Having been in Elfwood and #lothlorien for just about two years now, I've probably heard the whole range of opinions in these two communities about anime. And the sad thing is, a lot of the stuff I've heard are either misconceptions or are just plain wrong. "Anime has no plot," for instance. "Anime characters all look the same," is another favorite. In reality, anime is far more dynamic and diverse than how it is being portrayed outside Asia, both by the entertainment bigwigs and by many members of Elfwood. Anime is not just "that Pokemon/Sailor Moon/Dragon Ball stuff", folks. And we'll prove it.
	Heh, and it appears Elfwood members aren't alone in having misconceptions about Anime either. Dictionary.com's definition of Anime refers to it as: "A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex." I'm taking that as a challenge. This is gonna be fun...
	Hey, I'm Sylvia T. Leung, aka Sylver (might remember me from my articles in FARP about anime and drawing faces). When Cerb told me about what he and Kyo were doing, I just HAD to drop in my two cents!
	Let's get one thing out of the way, first. Anime, in Japan, refers to *all* animation ; including Disney cartoons, Heavy Metal 2000 stuff, and those little instructional cartoons one sometimes sees on public service advertising. Similarly, manga refers to all comics. However, we'll use those terms to refer to Japanese animation and comics, as this is the most common usage of the terms outside Japan. Now, the one thing about anime that catches the eyes of those unfamiliar with it are, erm, the eyes. The eyes of an anime character are usually larger than what they would be in a realistic human face. What many people are not aware of, however, is the fact that many anime eyes can be similar to, or even smaller than what we loosely call " normal " human eyes ; almost all anime and manga have people with smaller eyes. Many of them have basic character designs that reflect this ; in other words, *all* the characters in these particular manga or anime are at least, semi-realistic, if not close to the proportions of normal people. Simply put, anime characters need not have big eyes. Also, anime characters do not look all the same, as some people insist on saying. Anyone out there who thinks that the characters in Dragon Ball Z look like the Sailor Scouts in Sailor Moon? I can recommend a good optician for those who do.
	Please note that the Japanese first emulated the large eyes of Disney animation. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck can out-blink Sailor Moon any day.
	Also, the enlarged eyes do, in fact, serve an actual purpose, as opposed to being actually stylized for the heck of it. They exaggerate the facial expressions of the characters more easily, allowing for wider shots (full-body, wide shot, panoramic, etc) to be made while still clearly showing the character's expression. As for the "all anime characters look the same thing"; well, they're the same people who say that Anime is all about sex and violence. Namely, the ones who have never seen a single Anime in their lives and just say that it's "what I heard from so-and-so". Which brings us to the next point: Anime is NOT, in fact, all violence and sex. For someone to say so would be the equivalent of a person to watch a movie like Saving Private Ryan or an *ahem* shall we say, more "adult-oriented" movie and decrying that all Hollywood movies are violence and sex. And this is where the real difference comes between Japanese animation and the traditional American style animation; unlike the given traditions of animation as a child's medium in America, animation is, in fact, a very valid medium of expression for all age groups in Japan. Allow me to clarify; in Japan, studios do, in fact make full-length feature animated movies, quite a few of which are not targeted for children. Movies like the psycho thriller Perfect Blue, the highly unadvertised and unpublicized Princess Mononoke, and most recently, the politically driven plot of Jin-Roh: The Lone Wolf Brigade. All these movies, and many more, more likely than not, are not targeted for the traditional demographics most Americans would think of when they hear the word "animated" (i.e., children): to the Japanese, they are no different than watching any other movie at the local cinema. An interesting piece of information, actually: during a talk, Giles Poitras, author of Anime Essentials, once said that, out of all the "adult-oriented" Anime that was produced in Japan, every single one of them made their way across the Pacific. Back then, I thought it was hilarious, now I just find it ... Very interesting.
	Now, the thing about anime and manga as a whole is that they not only appeal to people of many ages, but people of many interests as well. I've seen sushi-making action manga, folks. And detective manga. There's a ton of romantic manga out there, as well as violent kill-em-all manga. There are manga for just about every sport played in Japan. There's Enid Blyton manga, manga about the Bible as well as Bhuddism, and many, many manga based on Chinese and Japanese mythology. There are manga magazines out there devoted purely to mahjong stories. There's probably a manga out there for just about any niche. And I haven't even gotten to the truly weird genre crossing titles yet. 19th Century-Samurai-Steampunk-Mecha-Romance anime, anyone? How about a Fantasy-Kung Fu-Iron Chef-adventure manga? Also, anime and manga are unique because they are are often used to explore themes that you would not normally see in many mainstream movies, let alone in most of the mainstream animation we get nowadays. I'll take Serial Experiments Lain as an example of this. ( if they seem familiar, it's because I've used parts of this example before ) Serial Experiments Lain, on one level is a speculation about how the Internet ( referred to as the Wired in the anime ) will affect our society in the near future. It also deals with the idea of identity, and the sense of self, and how the wired world has changed this sense of self we all have. And, as you might guess, this is an issue with have to deal with as the wired world becomes more and more advanced ; I'm sure most of you are familiar with Everquest players getting a *tad* too attached to their characters, yes? I have not finished viewing Lain yet, but from what I can tell from the Lain manga I've read, Lain also deals with two related topics ; the subjectiveness of reality -- that is to say, when the virtual world becomes more sophisticated, are the lines between what we call reality and what we call virtual getting blurred? -- and how some Internet users seem to "disconnect" from the real world the more they use the Internet. Pretty heavy stuff. Of course, that is just my intepretation of the show ; there is a lot of heavy symbolism in the series, and other people may intepret it differently. This is not to say that anime and manga are all brain food ; there is a lot of mindless stuff out there too. The point I'm making is that the general populace in Japan have realized one thing that most of the people elsewhere have not quite realized yet ; that animation can be used to convey the full richness of human experience, just as movies, music and books can. Am I restating Cerb's point above? Maybe. But this is a point that really needs to be driven home.
	Maybe this will drive it home? The internet doesn't interest you? What about the history of Japan? A romp with Rurouni Kenshin could help you there. Japanese folklore come to life? The Hakkenden or even a little bit of Ayashi no Ceres might be fun. An interpretation of the old Jewish text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, set to a sci-fi Tokyo with monsters, mechs, and a much deeper universal crisis of self-image? Neon Genesis Evangelion. A good question we used to ask at my comic book store when anyone came in to say "What anime do you recommend?" was "What Hollywood movies do you like? What books do you pick up?" For as many answers as you could give us, the better we can help you track down a title you'd enjoy. Anime is rarely juvenile, once you step out of Kids WB and The Cartoon Network. There is an important notice from the literate anime fan to those getting into anime: What you see released on US television shores is NOT what you're supposed to see. As an Elfwood artist, you'd hate it if someone bought rights to your stuff then re-drew it for their own purposes, right? That's what US release studios to do many anime titles. For instance, the most public of "offenses": The second half of Sailor Moon, when the outer Sailors (senshi) are introduced. There is a lesbian character and God Forbid children should see evidence of same-sex relationships! It would be criminal! So they re-dubbed it to say that the lesbian character was really a man in a woman's body. Frankly, that explanation confused me more than a simple "She's a lesbian" explanation. What about you? Not saying that all anime is children-friendly, but please do not judge an opinion by what the USA censors have reproduced for what they think their target audience wants.
	Also, one other major difference between American and Japanese animation is that Anime censors very little, in the rare cases they bother to at all. Lain, for example, deals with suicide, accidental murders (you have to see it) and the like, and I've seen Animes that deal with stuff like adoption, adultery (well, not like THAT, it was actually a part of the plot, and not shown at all) and the like. Perfect Blue deals with delusions, schizophrenia, murder and psychosis in general. And of course, Animes like Akira, Ghost in The Shell and Jin-Roh all deal with the usual stuff in politics (murder, assassinations, back stabbings, etc). Another less noticeable difference is that Anime characters (well, the better Animes, at least) don't have a problem they can come out with, confront and conquer all in one episode; it will actually continue with them throughout the series (Karekano, Evangelion, Kenshin, etc, etc). Moving on now, there's the 'argument' that "Anime's easy to draw". You ever try drawing Anime? More importantly, you ever try drawing GOOD Anime? Anime is a style, just like every other style of drawing there is out there. Realism, comic book-style, Anime, they're all different interpretations, but they're all really just ways of drawing something, of stylizing it to your own vision. And like all other styles, Anime takes years to master, at least to the point of being uniquely recognizable and a style of your own, as opposed to the thousands of cookie-cutters out there. And if you still think the Anime style isn't something to be taken seriously as an artist, you'd be very much mistaken. If you don't believe me, go look for works by Yoshitoshi Abe (Serial Experiments Lain, Niea_7) and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Evangelion, Nadia, Honneamise, among others). And if you need any more convincing, go read Hayao Miyazaki's manga, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind ("Kaze no tani no Naushikaa" for all you purists). Not to mention to few dozen more artists I can easily recommend for those who think Anime is only for newbies and fanpeople.
	Never forget my personal favorite: Hiroaki Samura's Blade of the Immortal. It is being released right now in the States by Studio Proteus and Dark Horse Comics. Why is it good? The man has a Masters of Fine Arts! He doesn't need to prove anything! But in case you're paranoid, check it out!
	But the basic point is there; just because you've never tried a style, and just because a style "looks" easy, doesn't mean it is. The easiest (and fastest) way to prove this would be by trying to draw it yourself. And I don't mean copying or tracing either. You'll be surprised.
	Please realize that what the Japanese do for animation is not unlike what Disney, Warner Bros., and Fox feel about animation in general. With the world of blank sheets of paper and a pencil, a single person can create a world from scratch. The producers do not need to hire actors to act, prop people to build sets, and pricey computer assistance to do the special effects. It's all there for any studio to grasp and make as they see fit without dealing with agents, budget cutters, and assorted real-life issues. The only downfall of animation is that it is still a new medium. Film and theatre have been around for a few decades before Felix the Cat made it to a projection screen. Also, due to the detriment of society's general view of art (ie it's easy, childish stuff, can't make money, can't be taken seriously) have taken a toll on animation's impact in USA shores. No matter how well Tarzan looked, was paced, plotted, and presented, it would have never beaten a live-action Hollywood publicized equivalent.
	I think we've covered most of the most common misconceptions about anime out there ; if I've missed any myths, please feel free to . Likewise, if you want to debate me over the points Cerb and I have discussed, go ahead and e-mail. And if you have any other comments and questions...you get the idea. I'll end by saying this ; Anime is nothing short of a living, breathing cultural force in Japan ; it mirrors every aspect of Japanese life one can think of. Besides being very entertaining, it is a great way for people to get acquainted with a whole new culture, in its traditional and its modern form. Now, to belittle something like that on the basis of a few half-baked myths ; that's a bit silly, wouldn't you say?
	And my own email address: . Intelligent discussion and arguments will be gladly replied to; flamers and the like will be ridiculed beyond all hope of salvaging your pride.
	I can be found at . I'm busy with school these days , but I'm perfectly willing to help anyone out in picking the right anime for them!
	Anime and manga I would recommend viewing :- SERIAL EXPERIMENTS LAIN (anime) A schoolgirl by the name of Lain receives an e-mail from a friend who had recently killed herself. From there, Lain's world begins what seems to be a slow drift into madness. SEL deals with the issues I've mentioned above, but is really about this; just who is Lain, and what is she to the Internet, and to the physical world? The anime uses these questions to examine the Internet and what it means to society, and does so with style, substance and a good dose of creepiness. (Anyone who's watched the bizarre Distortions episode will know what I mean.) More info at : http://www.cyberia-anime.com/ If you like SEL, you should watch out for: Ghost In The Shell Patlabor: The Movie AH! MEGAMISAMA / OH MY GODDESS (anime/manga) AMG revolves around a university student, Keiichi, who accidentally dials a Goddess Office while ordering fast food. The goddess Belldandy then appears before him to grant him a wish, but misinterprets Keiichi, and winds up being bound to him on Earth, by the power of his wish. Naturally, the two soon fall in love. However, having a goddess for a girlfriend has certain drawbacks, as Keiichi soon finds out. As a manga, AMG shows off terrific artwork and striking character designs. However, AMG is also a good example of how manga creators love to play with both Japanese and foreign cultural influences; the three goddesses, for esample, are based on Norse Mythology ( Verthandi, Urd and Skuld ). Despite the obvious emphasis on the otherworldly mayhem that AMG has, however, it's the mix of kooky supernatural silliness and slice-of-life situations that gives it its charm. The anime is every bit as good as the manga is; however, with only 5 episodes, it is a tad punctuated. Images can be found at : http://www.cs.mun.ca/~anime/afs/amg.html If you like AMG, you should watch out for: Love Hina Kareshi Kanjo No Jijou (Kare-Kano)
	And for my own recommendation: Anything by Hayao Miyazaki What, you didn't honestly think I'd leave him out, would you? I'd get more flames by not mentioning him than I would have if the entire article had consisted of "Disney sux0rs because all their features are derivative works originally done by someone else." (I'm saving that one up). Seriously though, if it has Hayao Miyazaki anywhere in the credits, it's worth watching. The list so far includes: My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro) Kiki's Delivery Service Porco Rosso Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime, which was, I should mention, unadvertised and unmentioned, apart from a single print ad in the local SF newspaper, and which was released in about? Oh, 100 or so theatres across the country. Coincidentally, each of those theatres pulled in an average of about $10, 000, which makes you wonder: Why oh why didn't Disney go for an all-out advertising campaign and just rake in all the cash? Take a guess?) Laputa, Castle in the Sky (released in ONE theatre in New York. Why? God only knows? Him and the entire upper management of Disney, anyway) Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa, translation currently in progress. Haven't seen it, but die-hard Miyazaki fans contest that it's his best work, topping even Mononoke Hime) On Your Mark (Music video for a song by Chage and Aska) Lupin III: Castle of Cogliostro P.S: As a warning: Stay AWAY from Warriors of the Wind. Even though it's basically Nausicaa, the bad dubbing and horrible (HORRIBLE) butchering of the story means you'll be better off looking for the fansub somewhere.
	One last note from me: if you want to find out more about the anime and manga discussed here, you can hop on over to http://www.anipike.com to look them up. Have fun!
	Also check out http://www.ex.org . Updated rather sporadically, (read: very, VERY rarely), but undoubtedly one of the best Anime-related sites out there. Tons of reviews for Anime, soundtracks, manga, and import and domestic games. Also contains news on Anime releases and other Anime-related info. http://www.animeondvd.com is also another good site for info on Anime releases on DVD (duh) and that sorta thing.

The Authors

	Phang Ho-Soon is really quite a boring fellow, which makes for a somewhat boring bio, since he really does not have that much to say about himself. He draws in an anime-based style in his free time, and can be found lurking in #lothlorien as Kyosuke or ArcKyosuke. He currently has no plans to take over the world.
	Erwin Limawan is an art student in San Francisco, majoring in Video Games, which, I might add, IS a valid degree. His hobbies include collecting artbooks and manga. He also likes to argue. A lot.
	Sylvia Leung is a 21 year-old first-gen Hong Kong immigrant in California. She currently studies at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and has an Associates Degree in Arts.

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