Personally I am disgusted by the act of people trying to pair together anime and cartoon. Yes, I know that there is a few similarities between these two, but then again, there is also a plethora of differences, which makes them unique in their own way. For me, at least, the differences shows the supremacy of anime.
I know the arguments that cartoon lovers or neutralist (those who group anime and cartoon as the same) is kind of understandable. Makes sense to some, convincing to many. But not all. They are giving opinions as the public, not as the specialist in the area. They know about cartoon, but they are not in anime. While it seems that anime is simple, it is not. There are many areas that one need to understand to fully apprehend anime.
First thing off, I just want people to seperate the two entity. I am not saying that anime is better, or cartoon is stupid, no. Just no. While it is different is does comes from the same root, animation.
Anime VS Cartoon : Storyline
Anime as what we all can see has a wider, deeper, more complex storyline compared to cartoon. In fact cartoon has the most simplest storyline ever. Take Power Puff Girls for example; One episode Mojojojo, another episode the Red Crab and the next one, again Mojojojo. I do admit that for the younger audiences it does seem appealing, I too share my own love to Power Puff Girls.
But, as I grew older, the series becomes dull and not appealing. Sense of logic, morality and many more values that I've acquired makes me stay away from the simple series. Its dull and boring to me now.
I know that cartoon and anime has difference is audience target, but even anime that is targeted at children is better. More logical, less stupid and drawn better.
And for those who wants to argue, Hayao Miyazaki works can show the wide differences and the similarities that an anime and cartoon can have. Then again, that is for those who really can make a real judgement.
The Brave Story for example was a great anime that shows how anime can effect the audiences. I myself personally was entranced and taken away by the story telling that the anime bore. Compare it to cartoons, I never feel like it. Yeah, of course, unless you are 7 years old, you can practically be taken away with almost anything that is eye catching.
But anime is different. It has something more than just stupid loony action. For some anime it touches the very idea of humanity longs for, despise for and many other. I dare say that anime is one level higher than cartoon that tries to reach the audiences by its storyline and making an understanding of some values.
Anime VS Cartoon : Audience Target
While it does not seem to be important I think this argument, that would always being brought into play to the arguments between an avid anime fan, neutralist and cartoon fan, is also important.
Like in this article, anime is considered as a part of the culture not like cartoon. Maye the differences in culture and understanding makes it more complex. That is why the producers rather spend more money in TV drama's and airtime instead of giving some to cartoon.
In Japan, because of the manga culture, anime has been accepeted wide as something normal. There is demand. There is market outside the series airing. To much people surprises TV broadcaster can get more ratings compared to some drama series; well yeah, not all but there is.
Even anime movies such as Kara no Kyoukai has gained a blockbuster status amongst the otaku.
Anyway, because there is demand from avery age group there is more and more series being developed. Be it from the manga or an original anime special, anime is growing according to the peoples demand; and some tries to create something new for the audiences. There is a lot of levels in anime viewing, from my obsrvation at the very least.
Normal fan would just love to see so-so storyline, nice drawing and that's it. They don't care much if the story is stereotype or the style is dull.
Intermediate fan would love interesting storyline and a nice story. You could say that this group actually values anime.
Avid fan is what I can say as lovers. They watch anime not just because of the storyline and the art, but because the sense that the anime has. And some, what the studio brought.
Last but not least, the otaku. They are what some studio are trying to surprise or something in that sense. They watch almost all anime and try to make a cult out of it. Extremism? I don't think so. The thing is they took the time to evaluate every possible aspects there is of each anime and each episode they watch. Even the smallest little detail they try to find out and make something out of it. I seriously wonder how they can do it.
So there we have it, the difference in anime and cartoon.
Anime VS Cartoon : Art Style
On contrary belief of the deep relation between the anime/manga style with the western style of drawing, there is a define line between them.
The most common argument that would always being brought over is the Hayao Miyazaki eye theory. I am not saying that it is false, neither claiming it to be true. Let's just leave it there and take it as a fact.
So, its true that the Japanese took the styles from the western to create manganime (manga+anime) style.
Then, how come that the style is much better that the latter? I never seen an cartoon series that has somewhat nice style. All there is just box faced characters and some weird character. At the very least in anime, while with all the incomprehensible characters they are drawn to a logical and better way. I don't want to see a character with a trapezium face, or something in that sense.
The backgrounds and the colouring are something else too. More detail, more vast, more deep and rich. While there is some cartoon that features slightly more detail and more rich than normal, but when compared they are not something to win.
つづく
