what is anime?
What Is Anime?
Anime has been described in three definitions.
Anime as an Artform
Just by watching anime many people have noticed that the style is like no other. The basic style of anime (created by the late Dr.Osamu "GOD of Manga" Tezuka) has it's characters with big eyes, anatonomy that's exaggerated, unique hairstyles and in depth story telling. Unlike American cartoons and their candy-coated goodness and unrealistic themes of living happily ever after, anime has complex/realistic storylines that have for decades-shocked American audiences.
Anime as a Medium
American audiences have often complained about the graphic nature of anime. There are those who would say that anime is nothing more than sex and violence. This however is far from the truth. What American audiences fail to understand is that in Japan they don't get so "hung up" on sex, violence, nudity or even homosexuality. Anime is considered a medium much like the American film industry. To put it in another way, watching anime is much like watching regular movies. As a medium anime services all genres and all ages. From action, comedy, romance and sci-fi. Here are a few examples of different types of anime:
Kodomo (Childrens' anime): This type of anime is usually fantasies with cute characters (I.E. Hello Kitty, Toma and Friends and Hamtaro.)
Shounen (young boys' anime): Designed for young boys and focuses on action and battling super-villains. (I.E. Dragonball Z, Yu-GI-Oh and Street Fighter)
Seinen (young males'): Directed at older men. Being more graphic and mature than shounen with political themes. (I.E. 3x3 Eyes, Jin-Roh and Jo Jo's Bizarre adventure)
Shoujo (young girls'): Focuses on romance, drama and emotions with females as the main characters. (I.E. Marmalade Boy, Sailor Moon (though not a true Shoujo with it's action) and Kara Kano.
Anime has been released on DVD, VHS, and laser disc in both subtitled (this is when the characters speak in their original Japanese language with English subtitles) and dubbed (anime characters speaking in English). Most anime fans prefer sub to dub. Dubbed anime have voice actors who sometimes do not fit an anime character. However there are anime fans that prefer dubbed since some say they are not able to read well, the subtitles are in the way of that beautiful animation or the subtitles are not done very well.
Anime as a Culture
There are anime fans that not only watch anime for story and art but for Japanese culture. By watching anime subtitled many anime fans have picked up on a few Japanese words. It is through anime that the Japanese culture has become more appealing to anime fans. Nowadays anime fans not only watch Japanese animation but also wear Japanese clothing tattoos and eat Japanese food.
There are anime that are based on Japanese and even Chinese history/legends. Some examples of this would be an anime series called "Rurouni Kenshin". The story takes place in the Meiji-era which a real era in Japanese history. Another example would be, believe it or not, DragonBall. This ever-popular anime is loosely based upon the Chinese legend of the "Monkey King". Both main characters share the same name as well as, shall we say, "mean of transportation"(riding a cloud) both have the same weapon (the red power poll that extends and contracts) Those are just a few of the many anime based on Japanese history.
Manga
Manga (Japanese comics) is what anime is loosely based on. Like anime, Manga service all genre.s unlike American comics fueled by their capes and tights heroes. Manga is read from right to leave instead of left to right and are printed in black and white. Manga is also printed weekly in about the size of phone books. Here in America Manga is brought overseas in the form of graphic novels at either your local comicbook stores, anime stores or (if you live in the District of Columbia) some of your local libraries. If you live in the District of Columbia then take full advantage of the libraries that have Manga.
[back to the f.a.q.]
~min'ko
