.

I have American made manga published by Tokyo Pop. It's still manga, even if it's from 'Edward Nigma" instead of "Seto Kaiba."

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Well, it depends on what you would classify as anime. It hink it should be rephrased to "Can American's make Japanese-style anime," which to me is generally 'No'. Avatar was decent, but it came off as a bit stereotypical/cliched (I do like it, though.)

I think the problem is that Amercan anime strives to emulate an artistic style based off of another culture, and misses the mark because it does not have the same background as said culture. Everything about Japanese anime is a sort of culmintion of Japanese culture, and one would have to understand bits of that culture in order to understand Japanese anime.

I think that the potential is there, but why even try to make something that copies another culture? America has it's own artistic style, and it doesn't necessarily have to emulate Japan's. It comes off more as a cop out for cash, and puts me in mind of a group of executives saying "Hey, that anime stuff is prety popular with kids. Let's do that!"

EDIT: I would also like to point out that a lot of die hard anime enthusiasts do not really agree that American voice acting is good quality. Most of it completely misses the mark on emotional depth or tone. Full Metal Alchemist is an example of terrible voice acting.

"Well, it depends on what you would classify as anime. It hink it should be rephrased to "Can American's make Japanese-style anime," which to me is generally 'No'. Avatar was decent, but it came off as a bit stereotypical/cliched (I do like it, though.)"


Stereotypical/cliched? Sounds like anime to me. :3




"I think the problem is that Amercan anime strives to emulate an artistic style based off of another culture, and misses the mark because it does not have the same background as said culture. Everything about Japanese anime is a sort of culmintion of Japanese culture, and one would have to understand bits of that culture in order to understand Japanese anime."

I'd disagree. There's plenty of 'anime' that emulate cultures not of Japanese descent, from Chinese, Egyptian, American and so on, while others even mix Japanese and American culture.

In fact, Japan's culture has been heavily influenced by Western culture, and that is reflected in Anime.



"I think that the potential is there, but why even try to make something that copies another culture? America has it's own artistic style, and it doesn't necessarily have to emulate Japan's. It comes off more as a cop out for cash, and puts me in mind of a group of executives saying "Hey, that anime stuff is prety popular with kids. Let's do that!"


Umm, what? That's so stupid! What if they did it because they love the art style of Anime? They're not allowed to do it because it's copying another cultures style?

Oop, better ignite all copies of Panty and Stocking on fire for copying Merica's Cartoon art style!

So what if it has its own style? Ever heard of diversity? Why should we be limited to one cultures art style when we can use the worlds to display what we love? Would God of War's 2D, Ancient Greece-ish styled cutscenes be better if they had used the art style of JLA the cartoon?

Take Yu-Gi-Oh! for instance, it has a mixture of Anime, MtG and cartoon style art.

Pokemon mixes cartoon art, with anime art.


Should Zelda Wind Waker have been in Anime style, rather then Western cartoon style? Just because the developers were Japanese?


"EDIT: I would also like to point out that a lot of die hard anime enthusiasts do not really agree that American voice acting is good quality. Most of it completely misses the mark on emotional depth or tone. Full Metal Alchemist is an example of terrible voice acting."

Honestly, here's another thing I hate. The idiotic bitching about how the dub is NEVER good, or their never showing the right emotions.

Gah, it's sooo stupid. I've watched FMA, I can honestly say that I'll never accept Ed without Vic Minogna's voice.

I see it as good voice acting. I've seen the Japanese audio for some anime where I have to ask why the hell the voices don't fit the characters.

I can't even take the Dragon Ball Z Japanese version serious. Goku sounds like he's 10, not 30.

 

[Kuroneko97]

How about we stop giving a fuck about whether or not it's anime and start giving a fuck about whether or not it's a good show?

Don't get me wrong; I obviously love anime. But I don't think the style is important. It's the story and their characters and how it's told that draw me in.

 

[ph0b0s123]

Late to the party, but....

Isn't most of the animation work for Bleach and Naruto done by Nara Animation?

They're Korean, right?

Isn't Korra's animation handled by STUDIO MIR.

They're also Korean, right?

You want to explain why to me why one is Anime and one isn't again?

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

I don't think Western animation should strive to be Eastern animation, but instead you know... be its own thing. Graphic Novels are not exactly the same as Manga, and they shouldn't be. I don't see why the West should have to emulate the East for the animaton to be considered good.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Bourbon is regulated not because of the political reasons this article speaks of but simply because the air and environment MATTERS and it really won't taste the same. It's those things which are unique to the location that make it what it is.




Similarly, Kora isn't an anime because all those things are lacking from it. Only an amateur would call it's blatant second hand attempt at imitating generic anime as something more than that. It's a cartoon which tried to be non-kiddy and about a continuous plot...and that's FINE!



Just like the whiskey connoisseur will be able to instantly tell whether something is Bourbon or not, so does the anime aficionado have the ability to instantly discern that Kora really isn't anime at all...and it has nothing to do with the intro or outro nor the lack of Kanji. It's visibly apparent and very much so. The "air" of American-origin permeates it entirely.

 

[Marik2]

I don't think Western animation should strive to be Eastern animation, but instead you know... be its own thing. Graphic Novels are not exactly the same as Manga, and they shouldn't be. I don't see why the West should have to emulate the East for the animaton to be considered good.

Strange how back then, Japan looked to the west for animation inspiration and now the tables have turned.

And I'm starting to like the art style that Warner Bros has on their cartoons


Edit: And no comic book heroes are not lame

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

I don't think Western animation should strive to be Eastern animation, but instead you know... be its own thing. Graphic Novels are not exactly the same as Manga, and they shouldn't be. I don't see why the West should have to emulate the East for the animaton to be considered good.

Strange how back then, Japan looked to the west for animation inspiration and now the tables have turned.

And I'm starting to like the art style that Warner Bros has on their cartoons


Edit: And no comic book heroes are not lame

I know, that's where Japanese animation came from. But, I'm saying that its stupid that the West now wants to emulate the East instead of doing their own thing.

 

[Marik2]

I know, that's where Japanese animation came from. But, I'm saying that its stupid that the West now wants to emulate the East instead of doing their own thing.

Yeah I know, but the big irony is that they are now trying to emulate what was theirs from the beginning.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

I know, that's where Japanese animation came from. But, I'm saying that its stupid that the West now wants to emulate the East instead of doing their own thing.

Yeah I know, but the big irony is that they are now trying to emulate what was theirs from the beginning.

That's the part I find stupid.

 

[Kittyhawk]

Er, no its not stupid for western studios to evolve in terms of story content and art style. You're thinking too much from a fan perspective, which only sees and accepts so much.

The hard fact is animation is an entertainment industry, and like all in industries, it must diversify or die. Its expensive to produce and must also find and an audience to survive. Many shows have died a death before Avatar, trying to capture the fans of anime, as they know anime is where fans are going. With the huge output of anime seasonally, let alone annually, that's a tough amount of competition to go up against.

You have to try and lose that strange hubris of fan elitism, that this person can't be influenced by that or this. All artistic ventures (and plenty of mankinds achievements) have evolved because of influences, competition and ideas flowing freely, backwards and forwards. Feel free to pick anything we've ever created, and there will be a similar story behind its conception and creation, naysayers included.

See all those anime fans, who've based their art on Naruto and Bleach? Are you seriously saying its okay for them to be influenced by anime/manga, into creating their own works, but not the creators of Avatar, Young Justice, Teen Titans etc? Unfortunately creativity doesn't work that way, thank god. You can't decide for others, who or what to be influenced by, as that's down to the individual or group. Your opinion will be noted, mind.

I have been an anime/manga fan for many years, and draw influences from various artists, writers I like and appreciate, and not all of those are from anime/manga/games. The success of Avatar is a positive thing for the whole industry. It keeps people in work, and fans entertained. Criticising it harshly, based on the fact its learning and taking influences from anime in a positive way (when early anime studios did thing to Disney, as that's how art and ideas work), while telling a good story, isn't fair and is just petty, frankly.

All art, music, theatre etc would not be what it is today, without such an open two way street. or perhaps more of a circle of inspiration, competition and creativity. Get used to it, as that's not going to change because some dislike it, and want to make what they love (anime,manga) a closed minded island.

@Marik
I too like Warner animation of late. Young Justice is cool, and recent Batman OAVs have been cool too. Looking forward to the Dark Knight one. I really think that once we get more original non-super hero works, like Avatar, Korra and perhaps the recent Motor City, that's when American anime/animation stands up better for all. All they need is the viewers and fans to stay alive.

 

[SteewpidZombie]

Anime is a art and animation style. ANYONE can make anime, but it's more of a cartoon style that is based out of the Orient. North American cartoons often use thick outlines of characters and details, or are more targeted towards younger age groups (MLP: Friendship is Magic, Powerpuff Girls, Fairly Odd Parents, are good examples of bold outlines). But the older the age group, or wider the targeted audience, you'll often see more original art styles and ideas taken from various artists or used originally (Family guy, Undergrads, Sons of Butcher, Adventure Time, all using different styles).

Heck, watch some of the older anime from the good ol'Dragon Ball Z days, and you'll see that the styles used by Japanese and other studios have changed and been adapted by various artists and producers since then.

So when you see studios in North America producing stuff like Avatar: The Last Airbender, then YES they can make Anime.



And a random clip I found through Youtube and the mention of another few people:

 

[FireAza]

Well, as the article stated, Americans can't make "anime" for the very reason that while I could ferment a wine, I can't ferment a Château Margaux because I'm not brewing it in the correct geographical region. Does this mean any Château Margaux-like wire I make can't possibly be as good as a Château Margaux? Of course not. But I still can't correctly call it a Château Margaux.

But this is nothing more than semantics. The Japanese refer to all animation as "anime", regardless of country of origin, it's only in the West that we use "anime" to refer to animation of Japanese origin. So by that definition, no, an American animation styled in a Japanese fashion can't be "anime". Of course, this doesn't mean an American studio can't make an anime-like animation and have it be just as good, if not better than one made in Japan, since in the end, it's all animation.

However, my personal view on this subject does admittedly skew towards the negative. Based on one simple idea: why do they feel the need to ape the style of another? Why not do something original? Maybe I'm cynical, but when someone does this, I feel that they're trying to ride the coattails of the their successful predecessor. It should be less "I'm gonna make an anime!" and more "I'm gonna make a high-quality action/fantasy animated series!"

 

[mizi]

Oi... No. Neither Korra or Avatar are anime. The story would have been presented differently if it HAD been anime. Anime follows certain conventions besides big eyes and small mouths that are based around the culture that it comes from.

If Legend of Korra Had Been Anime..
1.) Korra's personality would have either been more cold and driven or more 'girly'. If the former, somebody would have chastised her for being so 'boyish' and 'unfeminine' at some point.
2.) Korra would have either baked something for Mako or made him lunch. It would have tasted bad but he would have eaten it anyway.
3.) There would be long scenes of dialogue where the characters mull over plot points, relationships and philosophy set to slow pans at weird angles.
4.) Deep in her heart, she always wanted to be 'just a normal girl', but her duty as the avatar came before her personal desires. (oh, the tragedy!). But of course, she was happy to be the Avatar because everyone was counting on her...etc etc insert long speech here.
5.) When all hope was lost, she would have had to look deep instead her self and discover the true strength of her spirit, with the help of memories of her friends/family encouraging her set in some abstract mental space.

 

[Agente L]

I know this was probably already said a few hundreds times in this topic, buuuuut:

No. It's physically( and geographically) impossible for americans to make anime.

Can they make anime-like animated cartoons? Sure. They can make a exact copy of anime.

But that still wouldn't be anime. Cause, by definition, anime is made on japan.

But don't worry, cartoons can be just as good or even better than animes. Avatar itself is a great example of an amazing cartoon.

This article made me remember of Kappa Mikey. That one was really nice.