Upon seeing the title of this article, you may (or may not) ask yourself, “What in the world is Anime?” Well, to put it simply, Anime is a term that has become used to describe animation that comes exclusively from Japan, whose topics and themes reach a wide variety of audiences. Being new to the world of Anime, you may have many questions, including whether or not to allow your children to watch Anime. I believe that through comparing and contrasting qualities that are found in Anime and American animation, I can aid you, the parent, in your choice to allow your children to watch and view Anime.

Since many parents are new to the trend of Anime, you may be wondering why it is important to question whether or not to allow your children to watch Anime. While Anime includes many genres and has recently received much positive attention from various Oscar nominated films, including “Howl’s Moving Castle” (based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones) and “Spirited Away” (an Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland style story which actually won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2002), there is a common misconception made by many Americans that concludes that all Anime is porn ("Spirited Away;” "Howl's Moving Castle (film)”). While this misconception is far from the truth, it is definitely important to note that a very small amount of Anime is pornographic in nature and must be taken into account when allowing children to view Anime.

Now, after reading the last paragraph, you may be wondering how to identify Anime. Being unfamiliar with Anime, it is important to note that some Anime could easily be presumed to be American, and some American animation could be considered Anime, but there are some main characteristics that can provide basic differences between the two. Since American cartoons are usually geared towards children ages two to fifteen, the character designs and background visuals tend to be simple, childish, and sometimes comedic in nature (an example of this can be seen Cartoon Network’s show, “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy”). While this is not always the case, it is generally true among the American made cartoons that air on multiple cable and satellite networks. Anime, on the other hand, tends to have a more detailed look that includes complex character designs and other breathtaking visuals (an example of this is the popular series “Naruto,” which currently airs on Cartoon Network). While these differences in style cannot and will not always apply (as found in the American developed, Korean animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” which airs on Nickelodeon), they are qualities that are easy to identify in order to assume an animation’s origin.

While the style of Anime and American animation is a large distinguishing factor, many others exist as well. Series structure is a big differentiating factor and it is based on the fact that most American animated series are episodic, meaning that despite what happens in previous episodes there are really no new changes in characters or plot and the series have no real beginning or end (Jazie). In Anime the series are designed to progress in many ways, both in time and plot, this means that characters love, grow and change, and characters suffer from the same problems the creators have faced and usually come to confront and (attempt to) fix their problems (Jazie). It is to be noted, however, that American cartoon creators are beginning to embrace this format of plot and it is proving successful in shows such as “Ben10” and the aforementioned “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

Another major difference between Anime and American animation is the genres they include and the audiences for which they are made. It is very easy to see that American cartoons (save for a few such as “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons”) are generally made for children and are generally comedic in nature; despite this there have been several attempts at serious animation made for adults, such as the cult classic Aeon Flux, but many have failed at reaching their intended audience. While American animation is mainly made for kids, Anime is made for everyone, and the genres reflect that. From simple toddler’s shows, like “Deko Boko Friends,” that teaches tolerance, to the better-known children’s series “Pokémon,” to even series such as “Paradise Kiss,” which is about a girl’s struggle with life, love, and the fashion industry, whose primary audience is women in their late teens and early twenties ("Deko Boko Friends"). I can only mentioned a few, and they are only a very brief glimpse of what genres of Anime are out there. From action/adventure to drama, to even foreign genres like film noir (as found in the series “Noir”) and the spaghetti western (as found in the series “Burst Angel”) Anime encompasses all genres that can be found in any medium, thus making this a large differentiating factor between the two styles.

Despite the many differences, there are a few similarities that the styles have in common. One of these similarities is the character types that are found in the shows themselves. Many shows and series from both styles tend to include the basic character types, including the funny one, the serious one, the easy going one, and many other characterizations of human emotions. While this may not be a largely important factor, it does prove that almost anyone who watches any animation will be able to relate to at least one character in some way. Another similarity that can be noted is the use of humor. While the humor itself is quite different, the placement is very similar. In both styles, usually to ease the tension, a humorous moment is normally placed during a serious situation, this is not only effective in keeping the viewer intrigued, but also to break up the monotony that can take the form of repetitive seriousness. This similarity cannot and will not apply to all animation from both styles, but it does tend to occur quite often in many series. A final factor that can be deemed as a similarity is the use of teaching the viewer a lesson. Though this idea teaches much more simple lessons in American cartoons, it is prevalent in many series.

After reading this far, you may be wondering how to find what series are best suited for your children to watch. While this mainly depends on age, there are some Anime that appeal to viewers of various ages. These titles include Pokémon and Digimon, which have lessons about friendship and the bonds shared between friends, and are two aspects many parents find important for their children to learn about. To find out about more series that may interest your children I suggest doing a Google search, there are plenty of Anime out there and I am sure that you will find at least one your child will love.

I hope that I have helped you, the parent, in your decision to allow your children to watch Anime. Remember Anime is a type of animation that your children can get a great deal of information out of; from a good plot to a good meaning or lesson behind that plot, Anime is a great way to broaden your child’s horizons and allow them to see the work of people from another nation. Being a parent though, you must remember to keep a check on what your children are watching (and are searching on the internet) to be sure that they are not viewing something that is not intended for their age group. I hope that I have helped you, the parent, in a way that will allow your children (and maybe even you) to see some of the greatest animation ever produced.

Works Cited
"Deko Boko Friends." Viz LLC. 29 Oct. 2007 http://www.viz.com/shows/dekobokofriends.php.
"Howl's Moving Castle (film)." Wikipedia. 23 Oct. 2007. 29 Oct. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howl%27s_moving_castle.
Jazie. "Anime Versus American Animated Television." theOtaku. 22 Nov. 05. 29 Oct. 2007.
"Spirited Away." Wikipedia. 25 Oct. 2007. 29 Oct. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirited_away.