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| Anime Today | ||
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Roots to Rebels: The Making of an Anime Nation
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The female takeover of the shoujo manga industry changed the face of manga, and by virtue of its relationship with manga, Japanese animation. By the 1970’s and 80’s, anime was beginning to come into its own in Japan. Shounen and shoujo manga and animations were popular among men and women alike; the previously well defined boundary between them began to blur (Levi 15). Times and traditions had changed, new generations were born craving entertainment. Variations in plot emerged; styles were refined. Shounen anime and manga might feature a female hero in place of a traditional male hero, while shoujo anime and manga might feature a male hero. Modern anime adopted and combined the strong plot lines of shonen style with the intensive character development and interpersonal relationships present in shoujo style to create a new, well developed level of complexity that was rare to find in any animated feature. Many of today’s most popular manga and Japanese animations are by female artists, such as Rumiko Takahashi, creator the phenomenal Ranma ˝, a romantic comedy that is beginning to gain popularity in the United States. Others are created by male artists, for example Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion, a dramatic series about three fourteen year old children who must pilot giant robots, "Evas" against the evil forces that threaten our planet. |
Anime is watched in countries all over the world, by people of many different cultures and nationalities. People crave the complexity, variety, and fantasy that brings anime to life. Moreover, anime is facilitating a massive worldwide cultural exchange.
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| Today, anime has a bigger audience than ever. Anime is watched in countries all over the world, by people of many different cultures and nationalities. People crave the complexity, variety, and fantasy that brings anime to life. Moreover, anime is facilitating a massive worldwide cultural exchange. Each person who sees a film has the opportunity to interpret it through their own cultural and personal lens. Anime doesn’t just tell us about Japanese culture, by comparison, it tells us a lot about our own. Who could say that learning about ourselves, others, and having fun is a bad thing? I for one cannot think of a more worthwhile experience. | ||
| If you'd like to hear more about the perception of Japanese
animation in America, follow this link to the
next essay.
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