What is so great about Anime?

[UrbanCohort]

As people said above, you can replace the word "anime" with just about any other form of media. Words like "good" and "great" are subjective, and people just like different things. People also like different things for different reasons; one person may not watch, play, eat whatever for the same reasons another person might. So there you go.

The problem is that this isn't true. For almost every topic, every ideology, every religion, every aspect of human life there is a point of "Rights" and "Wrongs". Perhaps it could be argued that there's not absolute right or wrong, but there are at the very least things that are "more right" and things that are "more wrong". Yes this is altered by your specific perspective, but across cultures there are still fundamental truths found (or various degrees of such a fundamental truth).

As such, it is vague and false to say, "You can say that about any medium." Saying a medium is tasteless might be subjective. But if a medium lacks things that create a good story (adequate conflict, character development, backstory, coherency, etc.) a critic begins leaving subjectivity and crossing the line more towards objectivity.

Maybe question whether or not anime is art is a bit much, but is there something that can be more art than another thing? Absolutely, and from there a discussion can be made - a discussion that can go far beyond a simplistic and vague (as well as false) statement saying "it's just your preference! You can say that about anything!"

lolwut?

So...either you're saying that anime rarely has a coherent storyline/conflict/character development/etc., OR you posted an inadvertently incomplete argument.

If the first, I say "learn a bit about what you're talking about".

If the second, then please, continue your thought.

Lastly, some things, like this, really ARE that simple. Trying to see more than what's actually involved is pointless.

 

[Jezzy54]

Anime's a medium. It isn't inherently good or bad, but there re some great examples, like Gurren Lagann, or Cowboy Bebop. It depends on what you're into, though.

 

[Texas America Murphy]

No. That's why I'm her boyfriend now and they arn't.

So her best boyfriend, is the one that insults her in public?

Listen Partner. I don't tell you how to deal with your woman. Some reciprocity might be nice.

 

[Texas America Murphy]

Anime's a medium. It isn't inherently good or bad, but there re some great examples, like Gurren Lagann, or Cowboy Bebop. It depends on what you're into, though.

Yeah you don't like reading posts do you. It's not. It's a genre.

 

[KarumaK]

Opinions on opinions of opinions.

Everyone's got a few, taste differ, personal blahblahblah, etc. etc.

We've done this before for... everything before, can we just not today?

 

[banksie]

Just to provide another voice on the subject - anime is very much a wide sub-genre of animation. The major distinction is simply that the primary authors and animators are Japanese - which means they bring their cultural outlook and baggage with them. The actual subject matter varies wildly and can range from the banal aimed for children like Naruto to highly personal and difficult works of art like "Angel's Egg".

What makes anime often interesting is the different emphasis used on how the stories are told and what happens within them. A lot of more American media, especially series, tend to have a fairly central cast of characters who remain pretty static to their series bible descriptions because this allows teams of writers to work on the series. Usually long term continuity is sacrificed to let production of episodes be highly parallel in the background with multiple scripts being written and usually two or three going through pre and post production. Because there isn't long term continuity then production problems can be accomodated because the episodes can be released often in any order. A classic example of this would be the various Star Trek incarnations, TOS especially and Next Generation where any major continuity changes usually occured in the season finales where the series plan could be updated for the writers to work from for the next season.

Nothing wrong with this method per se, although it does lead to shows that have characters that don't develop or change much. TV production (and most anime is aimed heavily at TV consumption) is changing with the rise of more story arc driven series starting to become the norm. Dexter, the modern Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Universe, Rubicon and the like all show a trend towards more planned series that have strong continuity and development across the season. Sadly this is often punished - SGU and Rubicon both have been canceled despite being excellent series.

Where anime has been different is that usually the series is planned out from the start. Characters grow, change and frequently die - even in the more children targeted ones. The plot being known from the get go means that clues can be layered in from the very start allowing the alert user to try and puzzle it out. There also is a stronger emphasis on introspection and motivation for lead characters with quite a few series looking into the reasons why that character is making the choices they do. Add on top of it a different set of cinematic rules - most stemming from the lower budgets available and thus the widespread use of short cuts. (Like the teardrop, red hash or swirling curl for emotional states rather than animating the face in a detailed enough fashion to let the emotions be seen. Or the speed lines and frequent use of pan shots across a still frame to imply motion without having to animate it.)

It all adds up to a style of storytelling that is markedly different from the more usual Western fare. It doesn't hurt that animation in the west has been firmly relegated as being primarily for children and usually the tales told suffer. In Japan animation is heavily diversified across the age ranges and they also have differing standards as to what is acceptable for children to watch meaning that even the child oriented material is often more violent then western audiences expect.) Put simply it is different - and that often is enough for many people to argue erroniously it is superior. It isn't but those who argue that normally aren't aware that the anime we see has been often cherry picked to be both better quality and most likely to appeal to western tastes.

As has been said too like any medium it has a wide swath of fairly mundane to crap stuff. But it also has gems tucked away in there that few, if any, other mediums would attempt. I can't see another culture producing something quite like 'RahXephon' with its clay based giant robots and fusion of Nahuatl infused myths with science fiction. 'Paranoia Agent' with its musing on social memes and the cost they can have. 'PatLabor the movie' whose structure has an antagonist that you see once at the start of the film committing suicide but whose presence is felt through the rest of the film as the police team try to put together what he is doing and why. That why is an interesting meditation on the price of progress. 'Haibane Renmei' with its tale of an odd purgatory like space that reinforces the importance of social connection. 'Texhnolyze' that takes Buddhist thinking off into extremes and has a very David Lynch like first episode with minimal dialogue but strong visual and soundscape based storytelling.

So to sum up? People often like anime in the west because it is different and that difference means it can tell certain kinds of stories we often don't get here. Sturgeon's Law applies but a little bit of persistance and finding out what kinds of stories you like will net you interesting series and films to watch.

 

[Lisiecki]

Listen Partner. I don't tell you how to deal with your woman. Some reciprocity might be nice.

I don't see where I told you how to deal with your woman. I'm just surprised that the one that belittles her in public is the best one shes had.

 

[robotam]

I don't know. There are some pretty darn good ones that I have watched. (I really liked Cowboy Bebob and Death Note) but even in then there does seem to be alot of stereotypical characters.
I can understand why you might find anime strange, but just remember
"Different strokes for different folks"

 

[Kris015]

Threads like this really should have it's own forum -.-'

It should be called The "Why I hate _____ Am I the only one?" Forum

 

[General Vagueness]

I smell a troll. As for actual issues, there are many, but anime is just a style of animation, it's not all the same any more than Loony Tunes, Rocko's Modern Life, and Dora the Explorer are the same as each other.

 

[UrbanCohort]

Now, I'm wondering what to make of the fact that there's an Iron Man anime.

 

[Vaccine]

So I walk into the living room and there are these girls dressed up in these weird costumes and stuff. One of them runs up to me and shouts something like ?Cowiie Desi.? So I?m put off, but still determined to see what the big fuss is about. DVDs go in the player and I?m treated to what my girlfriend tells me is the most popular Animes.

You got accosted by the side of anime fans most normal viewers of the medium don't like to pretend exist. Of course you weren't going to have a good experience.

Naruto is trash, think of it like that popular TV show everyone goes on about yet you hate it because it serves no purpose besides cheap entertainment value for the masses.
Code Geass was ok, but not something I'd try to follow in a group sitting, I mostly watched it for Lelouch being a total badass, but that's just me. Also a tad to colorful for me.
Gurren Lagann is pretty much selective viewing, it's either like or don't like from people.

Also, if you're really seeking advice on a topic you don't know much about, it helps to have an open mind, not berate the medium and its fans when asking them for information, because you're either trolling or just ranting on something you won't like either way, not looking to enlighten yourself.

 

[Jezzy54]

Anime's a medium. It isn't inherently good or bad, but there re some great examples, like Gurren Lagann, or Cowboy Bebop. It depends on what you're into, though.

Yeah you don't like reading posts do you. It's not. It's a genre.

No, Action is a genre. Science Fiction is a genre. Horror is a genre. Anime is a medium because it includes any and all of the actual genres. Saying anime's a genre is like saying all live-action movies are comedies.

 

[Geekmaster]

Listen Partner. I don't tell you how to deal with your woman. Some reciprocity might be nice.

I don't see where I told you how to deal with your woman. I'm just surprised that the one that belittles her in public is the best one shes had.

Maybe the others were wife beating types.

 

[Ace the Demon]

Threads like this really should have it's own forum -.-'

It should be called The "Why I hate _____ Am I the only one?" Forum

It might not be called that but the escapist forums are more or less this anyway.

 

[Polock]

Been seeing a lot of "Genre vs Medium" on here.

It's not a medium folks. Its a Genre.

Movies, Television, books, newspapers, video games..those are mediums.

Also to the OP: Anime can be strange. Probably more depending on what age you were exposed. My older sisters think its strange as hell. I grew up with Toonami and Dragon Ball Z. Anime makes more sense to me.(though I don't like all of it).

So yeah. I think age has the most to do with it.

 

[UrbanCohort]

Anime's a medium. It isn't inherently good or bad, but there re some great examples, like Gurren Lagann, or Cowboy Bebop. It depends on what you're into, though.

Yeah you don't like reading posts do you. It's not. It's a genre.

No, Action is a genre. Science Fiction is a genre. Horror is a genre. Anime is a medium because it includes any and all of the actual genres. Saying anime's a genre is like saying all live-action movies are comedies.

Finally. Thank you.

Also, why are we arguing semantics when we all obviously know what we're referring to?

 

[pearsmb06]

I'll start with saying that anime isn't really trying to be deep. I realize I'm painting with a broad brush, but most anime seems to specifically target the teenage-and-under demographic. there's fun to be had, but if you approach anime with a film snob attitude (which you seem to be) you're not going to get anything out of it. Gurren Lagaan is a show about how awesome robots are when they punch things. As soon as you bring up the term "artistic validity" in relation to it, you've already missed the point.

Also, yes, if you want to watch anime you have to make peace with the sexualization of underage people. That happens a lot.

 

[Terramax]

I don't know about anime now, but the ones I used to watch in the 90's were so much more mature than any of the cartoons or films I was watching at the time. Dominion Tank Police, El Hazard, Ghost In The Shell, Ninja Scroll, My Dear Maria, Guyver, Akira, etc.

The stories were so much more intricate, well thought out and imaginative.

As for it being art, how is Akira no less art than The Godfather or your average painting at an art gallery?

 

[Some_weirdGuy]

Did this guy seriously watch a random episode from a show and expect to understand and make an educated opinion of it?

Since when did that ever work? for ANY tv show/genre?