- If anime treats relationships realistically, then what part of the world are harem animes realistic? And whose to say that western animation DOESN’T?

- Depth of story and character are entirely subject to opinion. Maybe I DON’T think the exact same angsting male teen protagonist from most every popular anime people keep crowing about, or the superpowered pre-teen are terrible deep characters.

Especially after they’ve been used so many damn times.

- No western cartoon has a complete story or continuity? Okay…This might not be the GREATEST example, but what about Futurama? Even looking at the new movie episodes there’s evidence of a complex and over-reaching continuity that spans a buttload of episodes.

Oh, and I love the snooty way that guy ended the entry, implying that people who like episodic shows are too simple-minded to follow continuity. Real classy.

- God-damn this guy has no idea what he’s trying to talk about in the 2nd one on budget, going after cartoons for being (GASP!) cartoony, and lauding anime for being realistic.

IT’S A STYLE CHOICE, MORON. You can knock a cartoon for not being well animated if you want to, but NOT for looking un-realistic, otherwise you’re just being a pretentious tosser.

- Here we go…No anime praise is complete without a great big fan-wank to Hayao Miyazaki. Yes, he’s made good movies and he’s a good animator. Now SHUT UP about him already. He’s not better than any other animation legend like Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, Ralph Bakshi, or John Lassesster. It just makes him AS GOOD.

Incidentally I hear anime-nuts always gushing about Miyazaki, but rarely any mention comes up about Isao Takahata, the guy who made Grave Of The Fireflies, a movie more ultimately profound and beautiful than anything Miyazaki made in my mind. That movie would have been a great argument for many of his points, but the guy never even bothered to bring it up. Brilliant job.

Just to conclude: I personally prefer Western animation, but I can say that neither is better than the other without needing to clarify it. Both have good points and bad points.

I will just say one last thing to anyone who does believe that Japanese Animation is superior to everything Western Animation has accomplished.

Where the hell do you think they got it from in the first place?

I’ve watched comedic anime before, but none of them have made me outright laugh hard. (Maybe because I didn’t understand all the cultural references or maybe it doesn’t appeal to my taste) American animation does make me laugh really hard when I need a good laugh.

Japanese animation sort of gives me fluctuating emotions like sadness or happiness to a great extent. I personally can’t live without both Japanese and Western in my honest opinion. Like Excel from “Excel Saga” says:

“There are good and bad qualities in Japanese animation and American animations as well! Both are good in their own ways!”

Or something like that. Did that sound too wapanese to some? Hahaha XD

Not trying to start a flame war or anything, but this is the best series of videos (the link is to the first one) that puts out good arguments and counterarguments. While I don’t agree with everything he says, I have to admit is right on the money on much of what he says. I watched Higurashi no Naku Koro ni right after, and played his game without the alcohol along with a staring contest with random characters. Geez, while the story is great, the animation terrible and there is very little movement. Afterwards, I looked up some old Fairly Odd Parents episodes and watched some old cartoons on Boomerang. I was wowed. There is so much more movement in these cartoons. They actually blink more than five times an episode (actually Keiichi blinked six once…maybe…) and I suppose maybe its because they are kids shows, but they have so much energy! The only real anime I found with such good animation were from Miyazaki . Unfortunately, I caught some cartoons off of 4kids, Chaotic and Hunter/Seekers (I can’t remember the exact name) and they were using the same type of cheap animation as Higurashi. This is one thing I was hoping the West wouldn’t emulate from Japan: the animation standard. Oh well. I hope you check out the link!

Those nine points of argument are not mine; as I said at the beginning of the post, the argument is from Chris Beveridge. I am simply commenting on the points he makes. I agree with some of his points but disagree with others. Your comment is better off on the original article.

I never said ALL anime was good. In most of the nine points, I mentioned that it comes down to personal or cultural preference and does not show that anime is superior. Like I said at the end of my post, I agree with you that this argument will be worthwhile only “if we get a knowledgeable anime fan and a knowledgeable Western animation fan together and let them cite many specific examples to back up their claims.” Again, in this post I’m only stating my personal commentary on Chris Beveridge’s argument and I am not trying to push opinions on others.

Give me proof that you have a full grasp of what western animation really is and I will shut up—–Oh wait, anime as well.

Your way of generalizing anime is definitely flawed. You only mentioned series that would definitely get your sympathy.

So if I understood it right, you mean ALL anime. *stares* *wonders* *laughs*

Shed two reasons off your argument, you didn’t defend point number two and three at all.

Japanese animation has its flaws, same as Western and of course Non-Japanese ones. Your article seems to be simply pushing your opinion to others.

Yes, Avatar is one of the great exceptions. I’ve never really watched a full episode but I can just tell its a good show. Plus it’s respected among people who are anime fans too. I really wish more Western animation was like that.

Me (After a Japanese teacher explains that vocalized “su” sounds just like the vocalized “tsu”): Ah, you mean like “Kannazuki.”
Her: Yes, exactly! That’s the month where…
Me: Where the gods visit Izumo, right? I really want to go.
Her: Amazing! How do you know about Izumo and Kannazuki?
Me: Uh, I saw it on TV.

In an alternate universe where I didn’t have to see her every day, I would have said, “Well, I watched these two delightful anime series, Kannazuki no Miko and Kamichu. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?”