BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: GUEST,Ron McCarthy
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 08:34 AM

Music from Studio Ghibli's "Castle in the Sky" are very well arranged. I have seen quite a few guitarists' rendition of that piece of music. Beautiful indeed. One of those Japanese animes features a Japanese version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads", but I can't remember what it exactly was. In a word, Japanese animes also have a bond with folk music.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 09:32 PM

I would recommend Studio Ghibli (Wikipedia entry) to anybody, child, teenager, adult. I have seen most of those listed under "Feature Films" at Wikipedia. The stories are interesting, the characters (usually children or young adults) engaging, the settings, landscapes and townscapes fully imagined and beautifully represented, whether fantastic or realistic. Many have been released by Disney in the West, with English overdubs, and in my opinion more than hold their own against Disney's own recent productions. Most have been broadcast in that form here in the UK, but occasionally a Japanese-language version with English sub-titles comes up - many people prefer these.

Just came across my first "back-to-front" book in a local remainder shop - they also sell the kind of "how-to" books described by JiK above. The general range of anime films and books available here is of a style completely different from the Studio Ghibli material, tending towards the science-fiction end of things. There is a very effective remake of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis". Again characters are young adults, but production values to my mind are up there with anything Hollywood has produced, not in the least compromised for the target audience.

From ranger1's friend's crit in the preceding post -
"(Although they love Miyazaki, of course.)" -
Miyazaki is the guiding hand behind Studio Ghibli.

Ross

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: ranger1
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 11:24 PM

I sent a link to this thread to a friend who reviews manga and anime and this was her response after reading:

Wow. Huh. "What up with these kids and their hula hoops?"

Well, people I work with are little better sometimes. Sometimes... because most of them have kids and at least know of pokemon and whatever random cartoons were on at the time their kids were of an age to watch them. It's fun watching their eyes glaze over when I tell them "my side gig is reviewing japanese comics for a website.' Then watching them try to comprehend reading a book backwards.

Forget trying to explain an anime convention.

Sometimes I forget that there are still segments of the population who would have no exposure for lack of being around anyone 33 and under. (Roughly speaking, age of most people when anime took off again in the late 90s. That's when I began watching, when Sailor Moon hit the states in 95.) I imagine mentioning ASTRO BOY and Speed Racer would make folks over 40 understand better. (For the inbetween gap, Robotech.)

I blame everything on the comic code. I really do. I think that if it had never existed that comics probably would have followed the same path as Japan and Europe, less superheros and a broader range of story telling types would have emerged earlier and in lock step with our friends overseas. Which, in turn, would have lead to a wider range of animation. Instead, shit got weird and people forgot animated cartoons could be aimed at adults or teenagers until the 90s and, likewise, that comic books could be aimed at girls and women. (Outside of Archie.)

There's this blog called 'Cartoon Brew,' run by a bunch of crochety old US animators. Two things they seem to hate, Japanese TV animation and Commercial Animation not done by a buddy of theirs. They can't see beyond the quality of the animation (judged in frames per second and fluidity, I'm guessing)... I'm guessing story is perfunctory to them. (Although they love Miyazaki, of course.)

Kids these days and their indy folk music.... =)

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 08:44 PM

CI War of the Worlds and Frankenstein were great! The Victor Hugo stuff, not so much.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 06:21 PM

Those "of an age" in the US may remember when their parents subscribed to "Classics Illustrated" comic books to "edikate the kids." In printed "comic book" form, each issue gave the "bare guts" of a classic novel. I've run into a fair number of people who said "I've read that book" when they really mean "I read the CI comic book" about that book. The "educated" ones often mean "I read the Schaum's(?) Outline" of that book and used my crib notes for the test.

Most of the kids who read (or pretended to) the CI "comics" also read (really) the Mars Comics et. al. as well.

Getting the content in an "altered form" is better than not getting it at all (often enough), and for some content a sophisticated form isn't really justified.

The Content is one thing. The format is another. When most people I've run into refer to anime, they're talking about a particular format, and most people see it as a "stylized way of drawing/painting."

The format is adaptable to animated video and/or to "printed picture books" and is used in both ways, and also is applied to "game design" in some computer games.

Almost any kind of content can be presented in anime, and it appears that a wide variety of material is available in that form. Since I don't have much exposure to "illustrated books" (of the kind) and have limited availability of TV programs, "kiddie shows" are about the only things I see "in anime" but one can find a wide variety of content in the form.

I would expect that the content is the main attraction for most younger persons, but the format has a deceptively simple "style" that attracts many to the idea of "I could do that," and lots of them do. I also have a cat that watches things I do with an "I could do that if I had thumbs" expression, but so far he's had little success - but he stays interested. Some of the kids who buy the "how to books" are probably more like my Vincent cat.

"Japanese cartoons" is pretty much a synonym for "animé" but neither term actually defines or is limited to a particular kind of content. Hopefully, the interest of the youngest kids is limited to the "healthy kinds" among the content available, and most of what they talk about probably doesn't include the coarser kinds.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 12:35 PM

p.s. it's been well over 30 years since I was a teenager.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 12:34 PM

I'm presently reading an online translation of Kuroshitsuji, a.k.a. The Black Butler. Great storytelling and magical illustration.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 04:12 PM

The comment about hentai was in response to a prior post. For most of us, it's unlikely to be seen much, if at all; but the "cartoon" form in earlier smutty stuff was probably much more common than many here are likely to have known about.

The "rise" of anime is most evident, for me, at the last few remaining book stores, where once one found occasional decent books about art and artists of various kinds. As a specific case, my nearest Barnes slowly cut the "art shelves" space about in half over a period of a few years, but in the past 3 -5 years has tripled what was left of it, replacing half of the little that remained with anime and then multiplying the "how to draw anime" by 5x or 6x so that now the offerings are pretty much reduced to only anime and a few "Dover clipart" books.

It is fairly obvious that the ambition to "learn how to make it" is common enough to make "how-to" books about anime profitable. My only other reference for how popular it may be is the existence of a couple of TV kid shows where the style is obvious; but since we only get our TV via a tiny antenna my only conclusion is that anime is "slightly less popular" than the "paid commercial announcement" art form.

The kid shows we can see are generally "wholesome with moral messages." One suspects that the fairly simple "stylization" of the form lends itself to fairly economical production of animated video, and of course it's the "message" that's important, rather than the style in which it's displayed. From the little that we see of it, it's being fairly decently used.

Reports are that it has been a strong influence in the design of some computer games, but I've had little exposure to that genre.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 09:03 AM

There's so much more to anime and manga than hentai.

Teens have been watching cartoons for decades. Been in a college dorm in the last 30 years? I watch anime and I'm in my 40s. It's just another form of entertainment. You don't have to watch it if you don't want to, we won't hold it against you.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 08:00 AM

One of the anime types mentioned is 'anime' porn ...

My observation, supported by a number of others with similarly limited opportunity for observation, is that Japanese "culture" is rather "inhibited" compared to western ones. Just as cartoons/caricatures were extremely popular "porn formats" in the US and Europe ca 1830 - 1930 or so, partly due to the absence of other media, current or at least recent Japanese have little access to "live porn" (I've been told it's mostly illegal) but there's no visible restriction on "cartoon porn."

On my one very limited visit to Japan I, and the group I travelled with, were "impressed(?)" with the nearly ubiquitous and highly visible display of "hentai" at shops throughout the business sections of the city. I don't know how many of the others in the group noticed the nearly absolute absence of anything "realistic" (art or photo, etc) that was even mildly "suggestive."

Our own ancestors, one or two - or more - generations back, got a pretty good kick out of some incredibly "rude" cartoons. That genre hasn't exactly disappeared here, but it's definitely not very visible now (among any people I know).

John

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 05:41 AM

@Mr. Guest - No, I'm not a student in Japan, I'm a Chinese and have just graduated from university a few years ago. Those animes (cartoon) and mangas (comic) attract people under 25 widely here in my country.

Jason

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 12:31 AM

One of the anime types mentioned is 'anime' porn. I ask you, how can one "get off" watching cartoons? What am I missing here?

Jason, I would be enlightened if you explained.

I am also surprised to see you are a student in Japan.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 10:47 PM

Right, they are an important part of modern literature. And, unlike ordinary comic and cartoon, they are serious.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 02:44 PM

Links. Try:

http://www.theanimenetwork.com
(Anime network on line)

Anime Network, subscribe through youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/animenetwork

Anime database and recommendations
http://www.anime-planet.com/anime

A good selection here:
http://animetoplist.org

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 02:33 PM

Your link Jack.

ave H

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 02:19 PM

The attraction is that some of these graphic series reflect the problems teenagers have in adjusting to social relationships, the demands of a workplace and life in general for the younger person.

I have several graphic novels translated from the Japanese; one is a hefty life story of a young would-be artist, his struggles and the compromises that he has to make.

Graphic novels are an important part of current literature; most are serious and bear no relation to "cartoon" or comic strips and stories.
The Japanese have made a large contribution to this genre.

I have one graphic biography that details the life of a young Iranian woman, another that graphically tells the story of a New Yorker affected by the destruction of the twin towers and another that details the siege of Saravejo and its effects. All are large, serious contributions to modern literature. All have received detailed review In the sections of newspapers and magazines devoted to current writing (e. g., the NY Times Book Reviews).

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 12:59 PM

It's been around for quite awhile: WIKI ON ANIME.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 11:48 AM

Interesting topic. I have a 18-year old friend who watches anime, he told me that those animes are all based on novels or "graphic novels", which not only focus on kids, but youth as well - or even more.

The three most popular anime series are respectively called "One Piece", "Naruto (not Narto)" and "Bleach". More interstingly, according to my friend, One Piece reflects Islam and Hamas, Naruto reflects communism and terrorism, and Bleach reflects Nazi and imperialism. If I have a chance, I would also like to have a look at those series and see whether my friend was right - or was he just kidding!

Jason

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 11:07 AM

Youtube? or Anime.

I only know anything about it because the stepson is a film school grad who told us about some of the better films. The best of it is as good as most US or British films. The best Anime films are better than Wallace and Grommit, which I also enjoy.

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 09:24 AM

That channel is not available in my country, oh dear what a feckin tragedy.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 08:28 AM

Its a genre actually. Young adult to adult stories are mostly what I have seen. Its has a recognizable style and set of conventions. A lot of people, not just kids, but mostly nerds, enjoy it.

Here is a pretty good example of what anime looks like.

Subject: BS: Japanese cartoons attract teenagers?
From: GUEST,KurtPing
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 08:18 AM

I've been told that cartoon series from Japan have attracted a lot of teenagers. They call it "anime" and love watching them a lot, the most famous of which are called Narto, One Piece, Bleach, Faerie Tail, etc.

Well, I don't know much about those stuff, but for me they are no more than Mickey the Mouse, and I really can't see the point in those Kids' putting that much focus on them. Do anybody know more about those cartoons called "anime"?

Take care
Kurt