What is so great about Anime?

[wartuk65]

Texas America Murphy, first of all: I'm a huge anime fan, but I really won't dive much deeper into that right now. What my problem is with you, is that you act all high and mighty, shouting that anime is a genre, not a medium. It indeed is no medium, but it isn't a genre either. It's an artform.

Genre is a term used to refer to categories of communication that are defined by specific shared characteristics.
The term medium refers to specific modes of communication in which the
shared characteristics aren't simply categorical difference but technological differences in how the acommunication is experienced by the participant, just as in the experience of reading a book is different from the experience of viewing a film.

Animation is an artform combining the medium of film and fine art. If we classify animation according to national origin, then anime is a Japanese artform, and cartoons are an American artform, as subcategories of the classification artform. If however, we are referring to specific artistic characteristics shared by anime or cartoons, then those become genres of the animation artform, with further subgenres.

So whether or not anime is a genre comprised of subgenres depends on how one is referring to anime at a given time. If one is arguing that anime has
specific artistic characteristics that distinguish it from the specific artistic characteristics of cartoons, then anime and cartoons become genres
instead of just national artforms. However, we are not doing so in this thread.

I think one of the reasons anime fans have had trouble with this issue is that we've lacked the word artform. We need the middle term in between medium and genre, because the term medium does not really apply and the term genre has specific parameters that don't apply in every discussion, like this one.

 

[moretimethansense]

Think that like books they are diverse and there are usually a lot of different types. Anime is like that in that there is something for everyone story wise (or not, some don't really have stories) and they are done in a visually interesting and engaging ary style. That's just my take on it anyway.

But books are a medium. Anime is a genre. It has conventions. Every anime has a common thematic thread that makes everyone seem to like it so much. What is that thread? "They're like books!" is an uniformed copout.

I don't know if thios has already been said but that right there is quite possibly the most untrue statment I've seen all week.

Anime is not a genre, Horror is a genre, Romantic comedy is a genre and Western is a genre,
Anime is a medium, or perhaps more accuratly an art style.

Also: "Every anime has a common thematic thread that makes everyone seem to like it so much"
Where exactly are you getting this information from?
A few episodes of three different series is not enough to notice a common thematic thread in anything.

Now I must bring up a few isues with your opening post.

1. You're a film student?
Well whoop-de-fricken-do that does not give you authoroty to decide what is or is not a good medium.

2. You watched a few episodes of Naruto and because you didn't see any charachter development you wrote it off?
The thing is like 600 episodes long so far and showing no signs of stopping, Characters devlop, they just take a while.

3. You can't jusge the quality of a series by just a few episodes, frankly if you are a film student you must not be a very good one if you believe that to be the case.

EDIT crap hit enter, more to come!
EDIT 2 : Post continued.

4. They're spelled Code Geass and Gurren Lagann respectivly, petty I know but still.

5. 12 year olds are legal tender in Japan, so that's just a case of values dissonance.

6. Code Geass is a show for those that enjoy chareter development, bizzare and improbable tactics, tragedy sprinkeled with comic relief, large robots duking it out and of course a plethora of scenery chewing, over the top hammy larger than life charechters and preformances preformances, if you don't like that kind of thing there are pleny of other anime you could be watching.

7. Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann is for those that want comedy, drama, action, larger than life charecters and larger still robots, it's a damn good series if you can get in to it but it's definatly not for beginers.

And I know it wasn't in your opening statement but, You find the premise of Code Geass "silly"?
So may I assume you are averse to all alternate universe settings?
Because if you do you must not enjoy many films must you.

Overall you come across as somone that doesn't want to step out of their comfort zone, not to mention just a little xenophobic, Japan is a very different country to the UK and US so has many different values and writing tropes so it will seem different and confusing at first, give it time and look for something a little closer to your established tastes and you may find somthing you like.

Some people say that Anime is not for everyone, I think that's bollocks, Anime is merely a medium, a style of animation Japans take on cartoons if you will.
There is somthing out there for everyone, there is at least one film out there for everyone, at least one book, at least one anime, if you honestly can't find one you like somewhere in the multitude of series both good and bad you are either looking in the wrong place or are deliberatly trying not to like it, that's my belif at least.

As for it's recent popularity?
There are only so many stories you can tell, so many tropes you can use before you start noticing similarities, anime (to many) seems fresh and new because they havn't been exposed to these tropes before and some people are scared off by that, others lap it up.
Some will lose interest, others interest will level out and others still will decide they like these tropes better.

Just because you don't like what you've seen so far doesn't mean you won't like something you see in the future, and just because you don't like it doesn't make it bad, people have different tastes, get over it.

 

[Marik2]

It's cartoons for adults.

Damn straight

OP dont watch that show, its basically one huge parody of western cartoons like power puff girls and it also makes fun of like anime itself. Its not a show for everyone...

Perhaps you might like this one? It's very slow paced but I found it interesting because of the setting and the mixture of west and east animation


Maybe this as well? It also combines west and east animation and both of the ones I showed you have good dubbing.


Read this review if your interested in witchblade.

http://justreviews.net/article.php?id=24

 

[[.redacted]]

Texas America Murphy, first of all: I'm a huge anime fan, but I really won't dive much deeper into that right now. What my problem is with you, is that you act all high and mighty, shouting that anime is a genre, not a medium. It indeed is no medium, but it isn't a genre either. It's an artform.

Genre is a term used to refer to categories of communication that are defined by specific shared characteristics.
The term medium refers to specific modes of communication in which the
shared characteristics aren't simply categorical difference but technological differences in how the acommunication is experienced by the participant, just as in the experience of reading a book is different from the experience of viewing a film.

Animation is an artform combining the medium of film and fine art. If we classify animation according to national origin, then anime is a Japanese artform, and cartoons are an American artform, as subcategories of the classification artform. If however, we are referring to specific artistic characteristics shared by anime or cartoons, then those become genres of the animation artform, with further subgenres.

So whether or not anime is a genre comprised of subgenres depends on how one is referring to anime at a given time. If one is arguing that anime has
specific artistic characteristics that distinguish it from the specific artistic characteristics of cartoons, then anime and cartoons become genres
instead of just national artforms. However, we are not doing so in this thread.

I think one of the reasons anime fans have had trouble with this issue is that we've lacked the word artform. We need the middle term in between medium and genre, because the term medium does not really apply and the term genre has specific parameters that don't apply in every discussion, like this one.

Read all the posts, I admire you for registering on the escapist to defend anime, and I agree with your sentiments as well, not to mention your sound explanation of what anime essentially is,
but as far as I can see, OP has started warming to it now we have explained (or at least tried to explain) the gist of it to him.

Edit: You know what, I'm wrong, this makes perfect sense, I'm being an arse. This probably signals that it's time for me to give in to the urge to faceplant onto my keyboard and call it a day. Sorry.

Oh, and enjoy, OP. =)

 

[UrbanCohort]

-Unimportant-

-Wall-

-Of Text-

-Hence, snippy snippy-

Inferior according to who, the Reeses cup, or the people eating them? While I agree with you on that point (who would choose the reeses cup over the eclair?), music; animation; film; food; or what-have-you don't assign value to themselves. It needs to be run by a person before it gets a value, and it's always subjected to said person's preference.

Like how some french guy decided it would be a great idea to fry up some snails in a skillet and presented it as some kind of fancy cuisine, whereas I think the whole idea is horrible (doesn't taste bad, I don't like the texture, myself) and frankly, I value a good, simple burger over a plate of snails.

All that said, depending on your definition of 'value', the very foundation of your entire argument is flawed.

Coincidentally, I think there's a Reeses Cup Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory, and it's delicious, best of both worlds.

 

[Mordwyl]

It's an acquired taste. Myself I've been bombarded with anime since before my first birthday so I kind of grew up enjoying it straight off the bat. Mind I don't really enjoy ALL of the anime there is out there and much like western animation/film there are gems as much as there are turds.

Next time you want to see why people like anime try going for any one of the Studio Ghibli films. They're the Disney of Japan.

 

[Grey_Focks]

It's cartoons for adults.

pfffffft hahahahahaahahaha! That made my night, thank you.

OT: I dunno, never really "got it" myself. The fanbase has always kind of driven me away from it. Every time I try to give some anime a chance I just think of catgirls, weeaboos, people saying "kawaii desu", and everyone who keeps heralding it as the second coming of some weird Japan-Jesus.

Bottom line, you, me, and everyone else who doesn't like it do not HAVE to like it. There is NOT an anime for everyone, and anime fans need to accept that. Yes, even Cowboy Bebop does not appeal to everyone. Well, maybe it could've if that "Ed" thing didn't exist.

 

[Arisato-kun]

Alright. Recommend me some anime and I'll watch it.

OP I'm gonna bring over my posts from the other thread, just because I'm curious.

I do and I submit Baccano! to you.


Synopsis (via MyAnimeList): During the late 1930s in Chicago, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its legendary journey that will leave a trail of blood all over the country. At the same time in New York, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his unwilling aide Ennis, are looking for missing bottles of the immortality elixir. In addition, a war between the mafia groups is getting worse. On board the Advena Avis, in 1711, alchemists are about to learn the price of immortality.

Watch it in English.

I'll make one last suggestion with Eden of the East. Yet again, watch it in English. Also, fun fact, the opening song is "Falling Down" by Oasis.


Synopsis: On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be known as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory, is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding in the other. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash.

 

[wartuk65]

Read all the posts, I admire you for registering on the escapist to defend anime, but as far as I can see, OP has started warming to it now we have explained (or at least tried to explain) the gist of it to him.

Ah, I see. Well I couldn't be bothered reading all seven pages really, although I should, so I rushed through them. Well, I did try to make a point, but no need to if the point already has been proven. And this isn't my first post by the way. This is a "backup" account of mine, don't ask me why I have one. I really don't know myself...

 

[wartuk65]

Read all the posts, I admire you for registering on the escapist to defend anime, but as far as I can see, OP has started warming to it now we have explained (or at least tried to explain) the gist of it to him.

Ah, I see. Well I couldn't be bothered reading all seven pages really, although I should, so I rushed through them. Well, I did try to make a point, but no need to if the point already has been proven. And this isn't my first post by the way. This is a "backup" account of mine, don't ask me why I have one. I really don't know myself...

 

[wartuk65]

Read all the posts, I admire you for registering on the escapist to defend anime, but as far as I can see, OP has started warming to it now we have explained (or at least tried to explain) the gist of it to him.

Ah, I see. Well I couldn't be bothered reading all seven pages really, although I should, so I rushed through them. Well, I did try to make a point, but no need to if the point already has been proven. And this isn't my first post by the way. This is a "backup" account of mine, don't ask me why I have one. I really don't know myself...

 

[UrbanCohort]

Teee-hee.

Combobreaker!

 

[wartuk65]

And sorry about my triple post there, my pc was bugging like hell <.<

 

[[.redacted]]

Read all the posts, I admire you for registering on the escapist to defend anime, but as far as I can see, OP has started warming to it now we have explained (or at least tried to explain) the gist of it to him.

Ah, I see. Well I couldn't be bothered reading all seven pages really, although I should, so I rushed through them. Well, I did try to make a point, but no need to if the point already has been proven. And this isn't my first post by the way. This is a "backup" account of mine, don't ask me why I have one. I really don't know myself...

Don't worry, everyone is helping, and you are one of those people who give real constructive help (the real good stuff), I was just being an idiot, ignore me.

Also, triple post, awesome =)

 

[Nazz3]

I cant stand it. Even less the subculture. The characters look like aliens with huge plate-sized 'eyes'. And i've actually seen some anime fans who have had tried to make their eyes look bigger...

 

[ICanBreakTheseCuffs]

1. You're a film student?
Well whoop-de-fricken-do that does not give you authoroty to decide what is or is not a good medium.

Sir, I completely agree with your statement but since he is a film student wouldn't it make since for him to be able to tell weither or not a type of film is structurely good?

 

[wartuk65]

Read all the posts, I admire you for registering on the escapist to defend anime, but as far as I can see, OP has started warming to it now we have explained (or at least tried to explain) the gist of it to him.

Ah, I see. Well I couldn't be bothered reading all seven pages really, although I should, so I rushed through them. Well, I did try to make a point, but no need to if the point already has been proven. And this isn't my first post by the way. This is a "backup" account of mine, don't ask me why I have one. I really don't know myself...

Don't worry, everyone is helping, and you are one of those people who give real constructive help (the real good stuff), I was just being an idiot, ignore me.

Also, triple post, awesome =)

Well thank you, but I won't ignore you. I don't like repeating things that already have been said, even though my post is full of that. I'm just a big talker, can use large words, and explain a thing or two. But I'm not much less an idiot than you are. =]

And when is OP gonna say anything again? Did he retreat?

 

[ICanBreakTheseCuffs]

I cant stand it. Even less the subculture. The characters look like aliens with huge plate-sized 'eyes'. And i've actually seen some anime fans who have had tried to make their eyes look bigger...

This is a discussion, not a blog. If you don't have anything to contribute atleast don't babble on on how much you hate anime and not help the discussion.

PS: I'm not a fanboy of anime trying to cover my angry response to you, I'm just trying to be a good participant in this discussion.

Thank you for listening.

 

[[.redacted]]

Saw a little post mentioning Witchblade a few parts up, and thought that this is perfect to highlight something to you, OP:

Anime does one crucially bad and off-putting (for some) thing, and that is it tends to oversexualise and overobjectify women at every opportunity it gets - this is not indicative of the rest of the writing, it is - if you will - in the same vein as the token ethnic minorities in every film [sub]I do not harbour any racist feelings, *sigh*, this is just a metaphor, albeit a bad one[/sub]: it's there because without it, some people will not watch it.

Do not let this deter you, or alter your perspective on anime as a whole, many (if not most) of the best series do not contain this, but some (like Witchblade), do - but it is in no way a sure-fire sign that it will have a bad story.


Argh, that was horribly worded, I should have gone to sleep when I said, but you get my point.

I hope...