Anime is classified by what you see it as. Here in America, we (or at least I) see Japanese cartons as "anime". However, in Japan, many see American cartoons as "anime", while they call their own cartoons, well, "cartoons". Basically, any anime/cartoon or manga/comic with a distinct style similar to the Japanese anime can be classified as "anime" here. This includes American-made anime such as Teen Titans.
Assuming the style originated in Japan, all Japanese anime style shall henceforth be called "true" anime from here on, while non-Japanese style will simply be called "anime".
There are exceptions. "Totally Spies", while it is drawn and CG'd in an anime drawing style, you can tell the show is in no way "true". So, true anime style is not only how it is drawn. As with any worldwide popularity, seeing a style is not always a very accurate way of distinguishing it from other versions of the same thing. The feel to a true anime is different from an American anime: Usually there's a much deeper plot in true anime, while "anime" seems to rely too much on the staple materializing hammers and sweatdrops, which are an important yet superficial part of Japanese anime. In Teen Titans, several episodes go deep into storylines, like when Cyborg is almost turned into a tyical 'bot. In Totally Spies, everything is about whether to use the red lipstick or the blue one.
It's not to say that American-made, or even American-produced, anime sucks. Some American manga drawers, like Fred Gallagher (*********), draw very interesting manga. So in a way, there are exceptions to exceptions.
All in all, many American made mangas/animes are okay. Many, but not all.
I'm supposed to be doing algebra homework. Instead, I wrote a mini essay. Woah. |