Then we began to grow up. Super-human strength was impossible to achieve and ridiculous clothing was just plain ridiculous. We all began to mature, and we wanted something to mature with us. We wanted to relate, to see real characters handle the everyday battles of life and the pursuit of happiness. We wanted to belong to something bigger and better than Saturday morning cartoons. Suddenly - as if from above - we heard one word: Anime.

Suddenly we were thrust into the hands of Japanese Animation, which fed our every desire and bowed at our every whim. If you wanted to have something transform, it would transform in a mature way, with a plot that we could understand and believe. We have sword fights, ninjas, mutants, demons, and other noteworthy Anime things right there, at our disposal. We watched kids go through the same problems we had gone through and we found we could relate. Rather than having them save the world, we would watch a teenage boy fight to find out who he is, or what the true meaning of life is.

The art, scripts, direction, and themes all changed into something nearly real. Characters began to look more life-like and better animated. Sometimes the introduction to anime movies (especially Knockin' on Heaven's Door) look so real that we question whether it's an animation or real life. The believability of art gets expanded in anime. Sure, we don't have the money for a 200-story twin skyscraper, but it sure looks amazing in animation. Anime is a form of art, as so many of you have put it. Like art, we judge, look, and love anime. It's sort of a moving Smithsonian, full of animated art.

Few people realize just how much art goes into anime. Some anime contains hidden meanings, or symbols, that must be reflected in the art. One example is Neon Genesis Evangelion, in which we find the theme of God. Meticulous viewers find the smallest meanings; a cross around Misato's neck, the cross-like explosions of the angels, and even the references to the crucifixion of Jesus. Teams think about these little details because they know that we will too.

Want more proof of the quantity of art in anime? Check out some anime art books. A recent trip to the mall rewarded me with a 256-page book of art from Cowboy Bebop. Each of these pages contained eight to ten drawings. Can you imagine having to sketch 2,500 drawings just to outline the theme of a show? Men and women dedicate their lives for this genre, and that dedication reflects in the art we see come alive. The art has gained enough publicity to be considered for awards. The best art is acknowledged worldwide, with honor and prestige heading towards its creator.

One of the best qualities of anime is its story. Since anime is animated, it lets you do things that would normally be seen as absurd or downright unbelievable. Animation extends and even breaks the laws of physics while maintaining a value of entertainment.

Since anime is fiction, we also get more complicated stories than normal shows or movies. We can watch a Samurai kill a man with no emotion, and then decide to watch a mysterious agency question the existence of god. Twists and turns, with surprises everyway, make for some great entertainment. The downside? Once you watch something once, it looses its shock value. This is not entirely disheartening, because the hardcore viewer will go back and look for clues. Hidden meanings are hard to find, and even I find myself watching anime over and over again.

The first episode of a series will almost always get you hooked. A recent trend has been to keep a series between 20 and 40 episodes long. Rather than have a long resolution, the climax of the story may be one or two episodes near the end. This leaves the viewer begging for more, or at least gives them incentive to watch the whole thing over again.

Anime is all about originality. Animation lets you create any story you can think of and transform it into a moving picture. Pen and ink are stirred by the imagination, and creators are limited only by their mind. Because of this freedom, anime viewers are graced with original stories that boggle the mind. American cartoons seem to be remakes lately - Superman and Batman have already been done - but Japanese Animation is almost 100% new.

Anime's success can be seen throughout the world. It has become so popular that it has spawned its own lingo, a sort of anime jive. OAV and Otaku (a Japanese word for obsession to an unhealthy level) take on new meanings that only make sense to anime fans. Anime is more than just a Japanese sub-culture; it's already invaded the United States and Australia. Everyway you go, somebody is talking about, or watching, anime. It is a worldwide phenomenon, with great publicity. Although anime appears to be big right now, it can only grow from its infant roots.