Why the hate for anime? (Y da hat 4 anime?)

[Impeesa]

Somebody buy this man a drink! Impeesa, I give you a (+5, Insightful) in my heart.

Mod parent up! +5, Geek.

I would feel more justified in calling you a geek if it weren't for the fact that when I first read this, I was supposed to be working and the only other window I had open was Slashdot.

--Impeesa--

 

[beta-ray]

Yeah, they started out as two different Japanese toy robot lines. Microman, and I forgot the other. They were combined into the Transformers line by Hasbro, which also provided the backstory for them (Cybertron, Autobots and Decepticons, etc). Doesn't matter, though, because the original Transformers cartoon didn't exhibit any of those anime conventions, either. Spike didn't have wild, spiky hair, giant sweat drops didn't form on Optimus Prime's face when he got nervous, Megatron didn't call out attacks, Starscream didn't strike a pose before he was about to attack someone, etc.

I won't argue that the Transformers is different from the martial arts themed cartoons (though there may have been some posing and shortcut action. Just thought it was funny you used basically an "anime" icon as your avatar. And I believe the other toyline was diaclone.

I don't see it. Their hair looks normal to me. Fry obviously doesn't put all that much effort into combing it. And Dexter's Lab, I watch that on occasion, but he doesn't have that crazy anime hair. Go here to see what I mean. Specifically, the guy in the back, Trowa. I liked Gundam Wing, and I liked his character, but damn, I found his haircut annoying. I managed to ignore it and enjoy the series, though. All in all, that's a minor complaint. It becomes magnified only when combined with all those other anime elements. Besides, that's a minor example. I've seen much worse.

Maybe Dexter doesn't exhibit "anime hair" but if you seen people with hair like that, you live in a much different place than I. Plus I believe "big eyes" were also mentioned... and if you think no one in Futurama don't have big eyes...

Never heard of them.

Jin-Roh
Patlabor 2

The voices were fine to me. Loved the series, though. Especially Macross. Didn't much care for the Robotech Masters, and I never saw New Generation. So I'll probably have to agree that it's best that they were never connected, though that may change once I get a chance to see New Generation, and how they worked it into the Macross universe. Macross, however, was fantastic. I was ecstatic when I got the DVD set last Christmas.

Ewww I much preferred Minmay's singing in Japanese... but that is just me. It is a toss up between Macross and Mospeada (Robotech's New Generation). Both were excellent.

You might want to consider purchasing the original version rather than the Robotech version...
Genesis Climber Mospeada

This ...

... certainly looks a lot more realistic then this.

That's cool and I understand. Actually I really dislike the Yu-Gi-Oh character designs. However, did you ever take a look at Batman's chin? Kinda wacky if you ask me (I love Batman TAS).

Certainly nothing noticable. Terry McGuiness didn't have crazy spiky hair that stuck out on one side,

Note that some Japanese kids (usually the punks) have this type of hairstyle nowadays.

giant sweat drops didn't form on his face when he was caught sleeping in class, he didn't call out attacks, he didn't have any friends with ridiculously drawn lips to make them look silly, and when he jumped in the air they didn't throw up colored banners and confetti behind him.

He did have speed lines on occassion though. Again, BB was not a martial arts animation. I was really referring to the shot of the guy on the bike skidding out in the pilot... a complete riff of Kaneda in Akira.

 

[Alzrius]

Liar! Just kidding. Please explain it to me... I've always wondered exactly what is going on.

What's going on is during episodes 25-26, we're getting direct insight into the mind/heart/soul of Shinji, Asuka, Misato, and possibly Rei also, with the majority of it being Shinji.

The thing to focus on here is the thematic insight of what is happening...concerns of "where are they?" "how did they get there?" "what is happening?" "Who is asking these questions?" are supposed to be immaterial. What's important to understand is that these episodes focus on the fact that these characters, and by empathizing, everyone, feels insecure, scared, and lonely, desiring to feel good about who they are, and to love and be loved...chiefly through interacting with other people.

The last few minutes of the last episode are cathartic for Shinji, because he finally realizes that relying on external validation of his existence is a fool's game...he doesn't need other people to say that he's worthy of being, he just needs to believe he is. Not coincidentally, it's when he finally feels this way about himself that everyone in his life suddenly appears and congratulates him...again, that's not meant to be taken literally; it's symbolic that how you feel about yourself is what you receive from others...you get back what you put out.

I personally found this to be an incredibly uplifting message, and was deeply moved...all the moreso for the fact that I can draw strong parallels between myself and Shinji. For him to be able to overcome his own inner demons like that and self-actualize by declaring that he knows he's a good person worthy of continuing on in this existence, I saw the same thing for myself. I think (and this is totally just my opinion), that that's the meaning of life...that we set our own meaning; we're all as happy or as unhappy as we set our minds to being. "Life is painful - suffering is optional" is another way of saying it.

 

[Desdichado]

Sure...for comedy. But, and you can take your time here, how many animated shows can you name that were made for adults in particular and that weren't comedy related. The various animated Batmans, Superman and Justice League are only three of the four series I can think of, the only other example being Invasion: America (or was it Earth?).

I dunno. Titan A.E.? I guess the point I was making wasn't that there are "adult" cartoons out there that are good -- I'm not sure that there are, but that the line between something like Shrek and something like the Princess Bride, which I've never heard anyone call a kid's show, is growing increasingly thin. I imagine it won't be more than a few years before the line is gone completely.

 

[Henry]

Why don't I like Anime Style in General?

While some anime I really get and enjoy (Cowboy Bebop being an example), most just either sails over my head, or looks far too unrealistic for me to enjoy.

You do have some cartoons with anime-like features (Futurama and Simpsons being two examples), the creator Groening does not go out of his way to inject unrealistic actions on the part of the characters. If Futurama were done in true anime style, Leela would be jumping 15 feet in the air, with steam coming out of her ears, splay-legged, and eyes like pie-plates, every time Frye ticked her off. Homer would be moving his mouth at twice the speed he was speaking when yelling at Bart, "Why you little!!!" As it is, a little cartoon action I can stand, but as I've grown up, my taste in "realism" in animated features has changed. The main reason I like Warner Brothers cartoons still? Nostalgia, more than anything, realizing that the actions were indeed axaggerated or simplified, and loving those humorous storylines in spite of the imagery.

I liked Bebop because the storylines were mature and coherent, and the characters rarely made gross exaggerated actions.

Certain things simply make me break my Suspension of Disbelief - dubbed live-action foreign films are one, and exaggerated actions in anime are another.

(And yes, considering what version of Cowboy Bebop I watched, that's ironic, but I can much better visualize different things coming out of Spike Speigel's mouth, than I can Jackie Chan sounding like a midwestern farmboy.)

 

[Xael]

Hard to say. I generally don't understand how one can hate anything. Hate is such a strong word.

The most simple reason why I'd thing that one doesn't like the anime is the style. Yes, it's (usually) more simplistic. Yes, there (usually) are giant eyes, mouth, sweatdrops etc. And yes, there's usually much less frames. Personally, they usually don't bother me. Sometimes they do.

I personally like most of the anime I've seen (though what's the point of watching bad stuff?), but it's not the genre that defines what I like. There are lots of western cartoons and comics that I like, that have style that is the direct opposite of most animes/mangas.

If there's one thing I'd have to give anime/manga credit, it's the larger selection of stuff made to other than children. Though this doesn't stop a manga aimed at 10-year old girls from being one of my favourite comics.

But I'm still waiting a western cartoon or comic that would make me (almost) cry. Manga and anime (only couple though) have done that.

 

[Caspian Moon Prince]

What's going on is during episodes 25-26, we're getting direct insight into the mind/heart/soul of Shinji, Asuka, Misato, and possibly Rei also, with the majority of it being Shinji.

The thing to focus on here is the thematic insight of what is happening...concerns of "where are they?" "how did they get there?" "what is happening?" "Who is asking these questions?" are supposed to be immaterial. What's important to understand is that these episodes focus on the fact that these characters, and by empathizing, everyone, feels insecure, scared, and lonely, desiring to feel good about who they are, and to love and be loved...chiefly through interacting with other people.

The last few minutes of the last episode are cathartic for Shinji, because he finally realizes that relying on external validation of his existence is a fool's game...he doesn't need other people to say that he's worthy of being, he just needs to believe he is. Not coincidentally, it's when he finally feels this way about himself that everyone in his life suddenly appears and congratulates him...again, that's not meant to be taken literally; it's symbolic that how you feel about yourself is what you receive from others...you get back what you put out.

I personally found this to be an incredibly uplifting message, and was deeply moved...all the moreso for the fact that I can draw strong parallels between myself and Shinji. For him to be able to overcome his own inner demons like that and self-actualize by declaring that he knows he's a good person worthy of continuing on in this existence, I saw the same thing for myself. I think (and this is totally just my opinion), that that's the meaning of life...that we set our own meaning; we're all as happy or as unhappy as we set our minds to being. "Life is painful - suffering is optional" is another way of saying it.

I understood that it was suppose to be more of an insignt into each character's personality, but I was taking it to literal I believe. I'll have to find the last eps and rewatch it. THANKS!

 

[Someone]

I don´t hate anime, just don´t like (most of it) Specially the pace: action is fast and confusing, but overall history goes s-l-o-w. Lots of people on the screen jumping and shouting, but actually nothing happens.

 

[mojo1701]

My personal thoughts on the subject:

1. I personally do not love anime, and I don't hate it, either. It depends on the subject matter itself. Hentai tentacle-porn? No. I'm sorry, but if I wanna see porn, I'll get the real thing

2a. I like the style of drawings (i.e. Manga). It's a nice-looking concept. My brother's been drawing some of that lately.

b. Crazy hair? eeew. Hair like that wasn't popular since the '80s.

3.

anime fans/freaks.
Same as gamers, there are cool ones, and then the unbathed/unsocialized ones.

It just seems the "anime freaks" are so starved for people to look at
them they overshadow the normal fans.

Exactly.

4.

I dislike some anime conventions. The less realistic the portrayal is, the less I like the art. For example, one that I really hate is when yelling, the characters' mouths wrap around their head.
I dislike the snooty overplayed arrogant villain archetype. But I think Yu-Gi-Oh pushed me over the edge on this one.

A friend of mine went ot Anime North here in Ontario, and showed me footage of what he saw there. Again: eeewww. Same with the villains. The voices (especially like the one from Yu-gi-oh for a bunch of the characters)

5.

You do have some cartoons with anime-like features (Futurama and Simpsons being two examples), the creator Groening does not go out of his way to inject unrealistic actions on the part of the characters. If Futurama were done in true anime style, Leela would be jumping 15 feet in the air, with steam coming out of her ears, splay-legged, and eyes like pie-plates, every time Frye ticked her off. Homer would be moving his mouth at twice the speed he was speaking when yelling at Bart, "Why you little!!!" As it is, a little cartoon action I can stand, but as I've grown up, my taste in "realism" in animated features has changed. The main reason I like Warner Brothers cartoons still? Nostalgia, more than anything, realizing that the actions were indeed axaggerated or simplified, and loving those humorous storylines in spite of the imagery.

That's nothing new. Children understand exaggerations easier. Also, it's not like you wanna see as a child, someone real-looking blown up by some TNT with all their insides spewed all around, do you?

6. (This one really isn't a point or anything, just an observation) My brother was watching Inuyasha one night, and I realized during the theme song as I overheard it, was that the singer sounded like a cross between William Hung and a drunk Japanese businessman.

 

[beta-ray]

My personal thoughts on the subject:

5. That's nothing new. Children understand exaggerations easier. Also, it's not like you wanna see as a child, someone real-looking blown up by some TNT with all their insides spewed all around, do you?

It is also a point that it is easier to draw simplified characters (try drawing a complicated mecha like Zeta Gundam turning in 3D space... they did it... without computers!). Some of the wilder characteristics (eg. hair, thick lips, funny shaped noses) also help you to differentiate the characters from one another. Subtle emotions are often difficult to draw so exaggeration (and visual shortcuts) often helps to overcome that. For me, the simplified characters of Giant Robo HELPED to convey more action and expression than if they were too realistic.

I do know that Japanese animation tends to have a slower pace, I think often that is the mindset and cultrure of the creators. Lip synch is also not as important to the Japanese as it is to American animators, but I think it is unfair to say that the fast-talking with few lip movements is the fault of Japanese animation. Often it is the fault of the person(s) who translate the stuff over. Though stuff like speed racer had a poor frame count, I have seen enough Japanese animation to say that often the frame count much exceeds what is created by American animators (however few there are left).

I do have to say I like the computer generated stuff from companies outside of Japan. I thought Roughnecks was a really good series (I think that was US produced, though Sony was involved); as well as Reboot and Beast Wars (Canada).