Anime AttractionSo why the hype manga and anime generate and why do people become fans?Certainly, both have brought much revenue returns to respective industries. Primarily out of the two, anime has conveyed, and entertain people, in a melodramatically fashion where characters actions are exaggerated in scenes with emphasis. Characters often exhibit and capture similar hopes and failures as what we might encounter and have in our lifetime, 
the portrayal of character's lives are led in different way is one
point that has made it interesting. Utopian plots don't seem to be a
characteristic of anime either. Codes of behaviour are rigid, bounds are set of what can be tolerated and what can not. Most of all,
characters seem to be able to cope and deal instinctly with problems one way or the other.
Negetive emotions such as selfishness and vanity well resolved in
some anime and
manga as well as depth of plot diversity - how story develops, certainly
heavily contributes too. A centre element of anime is the focus
on emotion, for characters are bought to life by intensities how they
interact in certain situations. Stereotypical to its origin, most of
the way characters behave and act, are derived from the Japanese culture.
Most conversations between characters tilt to a melodramatic way, moods and actions are exaggerated. 
Some scenes best highlighting this are display of pain and agony when a player
loses in a (sports, intellectual) competition, the pivoting movements
in the slowing and speeding by backing out and zooming in some things
such as of people, spaceships
and robots. This seems to add vivid perception of the object being focussed on in some anime action scenes.
Other such intimate scenes are level of honour, and righteousness which
develop greatly in manga and anime. A illustration of this is sacrifices
made by heros and villains alike.
Also evident in anime (and manga) are their antithesis to western society's pessimism, security, and the attitude to solving problems with "at the end of the tunnel there is a light" positiveness, really an optimistic attutude towards life. In most cases the inhibition of negative attitudes present in a central character are usually 
revealed later in the plot to keep it flowing. A character may be aloof,
and pervasive, a gradual uncovering using the character's thoughts
and past events often sad, unforgetable and regretable in the character's
eye, is then revealed that caused she, he or it to make a major
reassessment to life by staying away from people.
In larger western first world countries, it could be said that self righteousness and cynicism with the "me first" syndrome are prevalent, reducing respect for the old and elderly where youth and beauty are given priorities first. This doesn't and hadn't been in anime previously, putting in practice some traditional Japanese values how life should be like. Now lighthearted comedies don't seem to incorporate this heavily traditional value much in their storylines. An ordered pattern of seems to exist in both genres, where the vast command of respect the young generations have to made their elders. If this is held in contempt by the younger one, he, she or it will usually feel the wrath of an elderly one, who will have some up his, her or its sleeve for the younger one, in a skillful and unexpected way. If it's a skill the younger one wants to learn, the elderly usually prescribes a test or ascertains some things for the younger one do, where if it, he or she is worthy and passes the test that the elder ones feels he/she or it has only then is the younger accepted as a disciple. Yet this doesn't seem evident in recent comedy or light hearted genres. Previously, if the younger one (person or creature) chose to ignore an advice from an elder, he, she or it would have bear the consequences of his, she or its actions in some way, which may come to regret, knowing the advice should have been heeded as given. Where advice is accepted and proves to be right, appreciation as homage by the receiver paid in some way as a thought or formally returned back to the benefactor. Course, this might have been a norm, a reflection of the Japanese culture perhaps some time ago where the honour code and rites which were practised more strongly during feudal times. This message particularly in anime, seems present in all features in the Japanese and the rest of world's societies - if respect isn't given to fellow beings, then maybe someday the character is be punished or admonished, suffering the indignantion for not doing so in the first place. The question that springs to mind is large number of Asian viewers watching this genre. An answer might be direct appeal of manner how 
characters speak to each other having an atypical Asian way that they can
identify with. Or they might perceive it as desirable to view to enjoy.
Others might have other reason such as being amused to know that some happiness and fun can be attained within
a set of rigid rules and regulations.
Some might not like it, one could be previously exposure to manga and anime
finding them having silly, crummy or uninteresting plots steering away from
both.
Particular too in anime, is that needless things aren't done in either chaotic or orderly societies - code of conduct seems to be everpresent in any situation. A protagonist offers apologies or takes retribution or at worse, made as outcasts, if they repeatedly break any rule in place. The accentuation of feelings can certainly be seen when characters take courses of actions too, as forementioned. Characters might register despair and anguish during a confrontation when they know that they will lose a battle. Some feelings of relief comes out when characters find the right course of action out to remove themselves from a life threating situation. The original artist of a plot, also creates characters to have full rounded personalities showing up a large facet of emotions, which maybe portrayed neutrally as the character is developed well into the plot. Heros, though they feel despair, tend to stay optimistic right to the bitter end. Whether a samurai performs hara-kiri, or a commanding officer covers for fellow fighter pilots sacrificing his, her or itself while being outnumbered in an enemy aerial pursuit, or a heroine her magical status for the rest of the community, it certainly shows upin both genres. This heavy attribute of anime of greater attention of empathetic of ordinary human characteristics during a significant moment in a story quite often drives and turns outcomes than supernatural powers, catalysts or aids to the character. Ultimately characters know the bounds of their actions in aiding or being destructive to a society, where intentions that character's have are often focussed within a plot, which might lead to people dire consequences particularly if the person is in a position of immense power. As with all comics, artistic styles differentiate one from another. Anime and manga these days seem to sketch characters in similar ways, production teams imitating partly from one another where character traits include large saucer eyes, different hair colours, and use Osuma Tezuka's cinematic effects too. Such noteable artists which seem to be contrary to this in anime and manga industry have been: Osumu Tezuka, Watase Yuu, Nobuhiro Watsuki, Takeuchi Naoko, Rumiko Takahashi, Leiji Matsumoto, Shouji Kawamori, Gainax (anime company) who have created respectively anime, as: Tetsuwan Atom (Astroboy), Fushigi Yuugi, Rurouni Kenshin, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon), Ranma 1/2, Uchyuusenkan Yamato (Star Blazers), Macross Series (aligned to Robotech), Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (Nadia of the Blue Sea). Apart from the notoriety of drawing similaries made by various artists in the anime and manga industry, the ideal images of American fad concerning physical characteristics where males have great physical strength and are tall with a certain build and females have well proportional bust and figures, as in the case in the vast amount of D.C. comics, physical ideals much illustrated in the American industry have flooded into modern day Japan. This has apparently epitomised, the generic aesthically pleasing look of anime and manga found on some websites nowadays. Along with uninspirational, semi-interesting plots and recycled themes this has made the majority of anime very bland and uninteresting too. In any event, anime (and perhaps manga) are more remembered for past soul searching complex plots, uniquely drawn characters, and special focal effects, which has made people regard past anime seen, in high esteem. Technologically wise, artists of manga and anime have combined hybrid models of man and robots, perhaps influenced by the high manufacturing output the country has in this field. Then it's no surprise as a consequence that the Japanese, apart from being a homogeneous culture, have also made hybrid models of many things for multitasking, most for relaxation, to make things hopefully easier as indicative of these effects have been shown in anime and manga. Some of this effect in Japan have been consumer electronic devices, technoloogy and fame found in baseball and soccer. There's no doubt that success rides on in finding the right plot and production team, an uneasy task in the anime industry. Notable intricate plots have included Astroboy, Voltron, Robotech, Neon Genesis Evangelion and lastly Princess Mononoke. Once the story has been produced it hard to say it isn't uninteresting to watch. Ultimately it's up to anyone to check whether anime is worth watching themselves. If you already have not viewed both genres you might want to try examining them too. Text Copylefted: 1999-2001 Spirowal |