Why are all anime characters white?

[Soviet Heavy]

Yes, it's the art style.

Asian people are usually recognized by their eyes being being "leaner", resulting from their eyelids being kind of lower. However, the Japanese culture considers small eyes (particularly on anime) to look "mean" or "rude". The artstyle reflects on that: you'll notice that most often young and/or the main characters (the good guys) have large eyes, whereas usually the antagonists and/or people with dismissive/mean/cool personality have leaner eyes.

Also, saying all anime character are "all" white, simply isn't true. I don't watch anime or read manga myself, and I know this.

That is actually a device that Osamu Tezuka stole from Disney when he made Astro Boy in the 50s. Japanese animators liked the results and adapted it into their work, leading to the creation of anime eyes.

They might seem difference, but compare these two images.

Spoiler

Compare the faces, and see how many things Astro Boy (1952) has taken from Pinocchio (1940).
-Large, innocent eyes
-Button nose
-Small mouth
-Similar Ear Structure
-Same facial structure
-Body Shape

I know this doesn't answer the question of white people, but I thought you should know that many of the tropes related to anime have their roots in disney, particularly the eyes.

 

[The Funslinger]

What about Brock?

Yeah, him and his weird closed eyes!

OT: As stated, they're not.

As for why they aren't primarily Asian, when in a Japanese product (even when set in Japan) it's because anime and manga tend to be made to appeal to Westerners/the fairly Western friendly attitude that currently occupies Japan. It's a bit of a trope, but only the old and wise masters tend to look Asian.

 

[Wuggy]

Yes, it's the art style.

Asian people are usually recognized by their eyes being being "leaner", resulting from their eyelids being kind of lower. However, the Japanese culture considers small eyes (particularly on anime) to look "mean" or "rude". The artstyle reflects on that: you'll notice that most often young and/or the main characters (the good guys) have large eyes, whereas usually the antagonists and/or people with dismissive/mean/cool personality have leaner eyes.

Also, saying all anime character are "all" white, simply isn't true. I don't watch anime or read manga myself, and I know this.

That is actually a device that Osamu Tezuka stole from Disney when he made Astro Boy in the 50s. Japanese animators liked the results and adapted it into their work, leading to the creation of anime eyes.

They might seem difference, but compare these two images.

Spoiler

Compare the faces, and see how many things Astro Boy (1952) has taken from Pinocchio (1940).
-Large, innocent eyes
-Button nose
-Small mouth
-Similar Ear Structure
-Same facial structure
-Body Shape

I know this doesn't answer the question of white people, but I thought you should know that many of the tropes related to anime have their roots in disney, particularly the eyes.

Now that's very interesting. I hadn't heard of the relations to Disney before. Then again, I haven't really studied the subject at all. Thanks for sharing!

 

[shadyh8er]

It could be because black people are rare in Japan. Seriously, most Japanese people don't even know what a black person looks like. I actually joke and say that the easiest way for any black person to get laid is to go to Japan and wait five minutes. They're seen as exotic over there.

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

Because japan idolizes western culture, so the whiter the better.

and the eyes, large eyes make the emotion easier to draw or something like that, but they also make you look very not asian.

This.

Pretty much kinda summed up what I was thinkin in a nutshell beyond all the "oh thats how we see it"

Last I checked most Asians are not natural blondes (nor porn stars...for that matter) They have dark hair...ala Black most of the time...

I must ask why Japan sees the western world as an idol....

 

[Toriver]

Last I checked most Asians are not natural blondes (nor porn stars...for that matter) They have dark hair...ala Black most of the time...

I must ask why Japan sees the western world as an idol....

Did you bother to read any of the thread past the OP, or watch the video that's been reposted every three posts or so? It explains it all.

And the West is totally NOT idolized in Japan. Korea gets more attention in Japan than the West, and they've had a very long love-hate relationship with Korea. And China is really beginning to rise in reputation here compared to the West, even with all their historical clashes. I saw a political discussion show on TV here last year asking nine political talking heads basically, if the US and China ever were to get into serious conflict to be the world power, which side Japan should take. It was split right down the middle. Three said the US, three said China, and three said they couldn't decide. Japan has basically been caught like that since the end of WWII: culturally and regionally more heavily tied to Asia, and politically and economically more heavily tied to the West. I would honestly bet that if Japan didn't have to trade so much with the West to keep its economy strong, the West would have a lot less influence here, especially with all the economic shocks they've had to deal with since the early 1990s, and with the whole not wanting US bases on so much of their land... thing. Sure, they like the tourism and they do prop up some idealized views of various Western countries in the media, but they don't really care enough in the vast majority of cases to see past stereotypes, and in my experience, they tend to seriously be more scared of foreign things they don't understand than fascinated by them.

Sound familiar? It should. That's basically the same thing the OP is doing in this thread... and the same thing you've done here: letting a stereotype dictate your view of a country.

 

[The Keeper]

I blame Betty Boop. At least in terms of eyes. I she think she started the whole trend for both Americans and Japanese.

 

[Jonluw]

Because japan idolizes western culture, so the whiter the better.

and the eyes, large eyes make the emotion easier to draw or something like that, but they also make you look very not asian.

This.

Pretty much kinda summed up what I was thinkin in a nutshell beyond all the "oh thats how we see it"

Last I checked most Asians are not natural blondes (nor porn stars...for that matter) They have dark hair...ala Black most of the time...

I must ask why Japan sees the western world as an idol....

Here's something to watch:
The Japanese do not "idolize" western culture or have some desire to be like 'us'.

 

[jj90]

Seriously I don't understand why in so many animes (especially ones taking place in JAPAN) ALL characters are white. Seriously I never see any asian features on any anime characters.
Maybe it's the art style but I don't see why everyone would look like an American white person.

SO why do you think even "asian" anime characters don't look asian at all?

Afro Samurai????

 

[BgRdMchne]

There aren't only white people in anime, sometimes there are horribly offensive caricatures of black people, too.

 

[Mikeyfell]

Anime Eyes actually have squared off corners. So they're neither round or elongated.

White people and Japanese people have similar enough skin tones so that the easiest way to tell them apart is eyes and hair (and general facial structure, but not too many people pay that close attention) Anime eyes are square, anime hair is pink and crazy. people who don't know any better say Anime faces are shaped like home plate. People just assume they're supposed to be white.

Which doesn't mesh with the racist stereotype that Japanese people are xenophobic.

I'm not racist by the way. Pointing out that people from different countries look different is not racist especially not when you asked.

 

[Lethos]

My Japanese textbook is hilarious when it comes to this. The textbook features some cartoon characters from different countries in the world. All of the Japanese characters, admittedly look white. So to make the characters from America and Britain look different to the Japanese characters, they have given them the biggest and most circular eyes you can imagine.

The Japanese do not "idolize" western culture or have some desire to be like 'us'.

This isn't entirely true to be honest. There is a fashion trend in Japan to dye your hair blonde and get a surgery to make your eyes more circular. It's not got a massive following, but when I was in Japan I did see quite a few girls doing this.

 

[tobyornottoby]

My Japanese textbook is hilarious when it comes to this. The textbook features some cartoon characters from different countries in the world. All of the Japanese characters, admittedly look white. So to make the characters from America and Britain look different to the Japanese characters, they have given them the biggest and most circular eyes you can imagine.

Could you scan this? =)

 

[krazykidd]

watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKTvFhRbBt8

don't know how to imbed a video, sorry

You win this thread. that was a real good video and i will use it often , thank you .

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Yes, it's the art style.

Asian people are usually recognized by their eyes being being "leaner", resulting from their eyelids being kind of lower. However, the Japanese culture considers small eyes (particularly on anime) to look "mean" or "rude". The artstyle reflects on that: you'll notice that most often young and/or the main characters (the good guys) have large eyes, whereas usually the antagonists and/or people with dismissive/mean/cool personality have leaner eyes.

Also, saying all anime character are "all" white, simply isn't true. I don't watch anime or read manga myself, and I know this.

This

It's a matter of art style and projection. Asian audiences consider anime characters to be Asian, whereas Caucasian audiences consider anime characters to be Caucasian.

And this too.
Also I'm sure it also varies from artist to artist as well.

 

[JSkunk22]

I'm just annoyed that black males still get drawn with those huge lips from time to time.