NationStates Jolt Archive

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

i dare raysia to watch overfiend!

Good question. Some anime (say, Miyazaki's stuff, like Spirited Away) is just undeniably good. Using cartoons as a medium allows for more creativity -- things aren't necessarily required to look "real," for example. Some people do like the difference in plot and philosophy that comes from Japan; while I occasionally find that sort of thing interesting, I don't think it necessarily makes or breaks a series.

I think one major contribution to the success of anime has always been that the Japanese apparently take their cartoons more seriously (I'm no sociologist, but the development in their industry suggests it) -- there's still plenty of people I know who are damned sure that cartoons are for kids.

I do think some people like it as more of a fad thing. A goodly chunk of anime series have a particular style (or styles) -- some people like that. A goodly chunk of them are also carbon copies of each other -- some people like Japanese carbon copies more than American or European carbon copies, I suppose.

Kids being relative.
You are still a weird old man if you are way into anime beyond the age of 25.

They are different. That's what makes them special. In final effect the stories are frequently quite bad and the art is (while different and certainly quite likable) often subpar compared to some good American comic artists.

It's a big sociology thing of geekery and the hope to be accepted by another culture that didn't have a chance to kick you in the head yet.


Also: Overfiend is for whimps.

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

Not to be a jerk, but....

Can someone explain to me what is so special about the Mormon faith? What makes it any better than any other Christian faith? Is it the stories? Because most of them just seem really effed up to me. Is it the services? Because it gets kind of annoying...often...and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something that's different from the other Christian faiths, and the fact that it's from Utah makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes....

I'm not attacking your faith, but it's the thing you're the most fanatical about, so I figured you'd understand the analogy the best this way.

Just go out and watch Cowboy Bebop once and you'll understand why (some, not all) anime is great. Its also just what style of show you like that determines if you like anime.

As for myself, I can't really speak for the hardcore anime fans. I'm only really a fan of the Americanized animes, like Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Evangelion, Escaflowne, etc. I don't know the more obscure animes.

overfiend is getting old

Instead of just a bunch of mostly unrelated episodes, anime tends to actually tell a story throughout the entire series. OK there may be some exceptions, but not many.

It's becoming more than just a fad. The number of anime type TV shows and videogames is growing exponentially. Japan is only doing to us the same thing we have been doing to the rest of the world with our "popular culture." One day the world will be speaking Japan.
:twisted:

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

Not to mention I can't pronounce, let alone spell, half the shows..

Good question though.

Perhaps some of it has to do with the busty ladies? Most of the anime I have happened upon has busty ladies being raped by tentacles...but thats also late night on the cartoon network.

Not a god dammed thing. Anime is retared. Redundant plot lines. Redundant characters. Just stupid stupid stupid

2 Sdaeriji,

The Mormons are very much overbudget :wink:
Actually their proselytisers in suits remind me somewhat of Mr Pink and the rest of the gang from "Reservoir Dogs".


2 Raysia,

Anime is a very wide genre. I'm sure you will be able to find something worthwhile -- if you care to look.
I suggest you try renting the following:
1. "Spirited Away"
2. "Princess Mononoke"
-- The stories are captivating, the visuals are stunning. Plus, these two movies are fairly unobjectionable from the standpoint of "overflight territory" morality. :P

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

Not to mention I can't pronounce, let alone spell, half the shows..

Good question though.

Just go out and watch Cowboy Bebop once and you'll understand why (some, not all) anime is great. Its also just what style of show you like that determines if you like anime.

Or you'll be bored into submission.

Good anime Ive seen:

Akira.
Ninja Scrolls.
Princess Mononoke
Dark City...(something like that)

Thats it.

The rest is pretty much all the same crap..over dramatic..and burgeoning on the stupid.

I have yet to see Spirited Away.

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

While i dont consider myself an anime freak or anything, i will admit that the vast majority of anime is complete bullshit. But, if you're willing to give it a chance allow me to reccomend some really good movies to rent.

For the beginner,

1. Spirited away- very good movie, reminds me of disneys older stuff
2.Kiki's delivery service- another good one, everyone should see this
3.Castle in the sky- good fantasy/sci-fi movie set in what appears to be pre-WW1 europe
(all of these movies are by the same person, hayao miyazaki; in my opinion one of the most creative people in the world. his movies appeal to everybody, not just anime fans)

For the hardcore,

1.Akira- one of my favorite movies, i watch it at least once a week
2.Ghost in the shell- good sci-fi movie, very belivable look into what the near future may be like
3. Ninja Scroll- words cannot begin to describe how much i love this movie, very good, but not for the faint hearted
4. Appleseed- by the same guy who did ghost in the shell, very good movie

raysia, i hope you give some of these a chance because i really hate to people bash anime just because its different, or a cartoon.

For the hardcore,

1.Akira- one of my favorite movies, i watch it at least once a week
2.Ghost in the shell- good sci-fi movie, very belivable look into what the near future may be like
3. Ninja Scroll- words cannot begin to describe how much i love this movie, very good, but not for the faint hearted
4. Appleseed- by the same guy who did ghost in the shell, very good movie
You just name two that I own there. Akira and Ghost in the Shell I only watch sparingly because I'm afraid of over-watched syndrom. Ninja Scroll is one that I've been looking at to buy though.

This reminds me of the time I heard that the Japanese were pædophiles.

-----------------------------------------
"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality."
Free your mind! (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/berkman/comanarchism/whatis_toc.html)
I like big butts!

http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/terrapvlchra/images/steatopygia.jpg

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

I watch it for the stories, and they sometimes have some good action that goes along with the anime. I don't care if anime was made in Vietnam and had harder coloring, I would still watch my anime because they're too damn good.

Oh, and do not mistake me for those...pathetic ones...that obsess over anime....that is going way too far

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

I watch it for the stories, and they sometimes have some good action that goes along with the anime. I don't care if anime was made in Vietnam and had harder coloring, I would still watch my anime because they're too damn good.

Oh, and do not mistake me for those...pathetic ones...that obsess over anime....that is going way too far
you mean the otaku's? yeah, they freak me out too, makes me ashamed to like anime. :cry: oh, off topic but heres a cool picture:

http://explodingdog.com/dumbpict51/ifonlyicouldreachthem.gif

Not only is that picture a band with eater....

its boring.

In fact..Id go so far as to say..it sucks.

Not only is that picture a band with eater....

its boring.

In fact..Id go so far as to say..it sucks. bah! its way cool, go to this site explodingdog.com

At least anime is used for more than just kid shows like normally here in the US.

Also, American cartoons are adapting to be more "anime-styled"

Seen Totally Spies and Teen Titans on Cartoon Network? Terrible IMO, but they're anime-influences. And they're American, right?

Can someone explain to me what is so special about japanese cartoons? What makes them any better than any other cartoons? Is it the stories? Cuz most of them just seem really effed up to me... is it the animation? Cuz it gets kinda annoying... often... and it's very underbudget. Is it the fact that it is just something from another country, and the fact that it's titled "import" makes it cool?

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

YES REALLY! I'm surprised that I'm agreeing with you, but geez, what is the deal? I mean, I expect my preppy friends to get into the latest fads, but even my girl best friend who is the most anti-sellout person I know, has her book of how to draw anime. Actually I guess it's the manga that pisses me off. Anime in the sense of films, I generally like - although I'm only really into Hiyao Miyazaki's stuff. Just because the storyline is usually good. But seriously some of it is so cheesy...

Sorry mon, but I'll take Akira and Gundam 8th MS team over Finding Nemo and Little Freakin Mermaid anyday.

you've got weird pretitles :?

you've got weird pretitles :? :?: what?

wtf?

wtf?pretitles, what were you talking about?

Huh?

<-------------------look there

<-------------------look there i see now, was NS hacked or something? cause those are too weird to be moderator created

ALL HAIL THE FUCKING MODS!

A weird question. Why does anybody like anything? I, for example, will never understand why anyone likes boybands, but I wouldn't start a debate over it...

Also, you can't generalize about anime. It is a HUGE genre with many varying styles. Some are epic fantasy, some romantic comedy, some are porn, etc etc. Yes, a lot of it's stupid, but most people should manage to find SOMETHING they like if they bother to look. If all you've been exposed to is americanized ultra-marketed crap like Pokémon, then you don't know anime.

My two best friends and I are all fans of anime, but we all have different tastes as to what kinds of anime we like (even though we have a number of series in common).

I just don't get these fads sometimes...

Anime is definately not a fad. It has had a huge impact on Western culture and animation.


Akira- one of my favorite movies, i watch it at least once a week

Yikes! I don't think I could .hack that (see what I did there?) even though it's one of my favourite movies. Pretty heavy stuff is Akira. I'm getting the original manga comics damn soon, I can't wait.

And I'd just like to say , as I always do with Akira:

TETSUOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Ahh, good to clear that out me system

Not a god dammed thing. Anime is retared. Redundant plot lines. Redundant characters. Just stupid stupid stupid

and I bet you only think that because the only anime you've ever seen is pokemon and yu-gi-oh. :evil: How can anime plots and characters be redundant when almost every series is different? There are so many genres and sub-genres that renduncy is almost impossible. You are just a xenophobic jerk who doesn't deserve to like the anime.

here here!
further to the question
Why do people like lame repetitive romantic comedies?
Why do people like boring unorigonal action flicks?
Why do people like dull predictable thrillers?
Why do people like soap operas?

Last year I saw two good films at most out of the states the others are just eyecandy go and watch so you don't have to think for ninty minutes...

Anime is the Japanese equivellant of our normal tv shows... and I quite like lots of Anime, I also think lots of it is rubbish... but then I think I like more anime then normal english language television (freinds, eastenders, my hero, corination street) the list of $h!7 goes on! pah
what a stupid question...