A Brief History of Anime
Anime is really an abbreviation for animation. Outside Japan, the term usually refers to animation originating in Japan. Though if you are thinking it is like the Bugs Bunny cartoons you grew up with you are wrong. Not all animation is considered anime. Anime is considered by some as a subset of animation.
You might also think anime is that "Pokemon" stuff. Well you would be right and wrong. Pokemon is an anime targeted toward children. There is a larger adult medium of anime that is rapidly becoming popular in the United States.
The history of anime began at the start of the twentieth century when artist started experimenting with animation techniques that were being explored in other countries. Anime is closely related to the Japanese manga or graphic novel. Characters of anime are usually recognized by their large eyes and small mouth and nose. The main characters are usually adolescents or young adults.
Anime has many genres that are found in any mass medium form. Action, adventure, comedy, drama, erotica, fantasy, horror, romance, and science fiction are just a few to mention.
Early anime in the United States was around September of 1963. This was when NBC syndicated a dubbed version of he Japanese series Astro Boy. A much more familiar anime to Americans was the series called Speed Racer. In 1988, the first anime film was released in the United States. The film was Akira, which was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. It is the story of a gang of motorcycling street punks in Neo-Tokyo set in 2017.
The embrace by anime by many Americans has been fantastic. There are anime conventions across the country where convention goers dress in costume as their favorite character. They even put on skits and have anime related lectures in classes in the day.
Anime is more than just a cartoon for adults. It is truly an art form on its own. Anime tells stories that would not be possible to display in a live action movie. So if have not viewed an anime yet you should try one. It displays a completely new way of storytelling.
Published by Allen Bell
Allen lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife and two daughters. He is currently a freelance writer who is working on his first novel. View profile
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- Anime is really an abbreviation for animation.
- Outside Japan, the term usually refers to animation originating in Japan.
- Anime is closely related to the Japanese manga or graphic novel.