Art In Motion

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May 25, 2000

Kid stuff. Japanimation. Those Chinese cartoons.

Anime is a disrespected genre in our country, revered by only a few crazed fans interested enough to learn about the art as a serious entertainment medium. Japanese animation, or Anime, is a highly respected medium in its native country, but due to lack of interest or knowledge, it reaches the U.S. in a jumble of stereotypes and cliches. Animation brings to mind fantastic superheroes with outrageous powers and abilities, saving the day yet again from an impossible enemy. We envision playful characters bouncing around on Saturday morning television screens while even more playful children bounce along with them. Comic books depict unimaginative stories of mighty and powerful heroes who battle villains of pure evil- no motives, no depth, and no respect. Most people find little meaning in the challenges of a superhero who always wins. It's the conflict that's interesting. We outgrow our desire to be perfect and learn to despise people who have everything. It is this basic truth that the animators and comic artists of the United States have failed to realize, yet the minds of Japan have embraced.

Anime series often carry moving themes and ideas within their stories. Many times it is a struggle for the identification of oneself. The fine lines of characters are drawn, and then smeared to create a conflict that is not only complex and captivating, but beautiful. For example, the movie 8-Man After is a fast-paced film which seems to be about cyborg drug addicts fighting to control a futuristic city. However, with some observation, it becomes more apparent that the real story is about Mazama, the main character, struggling with his own humanity as he loses himself more and more deeply in the mind of an android.

Another film, Vampire Hunter D, deals with a similar scenario. D, a half-breed vampire/human combats his darker half in order to succeed in his mission- the extermination of the vampire race. Conflicts arise with other characters- some human, some not- and each one seems to push D closer and closer to the brink of madness before he regains his sanity and his humanity. Is it plausible that the fine people at Walt Disney studios could convey as deep a theme in a bright musical summer flick? It is possible, but it's more likely the story would be mocked and thrown into an endless pit of cinematic trash.

Even an anime that appears to have a stock "Good vs. Evil" plot carries more depth than the typical American cartoon. First of all, you rarely ever have a character who is pure good, or pure evil. No matter how outrageous the story, or how distant the time, each individual has undeniable human traits that determine who they are. Unlike many superheroes or supervillains of American comics, an anime character will have motives driving anything they do. Someone who appears to be pure evil, cloaked in flowing black robes and wearing a constant glare, most likely initiates attacks of madness because of something in their past that drove them to darkness. It is a rarity to see a character who has a pure mindset one way or the other. This incidentally, has caused some arguments over whether the characters have depth or whether they are weak. Most fans are in favor of the first option because they prefer having the ability to see into their characters.

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The copyright of the article Art In Motion in Anime Reviews is owned by Catherine Ramos. Permission to republish Art In Motion in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.