The definition of "Anime"

Type the following words into dictionary.com and you'll get these definitions:

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

Japanimation: n. A style of cartoon or animation made in Japan that focuses on futuristic themes and robotlike characters; also called anime.

What the heck? “Characterized by futuristic settings, violence, and sex!?!” Who came up with those definitions? The last time I checked, Hello Kitty always kept her clothes on, did not live in the future, and refrained from murdering Keroppi the frog.

Talk about stereotypes! That’s like defining the word “movie” as “characterized by famous actors making smart remarks before blowing up evil scientists who are always from the future and are generally portrayed by Christopher Walken.”

Here is my definition:
an·i·me: n. An animation created in the country of Japan.

Short, simple, and 100% accurate. Put that in your pidgeon-holeing pipe and smoke it, Webster!

Comments

[smitty]

I disagree. I think it is a style of animation that originated in Japan. American animators can create Anime it's just not that good. "Totally Spies" seems like it is american made and it is a good (or rather bad) example of what I am talking about.

[Kid Ego]

"Hello Kitty always kept her clothes on, did not live in the future, and refrained from murdering Keroppi the frog."

...not in the episode *I* watched.

[SuperPope]

In my opinion only someone who was born and raised in Japan and steeped in Japanese culture can create anime. All other attempts are obvious. Case in point: I doubt you did your homework to find out that "Totally Spies" isn't really Japanese. You can tell just by looking at it that it isn't authentic. Likewise, I've never seen any artwork at an anime convention or in any of the american "manga" they give away with your registration that I actually believed was authentic.

SuperPope is not anime. I am aware of this. It never will be, unless some Japanese company pays me for the rights to produce a series based on the character (wouldn't that rule?).

I could paint a picture with a melting clock in it or I could draw an impossible stairway. That wouldn't make my artwork a Dali or an Escher.

[Smitty]

Doubt I did my homework? What is that crap? I knew it wasn't Japanese for the reasons that you stated. You can tell by looking at it. Just like I can tell by looking at other cartoons that appear to be Japanese in origin on first glance are not really Made in Japan. I can create a bad painting of melting clocks or draw a bad impossible stairway and that does not make my work an Escher or a Dali, but it is still surreal in style and genre. It's not about the person who created it, it's about the style or genre in which the object was created. Anime has become a style or genre. Whether or not people can emulate that style well or not isn't a factor.

[SuperPope]

That's what I said. I wasn't cutting you down. You didn't have to do your homework because it was obvious. That was the point I was making. Thanks for reiterating it.

Anime emulated is not anime authentic. It's like someone making a copy of the Mona Lisa. No matter how well they are at copying the original, something will be missing because they are not Leonardo DaVinci and they are not living in 15th century Italy.

If you are trying to create anime, then you're not really creating it. If it is not naturally what you create without thinking about it, then you're simply paying homage to it.

I believe it is impossible to create anime if you have been brought up in any society other than Japan. When a Japanese artist creates an animation it naturally takes on all of the characteristics that we call anime.

There's more to it than drawing characters with big eyes and green hair and making them fall over when someone says something stupid.

To quote Linus Van Pelt, "We're obviously separated by denominational differences."

[J-Rod]

I don't know if Princess Mononoke was anime or not, but one thing I do know is that it sucked. And whoever did the animation and production for that matter should be shot and drug behind a truck.

[Smitty]

>>To quote Linus Van Pelt, "We're obviously separated by denominational differences."

Is that a fancy way of saying "I am obviously not going to change your opinion, so this argument is over."?

I think the problem here is that you are looking at the origin of the word "Anime". You are seeing it as a shortening of the root "Japanese Animation". I believe that it has become more than that.

J-Rod is obviously a racist who would drag someone behind a truck. I am disgusted to have seen that comment. I am glad you are a complete stranger and that I will never have to meet you face to face because I would shoot you and drag you behind a minivan.

[SuperPope]

Yes, Smitty. I'm saying you're closed minded. Next question.

J-Rod, wouldn't it be more effective to drag before you shoot? Then again, Hayao Miyazaki's pretty old, so he might not live long enough to be shot. Plus his thick black rimmed glasses and beret would fall off in the process...wait, I may be confusing him with Ozama Tezuka. Who knows? The point is you're an idiot and wouldn't know art if you watched it on a pan-n-scan EP video cassette on your 1984 projection TV.

[choppi]

J-Rod is obviously a fan of Hanna-Barbara and has no refined sensibilities in his entire system.

[Momotaro]

How in the world did this blog get a hateful comment? What's this world coming to?

[Kid Ego]

For the record, I agree with Smitty. My feeling is that "anime" is a style, not necessarily a brand-name.

I see your point, Dave. In the same way Toyota can emulate a Chevy pickup, it will not necessarily ever _become_ a Chevy pickup. Using the definition you've put out, an animated feature in the Japanese style can never truly become "Anime" if it's not created by someone in Japan and/or entirely immersed in the Japanese culture. Did I get that right? If so, I find this definition lacking, somewhat.

It's true that a Dali is only a Dali if created BY Dali. But a Nissan Titan is still a full-size, 1/2 ton truck, even if it's not created by the people who invented full-size, 1/2 ton trucks...and it's not any better or worse because of it.

Also Smitty, when you say that "American animators can create anime, just not that good", you're generalizing a bit too much.

[Momotaro]

Yeah, I think 'Totally Spies' is the best fake-ime out there.