Anime culture and D&D

[Desdichado]

I'd pin some of that on translation and localization. Final Fantasy Tactics is the best example of a deep plot being undone by a poor translation that I can think of ("Life is short! Bury!"), and fine details can be missed by a translator. Translations lately, actually, are getting far better as the validity of anime and related products as entertainment in America increases.

Some of it, no doubt. For much of it, though, the translations are fine--or at least sufficient--but there still exists a cultural divide relative to plot resolution in general.

But no doubt; there's been some God-awful translations done over the years. But if you watch something like a recent Miyazaki movie, you can at least see that translation doesn't have to be an issue.

 

[Ghendar]

Well, that's neither here nor there. I agree that many of the cartoons, shows, movies, and books that D&D geeks in general seem to have fond memories of are not really very good.

Boy, you got that right. I recently got a bootleg copy of an old 60's cartoon (maybe early 70's) called Journey to the Center of the Earth. I watched it as a kid in the 70s and I loved it.
Let's just say that as an adult, I'm struggling to remember why I liked it so much. It happens.

 

[Desdichado]

Boy, you got that right. I recently got a bootleg copy of an old 60's cartoon (maybe early 70's) called Journey to the Center of the Earth. I watched it as a kid in the 70s and I loved it.
Let's just say that as an adult, I'm struggling to remember why I liked it so much. It happens.

Sho nuff. One of the worst things I ended up doing to my childhood nostalgia is picking up a copy of the complete run of Thundarr the Barbarian on DVD-R from my brother who recorded them all from a Cartoon Network run a few years ago.

I mean, it's still got some cool ideas and stuff, but damn is it not nearly as cool as I remember.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Not at all. (And I even lived in Japan for three years...)

 

[Herobizkit]

Well, if you consider GI JOE & Transformers Anime, then yes, I've watched anime in both cases, although I would never have considered them so.

The makers of GI Joe have a new series out called Sigma 6 that I believe is extremely anime-inspired.

From wikipedia.org:
"It is also an animated series produced by the Japanese animation studio GONZO, currently airing on 4Kids TV and G4, and will start airing on YTV in the fall of 2006."

And there you have it... it IS Anime! LOL

 

[WayneLigon]

anime is just cartoons from japan. Nothing more, nothing less. They have a much wider range then American cartoons have, i will give you that. just like American cartoons though, most of its junk, and some of its art, but you will find some topics that American cartoons wont touch (R rated content) , so their is a benefit to watching anime if you love animation

The content is what draws most people, though, and I think that's the primary difference for me between Anime and most things we've seen in America. I think it's the primary appeal for Anime as well. Japanese animation, being a respected art form there (and indeed most of the rest of the world; French animation seems to really be catching up to them) instead of a just-for-kids-and-cheap-ads maginalized joke it became in America, uses a lot of themes and strong emotional impacts you don't see in American TV animation unless it comes in the back door so to speak. Thankfully we're startng to see that change, mainly due to the influence and popularity of anime. Once we remove some of the stronger obstacles to such content, we'll have much better animation.

 

[Masquerade]

I am a huge anime fan, as are most of my players. Anime influence in games I run (D&D especially) is undeniable, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

To each his own.

 

[D.Shaffer]

Japanese animation, being a respected art form there (and indeed most of the rest of the world.

The thing is, it's really not a respected art form in Japan either. The vast majority of anime is designed either for kids, or for otaku. 'Normal' adults dont watch anime, with a few exceptions such Miyazaki or older 'Classic' series. It shows in many ways too. There's very little innovation when it comes to anime, and most of it milks the same territory over and over. I like anime, but even I acknowledge most of it is brain dead mind candy. It's just entertaining bread dead mind candy.

 

[hexgrid]

The examples of anime I listed are literally ALL I will watch. I have friends who adore anime, and will watch anything as long as it conforms to anime standards. I'm the opposite, I usually won't watch anime, as I've seen so much utter crap bearing the banner: Ronin Warriors, Samurai Shodown, 199X, FLCL, Voltron, Trinity Blood, Paranoia Agent...the list doesn't end. Most of the time it's the writing that really gets to me, but over reliance on the aspects of anime that drive me will make me dislike the show as well. The stop'n'go animation of so much of it (like Inuyasha) also irritates me.

I'm surprised to see Paranoia Agent on your list. I consider it to be a genre transcending work of genius, myself. The director's ( Satoshi Kon ) feature length works are pretty good, too.

To be clear, I supposed I should point out that I nothing I say applies to dubbed anime. A lot of the stuff on your lists have been aired on American television, which makes me wonder if that's the way you've seen it. I don't think there's such thing as non-crap dubbed anime.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I don't think there's such thing as non-crap dubbed anime.

I've heard this a few times now, maybe you can clear it up for me: What's so great about hearing dialogue in a language you don't understand?