I know the show was produced in the USA and all, but with it's animation style and storytelling some would consider Avatar to be an anime. My question to you guys would be, who here considers Avatar an anime? I don't have much of an opinion as of yet, but I'm hoping to see some good debates on this that would sway me either which way.
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Would you consider Avatar to be an anime?
- Thread starter Drew K
- Start date
Absolutely not. Avatar is heavily inspired by Asian mythology, but this includes many things. Anime is only one influence among several such as Chinese art and history, and belief systems such as Hinduism and Taoism and Buddhism.
And by definition, an "anime" is defined by Japanese animation. Avatar is American animation done by Americans who are very, VERY good at their jobs. Simple as that.
Having said all that, blast, I really do need to watch more episodes than the few that I have......
And by definition, an "anime" is defined by Japanese animation. Avatar is American animation done by Americans who are very, VERY good at their jobs. Simple as that.
Having said all that, blast, I really do need to watch more episodes than the few that I have......
Chuck Norris is Spiderman
New member
What GWOtaku said. If you want to consider Avatar an anime, then you'd probably have to rule in all kinRAB of other American-made cartoons that were influenced by anime (among other things) and outsourced to Asia.
I also don't think it's terribly helpful or meaningful to categorize it as an anime. To me, it is important that anime is a product of a different culture, which has very different approaches to the same subject matter. Japanese movies aren't the same as American movies, French movies, British movies, Chinese movies, or Australian movies. The same is true of TV shows. To my eyes, there isn't any "Japanese-ness" to Avatar worth talking about.
I also don't think it's terribly helpful or meaningful to categorize it as an anime. To me, it is important that anime is a product of a different culture, which has very different approaches to the same subject matter. Japanese movies aren't the same as American movies, French movies, British movies, Chinese movies, or Australian movies. The same is true of TV shows. To my eyes, there isn't any "Japanese-ness" to Avatar worth talking about.
I heard from a bird....
New member
Anime=loose definition of cartoons produced in Japan. Authentic name would be Japanese cartoons
Avatar=A really awesome cartoon that has anime influences in it but was made in America
Thus, by this logic, Avatar is not an anime and nothing anyone says will change that.
(GW, what's wrong with you? Start watching it now!)
Avatar=A really awesome cartoon that has anime influences in it but was made in America
Thus, by this logic, Avatar is not an anime and nothing anyone says will change that.
(GW, what's wrong with you? Start watching it now!)
Stripes and Dots
New member
Not produced in Japan = Not an anime.
Avatar would only be considered an anime in Japan, where the term "anime" just means "animation" and therefore refers to anything that's animated.
Outside of Japan, however, Avatar is no more an anime than Kappa Mikey.
Avatar would only be considered an anime in Japan, where the term "anime" just means "animation" and therefore refers to anything that's animated.
Outside of Japan, however, Avatar is no more an anime than Kappa Mikey.
expand capital punishment
New member
Because they comes from a country with a vastly different religious, cultural, and historical background, Japanese cartoons naturally have a distinct style to them.
Avatar seems to have done a phenomenal job replicating that style.
So well, in fact, that if you didn't know it was made in America, you might have mistaken it for an actual Japanese cartoon.
So I guess the answer depenRAB not on what you think of Avatar, but rather on what you consider anime to be.
If anime is merely a cartoon from Japan, then Avatar isn't anime.
If anime is a genre of cartoon with a distinct style that originated in Japan, then it could be.
Personally, since I don't have a degree in film, literature, or animation, I can't say one way or the other... nor do I personally care, really.
Anime is a distinct style... anime can only come from Japan.
It's like arguing over how to pronounce "tomato."
The only thing I can say is that Avatar is a great show.
Avatar seems to have done a phenomenal job replicating that style.
So well, in fact, that if you didn't know it was made in America, you might have mistaken it for an actual Japanese cartoon.
So I guess the answer depenRAB not on what you think of Avatar, but rather on what you consider anime to be.
If anime is merely a cartoon from Japan, then Avatar isn't anime.
If anime is a genre of cartoon with a distinct style that originated in Japan, then it could be.
Personally, since I don't have a degree in film, literature, or animation, I can't say one way or the other... nor do I personally care, really.
Anime is a distinct style... anime can only come from Japan.
It's like arguing over how to pronounce "tomato."
The only thing I can say is that Avatar is a great show.
ella_bella95
New member
I consider Avatar an OEL Anime
wiemercats
New member
The thing is that anime isn't a style or a genre. There's some common stylistic traits that come from the culture, but there's more than enough exceptions to those in the Japanese animation industry for it to be impossible to categorize anime based on style.
Really?
... so can you define anime then?
Cause according to Webster's:
an-i-me
: a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes
I mean... that's the official Merriam-Websters definition.
So... yeah.
... so can you define anime then?
Cause according to Webster's:
an-i-me
: a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes
I mean... that's the official Merriam-Websters definition.
So... yeah.
Wow, I hadn't realized that solid storytelling, stylized characters, well choreographed action scenes, and crazy powers ONLY appeared in Japanese cartoons! I guess shows like Disney's Gargoyles, Batman: The Animated Series, Xaolin Showdown and dozens of other cartoons are secretly from Japan because CLEARLY no American could POSSIBLY come up with anything remotely as cool. /sarcasm>
Now that that's out of the way: no, it's not anime. It's definately been influenced by it, but it isn't anime. And I don't understand why it would need to be classified as such.
Now that that's out of the way: no, it's not anime. It's definately been influenced by it, but it isn't anime. And I don't understand why it would need to be classified as such.
guitar*rules
New member
No, Avatar is not an anime. An anime is an animated show made in Japan. Avatar was made in the USA, so it is not anime.
bostonguy98765
New member
Merriam-Websters is summarizing. By that definition, Batman the Animated Series is anime, too.
The whole point is that "anime" as a term is only really useful as a term meaning "animated cartoons created in Japan for the Japanese market." Ponyo, Pokemon, Millenium Actress, Akira, and the average hentai title are all "anime," but I challenge you to find any single common stylistic element to all those works. For that matter, not all of them fit the M-W definition, either.
The whole point is that "anime" as a term is only really useful as a term meaning "animated cartoons created in Japan for the Japanese market." Ponyo, Pokemon, Millenium Actress, Akira, and the average hentai title are all "anime," but I challenge you to find any single common stylistic element to all those works. For that matter, not all of them fit the M-W definition, either.
Prada Brat
New member
You just listed three shows with Japanese influences.
Several Japanese animators from Sunrise worked on Batman: The Animated Series.
Xaolin Showdown was an attempt to fuse Eastern and Western styles.
Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman referred to the show as "American anime."
So... yeah.
I'm not saying that animes have to come to Japan; I'm also not saying that they don't have to be either.
As I said before, the whole argument to me is a silly one based on semantics, and I don't care either way.
But I will argue that anime is a style of animation.
As I mentioned before, I do not have a degree in animation or literature, but many who do will argue that it is as well.
Obviously all those works do not exhibit the same style, but they were definitely all inspired by the same earlier sources of anime, which originated in Japan.
Anime is a broad style which contains many other smaller sub-genera within it.
Also, in regard to Batman: The Animated Series being considered anime, again, the answer doesn't depend on the show, but on what one considers to be anime.
If anime is a style, maybe Batman is an anime.
If anime can only come from Japan, it isn't.
Then again, as mentioned before, several Japanese animators from Sunrise worked on Batman... so that kind of puts it in a gray area.
Several Japanese animators from Sunrise worked on Batman: The Animated Series.
Xaolin Showdown was an attempt to fuse Eastern and Western styles.
Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman referred to the show as "American anime."
So... yeah.
I'm not saying that animes have to come to Japan; I'm also not saying that they don't have to be either.
As I said before, the whole argument to me is a silly one based on semantics, and I don't care either way.
But I will argue that anime is a style of animation.
As I mentioned before, I do not have a degree in animation or literature, but many who do will argue that it is as well.
Obviously all those works do not exhibit the same style, but they were definitely all inspired by the same earlier sources of anime, which originated in Japan.
Anime is a broad style which contains many other smaller sub-genera within it.
Also, in regard to Batman: The Animated Series being considered anime, again, the answer doesn't depend on the show, but on what one considers to be anime.
If anime is a style, maybe Batman is an anime.
If anime can only come from Japan, it isn't.
Then again, as mentioned before, several Japanese animators from Sunrise worked on Batman... so that kind of puts it in a gray area.
ZeloDude96
New member
Okay, I don't see the problem here. Anime isn't a style. Okay, it's very easy to pick out so in some regarRAB it's a "style" but at it's base, it's just a shorter way of saying "Japanese cartoons." Avatar was made and produced in America. B:TAS was made and produced by Warner Bros. These are not anime, they are cartoons made in America. Thus, it is impossible for it to have been made in Japan which is a very important qualification for a cartoon to be an anime.
I mean, Totally Spies has a ton of the anime staples like the teardrop and the faces but I don't see people saying that's an anime. (Which it's not)
I mean, Totally Spies has a ton of the anime staples like the teardrop and the faces but I don't see people saying that's an anime. (Which it's not)
chief calm down
New member
Well, even if an American artist COPIES (yes, copies) Japanese art, it still wouldn't be anime!
That rules out Avatar and Batman.
That rules out Avatar and Batman.
sushifishiez
New member
'Anime' is not a title to be applied to shows people rate highly, as you might use the term 'Gundam' for such a mobile suit. It's simply a casual term to quickly signify animation of Japanese home and origin.
freespirit12212000
New member
Quiet, you. You're bringing this entire thread down with your easygoing open mindedness, narc!
Several Japanese animators from TMS worked on Animaniacs. Is that in a gray area? Anyway, when studios are outsourced for animation, it generally just means inbetween animation and touch-ups while the storyboarRAB and keyframes are done in America. If outsourced animation defined the national origin of a cartoon, then 99% of all cartoons from both the US and Japan are Korean.
And the M-W definition isn't very good. Is Haibane Renmei, a Japanese cartoon with washed-out colors and little action, not an anime?
And the M-W definition isn't very good. Is Haibane Renmei, a Japanese cartoon with washed-out colors and little action, not an anime?
Stevie Wonder
New member
Avatar is an "anime" just like Kappa Mikey, Speed Racer: The Next Generation, Totally Spies, Teen Titans, and Three Delivery are "anime."
By which, they aren't.
Not fond of the term "anime" to describe Japanese animation. It reeks of arrogance, like it's better and higher than all other forms of animation. While there are good shows and films, Sturgeon's Law accurately suggests that 90% of Japanese animation (just like 90% of American animation and 90% of Canadian animation and 90% of British animation) is crud. It's no better and no worse than what other countries make. It's just that the rabid fringe otaku element that want to claim the best Western-produced animated series as their own, in this case Avatar.
To be fair, "anime" is a Western term that the Japanese people uses to describe ALL animation from all over the world. The original word to describe Japanese animation is dōga. The fringe otaku element don't want to hear that though.
But yeah, Avatar isn't an "anime."
By which, they aren't.
Not fond of the term "anime" to describe Japanese animation. It reeks of arrogance, like it's better and higher than all other forms of animation. While there are good shows and films, Sturgeon's Law accurately suggests that 90% of Japanese animation (just like 90% of American animation and 90% of Canadian animation and 90% of British animation) is crud. It's no better and no worse than what other countries make. It's just that the rabid fringe otaku element that want to claim the best Western-produced animated series as their own, in this case Avatar.
To be fair, "anime" is a Western term that the Japanese people uses to describe ALL animation from all over the world. The original word to describe Japanese animation is dōga. The fringe otaku element don't want to hear that though.
But yeah, Avatar isn't an "anime."