Galeros said:
It seems to me today that the animation market is dominated by Japanese anime, now I myself like anime, and even know a bit of Japanese myself.
Ore no nihongo wa heta desuga kokorondeiru.
But, it seems American animation is lagging behind, all that is produced now is comedy shows like Family Guy or The Simpsons, it seems there is very little serious american animation out there.
Any opinions?
Yes, you're right.
I work in the American animation industry and I partially share your point of view. However, its a rather complex matter and would take quite some time to discuss it fully. But I'll try to offer my opinion while keeping it shorter than my normal huge posts.
But I gotta feeling its still gonna be long anyways.
Yes, (in my opinion) the American animation industry produces very very little "serious" shows/movies. Its one of the many weaknesses the industry has. By narrowing the types of audiences we make shows for, we limit ourselves. We only have a few companies that make stuff for kids. But in Japan, they have studios that make stuff for kids.....
and for teenagers, adults, etc. In America....just for kids. Or...for kids and adults. We don't make 'em
just for adults. And before someone mentions "Cool World" or the HBO "Spawn" animations....those are the exception and not the norm. The once in a blue moon adult animations represents a very low percentage of stuff coming out of American animation. And when it is for adults...its sitcom comedy.
A lot of it has to do with how we make shows in America and those that control the funding. The people with the power. Money is power. In America, the "Suits" with the power care about ratings and toys only. If the show doesn't get high ratings or make the toys sell super huge in numbers, its considered a failure. Doesn't matter how good the show actually is. Doesn't matter that the toys sell fairly okay or good. If it doesn't do Pokemon or Cabbage Patch Kids numbers, its failed. Move on...next idea....
Now, judging a show on its ratings alone should (in theory) tell you how well recieved the show is. But the rating system is flawed...so it doesn't really. And what about shows that are great and have sucky toy lines? I've personally loved certain shows that had toy lines, but never actually bought the toys. Doesn't mean the show sucks, just meant the toys did. But doesn't matter...if the toys didn't sell, show is useless. Too bad for the audience that watched the show and too bad for the hard working folks that made it.
Not to say that Japan isn't reliant on toys and merchandise either. But a lot of their animation isn't beholden to it. Example: in Japan, you can tell when a OVA (original video animation) is a good product simply by looking at how many people bought the DVD. That's a direct yen to product numbers on paper telling you straight up. But in America, we rely on tv ratings and toy sales. None of the two directly tell the makers of the show whether or not the intended audience is liking it or not.
Some day, some studio (I hope) is going to start doing serious direct to video series that sell well and it'll prove to the rest of the industry that it can be done. I think this is one of several factors that will help the American industy grow. Once direct to video is a viable money maker it'll open the doors for products that can be made specifically for adults. For now, most remain unconvinced. Even though the anime section in Best Buy gets bigger and bigger....many remain unconvinced. Why? Because they did try direct to video. And with mixed results. But I think its not because direct to video is a bad format, its because it was often done wrong. If the VanHelsing video was better, we would've bought it. Other than Disney, most other American direct to video products don't get the proper funding. And also proper leadership. Thus, inferior product....thus bad sales. But it doesn't mean the format is not a money maker. The Japanese have proven that it works. We can't we make it work?
Well, another big factor (besides where the money comes from) is the leadership. Many of those still in charge at the very top still think in out-dated ways. They think animation should only be for children and to do it any other way is wrong (whatever reason that may be, I won't get into the various versions). But good news is....I see plenty of younger , new generation types working their way up the ladder. Someday, they'll be in charge and you'll start seeing a bigger difference. Some are actually up in fairly good positions now actually, but even they number very few...and they still have 'suits' that are above even them. As years go by and more of them get into power and more studios can sever their reliance on toy companies or network corporations, you'll see cooler animation worth watching.
None of this is to say that the Japanese are god-like in their animation either. They too have problems. But that's a different environment and a different conversation. In America, we have our own hurdles to overcome. I just hope someday we can indeed get pass them.
