Have you ever seen Avatar the Last Airbender on Nickelodeon? Have you talked with your friends about the jokes made in the Boondocks episode last night? Those shows and others would not be around if it was not for the influence of anime. Anime is a style of animation that originated in Japan. I remember my childhood filled with television shows that were inspired by Japan. There were the obvious ones such as Samurai Jack, Xiaolin Showdown, Code Lyoko and Jackie Chan Adventures. However there are some were the details are subtle such as Boondocks. Boondocks had black culture at the center of every episode so I never realized how much it was based in other shows such as Samurai Champloo and Naruto.
The first question when figuring out if your favorite cartoon has influences from Japan is to ask what qualities are in anime that make it stand out from other art forms. Most people know anime off the action scenes but anime is more than just that. Anime likes to highlight several different aspects of the entire show. Artist purposefully slow down action scenes to have the character stick out from the background, or make the music sound more intense. Some episodes will focus on plot while others work on character development.
The drawing and artwork of anime is very unique. The best description would be looking at the eyes. Anime is known to have large eyes and large pupils to help show all of the emotions. The flip side to this coin is that just because a show has large eyes does not make them anime. Another major difference would be the thickness or lack there of in lines. For example Attack on Titans characters are much thicker than the background to make them stand out more. This makes the motions of each character more defined and explosive. The reverse is also a good example of contrast that can deliver a strong point. One Punch man is known for his bland emotionless face. One Punch man is also known for the ability to switch from a bland art style from a thin art style to a thick art style.
The music is always meant to highlight the drawing style and emotions of the characters. I really do mean always. If you let yourself get personally connected to a character or to a show, it can sometimes have you cry or thinking about how you wronged somebody in your childhood. Your Lie in April is a show about a piano prodigy who lost his mother at a young age. Emotions range not throughout the season but on an episode-by-episode basis. It will have you wonder if you ever told a lie just to become friends with someone you liked.
The last aspect that is really strong in anime is hidden themes within series. Tokyo Ghoul is a hit anime from 2014 involving blood violence and cannibalism. The hidden message within the show would be natural selection and what it means to be human. Themes are always a subplot within anime. A common misconception is that anime is for children. There are plenty of adult themes within the anime world. Shows will make you think about certain questions. Can I control my fate or is destiny predetermined? What makes a criminal? Who should I serve first, my country or my family?
If you can't see the correlations between some of your favorite cartoons and anime let me breakdown a cartoon show for you. Avatar the Last Airbender is one of the biggest shows Nickelodeon has ever produced. In some of the romantic moments several characters eyes are shown as the camera pans across their face. Most of the time there is a huge emphasis on the eyes. Aang has themes that he has to deal with besides being the sole survivor of his nation and the future savior of the world. He has to deal with the hurt of leaving his mentor and his passing. He deals with not believing in himself. He will always have his friends and his past lives to help him along his journey. Avatar dealt with loneliness, betrayal, friendship, family bonds, and self-doubt. Sokka is one of the main characters who is often used for comic relief. He deals with relationship, depression, and following his father’s footsteps. The music is monumental. It highlights the moment of peace of a baby being born and the emotional traumatic of someone facing their mother’s murderer.
Anime has inspired one of the best American cartoons of the century. Whether you are laughing at the jokes in Jackie Chan Adventures or discussing the hidden political moments of boondocks recognize that some of the greatest American cartoons were inspired by anime. Always try to find the deeper meaning with what you watch on television. The television programs will program how you view life and the world is watching your reality television show.
