Everything You Know about Anime Is Wrong

[sabercrusader]

This was an interesting read. As a pretty low to moderate anime and manga reader myself. I don't watch very many anime or read very many manga. MY list of anime is short: Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Rosario + Vampire, High School of The Dead, and Death Note. That's it.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

But... I already knew all that.. Ah! ... Brain.. Hurting... Thinking too... Much.

I noticed the Devil May Cry clip trying to sneak its way by in that one. Nice try, Lady!

 

[Akimoto]

Aw... you forgot Hayao Miyazaki!

For those who dislike mainstream anime, I would recommend Studio Ghibli, Gonzo and Production I.G. I daresay these are among the best.

 

[Berlioz]

My issue with all anime I've seen so far is the animation and many times the way the characters are voiced and behave. Nothing is better than the original, and the originals so far make me cringe, from a bit to constantly. Something about it just doesn't seduce me.

I have no problem with still pictures, my problem is the animation. So far, I haven't seen enough fluidity for my eyes to feast upon. I would like it if you would recommend something that would excel in that department.

 

[Jast]

Ack, weird! When I started reading this, I was jammin' out to "Fly Away" that's in "Panty & Stocking". I feel awkward.

While reading this I did already know some of that stuff like not everyone in Japan likes anime. So, I try to be a bit discreet about my anime watching as far as others are concerned. What I would really like to see American animations do is to make animations that are not comedies and branch out into other genres. It would also be nice if these animations did not last for over 10 freakin' seasons. One or two is plenty for me.

(I thought that was pretty boss that "Shaun the Sheep" was one of the top rated animations in Japan. XD)

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

You know, I've never been able to find an anime I could really get into. I find slim pickings on Netflix and the only one I tried was extremely strange and put me off. (It was FLCL)
I have no idea where to even start and there's *so much* its overwhelming. You seem intelligent enough, Mr. OP, and not the type to troll me with tentacle porn and worse stuff so tell me, where should a complete n00b with anime begin to take their first steps.

 

[DarkRyter]

Man, I said this stuff like six months ago and everyone hated me.

 

[him over there]

I'd just like to take the genre/medium debate further and say that anime isn't even that, it's an art style not a medium. All the colouring styles, proportions and lighting that people use to visually identify anime don't use any conventions different from western animation, it just looks different. Plus the argument that anime refers to animation that was made in Japan doesn't hold up because other countries have created cartoons with the anime art style and Japan has created animation with a more western art style and feel. I see why people refer to it as a genre though because the cartoons in the anime art style often exhibit similar themes and tropes seemingly exclusive to the art style.

 

[Zelcor]

I am still a anime geek and do enjoy it it just feels like the peak for anime is over and nothing really "new" and "good" comes out I've watched a few animes that are already over on netflix and I do read mangas weekly I just haven't been able to find anything good though that's "current" since Code Geass and that's well cause it was freaking glorious if something really really good was released I'd probably watch it

 

[SageRuffin]

Good stuff, although I already knew most of it.

Something you may wanna add is how the term "anime" is really just shorthand for the Japanese equivalent of "animation": animeshon (as there's no real word for "animation" in Japanese).

Unless someone else already did. In which case, please disregard.

 

[puff ball]

Also somewhat related, for another example in adult animation in the west, Archer season 3 starts tonight. So happy. But... it is a comedy, which kind of re-enforced your point of most adult animation in the west being more comedic...

this and venture bros are what first came to my mind when op mentioned serious American animation. there both still comedies but have enough of a sub genre to make me count it.

op: good post i read it all the way through and enjoyed it. although besides the names of a few titles to check out i didn't really learn anything{not necessarily a bad thing}.

 

[dashiz94]

Well Anime has a double definition. Yes it is a medium , this is true.
However it is also a genre. When people think of anime , they think of cartoons from japan.
And this is not just because the art style or animation style anime (true anime) all have things in common that western cartoons that share similar art styles dont have.

cartoons from japan are not cartoons from America. They come from two very different cultures.

The humor is completely different.
The violence is completely different
the action is very different.
The dialogue and story structure have subtle differences.


how often do you see western "anime" have characters think out loud to deliver story information?

How often do you have western "anime" characters explain EVERY detail of their plans and motivations, or have another character explain it for them.....

there are of course exceptions , as there are exceptions to everything. But excessive dialogue is very much a Japaneses anime thing.

when I watch the afro samurai or the boon docks not once did I see them as anime. They just dont give off the same feeling.

then again Real mature anime these days is so damn rare (maybe one good one out of a whole year)that perhaps my view points very much skewed

You never watched a lot of 90s superhero shows did you? That was THE BIGGEST gripe I had with them, the villains would always espouse their grand plan to the hero.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Thread needz moar Persona 4 Animation!!1!

Inner fanboy aside, pretty cool read. Education is fun.

*Makes note to get The Boondocks season 1-3 on dvd.*

 

[Krion_Vark]

I'm a fan of anime and this article still cleared up a couple of my misconceptions.
Specifically, I often referred to Anime as a Genre. Sorry about that! D:

In related news, I actually don't like most Anime because most of it is, indeed, very much the same to me. Death Note is still on my top lists because of its originality. It's 'mainstream' for a reason; Because it's good.

I swear, if I see another giant robot...

Anime as its usually referred to is a genre that is usually a Japanese style ANIMATION. Note the word in all caps that is the genre.

 

[Owen Robertson]

Wrong. The only thing I knew about anime was that it's Japanese animation, and I was absolutely correct. Your thread title is fallacious.

The best reply to a thread I've ever read.

Also: Y'all niggas is gay

EDIT - I know how to end war because of Gundam. Countries build one giant fucking robot-suit and then the rival countries duke it out in space. We can tune in on pay-per-view and solve any economic crisis caused by building giant fucking robot-suits.

A solution to a problem we don't have > (Yes I know that's not what Gundam and its affiliate series are about. I just want to see giant fucking robot-suits)

 

[Tiger Sora]

Anime fans are bashed more than furries now (maybe). Well thats...... good I guess. We certainly did our time in that position.

Learned afew things. I keep an open mind on everything. Anime to me is just animation. How a show actually is it's just it's own flavor, they can be shared between different shows sure, but ya you said this already. Good read, and good day. *Top hats away*!

 

[lord.jeff]

Snip

People who make assumptions on anime do exist, there rare or just quiet, chances are the OP ran in to one of this people and had an unpleasant experience conversing with them so they ended up using the forums to vent a bit, nothing wrong with that.

 

[Don Savik]

No matter how anime was, its been ruined by this creepy moe stuff that Japan is pumping out. That's why anime has become a huge punching bag on the internet. Grown men watching little girls being KAWAII UGUU or getting obsessed with lolicon and using BUT SHE IS LIKE 1500 YEARS OLD as an excuse is what makes the rest of the internet ridicule anime. The same goes to fanservice shows.

The worse thing is that it sells like hotcakes.

Agreed, its the same thing with MLP to be honest. Now I get belittled by my anime watching friends for saying stuff like this because APPARENTLY it means that im not at ease with my sexuality and that I am just looking at its cover and not appreciating it for what it is......

but seriously people need to understand that japan is weird, and in a lot of cases immature sexually. Now, there are some anime that I like, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, which are obviously less immature, and I understand that not all anime is like this, but the most numerous and popular anime are.

another GIGANTIC problem I have with anime is laziness when it comes to animation. The amount of static shots where only characters mouths move is ridiculous, which is furthered by the amount of excessive talking that EVERYONE does. Occasionally they have their money shots but they are few are far apart. I get that this may be because of quality of the art style, but frankly its boring to watch most of the time. I want to watch cartoons because they are exciting.

But I just cannot get over the over-sexualization of underage looking girls and WHY people choose to defend it. Maybe I'm too much of a goody goody, but watching a show about little girls basically being molested by their peers to the entire societies approval is just sick.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

A few gems in a sea of shit is not enough to redeem the genre. If you wanted to avoid sounding pretentious, you failed. I appreciate certain anime shows for trying to steer animation as a medium into a more mature and serious direction but they obviously failed.

 

[Peacant]

Just like any medium, most of what's made is going to be garbage not worth your time. Seriously, if you had to flip through and watch an episode each of randomly selected American TV, wouldn't you just give up?

I definitely understand not wanted to slog through the sameness, pointless weirdness, or outright perversion to get to the good shows, when you could just say, "I know Breaking Bad is good, I know The Wire is good, and I know Dexter is good. Why am I even bothering trying to decipher a whole other market for content when I can just watch what I have?"

I enjoyed Gurren Lagann, Cowboy Bebop, and Baccano!, but I've also had to sit through the agony of some less-enjoyable shows as my roommate unceremoniously blasted them through my TV. However, I also have way too much time on my hands.