Would you consider Avatar to be an anime?

Obviously whether Avatar is anime or not depend entirely upon the definition of the term anime. Now if Marine Boy is an early anime, then obviously that implies the anime style (in say Dragonball or Yu Gi Oh!) is not the definition, but that it was made in Japan. So by that definition obviously not. However if you define it based upon the style of animation and let's say the anime style was the definition then you could say it has inspired elements in its style from it, and is a hybrid, although i think it is more asian inspired than anime inspired, only in some elements does it seem positively linked with the animation style. After all Skunk Fu isn't anime, so let's forget the asian inspired design of the cartoon. Also another point i'd make is a reference to Teen Titans, another hybrid cartoon with elements from both western and eastern style animation. So i would not class it as anime but partially anime inspired.
 
Insecurity. Anime is considered more cool and dignified, so some (not all) will take shows like Avatar and label it as anime thinking that their interest won't be valid otherwise.
 
Yeah, anime doesn't have a singular "style" to it (otherwise stuff like Shin-Chan wouldn't be anime). If you consider Avatar to be an anime, then you'd have to consider Tom & Jerry to be one as well.
 
I really see no point in seeing people debate this. It's obvious, because Avatar was produced in America. Not an anime. SIMPLE AS THAT.
 
How so? Anime is a word for cartoons that just got twisted into becoming the word for cartoons that come out of a certain country. All of the things you listed were cartoons, therefore they're technically anime with that logic.
 
Wow, when you put it this way Daxdiv, it's really hard to argue with it. Anime is just what the Japanese call a "cartoon" right? So how do they refer to American cartoons.......by another name or by anime? I wonder. Anyhow, great observation man.
 
Check the time I posted it. We wrote that around the same time, I was proof reading mine before I posted it, hence the 1 minute difference in our posting time. I didn't see Yash's response until I posted it.



Hmm, it's hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but as far as I know, Anime is Japan's word for animation from across the globe. The way that every other country uses the word, it's describes the cartoons coming out of it. So therefore, he was using it in the right context.
 
Why is this thread still going?

The answer is no and will always be no.

Doesn't matter what it looks like or what influenced it, every culture influences other cultures. At most you could call it anime-esque... but why bother? It's an American cartoon and a darn good one at that.
 
No sarcasim, I was agreeing with you. I believe that people seem to think that "anime" is JUST Japanese cartoons but if the Japanese call all forms of animation "anime" then why shouldn't a cartoon like Avatar be considered "anime".....?
 
Because outside of Japan, anime is commonly understood as an abbreviation for "Japanese animation." What it literally means in Japanese and what it's come to mean to us is different, rather like the word "otaku." Clearly, no one would disagree that Avatar is literally animation.
 
It is if you're Japanese in Japan watching Avatar on Japanese TV.

Discussions like this always hinge on which definition of the word "anime" you choose to use, because there are three separate and distinct English definitions for the term and they partially overlap:

1. The Japanese word for "cartoons"
2. Animation that adheres to a specific set of visual and storytelling styles which nobody seems to be able to define consistently without either ruling out cartoons most people would say, "That's anime" about or ruling in cartoons most people would say, "That's not anime" about.
3. Animation produced in Japan primarily for the consumption of the Japanese market

If you want to use definition #1, then EVERYTHING is anime, but then there's absolutely no point to arguing over whether something "is" or "isn't" anime. If it's animated, it's anime. As a result, this is a boring definition and completely defeats the purpose most people seem to have when they ask, "Is X cartoon an anime?" because the self-evident answer is "Yes" as long as X is actually a cartoon.

Definition #2 is sort of like pornography, in that "I'll know it when I see it," except that (also like pornography) people turn out to have have different definitions of what pornography is. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, Playboy magazine, and those cheapo sexploitation films on Cinemax have all been termed "pornography" by different people, over and above the usual stuff people expect. This usage of "anime" may allow for interminable discussions on Internet message boarRAB, but it is completely useless as a definition for anything.

Definition #3 is the second-easiest to articulate and state definitively if something is or isn't anime. If you want to start talking about common themes or stylistic elements to specific anime, then that's something separate from the definition of the word.

"Anime" is a loan word from Japanese, so the meaning can be different between its original language and its usage in English. "Shampoo" apparently comes from a Hindi verb of "to pound or knead," but that doesn't mean I'm going ask for a good shampooing at a spa and then get annoyed when they start washing my hair instead of giving me a massage.
 
I think the reasons Avatar tenRAB to be confused with anime is:

1. The art style. The detailed, properly-proportioned bodies with some heaRAB proportioned so the eyes are exaggerated is something seen much more often in anime than in western animation.

2. The story structure. The complex, continuously running story is again something seen more often in anime than in western animation.

3. The setting. Avatar takes place in a pseudo-Asian fantasy world. Asian fantasy worlRAB are almost exclusively the stomping grounRAB of anime series.

While not sufficient reasons by themselves, since they're corabined the uninformed viewer will assume that Avatar is of Japanese origins. However, going strictly by definition Avatar is certainly not an anime. It is, however, undeniably anime-influenced. (I remeraber the creators saying they told their staff to buy a box set of Fooly Cooly and watch the whole thing.)
 
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