Western influence in Anime

CaneyJ · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:36

Ok so I know very little about anime but this is the stereotype in my head but please enlighten me. It always seems to fall into the category where the main characters have a certain physical style that makes them look western whilst the only Asian looking characters seem to be the fools or villains.

It just puzzles me as to why the Asian producers don’t make characters that relate more towards their home market. Is it just the style that’s evolved or are they simply marketing it to the west?

Makunouchi · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:49

So youre saying you want to see anime characters with slitty eyes, yellow skin and flat faces?

Its just the style dont read too much into it.

(ib4 "youre a racist")

Shoseki · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:52

As long as the babes have huge shiny norks, who cares?

Substance · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:52

It is the same in games,

Solid snake from MGS for example

rsatd · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:53

I am going to go out on a limb and say its historic or something. But generally depends on the type/style of anime/manga.

Ethics · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:55

Because they eventually end up (if not designed for) the US market, and or funded by the US tv networks.

Where that sort of thing probably has an impact on viewing numbers??

Makunouchi · 25 Nov 2008 at 12:56

Ethics said:
Because they eventually end up (if not designed for) the US market, and or funded by the US tv networks.

Where that sort of thing probably has an impact on viewing numbers??

Trust me, most animes are not made with an american audience in mind.

CaneyJ · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:00

Couldn’t care less if they look asian or not. Just curious why artists went for a style where the characters look western. Is it because Japs are ashamed of their own physical features or they admire the west so much to emulate it in their cartoons. I don’t believe most anime is made for westerners, not much of it is translated into English especially comics.

Ethics · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:01

Makunouchi said:
Trust me, most animes are not made with an american audience in mind.

Trust you based on what?? fair enough if you have supporting evidence.

You said it's just the style, so where did that style get influenced from? what came first? to create the mold?

Wasn't the style present in comics (Manga is it called?) before hand, where did they get the style from?

Sankari · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:06

It's a popular style because everything Western is popular in Japan. We're talking about a country where young women are willing to pay to have their eyes "Westernised".

And no, the fools & villains don't always look oriental; they usually look just as Western as the rest of the cast. Just look at Blood + and Black Lagoon.

Examples could be multiplied.

knowlesy · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:10

Shoseki said:
As long as the babes have huge shiny norks, who cares?

LOL

memyselfandi · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:29

Ethics said:
Trust you based on what?? fair enough if you have supporting evidence.

You said it's just the style, so where did that style get influenced from? what came first? to create the mold?

Wasn't the style present in comics (Manga is it called?) before hand, where did they get the style from?

I can't comment on the character styles used in Anime and Manga, (although you seem to be implying that there is one "style" when in fact there are actually many). I would also address the comments about norks etc by pointing out that Anime is more of a media type than a genre. People then to assume that it is all hentai but that is not the case (it's like saying that all western films are porn) and actually you have films and series which cover a wide range of genres.

The comment though about most being made for the American market though is far from correct. If you look at the amount that is produced each year compared with how much is even licensed for western release then it is obvious that it is primarily aimed at the far eastern market. When I was in Japan I went into bookshops where the Manga section alone was larger than some bookshops over here and that was in normal shoppping mall bookshops not specialist ones .... you're average Akihabara specialist shop makes anything in West selling Anime/Manga look pitiful.

Also if it was primarily aimed at the western market then it would be produced with either subtitles or dubs so that it can be viewed in those countries. Instead it is produced for Japan, then licensed for other countries and the company who has licensed it has to produce the translations. Also initial production companies try to put clauses into the licenses, e.g. episodes per disk, language settings, to (a) fit the the same release pattern in their primary release market (Japan) instead of the western release models(*) and (b) try and prevent reverse importation back into Japan which could erode their profits (**)

(*) a 12-13 epsiode series on R2J release can be 6-7 disks whereas on R1 or R2(UK) this would more likely be 3 disks normally ... there have been attempts, (e.g. True Tears), for a R2(J) release pattern to be used.

(**) a single R2(J) disk can be £35-45 which is a lot higher than the western market normally charges.

If you do think that that is the case I suggest that you pose the same question on the AnimeonDVD forums on mania.com or on the AnimeNewsNetwork forums ... you'll probably get a more complete answer there.

edit: note this should probably be in the Music/Film/etc subforum not GD