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Thread: What defines an anime?

  1. #1
    THE ADBOT SLAYER! 01habbo's Avatar
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    What defines an anime?

    What defines an anime? Can people outside of Japan make anime? if not, why not? Why should the definition of anime be restricted to geography?

    The reason for this thread is that Monty has stated that Rwby is an anime despite the fact that it is not made in Japan, this has sparked furious debate around the internet so I have brought this debate here.

    Thoughts?

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  2. #2
    DefectIVE, Not DefectING Michael Swayne's Avatar
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    It definitely has somewhat of a similar style as some Japanese anime out there, but I don't consider it to be "anime". If anything, it could called anime-like or anime-esque. I guess if I had to give a specific reason, I would have to say it's not anime because of the language used to make it. If the original language used was Japanese, then I would call it anime. But RWBY used English, so I will call it a cartoon.

    *Although lately, it's more like commercials for the commercials. I am glad I have Ad Blocker, because there'd probably be more time spent watching the ads than the actual show.

    It's along the same lines as the word "manga". It could look similar; but if it is in Japanese it is manga, in Korean it's manhwa, and in English it is comics or graphic novels.
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  3. #3
    Memento Vivere R.Kyra's Avatar
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    It's an anime because Monty says its an anime. And what Monty says is truth. Fact.

    Not all anime are based in Japan. Look at DIGIMON for example. Or even Pokemon. Although DIGIMON did have some scenes in Japan, it didnt mean it was all the sudden not an anime because it went to the US a couple times.

    The drawing and fighting style is what defines an anime. The large eyes, the voices. If Monty hired Japanese voice actors, would that all of the sudden make you believe it's an anime?


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    Khiraxi KoFF's Avatar
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    This turns out to be a better question than I first imagined. To be fair, I actually had the same opinion as RK and didn't even think there was any reason to question the obvious... But then I looked it up to see if there was more to it. Take a look at this bit from wiki (mind the reference links I haven't bothered editing out):

    In Japan, the term anime does not specify an animation's nation of origin or style; instead, it serves as a blanket term to refer to all forms of animation from around the world.[3][3][13] English-language dictionaries define anime as "a Japanese style of motion-picture animation" or as "a style of animation developed in Japan".[4][14]
    Non-Japanese works that borrow stylization from anime are commonly referred to as "anime-influenced animation" but it is not unusual for a viewer who does not know the country of origin of such material to refer to it as simply "anime". Some works result from co-productions with non-Japanese companies, such as most of the traditionally animated Rankin/Bass works, the Cartoon Network and Production I.G series IGPX or Ōban Star-Racers; different viewers may or may not consider these anime.
    In English, anime, when used as a common noun, normally functions as a mass noun (for example: "Do you watch anime?", "How much anime have you collected?").[15] However, in casual usage the word also appears as a count noun. Anime can also be used as a suppletive adjective or classifier noun. For example, the anime Guyver is different from the movie Guyver.

    Synonyms

    English-speakers occasionally refer to anime as "Japanimation", but this term has fallen into disuse. "Japanimation" saw the most usage during the 1970s and 1980s, but the term "anime" supplanted it in the mid-1980s as the material became more widely known in English-speaking countries.[1][16] In general, the term now only appears in nostalgic contexts.[16] Since "anime" does not identify the country of origin in Japanese usage, "Japanimation" is used to distinguish Japanese work from that of the rest of the world.[16]

    So not only do the Japanese use the word anime for ANY kind of animation, regardless of its style, it also states that the Japanese themselves don't have any sort of belief that the style pertains only in name to their region.
    It's just the English part of the world that thinks so. So yeah, depending on where you are from, there apparantly is some merrit to the question. I however, still think it's quite clear that the style and term in question is not for the Japanese only.
    Besides, the Japanese actually name their own different anime styles. So Ginga Nagareboshi Gin has one anime drawing style with a name, while Arakawa Under the Bridge has another.
    So I suppose if you want to be more proper, the term "Japanimation" as stated in the quote above, might seem more fitting to use when talking about animation made in Japan, while anime can be anything.

    That said, I think it'd be kinda ridiculous to call Western cartoons anime as well since it has nothing to do with how we use the word or where it originated, lol.









    BUUUUUUT I do have to say this helps prove to those anime-freaks who reject the notion that what they are watching is cartoons, that what they are actually watching is still just cartoons, lol.



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  5. #5
    Memento Vivere R.Kyra's Avatar
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    Yes, I forgot about that. There are different sub categories and so many different names for the different types of anime, it's no use trying to argue about it. Anime is a suitable blanket word in this case. My friend knows all of the sub categories of the different styles of anime. I ust never paid attention to what he calls it, and I honestly don't think Monty has paid any attention to those names either.


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  6. #6
    THE ADBOT SLAYER! 01habbo's Avatar
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    It definitely has somewhat of a similar style as some Japanese anime out there, but I don't consider it to be "anime". If anything, it could called anime-like or anime-esque. I guess if I had to give a specific reason, I would have to say it's not anime because of the language used to make it. If the original language used was Japanese, then I would call it anime. But RWBY used English, so I will call it a cartoon.
    What about dubbed anime? Just because it is replaced with an english voices doesn't make it any less of an anime, it is still considered anime.

    You can easily know when you are watching an anime compared to other animations, drawing anime has certain rules regardless of where it is made if it still looks like anime then it is anime. Anime is art, art is meant to be open and not restrictive., it is possible to copy art styles and for them to still be in that style. Yes anime originates from Japan, but just because it came from japan doesn't mean that only the Japanese can hope to make it. For example if I made sushi would I be able to call my food Japanese despite the fact that I am not living in Japan, nor am I japanese?

    Not all anime are based in Japan. Look at DIGIMON for example. Or even Pokemon. Although DIGIMON did have some scenes in Japan, it didnt mean it was all the sudden not an anime because it went to the US a couple times.
    Ah, I wasn't talking about the story of the anime taking place in Japan, I was talking about the defintion of anime and whether that it was restricted by where it was made.

    So not only do the Japanese use the word anime for ANY kind of animation, regardless of its style, it also states that the Japanese themselves don't have any sort of belief that the style pertains only in name to their region.
    It's just the English part of the world that thinks so. So yeah, depending on where you are from, there apparantly is some merrit to the question. I however, still think it's quite clear that the style and term in question is not for the Japanese only.
    Besides, the Japanese actually name their own different anime styles. So Ginga Nagareboshi Gin has one anime drawing style with a name, while Arakawa Under the Bridge has another.
    So I suppose if you want to be more proper, the term "Japanimation" as stated in the quote above, might seem more fitting to use when talking about animation made in Japan, while anime can be anything.
    It is interesting how the japanese define the word and it makes sense since the word anime does come from the word animation. Why can't language ever be simple and we all define words as the same thing I don't know but we twisted the meaning.

    A style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children.
    Quoted from the Oxford English dictionary. We decided that this meaning related to one type of animation, one style. The fact that the dictionary even says it is a style just proves that it is not restricted to geography.

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  7. #7
    終焉をもたらすもの Zerathos986's Avatar
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    Tentacle monsters and high-pitched squeaking Japanese girls. *nods*

    I think the issue arises from English and that Japan has used loan words to term their version of cartoons. Let's throw in a third party. In Chinese and Korean, the term is the same regardless of where the animation originated. For instance, manhwa = manga. The words used are the same even though they are pronounced slightly different across languages. In Chinese, it's manhua.

    However, I do believe there are differences. The typical western animation is comical. If it is serious, thus far, the only types I've seen are superhero-based or Disney movie-based. Contrary to Japanese animation, more often than not, the story is to be taken seriously. Series such as Elfen Lied or Ga-Rei Zero aren't exactly suitable for all ages, either, which most western examples are meant to. When series in the west get to such mature themes, they usually become live action.
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