American-born Anime: True Anime or High-Quality Imitation?

Aliana · Post by **Aliana** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:32 pm

Well Gohan, you pinned it down right there. So what im wondering is that are some of us REALLY judging 'fake anime' based on the drawing or the stories. I think that now since you've defined it, thats the real question we have here.

older_gohan · Post by **older_gohan** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:39 pm

Ok let the lecture begin. First the definitions.

By the way, this is directly off Dictionary.com. Your trusted source, this way you can't argue it wasn't from a good source.

These definitions are directly copied and pasted.

an·i·me
n.
A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex.

This clearly states that Anime is a style developed in japan. Now of course we know from experience even though a company may make a style in a country, othe companies can copy this style and make it similar in look and feel. Thus duplicating it but calling it their own.

Anime is a style which was developed in Japan but has carried over to other countries where thye have replicated this style and have made their own cartoons using this similiar style. Of course you can see that the definition given to anime is pretty wide and thus covers most every aspect you will find in a anime styled show.

Main Entry: Japanimation
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a style of cartoon or animation made in Japan that focuses on futuristic themes and robotlike characters; also called anime
Etymology: Japan + (an)imation

Japanimation. Now you can look at this two ways. First the obvious way 'Super Fusion' will look at it. The definitions mean the same thing. And in fact they are very simliar. Hell to the common eye you wouldn't tell the difference. The one difference that seperates 'Japanimation' from 'Anime' is one word in each sentance.

made and developed

Anime was developed in Japan. Past tense. In other words the idea had already be thought of and brought in the process of making. And even then certain aspects of anime are always being developed. But as stated not all is developed in Japan. This leaves the idea that anime although developed in japan can be produced elsewhere with simliarities that make it fall under anime.

How you ask?

The style developed in japan is used else where. Much like a hair style, it can be developed in one plce but duplicated in many other salons. They can even be almost exact as the original. And now considering the very first 'anime' even though it was created years ago still has similarities with the anime made to day. Again this goes back to the idea it is a style and not the country of origin that defines an anime.

Now 'Japanimation' is anime but as stated above, made in japan. We call it anime because of the style it falls under. Which brings up on question of course to anyone reading. If anime is directly from japan, why the need for two seperate definitions?

Quite simple, though anime may be a style that was developed in japan it does not mean it all comes from japan. The definition of Japanimation gives the hint of seperations of countries versions of anime. Though they all fall under the same style saying one is 'Japanimation' or 'American Anime' is only seperating the origin of the show.

So there you have it.

Anime - A style DEVELOPED in japan.

Japanamation - anime MADE in japan.

American Anime - Anime made in America

cholinms · Post by **cholinms** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:16 am

I like how you spelled it out in simple language. I just wonder how long it will take some one to find a way to either disprove or argue around your facts.

Coffee 54 · Post by **Coffee 54** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:46 am

I like my definition of anime:

Anime - The animated programing I watch when I am bored, characterized by mostly Japanese audio, cute girls with purple hair, and a great many 'splosions/ninja fights/giant robots.

I know this definition is pretty 'me' specific, but its highly adaptable. For example: If your a girl, feel free to switch out 'cute girls with purple hair' with 'hunky guys with white hair.' If your smart, 'splosions' can easily become 'explosions' etc...
Anyway I hope I've helped some of you out there, although more likely then not, I haven't.

Aliana · Post by **Aliana** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:04 pm

*snickers* yea~

older_gohan · Post by **older_gohan** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:09 am

This is Otaku Ben and you have just been pwned

xerocool · Post by **xerocool** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:00 am

older_gohan hit it right on the head. Most "American-Anime" blows anyway, so who cares if its true anime or not?

hypes · Post by **hypes** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:18 pm

older_gohan wrote: an·i·me
n.
A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex.

Main Entry: Japanimation
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a style of cartoon or animation made in Japan that focuses on futuristic themes and robotlike characters; also called anime
Etymology: Japan + (an)imation

Though I agree with you on this, there's a problem I must point out with these definitions. The first one states anime is characterized by futuristic settings, violence, and sex. Whoever wrote that obviously hasn't seen Snow Fairy Sugar. The definition sounds like it crawled out of the eighties, when most anime (that I can think of anyway) were like that. Dirty Pair, Hunter D, Crusher Joe, etc., etc. So by sticking strickly to the definition, shows like Snow Fairy Sugar or Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat, or Panda Z arn't anime. Now we all know that's wrong.
The second definiton states the same thing when it comes to characterizing. Future settings and robot like characters. Back in the day, there was Battle of the Planets, Voltron, Gatchaman, Gundam, Macross, and, well, Tranformers. (the 80's, to my knowledge, was very Sci-Fi when it comes to anime). So this definition sounds dated to. What with future settings, Record of Lodoss War, Chrono Crusade, Grave of the Fireflies, or Samurai X arn't anime. And we know that's wrong too.

So I believe you won the argument with Super Fusion, these definitions are just too constricting when applied to the anime we know today.

And by the way, IMO, though American Anime (Lyoko, Teen Titans, the one with the giant robot from Jersey (the name escapes me at the moment)) may look like anime, but they are definatly missing something. Something here *points to heart*. It's just not the same. Seriously though, anime has a much better and cleaner look to it. Most likely due to digital coloring and stuff.

Aliana · Post by **Aliana** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:26 am

hypes wrote:(Lyoko, Teen Titans, the one with the giant robot from Jersey (the name escapes me at the moment))

Megas XLR

older_gohan · Post by **older_gohan** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:57 am

*shrugs* alot does seem to miss certain substance. Really only one Amerime (invented new slang term for american anime) I think stands up to the quality of a decent anime type style. I like it and it is very inventive. A lot really hate it. Avatar: The Last Airbender.