| Introduction | | | | world are also written with a sense of fantasy in mind. |
| On a Friday night after a long week of diligent work, | | | | During the 18th and 19th centrury, wooden mechanized |
| Mrs. Thompson, a mother of two young boys, decided | | | | dolls called Karakuri were used to carry tea to guests. |
| to go to the video store to rent some cartoons so the | | | | The word 'Karakuri' means a "mechanical device to |
| family can spend some quality time together. She does | | | | tease, trick, or take a person by surprise". It implies that |
| not know exactly what they like, but she does have a | | | | these dolls are driven by hidden magic, offering an |
| general idea of their tastes. Ninjas, cars, robots and | | | | element of mystery. Voltron, Trigun, and Macross 7 |
| monsters right? How hard can it be? As she walked | | | | are shows that display Japan's fascinating imagination |
| down the long aisles of movies, she stumbled upon a | | | | with science-fiction and machines, and is not surprising |
| cartoon called Ninja Scroll. "Oh perfect!" she thought, | | | | to see that they have gained a lot of attention from |
| "the kids will love this!" Without thinking twice regarding | | | | American fans. Besides this science-fiction genre, there |
| what the movie is actually about, she paid at the front | | | | are also stories that deals with things closer to home |
| desk and rushed back home to prepare dinner. After | | | | like school, baseball, and or swimming, but also with a |
| having a filling meal, everyone gathered in front of their | | | | twist. A boy lives an ordinary life when one day he |
| 50" plasma TV and Mrs. Johnson popped in the DVD. | | | | meets a female alien, changing his life forever FLCL, |
| Little did she know, this animated feature was the | | | | Onegai Teacher, Shingetsutan Tsukihime. With plot |
| most violent, gory and sexually explicit film she has | | | | lines like this one and many others, anime makes a |
| ever seen. She had to stop the movie half way | | | | connection from the familiar to the unfamiliar, the norm |
| because her two sons were shocked in fear. She felt | | | | to the supernatural. |
| that this quality family time she had planned for was | | | | Other common plot lines might revolve around historic |
| ruined . "Who would make such a disgusting and | | | | references, adding depth and intellect to the anime. On |
| horrific cartoon?!" she yelled. | | | | August 6 and 9, 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and |
| This "disgusting" and "horrific" cartoon that Mrs. | | | | Nagasaki were annihilated by the first atomic bombs |
| Thompson has a grudge against falls under a genre of | | | | ever used in warfare history. With such dark history |
| imported media called Japanese Animation, or more | | | | written down in Japanse history, many anime titles |
| commonly known as "anime" (sometimes also written | | | | depicted the horrific use of such weapons of mass |
| as "animé" as a French word). Anime is a | | | | destruction. It is a subconsciously embedded in the |
| sophisticated form of animated art that originate from | | | | japanese mind-set. An magnanimous semi circle |
| Japan during the world war eras. Anime is a whole | | | | engulfs the city of neo-Tokyo in Akira , house and |
| new world of televised media. Some titles are | | | | trees are torn from its roots from the shockwave of |
| specifically made for kids, but there is also a vast | | | | the blast in FLCL, and the ever so infamous mushroom |
| selection for the more sophisticated and mature minds. | | | | cloud appears in the distant horizon in the first episode |
| The misconception of anime being simply another kind | | | | of Neon Genesis Evangelion. To the Japanese, anime |
| of cartoon targeted at the younger audience, who | | | | is a good way to remind themselves and the world |
| wakes up every Saturday morning and turns on Kids | | | | how deadly these weapons really are should never be |
| WB, is very common among Americans, but during the | | | | used. A major difference in story telling between |
| past ten years, Japanese Animation and other forms | | | | American cartoons and anime is characterization. An |
| of modern Japanese art have greatly influenced the | | | | anime expert on AnimeNation explains: |
| American culture and is becoming more and more | | | | "American cartoons will place characters in the |
| accepted into the mainstream media. It is a genre that | | | | situation. Anime places situations around characters. |
| is always pushing the standards and boundaries and | | | | Many anime shows have a continuing story, while very |
| will never cease to amaze its fans. | | | | nearly all American cartoons are episodic, created |
| The History | | | | specifically to be a series of individual, stand -alone |
| Motions pictures and animated features began to | | | | stories rather than small pieces of a whole. Even in the |
| appear during the early 20th century. Japanese artists | | | | case of anime series' that are episodic, the characters |
| and animators did not however start experimenting | | | | develop and change from episode to episode. Anime, |
| with animation until 1914, primarily due to the fact that | | | | therefore, engenders more personal involvement |
| western studios dominated the cartoon field. Walt | | | | between the show and the viewer than typical |
| Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, | | | | American cartoons do". |
| and the Fleischer Brothers, creators of Popeye the | | | | Cartoons like Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, |
| Sailor and Superman, have brought some of the most | | | | Thundercats, and Powerpuff Girls all show individual |
| well known characters to life with their masterful | | | | episodes that have no connections with the previous |
| works that set the bar for what "cartoons" should be. | | | | or proceeding one. All the characters are to go on |
| Japan's involvement in creating animated films was | | | | without change, throughout the every single episode. |
| rather slow. This was probably influenced by just | | | | Characters in Anime, on the other hand, change |
| having came out of its global isolationism that the | | | | dramatically as a result of the situation and their |
| country invoked upon itself (over 50 years ago). When | | | | relationships with others. A story is told through a |
| Japan was in its post WWII stage, a man by the name | | | | length of many episodes, developing the character and |
| of Osamu Tezuka worked in a factory and was | | | | giving character depth as each episode progresses. |
| heavily influenced by the early works Walt Disney and | | | | Alia, an anime enthusiast with her own website |
| the Fleischer Brothers. As he tried to draw his own | | | | furthers the point: |
| original characters by trying to imitate the two western | | | | "The best animes make their characters real, with real |
| styles, he found great popularity and respect among | | | | human emotions that never seem out of place for the |
| his co-workers. In 1947, Tezuka gained much attention | | | | character. Anime creators take great pains in making |
| with his novel-length drawn stories. However, in 1963, | | | | their characters fully developed and defined individuals, |
| the work that would define and give birth to the anime | | | | with their own conflicts and flaws". |
| medium was his internationally successful animation | | | | Sometimes, the characters can be spontaneous and |
| series called Testuwan Atom, or Astro Boy. His pursuit | | | | do unexpected things. This is in direct correlation with |
| in animation crowned him the title of being the pioneer | | | | their personalities, just like in real life. Thus, many anime |
| of anime and graphic novels, known as manga. | | | | fans watch anime because it lets them imagine the |
| As Tezuka and his studio paved the road for | | | | reality of the characters and escape to their world , |
| Japanese animation, the 1970s saw a change and | | | | rather than seeing actors and actress in a live action |
| growth in this form of entertainment. Trends started to | | | | movie acting and pretending someone they are not. |
| appear in various works by various studios. These | | | | Music is also very important to the world of anime. |
| trends were passed down the generations and are | | | | Many times, it is a tool to help further the |
| present in today's anime. One of the most influential | | | | characterization of the show. In Love Hina, a show |
| trends is the "mecha" types of anime, which has | | | | about a college-bound student living in a all-girl resident, |
| become a sub-genre itself. Mecha is short of | | | | each character had its own theme song, depicting their |
| mechanical, or simply meaning giant robots and | | | | personalities. The songs would vary in styles, from |
| machines, usually controlled or piloted by various | | | | slow to hard rock, classical to jazz. Songs and music |
| human characters. This proved to be a very attractive | | | | are also used to emphasize a theme, whether it's the |
| characteristic of anime, because creating a live action | | | | passing of time, the vastness of space, or humanity's |
| mecha movie would require very tedious work and | | | | lost dreams. They are also used to display situations: |
| demanded strong financing. Another trend that began | | | | joyful, silly melodies for humorous situations and |
| appear in anime during the 70's was modifying the | | | | suspenseful and serious tunes for troublesome events. |
| conventional way of how a story was told in early | | | | Unlike most American cartoons where theme songs |
| works of anime. Instead of having a cliché good | | | | are performed by anonymous musicians, Japanese |
| vs. evil plot, story writers began to apply interesting | | | | musicians take great pride in performing for an anime |
| twists and fresh concepts that would make the story | | | | title. Today, many famous Japanese musicians such as |
| more engaging. The anime Lupin III depicted "good" | | | | Sowelu, L'arc~en~ciel, Yoko Kanno, Do as Inifinity, and |
| protagonist with somewhat of a mischievous | | | | Nobuo Uematsu write original songs for the opening |
| personality. Devilman was another show that had its | | | | and ending theme of many shows. Anime is also a |
| protagonist possessed by a demon, giving him split | | | | good way for debut artists to gain popularity and |
| personalities and when a battle occurs, his demonic | | | | recognition. |
| side would take control. Known as one of the most | | | | How influential is it? |
| acclaimed anime series of all time, Mobile Suit Gundam | | | | After having explained all the techniques and the |
| was a story of a inter-stellar war between Earth and | | | | genesis of anime, One could not help but ask the |
| its first space colonies, using both mechas, unique | | | | question: in what ways is it influencing the American |
| characterization and never-before-seen battles. This | | | | culture? When Princess Mononoke from Studio Ghibli |
| series became highly marketable and captivated a | | | | came out in the states, it stunned movie goers and |
| huge number of audiences. These concepts and many | | | | gained a large number of fans. Some, however, |
| others spawned more ideas and added more | | | | judged a book by its cover, thinking that the title |
| ingredients to the anime soup. | | | | suggests it would be a fairy tale with a happy ending. |
| During the 1980s, a Japanese artist by the name of Go | | | | They were ultimately proven wrong and were |
| Nagai began to create anime for adults, breaking the | | | | disturbed by its violent nature. The director, Hayao |
| concept that animated features are only for kids. From | | | | Miyazaki, contends: |
| clever satires to full blown nudity and sexual | | | | "One of the things that I wanted to portray in my film is |
| engagements, Go Nagai's ingenious idea helped to | | | | that violence is, indeed, a part of human essence. The |
| attract even more fans to the medium. In 1988, one | | | | issue is how to manage it and how to control |
| major milestone was created and is still thought to be | | | | it…I think it's foolish to say that presence of |
| ahead of its time, even by today's standards. The | | | | violence in a film makes it a bad picture for children. |
| movie Akira is set in the futuristic and apocalyptic | | | | The truth is that, in their daily lives, they encounter |
| Tokyo, where a motorcycle gang faces numerous | | | | violence inside themselves and around them. The issue |
| obstacles after they find out that a member acquired | | | | is to try to help them address what to do with it, not to |
| ominous psychic abilities that can potentially destroy | | | | ignore it". |
| the world. With an intriguing and engaging plot, packed | | | | Today, high schools and colleges around the country |
| with incredible nail-biting suspense and gory action, | | | | are creating anime clubs, where members share |
| Akira gained tremendous fame all over the world. It | | | | anime, watch them and have thoughtful discussions. |
| was, for many fans, an eye opener to the true | | | | These clubs make effort to spread awareness to the |
| potential of animated films. In 1995 came more | | | | public that anime is indeed not a medium targeted just |
| milestone quality works. Masamune Shirow's Ghost in | | | | at kids. Mrs. Wolfson, Honors physics teacher and |
| the Shell explored the depth the human mind, depicting | | | | anime club advisor at Shrewsbury High School said: |
| elements of psychological manipulation and throwing in | | | | "I gained interested in anime during my college years, |
| a life vs. machine conflict where humans are enhanced | | | | when they ran an Akira Marathon at the club and it |
| with cybernetic parts and have the ability to travel | | | | opened my eyes to this medium. I think anime is |
| through a vast sea of information, into another realm | | | | affecting to the American culture by increasing the |
| (very much like the Internet). | | | | diversity awareness and acceptance of Americans. |
| In the same year, two studios joined forces to created | | | | The mass media loves it because it is something fairly |
| one of the most talked about and well known anime | | | | fresh and new to this country. It is far more attractive |
| series of all time. Gainax and Production I.G. worked | | | | than the mundane cartoons that are so overly used". |
| around the clock to create Neon Genesis Evangelion. | | | | The MIT Anime Club, one of the top anime clubs in the |
| This epic 26-episode show takes place in the year | | | | country gives public viewings every week. Due to its |
| 2015, where "Angels" from a parallel universe | | | | prestigious and well-established name, many anime |
| appeared on Earth and started attacking the human | | | | works have incorporated aspects of the university as |
| race. As an act of self defense, biological and | | | | part the show! Ben, the club president of Cal Animage |
| mechanical fighting machines called "Evangelions" were | | | | in UC Berkeley described that it used to be only 20 |
| created and are piloted by three candidates to | | | | guys that would show up at one showing. Now the |
| confront them. The show itself incorporates everything | | | | number increased to 200, mostly dominated by males |
| its predecessors have, and at the same time involves | | | | with a majority of 18 to 24 years of age, and a |
| an immense amount of character depth, plot twists, | | | | minority of 25 to 30 years of age. Officers also |
| breath taking action, historical, scientific and biblical | | | | sponsored free weekly showings of anime to the |
| references. This one-of a-kind anime spawned the | | | | public on campus. Among the audience, Asians and |
| Eva Phenomenon in Japan and is regarded very highly | | | | Caucasians where dominant and were in almost equal |
| by anime critics. Today, anime continues to grow. More | | | | proportions. |
| and more studios are making bigger and better shows | | | | Apart from clubs at school, the so-called information |
| to air on TV. Among all the fascination, one question | | | | superhighway (or the Internet) is an essential tool for |
| surfaces: why is anime such of an attraction to | | | | the spread of anime among Americans. As more and |
| Americans and the western world? Why is it | | | | more shows are made in Japan, American distributors |
| influencing the American culture? | | | | can not keep up with the pace. As the demand for |
| The Techniques | | | | newer animes rises, groups of people with a rich |
| The artistic techniques behind anime are very | | | | understanding of the Japanese language started |
| sophisticated and is a major factor on why the genre | | | | recording raw shows airing on Japanese Television via |
| is such an infuence on western popular culture. One | | | | their computers and, to their best efforts, translate full |
| aspect of anime that is very attention grabbing is its | | | | episodes into a English subtitled features. These |
| attention to detail. Tezuka purposely made Astro Boy's | | | | "fansub" groups then upload them onto the Internet, |
| eyes to be round and big to show expressive faces. | | | | within the reach of millions of anime fans. They usually |
| He noted that that these features can allow him to | | | | have their own websites, and have affiliates to other |
| display a wide range of emotions. The display of | | | | partners. "Subtitled by fans for fans. Not for sale or |
| different emotions are quite distinctive in anime | | | | rent" is usually written at the beginning of each subbed |
| compared to American cartoons. Other than showing | | | | episode. This way of distributing anime is also perfectly |
| facial expression, artists would draw outer-physical | | | | legal, since none of these new shows have been |
| elements that would exaggerate the emotion, making | | | | licensed by American distributors. Fans are able to get |
| anime more unique and spontaneous as a genre. | | | | their hands on the latest anime, without having to wait |
| Elements such as a big cross-like vein would pop out | | | | for the long process of licensing. With this growing |
| on the left or right side of a character's head when he | | | | ever so popular, anime internet forums are also |
| or she gets frustrated, or an abnormally big sweat | | | | flourishing. Anyone from any place in the world can |
| drop appears behind the head when he or she gets in | | | | come to Minitokyo.net, one of the largest and diverse |
| trouble. The characteristic of blushing is very | | | | anime fourms on the net, and exchange ideas, share |
| emphasized in anime as well. A rough light red patch | | | | knowledge, get news, share artwork, and create their |
| drawn under the character's eyes would appear when | | | | own custom pages. |
| one is in a romantic or embarassing situation. | | | | Anime has also influenced the way Americans use |
| Unlike like Disney cartoons, where lighting details on the | | | | their pass time. Each year, anime conventions such as |
| characters are almost none-existent, proper global | | | | Otakon and Anime Expo are held around the nation |
| lighting plays a big role in anime. A character must | | | | where just-released titles and merchandise are |
| have the proper shading and lighting on the apparels, | | | | advertised can be bought with a great bargain. Other |
| the face and most intricately, the hair, which is | | | | than the buying and selling, one major attraction at |
| soemtimes one of the most difficult part to draw. | | | | anime cons are the cosplayers. Cosplaying is normally |
| Since it is almost impossible to hand draw every | | | | something kids do when they go trick-or treating on |
| strand of hair (yet possible with computer generated | | | | Halloween, but anyone from teens to adults cosplay at |
| models), artists draw hair as much thicker strands, | | | | anime cons. Costumes featured on anime characters |
| allowing them to easily maneuver them and apply | | | | can be found and bought in anime stores, but many |
| proper lighting. Lighting on the eyes are also very vividly | | | | hardcore cosplayers prefer to make their own outfits. |
| depicted. Reflections of light on the Cornea is very | | | | Cosplaying gives the cosplayers a chance to become |
| bright and usually very large. It tends to augment its | | | | the character they love, and allows them to display the |
| size when one feels like crying or when one feels | | | | personalities the characters possessed. |
| envy towards someone or something. | | | | One aspect that is very influenced by anime is the |
| Anime pioneered a technique called frame shifting. | | | | American media. Movies like Akira, Princess Mononoke |
| Akira used this technique and created a perspective | | | | and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust required American |
| of a motorcycle gang member going into through the | | | | voice actors and actresses for it be shown in the |
| city streets, by shifting edifices proportionally to the left | | | | states. After dubbing such a feature, many thespians |
| and right. Another illusionary technique that is widely | | | | were amazed by the ingenuity and the level of |
| used thena nd today even is western animation is | | | | maturity theses films possesses. Major live action films |
| called action-lines. During the midst of a heart-stopping | | | | are incorporating anime scenes to spice up the action |
| battle, the protagonist's coup de grace is shown with | | | | (Kill Bill). Cartoon Network, perhaps the biggest cartoon |
| him jumping in the air, going straight for his enemy. | | | | distribution network in the world, devotes |
| Action-lines are the fast moving lines behind the | | | | approximately 1/3 of its air time to anime or cartoons |
| character, filling the entire background, suggesting to | | | | with great anime influence: Teen Titans, Totally Spies!, |
| the audience that their hero is moving very fast and | | | | Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi, the whole Miguzi line-up, Toonami |
| very forcefully. | | | | line-up, Adult Swim for those 14 years and older. Major |
| The quality of animation directly correlates with the | | | | companies such as T-mobile, the popular cell phone |
| animation budget, which equals the time given to | | | | company from Deutsche Telekom, teamed up with |
| complete the project. Many animated series such as | | | | Production I.G., one of the top anime studios to created |
| Dragonball and Rurouni Kenshin may have over a | | | | a 9-short episoded commercial of a character called |
| hundred episodes but will not have the quality of | | | | Johnny Chase to promote the new T-Mobile |
| animation compared to a six episode show. Movement | | | | SidekickÂ(R). |
| of the characters will not be as smooth due to a low | | | | Conclusion |
| frame rate. The greater and the number of cells an | | | | Anime is slowly being accepted by mainstream media |
| artist creates and the more detail he or she includes, | | | | and is slowly being respected as a completely |
| the more time he or she will need, thus requiring a | | | | separate genre of animation. Yet when it comes down |
| bigger budget. This is why animated features always | | | | the basics, it is only animation. Despite all of its |
| show a higher quality of animation compared to | | | | influences, many Americans still see anime as a form |
| animated television series. Yet when a comes to story | | | | of eye candy and entertainment for the younger |
| development, a television animated series would be at | | | | generation. To the Japanese, however, anime is a |
| advantage. | | | | medium in which a story can be told and glorified. The |
| Of all the techniques, anime also focuses on plenty of | | | | future of anime looks very promising. With the |
| romanticism. Romanticism is nothing new to Japan. The | | | | development computer generated graphics and |
| world's first full novel Tale of Genshi, written by Lady | | | | enhanced interfaces, characters and environments |
| Murasaki, contained elaborate imagery and poetic | | | | never looked so real. The advancement in technology |
| emotions. Japanese folklore told tales of ghosts, | | | | just might one day break away the generalizations |
| monsters and the supernaturalThus, it is not surprising | | | | made by the public and give this remarkable genre a |
| that anime would also carry this tradition. Anime, like all | | | | more respected status in the world of films. |
| forms of animation, relies primarily on visual images. | | | | References |
| However, some frames in anime provide an exquisite | | | | Baker, Neal. "Samurai from Outer Space: |
| portrayal of the romantic element. One might see, for | | | | Understanding Japanese Animation." Library Journal. 14 |
| example, a young girl starring out into a sky of glittering | | | | Nov. 1996: Platinum Periodical. Shrewsbury High School |
| stars, or long silky hair being blown by a gust of cherry | | | | Lib. MA. 10 Feb. 2005 < >. |
| blossom petals, or even a giant robot slowly walking | | | | "Genshiken." 2004. Television Show, CD-Rom. Media |
| towards the audience, away from the ruins of a | | | | Factory. Palm Studio. 28 Feb. 2005.12 x 24 minute |
| post-nuclear war. The setting might seem far-fetched, | | | | episodes. |
| but these scenes convey a great deal, at a glance, the | | | | Izuwa, Eri. " The Romantic, Passionate Japanese in |
| sense of happiness, loneliness, defeat, victory, ambition, | | | | Anime: A Look at the Hidden Japanese Soul." 1997. 3 |
| and grandeur. | | | | Mar. 2005 < >. |
| The attention given to plot and story in an anime is just | | | | MIT Anime Club. Massachusetts Institute of |
| as, or maybe even more complicated, than any live | | | | Technology. 15 Mar. 2005. 21 Mar. 2005 < >. |
| action movie. Compared to many western romantic | | | | "Just What is Anime?" 21 Mar. 2005 < >. |
| stories like Dracula or Frankenstein, stories in the anime | | | | |