anime.ppt

1. Anime
Anime

2. Anime’s popularity in the US
Anime’s popularity in the US

Anime Expo drew huge crowds: 9,700 in 2001 to
Anime Expo drew huge crowds: 9,700 in 2001 to
40,000 in 2006. Since then, slower growth has
40,000 in 2006. Since then, slower growth has
been evident: by 2011, only a small rise: 47,000.
been evident: by 2011, only a small rise: 47,000.

The US audience for anime is mainly male teens
The US audience for anime is mainly male teens
and adults, according to a recent survey at an
and adults, according to a recent survey at an
SPJA expo in New York, though there have been
SPJA expo in New York, though there have been
increasing numbers of anime films and TV
increasing numbers of anime films and TV
programs aimed at girls.
programs aimed at girls.

2002: Anime Network on cable; now deceased.
2002: Anime Network on cable; now deceased.
There are currently increasing on-demand
There are currently increasing on-demand
outlets, though.
outlets, though.

Spirited Away
Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, won
, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, won
the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in
the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in
2003.
2003.

3. Cultural Roots
Cultural Roots

Anime is intended to be an art form,
Anime is intended to be an art form,
closely connected to Japanese traditional
closely connected to Japanese traditional
culture and beliefs, thus contrasting with
culture and beliefs, thus contrasting with
the US school of cartooning, which is
the US school of cartooning, which is
generally seen simply as an entertainment
generally seen simply as an entertainment
product to be marketed.
product to be marketed.

Its immediate source is manga, similar to
Its immediate source is manga, similar to
our graphic novels, which cover a wide
our graphic novels, which cover a wide
variety of subjects and are often targeted
variety of subjects and are often targeted
to specific groups.
to specific groups.

4. Osamu Tezuka’s
Manga series -
Astroboy (aka
Tetsuwan Atomu)

5. Robot & Sci-Fi Series
Robot & Sci-Fi Series

Astroboy (1963) led to an
Astroboy (1963) led to an
anime explosion on US cable
anime explosion on US cable
TV
TV

American adults were the
American adults were the
first audience, often
first audience, often
replicating the obsessive
replicating the obsessive
devotion of
devotion of Star Trek
Star Trek fans in
fans in
the 70s.
the 70s.

Typical US anime fan (1960-
Typical US anime fan (1960-
90) was:
90) was:
• predominately male
predominately male
• technically oriented
technically oriented
• 70-80% college educated
70-80% college educated
• between 25-30 years old
between 25-30 years old

6. On Oct 3, 1982, a show that involved robots
hit the Japanese airwaves: Macross.
It introduced the concept of the
transformable robot for the first time, a
concept copied by later shows like The
Transformers.
In 1985, Harmony Gold brought the US
rights to Macross and 2 other robot shows
and combined the three into an 85 episode
show called Robotech.

7. 
With the advent of the
With the advent of the
Internet, by the mid 1980s,
Internet, by the mid 1980s,
fans could communicate
fans could communicate
with other fans—and they
with other fans—and they
did.
did.

The continuing popularity of
The continuing popularity of
anime eventually prompted
anime eventually prompted
Japanese producers to
Japanese producers to
release an animated
release an animated
theatrical release in 1990:
theatrical release in 1990:
Katsuhiro Otomo’s
Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira
Akira.
.

8. Bring on the Mecha
Bring on the Mecha
More Americans got excited by
anime in 1993, when the Fox
Channel aired a re-edited, re-
dubbed, eventually partially
re-shot version of the
Japanese series, Super Sentai
(Task Force), retitled Power
Rangers. It was an instant hit
and created an anime frenzy.
Power Rangers
(as they were in
the ‘90s)
Super
Sentai
(1973)

9. By the middle ‘90s:
By the middle ‘90s:
Action and . . .
Action and . . .

Dragonball Z (1995)
Dragonball Z (1995) 
 explosion of action anime
explosion of action anime

Audience saw the kind of intricate and creative
Audience saw the kind of intricate and creative
fighting animation never seen before in any other
fighting animation never seen before in any other
cartoon.
cartoon.

DBZ intense action animation style even influenced
DBZ intense action animation style even influenced
major Hollywood releases such as
major Hollywood releases such as The Matrix
The Matrix.
.

10. 
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon on TV in 1995 was
on TV in 1995 was
another pivotal point - the
another pivotal point - the
show didn't do too well in the
show didn't do too well in the
ratings in its first run, but it
ratings in its first run, but it
picked up a cult following.
picked up a cult following.

Since Sailor Moon drew in so
Since Sailor Moon drew in so
many young girls, US
many young girls, US
distributors stopped catering
distributors stopped catering
exclusively to male science
exclusively to male science
fiction fans and started bringing
fiction fans and started bringing
in titles that would appeal to
in titles that would appeal to
females, which paved the way
females, which paved the way
for other female-oriented
for other female-oriented
anime titles, especially others
anime titles, especially others
emphasizing romance, comedy,
emphasizing romance, comedy,
and adventure themes
and adventure themes
. . . Girl Power

11. Kids with Pets &Toys
Kids with Pets &Toys
 The next transformation came in
The next transformation came in
1998-1999 with
1998-1999 with Pokemon
Pokemon.
.
 Pokemon
Pokemon represented a new anime
represented a new anime
business model: release a toy, then a
business model: release a toy, then a
video game, trading cards and a TV
video game, trading cards and a TV
show.
show.
 Pokemon
Pokemon was also key because it was
was also key because it was
the first TV show where producers did
the first TV show where producers did
not disguise the fact that anime was
not disguise the fact that anime was
Japanese.
Japanese.
 Pokemon
Pokemon products became a
products became a
worldwide phenomenon and US
worldwide phenomenon and US
children were hooked.
children were hooked.

12. Pokemon paved the way for
other popular similar series
such as Monster Rancher,
Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Card
Captor Sakura

13. What makes Anime different?
What makes Anime different?

By the 1980s, cartoons in the US were seen as
By the 1980s, cartoons in the US were seen as
strictly kidvid, with plots following a formula that
strictly kidvid, with plots following a formula that
guaranteed happy endings & no real consequences
guaranteed happy endings & no real consequences
for violent encounters: no one dies.
for violent encounters: no one dies.

Japanese Anime were bound by no such
Japanese Anime were bound by no such
restriction:
restriction:
• Most Japanese anime TV series are designed to
Most Japanese anime TV series are designed to
last only one or two seasons (usually producing
last only one or two seasons (usually producing
between 13-52 episodes) and then come to a
between 13-52 episodes) and then come to a
climactic and definite ending.
climactic and definite ending.
• Connecting plots from one episode to the next
Connecting plots from one episode to the next
are common, leaving audiences curious to find
are common, leaving audiences curious to find
out what happens next.
out what happens next.
• Intricate plot and character development
Intricate plot and character development
produces a series of plot twists and turns;
produces a series of plot twists and turns;
heroes may even die or become villains.
heroes may even die or become villains.

14. More Differences
More Differences
 Multidimensional characters
Multidimensional characters
and plots are common.
and plots are common.
 Many different foci and subplots
Many different foci and subplots
deepen the narrative.
deepen the narrative.
 Most conventional American
Most conventional American
cartoons tend to focus primarily
cartoons tend to focus primarily
on the gags & humor, but a
on the gags & humor, but a
single anime series may draw
single anime series may draw
its appeal from many different
its appeal from many different
elements, such as action,
elements, such as action,
characters, relationships,
characters, relationships,
internal conflict, politics, and/or
internal conflict, politics, and/or
humor.
humor.
 Many (if not most) anime are
Many (if not most) anime are
intended to mirror real social
intended to mirror real social
and political dilemmas.
and political dilemmas.

15. Emphasis on Originality
Emphasis on Originality
 Not confined to one genre in
Not confined to one genre in
order to appeal to one niche
order to appeal to one niche
market.
market.
 Tradition of including mature
Tradition of including mature
content in storylines of an adult
content in storylines of an adult
nature, which can be an
nature, which can be an
advantage or disadvantage in
advantage or disadvantage in
American entertainment market.
American entertainment market.
 Wide ranging themes and
Wide ranging themes and
genres (from children to adult,
genres (from children to adult,
from action & sci-fi to cooking &
from action & sci-fi to cooking &
chess playing).
chess playing).
 Can create entertaining stories
Can create entertaining stories
and distinct styles out of
and distinct styles out of
something that is often
something that is often
perceived as ordinary and thus
perceived as ordinary and thus
unentertaining in real life.
unentertaining in real life.

16. Aesthetic Appeal
Aesthetic Appeal

Emphasis on graphics & symbols
Emphasis on graphics & symbols
over words & dialogue to tell
over words & dialogue to tell
story and convey characters’ emotions.
story and convey characters’ emotions.

DBZ, for instance, employs elaborate
DBZ, for instance, employs elaborate
action sequences and symbolic objects,
action sequences and symbolic objects,
creating a unique and intense style of
creating a unique and intense style of
action in animation, which in turn has influenced live
action in animation, which in turn has influenced live
action movies.
action movies.

Incorporation of advanced cinematic techniques (lighting,
Incorporation of advanced cinematic techniques (lighting,
camera angles and movement, mise-en-scene) adds to
camera angles and movement, mise-en-scene) adds to
the sense of reality and urgency.
the sense of reality and urgency.

17. And now . . .
And now . . .
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop