About anime

About anime

What Is Anime?
Anime (an-eh-may) literally means “Japanese animation” but don’t just think its animation or that it’s just cartooning because it isn’t. With its intense story line, unique characters, and detailed backgrounds anime should never be thought of in such low terms. Anime is found in Japan, and made there, but it isn’t limited there. It can be found around the globe and is very popular too. Most of anime shows are short lived, considering it’s hard to keep up with the demands of the viewers. Teenagers are especially into anime, loving its ever-changing ideas and strange twists in its story line. Anime has inspired teenagers and young adults to join in with cosplay (costume acting). This was made when the fans of anime decided they wanted to act like their favorite anime character. However, cosplay isn’t a huge topic and can’t be considered a major part of anime.

Will I Like Anime?
The answer to your question is; if you are like most people, yes you will like anime. I can say this, without knowing anything about you, because anime comes in all genres and fits your personality perfectly (if you find the right one). Well I guess you might not like it if you don’t like books or movies. Speaking of books, if you don’t want to watch T.V. or buy the D.V.D versions then anime does come in a book form as well called “manga” (mahn-gah). Mangas come in every genre as well and all anime shows and movies have some form of itself in manga format. Mangas are also presented in a comic like fashion reading it backwards from the normal American versions of Spiderman and Superman. However, manga is, in itself, another whole topic that would take to much time to explain in farther detail. You would especially like anime if you love art because that is the main element in anime.

Sci-Fi Anime
Sci-fi anime is usually found in the form of “mecha” (meh-ka), which is short for mechanical, which makes sense considering futuristic robots are the main part of this form of anime. The robots are usually shaped like humans with facial features and voices to show how technology would advance that far into the future. Most of you are probably familiar with the popular T.V. show Transformers, well that show is in fact anime. While Transformers is intended for kids, but most are not. Most mecha anime is intended for teenagers to young adults. These shows are also very well loved like Ghost in the Shell or Akira and are still talked about even though they are older. Sci-fi anime also usually talks about events in the future that probably will happen like the apocalypse, global warming, and warring planets.
Horror Anime
Horror anime also can fit into either fantasy or Sci-fi as well but usually it’s got a lot of blood and gore. It’s not intense, and there’s only so much one can do in art to show blood and gore so it’s still good for teenagers. Hellsing is a good example of horror anime even if it does fit into the fantasy side of anime as well with its vampires and zombies. Horror anime usually is very suspenseful and makes you want to know more each time you stop. Horror is also filled with beasts and monsters that have huge fangs, tons of eyes, shadowy figures, and can usually talk. So if you like the looks of these spooky creatures than you will probably love horror anime. The only downside of horror anime is the fact it isn’t like horror movies and doesn’t really scare you.


Fantasy Anime
The genre of fantasy anime is an interesting one, with quite a variety of ideas. It also kind of blends in with the Sci-fi anime a little. Good examples of well-loved anime range from the ninjas in Naruto to the alchemists in Full Metal Alchemist. Fantasy usually covers anything and everything. It’s probably the best known, well liked forms of anime. It dips into a little of every topic as it explains what will happen in the future, has a little romance, and everything else. Fantasy is probably my favorite genre but that’s up to you to decide if you like it or not.

Romantic Anime
Romantic anime is also called shoujo (sho-joe) and most teenage girls love it. Not saying guys can’t like it either, but it’s intended for girls more than guys. It also keeps the main character a girl in almost all of the shows so it can appeal to those who it intends to watch it. Fruits Basket is a well-loved anime show that is about a girl who meets this family that is cursed to change into their zodiac animal if someone of a different gender hugs them. Usually romantic anime is also in the fantasy area because that’s what appeals to people the most. In romantic anime the main character(s) are either orphaned or have had something very tragic happen to them. Romantic anime has elements that are thrown in there to make you feel like you’re actually in the main characters shoes. Scenes include the guy looking into her eyes but then suddenly someone or something interrupts them. Romantic anime is not intended for children, as most romantic things aren’t. However, nothing is inappropriate for teenagers who love watching and reading it.
Comical Anime
Anime does have a light side, and that side is the comical side. Expressions are the key element in this form of anime and it’s very funny indeed. Comical anime isn’t entirely a whole topic; rather it’s a smaller topic within the bigger topics. For instance, if you were watching Full Metal Alchemist, you might find Ed, the main character, being called short by someone. He would then get really mad and would start yelling at them saying he isn’t short. Now that doesn’t sound too funny but if you were to see the clip from the episode (or if you were to watch the episode itself) you would be laughing your butt off. Comedy is in almost all anime, even horror, so if you don’t like laughing (which I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t) I wouldn’t recommend watching or reading any of it.
How does the world view anime?
Since anime is found around the world you can guess that most countries don’t mind it and that it’s very popular. However, it’s rather odd that the origin of where anime came from doesn’t like it. Yes I am talking about Japan. The government officials over in Japan don’t like anime, but in my opinion if you give it a couple generations, then the teenagers and young adults who love it so very much now will eventually rule Japan, making anime something that isn’t looked down upon. As far as the Western part of the globe, we have adapted anime into our mainstream. We have also had many fans participate in cosplay and in the making of fan-art. To list and describe what the other countries and such think of anime would take too much time, so I won’t go through that.

Who made anime?
People aren’t really sure who started anime but people have a good guess at a man named Osamu Tezuka. He was inspired as a child by Disney (Mickey Mouse) and the Fleisher Brothers (Betty Boop) right after the Second World War. He started to try his hand at drawing these characters and he decided to change the eyes. The changing of the eyes was very important for it portrayed a large range of emotion in his characters and even in the characters of modern day anime. His first anime, or some would argue the first anime, was called Astro Boy. His peers loved this, and later in life he made it an official anime show. During this time, however, no one really paid much attention to anime because the Western cartoons were animated better and were a lot more fun to watch.

Well what happened later in life?
Later on around the 70’s anime got its first big leap into every day life. People didn’t know it was anime though. With shows like Transformers and Gundam Wing, which seem just like our own superhero like stories, everyone just thought it was a different type of cartooning revolving around robots. During that time mecha anime had really hit it well and it left everyone begging for more. After that in the 80’s and 90’s anime really started to hit it big. With shows like Ranma ½, Ghost in the Shell, and Akria everyone really started to get into it because it was getting away from being all Sci-fi. So here we are, now anime is found practically everywhere (if you know where to look) and has so many choices to choose from everyone can love it.

If Everyone Can Love It How Come So Many People Don’t Know About It?
Well by everyone can love it, I meant if you tried looking into it you would be surprised and probably get to love it yourself. As for the reason of why so many people don’t know much about it is because it’s hard to translate from Japanese to whatever language you speak and so anime is not being mass-produced yet. This is half of the reason I am sharing my knowledge with you; I want more people to enjoy this wonderful thing before it all disappears (if that ever happens).

Well Where Can I Find Anime?
You can find anime practically everywhere! Granted you can’t go into the grocery store and expect to find it but I think you have enough common sense to not try that. Bookstores like Barnes & Noble almost always have manga versions somewhere. It’s usually under the “Graphic Novel” section of both stories and libraries. Yes libraries have it too; you just have to put a little effort into finding it. Also you can go online to Ebay.com or Amazon.com and order it on there. If you think you don’t want to read a comic book or watch a T.V. show, then anime and mangas come in novel form too. It’s just not as popular and there aren’t many made. T.V. channels like channel 57, my favorite, show anime a lot.
How Do You Draw Anime?
Anime can be drawn a bunch of different ways since there are so many genres. If you want step-by-step instructions look on the display board. Usually I start with the facial features first and work top to bottom, skipping around here and there. Expressions are really important in drawing anime so be sure to watch the eyes and things like anger symbols. I suppose that sums up anime, from its history to the styles. Now go out there and find yourself some anime today!