DM-Rocco
Animie is not D&D. Animie may have done fantasy films and may have been used in low end role-playing aids, but it is not what most people think of when they think of D&D or fantasy. Animie belongs in a Japanize film festival, not in a Dragon or Dungeon magazine. I like animie in movies, but if they, say, make the Dragonlance movie done in an Animie style, that will suck balls because that is not D&D fantasy and not the Dragonlance style.
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Anyway, the fantasy world of D&D can share the world with good artist, but not animie artist, even if that animie is good. If you want to look at it as just my opinion, fine, go ahead, but I am not alone in this thought, just my supporters are less vocal than you and the others who are posting aginst this line of thought.
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You can say what you want, but Animie has no place in D&D fantasy.
Before you make such bold pronouncements, perhaps you should:
#1) Learn your game's history. Given that D&D has included sci-fi, horror, and pulp elements in its various incarnations- Module S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, Lolth's Spider-Ship, and the entire Spelljammer setting, for instance- I have no problem with including anime as a potential influence on characters or even whole campaigns. It may not be to your taste, but its just another brand of fantasy, inherently no better or worse than any other form. You can also see influences from the fantasy work of non-english writers...like those who inspired anime itself!
#2) Learn your genre's history. Given that classic fantasy as a genre often included sci-fi, horror and pulp elements- consider the work of Fritz Lieber (source of fantasy icons Fafhrd & Grey Mouser), Michael Moorcock's entire Eternal Champion story arc (source of parts of D&D cosmologies and, once upon a time, a huge section of one of their 1Ed books...), and Jack Vance's Dying Earth sci-fant books (source of IOUN Stones & the entire magic system)-
<see the rest of #1, supra>
The game and the fantasy stories that inspired it are broader than just JRRT's work. There is plenty of room for anime at the table.
Not that I'm a big anime fan, mind you- there are a few that I liked- FLCL, Slayers, Dragon Half, Robot Carnival- but not much beyond that. But even with my limited enjoyment of the genre, I can see much that is lift-worthy for good players & DMs in anime.
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Anyway, to answer the OP, I'd like to see 3-D mock-ups (and Chainmail/DDM stats) for the greatest of their cartoon icons...Wormy, Growf, Dixie, Fineous Fingers, etc. Good cardstock would be fine...something inflatable might be better for some of them though...like
GROWF, you dirty minded goofballs!
