Anime-influenced animation
Anime-influenced animation refers to non-Japanese works of animation that emulate the visual style of Japanese anime. Though most of these works are created by and primarily shown in the U.S., many also involve production studios from Europe and Asia; for example, one recent series, Totally Spies!, is made by French company Marathon. Some fans debate tham as artificial Anime or Amerime.
History
As predecessors, anime-influenced animation owes to manga-influenced comics and La nouvelle manga, due to manga influences affecting the American and Franco-Belgian comic book industries. At the same time, the increasing amount of Japanese anime series coming into the US, starting mainly with Robotech (though other Americanized anime series were broadcast as early as the 1950s) impacted a generation of writers, animators and artists. On a similar level, Japanese cinema, such as jidaigeki, also influenced directors and others. As the Japanese artforms created an impact overseas, creators outside of Japan began to emulate the styles, dynamics, and cliches of the Japanese forms.
Visually, there are still some differences between true anime and anime-influenced animation. In some cases, enough so that it can be spotted by most fans of the genre. While anime from Japan tends to immerse the characters, actions and settings in a Japanese context due to the experiences of the creators, other animation tends to place little stock in these or will sometimes leave such devices out entirely. This has caused critics of the style to refer to it as nothing more than retrofitting anime styling to western plotlines. Additionally, it is made for US television and audiences, and will often times have a different pace than its Japanese counterparts. Another difference is fanservice; where it may be present to some degree or other in most anime works, it will often not be included in overseas works.
Some American animated television series have singled out anime styling with satirical intent. South Park (with "Chinpokomon" and "Good Times With Weapons") and The Angry Beavers. South Park has a notable drawing style, which was itself parodied in "Brittle Bullet", the fifth episode of the anime FLCL, released several months after "Chinpokomon" aired. Furthering the cycle is Teen Titans, a series that references FLCL on multiple points[1].
Criticism
The style is sometimes lambasted by critics and fans of anime and limited animation alike, for a number of reasons, among them the idea that the "Americanization" of anime is untrue to original works, or that works whose style tries emulate anime are insulting to "true" anime (that made in Japan). It is similar to the critism of anime works done by Japanese studios that are based on American content, such as the 2006 Witchblade anime, and Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z.
Examples of Anime-influenced animation
- North American shows
- Æon Flux
- A.T.O.M.
- Ben 10
- The Boondocks
- Fantastic Four (2006 TV series)
- Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
- Kappa Mikey
- Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
- Teen Titans
- European shows
- Possably Chinese shows
See also
References
- Kime, Chad (1997). ""American Anime: Blend or Bastardization?"". EX 3.3. EX.org. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
- Khan, Ridwan (2003). ""American Anime - Is it Possible?"". Animefringe.com. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
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