Depends on one’s definition of 'anime.'
If one judges whether it’s anime by its origins, Avatar wouldn’t be an anime.
If one judges by art style, it could be considered as one.
Japanese animation: a Japanese style of animated cartoon that uses strongly outlined images, often in high detail, with simplified treatment of motion and depth, and that is known for complex futuristic stories sometimes with mature themes and typically with many characters
There’s the definiton.
--- , just cuz' I’m in an okay mood, I’ll put a smiley in my sig.
Dhem92 wrote:
Japanese animation: a Japanese style of animated cartoon that uses strongly outlined images, often in high detail, with simplified treatment of motion and depth, and that is known for complex futuristic stories sometimes with mature themes and typically with many characters
There’s the definiton.
And here lies the problem.
JAPANESE style of animated cartoon.
If you consider Avatar to be 'Japanese style,' then you can consider it as anime. If not, then it’s not.
I’d have to say based on themes, character-development, morals, continuity differences and battle that Avatar is not Anime. I’m of the opinion that something needs to be more then just big eyes and small mouths to really capture the anthropological and cultural thematics of real Japanese Anime or Manga. At best, I can see alot of influence from Beebop and Champloo in there, but the majority of it obviously is derived from Miyazaki works. The problem is, that unlike Ghibli and its brilliant brilliant workers, Avatar never really embaraces what those works did. I can’t see Avatar fitting as Apocalyptic, Ellegiac or Festival, so it just sort of hangs there. As a guy who studied Anime as a anthropological subject in Tokyo, I assure you it takes more to really be “Anime” or “Manga” then what Avatar or half of the American-made books spewing outta Tokyopop can offer. Sure fanboys will object, but I assure you I don’t do say this out of disdain for the show or whatever, personally I think Avatar is well written. It’s just, in terms of the subject at hand, if we’re talking about Anime as an established art form and not just an aesthetic preference, Avatar simply doesn’t have any place in the genre. It’s really that simple. If you’re interested in pursuing this further I’d reccomend you check out some of the books that study Anime and Manga as a cultural subject and an anthropological reflection of Japanese ideals, history and culture. It’s pretty interesting.
Porknbeans wrote:
I’d have to say based on themes, character-development, morals, continuity differences and battle that Avatar is not Anime. I’m of the opinion that something needs to be more then just big eyes and small mouths to really capture the anthropological and cultural thematics of real Japanese Anime or Manga. At best, I can see alot of influence from Beebop and Champloo in there, but the majority of it obviously is derived from Miyazaki works. The problem is, that unlike Ghibli and its brilliant brilliant workers, Avatar never really embaraces what those works did. I can’t see Avatar fitting as Apocalyptic, Ellegiac or Festival, so it just sort of hangs there. As a guy who studied Anime as a anthropological subject in Tokyo, I assure you it takes more to really be “Anime” or “Manga” then what Avatar or half of the American-made books spewing outta Tokyopop can offer. Sure fanboys will object, but I assure you I don’t do say this out of disdain for the show or whatever, personally I think Avatar is well written. It’s just, in terms of the subject at hand, if we’re talking about Anime as an established art form and not just an aesthetic preference, Avatar simply doesn’t have any place in the genre. It’s really that simple. If you’re interested in pursuing this further I’d reccomend you check out some of the books that study Anime and Manga as a cultural subject and an anthropological reflection of Japanese ideals, history and culture. It’s pretty interesting.
oh thank teh goddess
if it were anime I’d had to hate it with all my guts...
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, just cuz' I’m in an okay mood, I’ll put a smiley in my sig.
(but Avatar)
