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    A different kind of cartoon: Anime

    By FurudeRikaChama on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 11:42am |

    Remember those cartoons like Scooby-Doo you watched as kids? Remember how they were always funny and silly, with no continuing plot? Are all cartoons for children? Some of you probably still watch cartoons, and are made fun of for it.

    If you didn't know, let me tell you that not all cartoons are for children. There are Japanese cartoons, called anime, that differ greatly than their Western counterparts. They differ greatly in three ways: the storytelling and plot, the artwork and design, and the content and genre.

    The link below is to an anime called Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni, a horror anime. This anime has language, and lots of gore and killing. Not all of them do. In fact, anime is more of a medium. The content can be anything, from cursing to blood to even explicit nudity and sex. But, the genre differs greatly with every anime. Some are sci-fi or fantasy, while others are romance or action. Some are even comedic or are horror.

    Next, the artwork is quite different from western animation. Most anime have loads of detail because the creators want you to relate to the characters better and know their surroundings. Unlike western animation, anime characters come in a wide range of age, and body type. Some have long, flowing hair and hair that is pink or blue. Others have spiky hair or eyes that can be any shade and can be either big eyes or even normal, human eyes.

    Boys in anime tend to have spiky hair, while girls have long hair. Some guys look a little girlish, but that's just to appeal to female fans of these series.

    The storytelling varies depending on the show. For example, in Full Metal Alchemist, the story revolves around alchemy and is a tale of humans learning from their mistakes and making them. In Ouran High School Host Club, the story is around wacky guys that entertain girls by complimenting them while making fun of the traditional stereotypes anime has.

    The Japanese are different from Americans in that they aren't afraid to put anything into their shows, or show the truth about life. I'm going to put up a link to Monster because that's usually a good start for people who don't know anime well. Mystery fans may enjoy it, too.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=iei3a7pnNrk&list=SL

    Comments

    I deleted your duplicate post. Do you think the girlish men might be a reflection of this trend?

    They are young, earn little and spend little, and take a keen interest in fashion and personal appearance -- meet the "herbivore men" of Japan.

    Author and pop culture columnist Maki Fukasawa coined the term in 2006 in a series of articles on marketing to a younger generation of Japanese men. She used it to describe some men who she said were changing the country's ideas about just what is -- and isn't -- masculine.

    "In Japan, sex is translated as 'relationship in flesh,'" she said, "so I named those boys 'herbivorous boys' since they are not interested in flesh."

    In a similar vein, I recall reading about Japanese boy/men involved with electronic girlfriends:

    Loneliness exists in every society, but only in Japan has emotional isolation become a market for video game manufacturers and tourist resorts. The Wall Street Journal's Daisuke Wakabayashi reports on a popular game called "LovePlus+," played on mobile consoles, that simulates the (non-sexual) experiences of having a girlfriend. As with the 1990s best-selling Japanese digital toy "Tamagotchi," which sold 70 million units by simulating a digital pet that required regular care, the "tens of thousands" of LovePlus+ users each maintain a romantic relationship with a video game character that they treat as their girlfriend.


    by Donal on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 12:55pm

    Sure beats Speed Racer, eh?  I remember watching anime several years ago, when my ex-boyfriend seemed addicted to the Cartoon Network.  We watched Dragon Ball Z all the time, and I remember being so confused over the characters at first.  Within a week, though, I was hooked. 

    Thanks for the link to Monster.  It looks good.  The animation is so detailed it's almost like watching a movie.


    by LisB on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 8:11pm

    http://www.hulu.com/mushi-shi?c=Animation-and-Cartoons

    Smile


    by wabby on Thu, 02/03/2011 - 9:47am

    While the Japanese were certainly more willing to take leaps in the world of animation, the popularity of anime in America and the success of several comic book live action films seems to be changing that. Marvel, DC and other companies have developed numerous straight-to-DVD animated efforts, and they've been getting progressively better or more intricate in their plot. Here's a clip from the Hellboy series:


    by Orion on Sun, 02/06/2011 - 7:39am