The piece by Susan Napier sheds light on the anime phenomenon-- namely Akira and Ranma 1/2. She goes into detail about the theme of transformation, or "metamorphosis" as she refers to it. Both anime tell the story of adolescents going through great ordeals in their lives, and in both cases those ordeals being incorporated into physical transformations.
What struck me about the article was my ability to identify with the subject matter which the animes (I'm not sure what the plural for anime is). It may seem like an obvious connection to make, but I would have been able to realize that the situations which it treats are relatable. The subject that I am referring to is growing up, of being a young adult and all that comes with it.
Most importantly the theme of the role of gender and sex in society is talked about a great deal by Napier and it is one that seems to be a universal theme. Though the role of the male and female sex have been portrayed frequently throughout history the portrayal through anime is very different. The animated aspect of it is something which is new to viewers. I believe that it has to do with the inability to grasp it, which is due to our being used to viewing and processing information entirely on the aesthetics of it's presentation. Anime is a completely different medium of receiving information.
Though anime is very popular among a lot of people, most do not ever find themselves watching it. People rather watch Will & Grace or Friends. And the question of why? is on that does not seem can be answered easily. If you think about it anime and sitcoms are not THAT different. Both are dolled up information (because God forbid we take in any information which is not aesthetically pleasing.) And yes, they all concern different subject matter, it's all the same (let's be honest.) The only real difference is the way the they go about presenting the information.
To expound on the previously mentioned theme of transformation, or metamorphosis, the exceedingly grotesque displays of transformation in anime is what some followers seem to enjoy most about it. Some find it to be unbearable to watch or deal with, but then again, so is life (sometimes). So for the watchers of anime it could be said that though anime may be some sort of escape for them it is their way of dealing with actual life and not a sitcomed, diluted version of it. Even if one were to argue to say that anime is an extreme way of portraying life, that can also be said about sitcoms. But at least with anime (animation) it comes with the territory. The only difference between Dawson's Creek and Akira/Ranma 1/2 is that Akira and Ranma are a form of conter-culture and are yet more identifiable (I don't know about you, but I don't know any blonde haired, green-eyed guys, or a girl who lives across a small mass of water who uses a canoe to get around.)
Here's the link for the movie (I watched it, it's pretty good.)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2402751682668296100&q=akira&total
=14000&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2
If the link doesn't work just Google "Akira" on Videos
9 comments:
There's been a lot of arguments made that anime-- or rather, all forms of animation --is not widely accepted because (at least among Western audiences) it has come to be considered something childish and immature; thus, the viewing of animation is considered childish and immature. This is visible even with animation popular among adults on American television: the most successful programs mostly rely on humor based in slapstick and shock value, typically considered "juvenile" despite frequently mature content. This does not mean that all successful American cartoons use such humor or are perceived as childish; Mike Judge (previously known for the plainly juvenile Beavis & Butthead series) has had great success with the relatively sober and restrained pacing of King of the Hill, and films such as Disney's Fantasia have demonstrated well the possibilities of animation as an art form. However, it is likely that many would point to these as the exceptions, although they prove the rule.
I've heard from many of my fellow American fans of Japanese animation that anime (as well as its printed counterpart; manga, Japanese comics) the notion that Japan is much more accepting of animation as an art form. While it is apparent that both anime and manga demonstrate a very wide range of genre and intended audiences in Japan, there is also support for the claim that this is not evidence that the viewing or liking of animation is considered more acceptable. As discussed in Little Boy: The Art of Japan's Exploding Subculture (Ed. Murakami, Takashi. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005), a Japanese adult with as strong a passion for animation or comics as the mainstream exhibits for more "acceptable" media-- such as your example of Will & Grace --is ostracized and perceived as a childish or even perverted outcast. In Japan, such people are often called otaku, a formerly respectful term that has come through media and popular usage to have associations with failing students, aging bachelors with poor hygiene, and even sexual predators.
Such views are partly due to a circular train of thought on the parts of those producing it: animation is considered to be something watched mainly by children, immature adults, or other outcasts; so animation geared towards such people is what is most successful in leaping the initial hurdles of production and reaching the market. We are likely a long way off from an animated equivalent of Will & Grace or Friends (although I am tempted to argue that Mission Hill fits the bill quite well) partly because those in the media who control the production of animation believe that there is little market for it; this rarity means that few are familiar with it, and so there is little market for such animation.
PS: The plural of "anime" is simply "anime". Japanese nouns are not usually modified in plural form, although sometimes you will see mistakes such as "samurais".
Metamorphosis/transformation is something that occurs in anime on a regular basis. At this time, the more popular example would be that of Fruits Basket, in which cursed members of the Sohma family turn into members of the Zodiac, and a cat, when hugged by a member of the opposite sex or becoming too weak (any of this sound familiar?). Perhaps this occurs every ten or so years.
However, as far to why people are turned off by watching anime, I think there are quite a few reasons. For one, people do think its childish to watch cartoons, others think of anime and can think only of hentai (the 'erotic' form of anime). However, I find it funny that we can be so accepting of somethings, yet push away others (hello, Final Fantasy, nintendos, all that great video gaming stuff is originally japanese and we've accepted that, yet in our world of Disneyfication, we push away a cartoon).
Some people even push away the mangas, the drawn out comics, which many cartoons are based on or visa versa. Ranma 1/2 for example has a series of at 50+ manga volumes, yet so much has spawned from comics and we aren't afraid to pick up a comic with a rating of M.
I think people need to take a second glance at these things before pushing them away or writing them off as childish, perverted, or whatever else they may think.
I've never really been into anime, nor do I know much about it. One of the only anime pieces I've seen has been Howl's Moving Castle. I think you're right when you say anime is the same as the regular t.v. shows we watch today, such as Friends, Will & Grace, Dawson's Creek, etc. They both present the audience with similar issues, but are simply done in different forms. I've had my assumptions about anime and they've changed because of this article. I always thought it was geared towards children, due to it's animated form. But films such as Akira have very mature content. Howl's Moving Castle for instance, may seem like a children's movie, but it really has an intense deeper meanings that only adults can truly understand.
Stefanie Garcia
I agree with what you said about how anime is not accepted in American culture. In my blog, i also discussed this topic. I never understood why people were so into it. However the most exposure i have had to anime is pokemon and most likely that isn't what Akira and Rama are even close to.
I personally like watching cartoons (the simpsons and family among a few others) SO the arguement about how most americans find cartoons to be juvinille is a weak one. It's also not just in television but i know that animated movies are a huge hit here. the incredibles, Ratatouille, and finding nemo just are animated flms that smashed the box offices. I love those movies, so according to my passion for animation i should like Anime.
However, i think anime just contains too much fantasy for me. I never liked the complex stories of sacred islands or it could just be the overdubbing which i find annoying.
Either way, i think i share the opinion of americnas and their love for anime. It's Just non existant.
I've always found anime to be a very strange form of animation/illustrations because they characters are affected by so many different impossible situations. Although society has been fascinated by characters such as harry potter and star wars, there has been less of an interest in anime and more particularly fantastical books. The whole wizard and magic stuff that comes from harry potter i find to be a phenomenon in the realm of fantastical book writing. In my life time I have known very few people who show interest in such books or even cartoons. And by reading the selection called "akira and Ranma 1/2" makes me wonder why that is if they are going through the same thing other adolescents their age are going through, the notion of growing up and trying to identity ones character and personality.
I find that some of the situations the characters find themselves in to be so absurd (no offense to those who like anime). And the whole thing about anime depicting older men with younger boys, to be very odd and repulsive. (I know women are the ones writing it but still, its kinda weird).
Although I don't know diddly-squat about anime, I'll take your word for it that it is relatable in the sense of being a young adult and struggling with life. I wonder if the reason people watch shows like Dawsons' Creek and Friends is because they are not so relatable. It is sometimes easier to deal with life watching other peoples drama and thinking it's not as bad as yours. On the other hand, some people go through watching those shows thinking that it's their life put on screen or better yet, they model their lives after these characters and scenarios they watch.
John Arida
ps although it's dyed, I have hair blond hair, green eyes and i'm sure the person on dawson's creek has dyed hair as well : )
I agree with most of the comments above, and while I like your comparison of Anime to shows such as Will and Grace, Friends, etc., I think that anime still has its own quality that differentiates how the explanation of metamorphosis and the roles of gender and sex in society are portrayed to people.
While the Western Culture may not be as interested and would rather watch those shows above, the perception i get from people who are interested in anime relate to the idea of machinima-creating your own vision of something existent and manipulating it to appeal to a specific audience.
I must admit, before this topic came up in class I had been one of those people who thought anime was just another form of kid entertainment. I never even considered the fact that they would deal with mature topics like literal and metaphorical transformations. I actually don’t even think that I’ve ever seen an anime before the examples in class. When we were watching them I was definitely interested in what was going on and what was going to happen next. I realize now that it’s a lot more involved than just a regular cartoon, such as Beavis and Butthead. Ranma ½ and Akira actually make you think about deeper concepts of life rather than just laughing at the pointless toilet humor of two burn-outs watching music videos on a couch. I’m happy we did this lesson in class because I’m now more open to anime and the different forms and meanings of it.
I'd definitely say that anime is beginning to become on of the most watched and popular of the cartoon subcultures out there. I think cartoons have changed, as far as content wise, instead of them being only for children they are made now for the people who grow up on them as well. Which i think is a good way to broaden your audience.
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