Introduction on What Anime Isn't- a.k.a Japanese Animation For Dummies
Hey there folks! I'm going to explain basic misconceptions of what "anime" is and isn't, and why people like it. I might use some sources for a better argument later, but for now this article will be based on first-hand experience I had from people who would tease me about it. First, a brief explanation on why I'm doing this. I've been into Japanese animation since I was about 4 years old, but didn't realize it was even Japanese, until my father got a home computer with internet when I was seven. My first shows were the common ones airing in the United States in the late 90's, and early 2000's, such as Sailormoon, Pokemon, Digimon,or Dragonball Z. However, while I looked online and tried to find information on many series that didn't air on American television, I realized there was alot more to animation from Japan than I thought. Most Americans, however, only get a glance of what anime is, looking at one or two episodes of the shows I listed and assume most are like that.
Which has led me to write an article like this. Again, most examples I used are based on remarks people gave me, when I admitted it was a hobby of mine. I don't want this to be a rant of wall text, so I'll have a few introduction pages later on.
1) Cartoons are for kids, why do you watch it?
- Some people assume other cultures will be extremely similar to America, and can't understand for the life of them why any grown person would watch such a thing. (Though for some reason it was perfectly acceptable in high school to admit you watched Disney films...) No, the animation in Japan is not what is commonly watched in American television. Most 2D animation airing in American TV, is 30 minute comedy shows that poke fun of something or another. (Even the "adult" animation in America is in a similar state; Family Guy, the Simpsons,etc.)Although Japan has many animation series for small kids,the series that are most popular are for the teenage/young adult market. Japan evolved their animation as an art medium not just for comedy skits, but as a medium for telling stories. And since many good series are for an older demographic, it can go into analyzing characters and having a complicated plot. (Not all of them, but a good chunk.) A good series intrigues me as much as a good novel, which is why I enjoy watching series from Japan.
2) Anime is that porno stuff, why do you like reading that?
- Some people have misconceptions that what is acceptable and unacceptable in their culture will be the same for other cultures. There are many romantic comedies, aimed for teenage boys,or girls, in Japan, that might have some mild nudity and show not-very-detailed-breasts. ( It was for bringing such a series in school that had the boys acting immature and yelling about it to me.) In Japan, and in most of the American market, that is not considered "pornography". However there are more serious works as well with mild nudity.Even non-explicit sex scenes are allowed in some series,(remember I said the majority of popular series are for the teenage/young adult market), as long as nothing is really showing. However there are just as many series that are family friendly G-rated fair, so don't stereotype and assume one genre in this medium is the only genre that exists.
I would like to point out that the above examples is not considered pornographic in the Japanese or American market, but there is a category of animation that is pornography. This is not for minors, and in Japan is restricted to the adult market,( 18+.) In America it is commonly known as hentai, (Japanese for pervert), but in Japan people would call it porno animation or ero (erotic) anime. (ANN) Although it exists, it does not mean it's for everyone; it's like saying everyone that likes watching television likes pornography!
3) All anime is that stuff like Dragonball Z, or Sailormoon, or Naruto. Why do you watch weird
stuff like that?
- This,out of everything I listed, is the most common thing I was asked, especially in a small, isolated, high school. Honestly, it took me a while to understand what the implications were, but I didn't realize it until word got around. (I only told one or two people at first, and this was amazing enough to tell the whole grade apparently.) I think this comes from the little fact that people don't like to do research, and maybe due to one or two bad experiences with a strange fan, stereotype and assume everyone that likes ,"those cartoons from Japan", are weird people.
No, not all anime are those series where people transform and yell attacks. Although alot of series like that exists, it does not make the bulk of anime. Many anime,like Naruto or Dragonball Z and even Sailormoon, usually are aimed for the preteen market in Japan. (And even so, still had a hefty number of edits for television airing. But we can leave that for another time.) So essentially, what the American market is basing their stereotypes from, is a watered down, diluted form of a story, that, especially back in the day, had little resemblance to the original Japanese series. (I'm talking about airings of series that were shown in the mid-late 90's.) Because of that, many people assume "anime" is mindless entertainment were people yell attacks and transform into something, (or carry monsters around), with little characterization and little plot.
I'm going to spend another page explaining anime terms, and then I'll do manga. In the near future, I'll form a little history article to explain the when and how Japanese animation differed from American animation. For the record,if someone read this and doesn't watch anime cause it's not for them, I can respect that. I just hope you will leave a little more knowledgeable on why people like these things, and to just be respectful of hobbies that aren't the norm. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask in the comments!
