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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GreyLord" data-source="post: 5550662" data-attributes="member: 4348">I think it's more complex than that.  Many of the leaders in japanese animation got their starts on Thundercats, The Last Unicorn, and other Rankin/Bass shows. The same cannot be stated for any other American cartoon, including the aforementioned GI Joe and Transformers.For starters the Head animators and people in charge of the art were Japanese...NOT americans.  The overall studio was japanese.  The direction and production were wholly American however.This isn't the case for the American cartoons such as He-man, GI-Joe, Transformers, etc.You can see direct similarities between Rankin/Bass animation and the animation out of Japan later (probably because the animators that led the industry many times came from Rankin Bass somewhere in their background, or influenced others who did Japanimation from that time period).  This is particularly clear in the Last Unicorn's animation.However, Thundercats was created FOR WESTERN audiences, so as someone says...for Americans.  The producers were American...hence by Americans...for Americans.Of course, that creates some confusion.  Much of what is called anime today is actually BY americans...but directed both towards Japanese and American Cartoon aficiendos.Robotech was produced By Americans for Americans (I actually prefer Macross far more).  I know many would call Robotech Anime.I'd say the water is murky about whether Thundercats qualifies as Anime.  I know many consider it one of the first anime's in existence.I'd say it's even murkier about Robotech.  It has similar backgrounds, but with a similar idea of By Americans...for Americans.Overall however, I'd say that the influence Thundercats has had on the Anime coming from Japan is actually quite noticeable...especially considering what some of those animators eventually went on to do, and what they've done since.In the same light, the actual ANIMATORS who worked on the three series that made Robotech (and by that I mean those who drew the original JAPANESE cartoons, such as Macross from which Robotech was stolen) were also quite influencial later on japanese animation.Of course, when talking about Anime as in the West, as opposed to Anime in Japan, one also has to consider the incredible influence Ecchi and Hentai had upon Western audiences and how that also influenced what came out of Japan and entered into the US and Europe and the artstyles that became favored amongst those in the West as opposed to those in the East.Then later on the influence of Pokemon and it's impact on the East and West.  Some of the older crowd would probably say Pokemon had a negative influence on the direction of Anime that comes Westward...while I'm positive many of the newer Anime fanatics would say that it had a Postive influence.For the record, I'm not an Anime fan.  If my tastes are any indication, with what I enjoy being the test...Thundercats is not anime because I enjoy watching it.  The Last Unicorn may be since I can't stand it.  I do enjoy Macross and Record of Lodoss War.  Other than that I haven't really enjoyed much anime.  I do appreciate the animation however/artwork.  That's about the extent of my interests.Oh yeah, I also enjoyed Iria/Zeiram from a while back...when I saw it.  I am into cartoons and animation overall however.  Might call me somewhat of a Cartoon addict...but I still have kids so still have someone to blame when I'm caught watching it.<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/angel.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":angel:" title="Angel    :angel:" data-shortname=":angel:" /></blockquote>

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