Animation Source Forums

It's not racism though

I hate anime. I'm not fond of the animation or drawing style. They tend to be very unrealistic.

In general, I hate anime. I just think most of the stories are very lame and the drawing style...ugh.
However, there are some I like, (Mainly because I watched them when I was younger)
Most of them, when I look at them, tends to look the same to me. Same eyes, same movement style...ect.

The reason I don't like anime is because it looks the same; just with different hair-do's. Many of the stories are very similar.

Okay, you can't say that because there is NO defined style.



...........and Bolt isn't? Look at his head! His head is almost bigger than his body!! I'm sorry but no. XD Weak argument is weak. XD



You can say the exact same thing about the Disney princesses though, no pretty much ANY animated human in films from America. They all look the same too-just mix up their hair, skin, and eye colors. And let's not forget how their stories are almost ALWAYS the same: headstrong, motherless, either sassy or sweet damsels in distress. They always have a cocky love interest or just a prince with no personality at all. They always have cute mascots...who are always animals or talking objects. There's always some kind of power-hungry villian after them. They always win in the end and they always get their happily-ever-after.
Am I wrong?
People complain that there's too much repetition in anime but American cartoons are just as bad with repetition, if not worse. Pixar humans look the same to me too.....and they're ANYTHING but "realistic". Men and women from American graphic novels like Batman/Superman/XMen etc. all look like clones of each other so I couldn't tell one from the next. They all have the same build and the same face. And you can look at the average sitcom cartoon: the husband is always overweight and has a drinking problem, the wife is a naggy, sensible woman, and the children are always annoying little brats who serve as most of the comic relief.

Now let's take a look at an anime genre: shoujo (anime for girls)

*There's no set style. Some are cutesy, some are realistic, and some are just...in between.
*There's no set personality for the heroine. Sometimes she's happy-go-lucky, sometimes downright stupid, sometimes very intelligent, sometimes a crybaby, and sometimes tough as nails, sometimes average, and I could go on...
*The heroine doesn't HAVE to be pretty. I've even seen ones who are UGLY. An ugly female main character....wow, imagine that?
*The heroine doesn't always have gigantic breasts or any sex appeal at all for that matter.
*The heroine isn't always 16 years old. Sometimes she's FIVE.
The heroine doesn't always have some evil power-hungry being after her.
*The heroine doesn't always have a cute mascot to make wisecracks in the corner.
*The heroine doesn't always have the most tragic past ever where her father is always murdered and her mother doesn't always die from that mysterious disease that claims 99% of Disney mothers before the character can even walk yet.
*The heroine's love interest's personality can be the following: Jerkish, passionate, clueless, sweet, feminine, bad-boy, stubborn, honest, womanizer, or a fun-loving goofball.
*The heroine's love interest isn't always good-looking.
*The heroine's love interest isn't always the first guy she lays eyes on.
*The heroine DOESN'T always win. Sometimes she DIES.
*Sometimes she doesn't end up happy with her prince. One of them dies or they can be torn apart from each other. For eternity. Which sucks, but hey, it's something DIFFERENT, now, isn't it?


.............am I really the only one who can see the diversity here?

*mutters* The "same" my BUTT....

Come on, face it: American animation is way more repetitive and cookie-cutter than the stuff from Japan could ever be simply because Disney and the like are too scared to step outside of the box and try something new. You know it's true....

*hears angels singing* THANK YOU! This is what the haters don't understand! Gosh, it's one thing to dislike one or two animes you've seen, but EVERY single one? Just because it's Japanese?! That you've probably never even given a chance?!?!

I mean yes, a few stories can be similar, but don't you see that everywhere else too? Look:
Cinderella: Slave with evil stepmother ruling over her, then she finds her prince and they fall in love.
Snow White: Slave with evil mistress ruling over her, then she finds her prince and they fall in love.
Little Mermaid: Not a slave, but lives with bad father ruling over her, until Ariel finds her prince and they fall in love.

...Need I go on?

And yes, hating anime just because it's from Japan is, in fact racism. See for yourself:
Racism- (noun) disliking something or someone for the sole reason that they are of another race or culture.

People, this is what a legitimate reason for not liking an anime looks like:
"I don't like the anime Catalyst Max because Molly totally betrayed Max, and to me, that seems out-of-character for her. She's otherwise loyal to Max most of the time."

And this isn't:
"I don't like the anime Catalyst Max because it's Japanese."

That's just like saying you don't like Ray Charles because he's black!



Exactly! I admit some are "similar" but hey, so are American cartoons! For diversity, there's comedy, drama, action, romance, vampires, "doll" anime, military-based, etc. Just look at Code Geass for example:
*How any animes have you heard of that includes a seventeen-year-old boy who gets a power to bend anyone to his will, fights to destroy an enemy country and its emperor, and gains the trust of skilled pilots of powerful mechs?

Still not convinced?

...I'm not sure that's possible :3

Why are you both trying to convince people that anime is good?

We're not trying to convince people that it's good, we're simply trying to keep people from hating on it for no good reason.

People will hate it still, for any reason they choose to. To you guys, who love anime, these are weak arguments, that's because you like it. The people who don't, find these defining points. So there really isn't any use trying to change our views on anime.

Just saying, don't shoot the messanger. xD

1. We're not. We are pointing out that the flaws people said it has can just as easily be applied to ALL animation....so they need to come up with better reasons.

2. Because SOME of it is and since we both have watched a variety of series, we KNOW what we're talking about. Usually "haters" don't even watch ONE episode of ONE anime all the way through before they go "I hate all anime". This type of close-mindedness drives me up the wall.

3. Just like with EVERYTHING there is good and bad, the same as books, movies, TV shows, cartoons, and genres of music. To argue that one entire category is bad when you haven't even experienced its entirety is complete bull. Why do people think anime's any different?




How is pointing out detail by detail what anime has going for it compared to American animation a "weak argument"?

I'm not seeing anyone to come up with something to counteract what we've just pointed out....which is indicating that they can't think of anything to say. Which is indicating that we have pretty darn GOOD arguments.

@All of the anime haters: By saying you hate anime, you are also saying you hate things like Kimba, Spirited Away, Ponyo, Pokemon, Bakugan, Digimon, Sonic X, Huntik, Chaotic, Yu-Gi-Oh, Wolf's Rain, Sailormoon, Naruto and a lot of other popular tv shows we see on everyday television. If you don't like any of those, then there must be something wrong..Because I don't know ONE person who dislikes Spirited Away, Pokemon or Naruto.

There is nothing wrong with not liking anime, if that is what you are suggesting =/ Some people do, some people don't, that's the end of that.

That's your opinion. It all seems the same to me.


Sure, he has a big head, but the story is more realistic. Unlike anime, characters can suddenly form some sort of magical ball from their hands. You call that realistic? Most of the story lines I've scene like, avatar, pokemon, etc, have been very unrealistic.



Just because one doesn't like anime, it doesn't mean they hate the people from that country. Or racist for that matter. I'm in no way racist.


What more are you asking for? We have given you are opinions, and all you do is pity them when we do share our reasons. No one is getting anywhere with you, nor is this topic.


And how do you know if the person who doesn't like anime has ever watched it? I HAVE watched some anime and I didn't like it at all. I watched one episode of Wolf's rain and didn't like it. I watched some pokemon and didn't like it.Where are the facts, where is the scientific study? Or is it all coming out of your head? You keep putting things out on the table without stating your sources. I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe you without sources to your information as of why people hate anime.

Were not compairing American to anime. You ask "Why the hate for anime" You got our reasons, if you don't like it, that's fine with me. xD If you want to tell yourself that these are weak reasons, go ahead. I don't care. xD I do like some anime, I do not like most others, but my reasons are my reasons. I do like some anime, but that's a few I watched when I was younger. (Execpt Hellsing)
These are all of our opinions, like Mighty said.

Some people don't like just because they don't like it. It's not their thing.
Like how some people like vegetables and others don't.

It's just a matter of personal preference, so there's really no reason to get all heated up about it.

Personally; I don't really care. Some I like, such as Wolf's Rain, Princess Mononoke, The Cat Returns, Pokemon etc. but others I really don't. Particularly those in the cutesy style. Their eyes creep me out.

Just remember to keep it civil hey guys? ;]