Random Talk : Anime

This is an article which I have been meaning to write for a really long time but for some reason I have never really gotten to it. (Let’s be honest here, it is part laziness.) But now that I have gotten into it, I intend to fully discuss it.

As an avid movie junkie something which has baffled me for a really long time, three years to be exact, is the lack of appreciation people have for the Anime community, both casual movie goers and more serious ones.

People who know me personally know that my dad watches a lot of movies too and when I asked if he would consider watching an anime movie, he shrugged it off saying that it was basically cartoons for kids.

This is, what I think, the inherent misconception that a lot of movie goers have. That anime is a cartoon. That anime is for kids. When in reality, anime is much more than that. Yes there are certain anime which are meant for kids but the majority of anime are made for adults and young adults. It is a, strangely undiscovered, goldmine of amazing and complex entertainment which covers so many genres and topics which traditional directors wouldn’t, even in their wildest dreams, dream of covering.

What I want to do with this article is, I want to explain what anime exactly is, how incredible it is and why it is something which, in my opinion, anyone who is a fan of movies should watch.

An introduction to Anime:

Anime, in general is a term which is used to describe any form of animation originating from Japan. A common misconception is that all anime have the same art style, one with exaggerated proportions and especially exaggerated eyes, but in reality anime covers a very large number of art styles. Theoretically, any style of animation from Japan is anime. But in recent times, that definition has become a bit blurred, seeing as many artists and animators now work and partner with studios outside Japan, and people of other nationalities also work in Japan to produce said anime. One such example of a non-anime anime is Avatar the last Airbender. This series almost threatened to split Anime fans because while its inspiration is clearly Japanese, it is a show which was made in America. But for the sake of simplicity, anime refers to any animation made in Japan.

Another term which people used was japanimation. While this brings a more literal meaning to anime, japanimation is no longer used to describe anime as a whole but is used to describe a specific period in anime history. To be specific any anime before the 1980's is considered part of the japanimation era.

So moving on from the japanimation era, the time period from the mid 1960's to the mid 2000's is considered something of an anime renaissance. This was the time in which anime gained an almost cult following all over the world. There were only certain people who knew about anime, but for those who did it was paradise. This time period marks the height of creative development in the world of animation and especially in the anime industry. Incredible movies and series were made, which in some cases, changed Hollywood filmmaking.

After the mid 2000s anime sort of settled down and while the amount of new anime that has been made has declined, the quality for the most part remains incredible. While there are a few sore spots, the anime industry is still alive and kicking if not thriving.

What Makes Anime Special:

What makes anime so special is its ability to cater to so many different audiences. While many consider anime for kids, in reality it is not. It is, largely, for mature audiences. Many anime movies and series have a lot of serious and deep topics. What makes it all so special, is the way the anime never shoves the serious stuff down your throat. While there are some which do that, most anime succeed in masking these serious topics intricately and making us think about it.

Anime like Shinchan are meant solely for kids, whereas anime like Kōkaku Kidōtai (Ghost in the Shell), Hotaru no haka (Grave of the Fireflies) and Desu Nōto (Death Note) are very much meant for an adult audience.

Another reason why anime is so great is that it has something for everyone. If you can think of something random, anime will probably have that. There are so many movies and series which cater to so many different tastes and genres.  Some of the more common genres are Shonen, which tells the classic tale of an underdog who comes out on top after a lot of hard work and training, Romance, Sports and drama. While most anime fall into these categories, there are so many more genres. Trust me; you will have a really hard time trying to find something which anime doesn’t cover, unless you go to really absurd levels.

Another amazing thing about anime is that while they may have similar characteristics, each and every anime have a unique aesthetic and visual feel to it. Many anime movies have very high production value and as a result they are unique pieces of art which can never be replicated.

There is, of course two main parts to any anime. The computer animated part and the hand drawn part. While most anime now-a-days are seventy five percent computer animated, and twenty five percent hand-drawn, some of the most critically acclaimed anime are mostly hand drawn with computer animation used only to enhance certain scenes. While Computer animation may be taking over, anime is one of those things which still retain their original creative process.

Movies like Akira, Kōkaku Kidōtai (Ghost in the Shell) and Mononoke-hime (Princess Mononoke) are considered masterpieces because almost each and every frame is drawn by hand. Often times, it almost seems supernatural how consistent and intricate they look.

Another huge part of the reason why anime is amazing is the music. Anime series have a huge cult following just for their music. Anime has always been progressive, using heavy electronic and metal influences when they were just emerging genres. Anime movies are a different entity altogether. Their music can be both hauntingly beautiful and hauntingly scary. The ability of anime to embrace modern music trends has been instrumental in keeping it an undying genre.

Anime has, for a long time, had the ability to do anything. Literally anything can be brought alive on screen using anime. Directors can tell any story they want. This unbridled nature of the anime industry has led to the making of creative masterpieces which have gone on to inspire many Hollywood films. Films such as The Matrix, Avatar, Inception, Black Swan and many more draw inspiration from many anime films.

It is rumored that when the Wachowski siblings pitched the idea of The Matrix to the producers, they showed them Kōkaku Kidōtai (Ghost in the Shell) and said they wanted to make a movie like that, but in live action. Paprika has been a huge inspiration for Inception which even Christopher Nolan admitted.

The Appeal of Anime:

What makes anime all the more appealing is that it is extremely accessible. Unlike most TV series which have multiple seasons, most anime series have either thirteen to twenty six episodes, and only a maximum of two seasons. Of course this does have some exceptions (Dragon Ball Z) but mostly this is the case.

If series are not your thing, there are innumerable anime movies which pack so much awesomeness in just an hour and a half to two hour run-time. The amount of content and topics discussed is mind boggling. If you think movies are too long too, there are mini-series which have episodes which are under eleven minutes long and have just eleven episodes.

In reality, anime is probably the easiest fan-base to get into because of its variety.

How to dive into Anime:

While I may have delved in anime for the past three years, only in the past six months have I really gotten into it. As a beginner, the options may seem overwhelming but there are a few directors and a few series which can help any beginner ease into anime.

Any of the Studio Ghibli films or Hayao Miyazaki films is a really good place to start because they have a way of appealing even to people who are not fans of anime. Movies like Mononoke-hime (Princess Mononoke), Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited away), Omoide no Mānī (When Marnie Was There) and Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) are some of the best movies I have seen in my life, let alone animation movies.

Another director who can help a new viewer to ease into anime is Mamoru Hosuda. His films, while dealing with slightly darker tones, still have the appeal of certain Ghibli films. But as you delve deeper into the Anime community you will find that it is almost traditional to tell complex and layered stories. When you reach that milestone, the works of Satoshi Kon and Mamuro Oshii are a must watch.

There are so many series to choose from, if you want to get into the series side of anime. While shows like Naruto or Dragon Ball Z may seem intimidating because of the sheer number of episodes they have, you will find that most aren’t like that. One of the recent shows which got a lot of people into anime is Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan). If action and science fiction isn’t your cup of tea, then there are numerous sports series and even Drama and Romance series you can get into. Like I mentioned earlier there is really no end to the kind of anime you can find. As an example, one of my favorite anime series, which I watched on a whim, is Sasameki Koto (Whispered Words). Just do a Google search and you will find that anime has enough to satisfy even the weirdest of tastes.

In Conclusion:

In conclusion, like I said earlier anime is a largely undiscovered goldmine of sophisticated entertainment. If you ever get a chance, cash in on this vast repertoire of action filled, philosophical, dramatic, sporty, romantic, weird, freaky, sexy and funky world of anime. It will be something you won’t regret doing. I certainly didn’t.

With this article I wanted to achieve two things, I wanted to explain why anime is something anyone can get into and everyone can enjoy and I wanted to tell how much anime means to me.

While I’m pretty sure I have done the former, I want to focus on the latter. Anime has played a large part in sculpting me as the person you see today. It has gotten me through some of the toughest times in my life. Sure, you may think ‘You’re just eighteen, how tough can your life be?’, but to that I say, ‘You don’t know, my friend’. Many facets of my personality, I have acquired from fictional characters; more so than from real ones. And sitting here, at twelve thirty in the night, I am proud to say that many of these characters are anime characters and that I am proud of the traits I have learned from them. Please do not dismiss anime as just cartoons. They are so much more. Give them a chance, and they will show you.

You will often find that beauty often comes from the most unexpected sources. Such is the case with anime. Anime has a way of making absurd and weird characters not only work, but also making you fall in love with them. It will be something you never knew you wanted until you experience it.

With that personal touch to my post, I would like to end it here. My next post will be a Drama Review, but I will do a companion piece to this article as soon as possible. I already have a rough draft sketched out; we’ll see how it goes. Until then:

      

                                                                              Peace!!!