Anime 101: Cartoons - Not Just for Kids Anymore
Many people believe animation is for children, carrying images in their minds of rabbits
bonked in the head with mallets or stuttering pigs. I beg to differ; the world of animation is a lot larger than Tex Avery or Warner Brothers, and it is not just for kids!
I ask you to imagine for a moment: You're in a video section of a specialty store. You stand captivated in front of one of the televisions staring in wonder at special effects sequences that would break any Hollywood studio's piggy-bank, plots so profound soap opera stars are sent reeling, and characters so memorable that you can't help but to be pulled in hook, line and sinker. Welcome, my friend, to anime.
Japanese animation has its roots in the 1910s and 1920s when short films were made with cut paper silhouettes and line animation in traditional oriental styles. Around this time in America, Disney was producing animated short stories that would later become Fantasia, Pinocchio, and others. In the 1930s and 1940s, cartoons such as Popeye, Betty Boop, and Bugs Bunny began to appear. Back in Japan, the government took a big step towards western style animation in 1943 when young animators were called upon to create short propaganda films trashing the allies. A lot of the characters looked awfully western, featuring wide eyes and cute animals. After the war, ideas flowed between Japan and America, soon to kick off an animation boom.
Anime got off its feet in the early 1950s. Much of the anime started in manga form (Japanese comic-art novels), such as Mighty Atom (animated 1963, came to America under the title Astro Boy) and Jungle Emperor (1965, retitled Kimba the White Lion). The latter was the first colour anime series for Japanese television. Other early anime includes Iron Man 28 (1963, retitled Gigantor), Mach Go Go Go (1967, retitled Speed Racer), Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972, retitled Battle of the Planets) and the early 1980s Robotech series. Most of the early anime was made for younger viewers but it matured along with its viewers, especially in the 1970s. Unfortunately, America seems to still believe that cartoons are for kids; much of the anime imported to this country is edited for younger audiences, much to the destruction of plot, continuity, and/or depth. Even popular programming for younger viewers in Japan is often edited when it comes out here in the States, with nothing left but a pale shadow of the original program. If you have a moment, compare the Japanese version of the popular SailorMoon series to the American version - it is a prime example of this "watering down".
After the late 1970s, anime began to split off into distinct types. I am not sure of any technical names for the types, but I've given a few names of my own to some of the categories. First, there's the sci-fi type of anime, with super-advanced technology, large robots or body armors, and the like. Two examples that come readily to mind would be Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) and the Robotech series that spanned the early 1980s. Perhaps even Neon Genesis would fit here. One thing that really stands out to me is that anime in this genre tends to be reasonable. Instead of things "just happening", things are explained within the laws of physics or scientific reasons are produced. It is explained how a large robot or body armor can transform into a jet fighter and where all the parts go during the transformation. This is different from the Transformer cartoons, for example, where a rather huge transformer turns into a gun that a human can hold with ease. Another example of reality based on science would be in Neon Genesis; it is explained how a monstrous biomechanical unit called an Eva functions, and that its AT ("Absolute Terror") Field is essentially a shield of warped space.
A second type of anime is what I call "Fairy Tale" anime. The stories seem to be classic tales of good versus evil, and are often set in a day and age gone by. Sometimes they have happy endings, and magic abounds in these stories. Magic Knight RayEarth (1999) and The Heroic Legend of Arslan (1995) are examples. I could also see Ninja Scroll (1989) being in this category. Some of these films are more than suitable for children, while others I would not recommend for youngsters (such as an unedited version of Ninja Scroll). What I am saying here is that if you are a parent, just because something seems like a fairy tale does not always mean that you can pop it in the VCR for the kids and walk away - check the box carefully. It will usually say if there is anything unsuitable for younger crowds, but often you must look carefully for it. Do not let the term "fairy tale" mislead you.
A third type of anime is Cyberpunk anime. This is my most favourite by far. Here we find profound plots and characters with complex emotions, realistic animation and dark city-scapes. Technology is far more advanced in these tales, and often the government is guilty of conspiracies or cover-ups. Society is painted as a less-than-pretty picture for the most part here. I guess you could describe it as sci-fi meets Illuminati. Examples of Cyberpunk anime include Ghost in the Shell (1995), Akira (1989), and Black Magic M-66 (1987).
A fourth general category is what I call "pop" anime. Here I put modern mainstream stuff such as SailorMoon, DragonBall Z, Pokemon, and the like. A lot of people are heavily into this type of anime but are entirely unaware of what else is out there - this is only the tip of the anime iceberg! It is a good starting point for getting into anime, but by no means represents all of the genres. Sadly, a lot of people see this type since it is the most heavily promoted for the most part and, thinking all of anime is like this, write it off anime entirely. I am not saying "pop" anime is bad, but sometimes it is the only type of which many people are aware. Many franchises are promoting or have promoted Pokemon in one way or another (Kentucky Fried Chicken did a few months ago, and Burger King will in a few weeks), but I would love to see a Ghost in the Shell toy in my kids' meal.
This concludes my anime overview - I am still learning, so if there is a mistake or something I missed, by all means, let me know! Anime is a lot of fun and quite diverse; if you see something you don't like, don't write off anime entirely. Give something else a shot and you might be pleasantly surprised. Class dismissed!
Reynolds, Kay and Ardith Carlton. Robotech Art I. Donning, Co,: Norfolk, Va. 1986.
Copyrighted material. Don't Steal - It's shameful.
Copyright TLM 2000
