avatar: anime or cartoon??

[Eskimo]

i searched the forum and found nothing on this.

and i know how nick classifies this show but

what do you think it is in your own words??

[Butters]

I think it's Anime. It's just like alot of other Animes that I know of. But to me, the only ever good animes were Dragon Ball Z. The good ole' Toonami days.

[critter]

Well, anime defines a cartoon that was made in Japan. Cartoon can be a very broad description.
I guess it could be considered an American anime. I think of it as anime- stylized cartoon.

[Eskimo]

good thoughts guys.


i was thinking of american anime.

japanese anime's are more serious and dont really have humor like avatar does.


but i guess anime is a cartoon in japan. good thought on that critter.



as for dragon ball z it was a great series but it just kept dragging out.
i lost track after it went to GT.

[Kagetsu]

The definition for "anime" is wide and varied. I use the word only for shows from Japan and still have trouble applying it to shows I hate. Avatar is in the special category of "very good". Which is hard to achieve from any country.

"Cartoon" is what parents sit their 5 yearolds in front of when they want some peace. That's why they get the highest ratings.

[drefurd]

sooo avatar is japanese???

[critter]

sooo avatar is japanese???

No, it's made in America, but looks very similar to anime.

[Neo Ultra Mike]

Avatar is by all technical defintion a Cartoon because it was created by an American Studio by U.S Writers and directors. Okay it does look very japanaese/anime inspired but that dosen't make it an anime. That just means it looks more like an anime then other cartoons. It's still a cartoon though because it wasn't made in Japanese by Japanese manga artists/writers and directors. I can't believe this question is still asked about Avatar. I mean really, it's a Nickelodeon Original Cartoon. It's NOT an anime. Can everyone comprehend that or will this question have to be asked about again for no real reason?

[Classic Speedy]

Can everyone comprehend that or will this question have to be asked about again for no real reason?

Wow, this thread is cluttered with idiocy.

Let's keep this thread civil, people. No need to be rude.

But yeah, it's not anime because all the production on the show takes place in America, outside of overseas animation done in South Korea (by JM and Dr. Movie, and probably others). It may have anime-inspired character designs but that doesn't make it anime, because it wasn't produced in Japan.

[HG Revolution]

Wow, this thread is cluttered with idiocy.

I think it's Anime. It's just like alot of other Animes that I know of. But to me, the only ever good animes were Dragon Ball Z. The good ole' Toonami days.

Then why do you have Shin-Chan as an avatar if you don't like new anime?

japanese anime's are more serious and dont really have humor like avatar does.

One Piece has more humor than Avatar, and its one of the more dramatic animes out there. Animes like Bobobo, Shin-Chan, FLCL, Haruhi, Excel Saga, etc. are purely comedic without a serious bone in their body.

"Cartoon" is what parents sit their 5 yearolds in front of when they want some peace. That's why they get the highest ratings.

This annoys me. Why is "cartoon" a bad word? The main dictionary definition of "cartoon" is just a drawing (or series of drawings in the case of animation) meant to be humorous or satirical. While many good animated series have been made without being such things, what is wrong with the Looney Tunes or other high-quality "cartoony" pieces of animation aimed at all ages?

[DBZNarutoWarrior]

Well, anime defines a cartoon that was made in Japan. Cartoon can be a very broad description.
I guess it could be considered an American anime. I think of it as anime- stylized cartoon.

Agreed. It's just an American stab at anime.

[HG Revolution]

Agreed. It's just an American stab at anime.

What do you mean by "stab"?

[Gokou Ruri]

What do you mean by "stab"?

From what I've gathered from various people, apparently only Japan is allowed to have serious/mature/plot-oritneted shows, and any time America makes one it's labeled as "American-Anime" or "Anime-wannabe". In Avatar's case, apparently an art style precedes the actual story that borrows heavily from classic stories like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Apparently only the art means anything anymore.

[Eskimo]

Avatar is by all technical defintion a Cartoon because it was created by an American Studio by U.S Writers and directors. Okay it does look very japanaese/anime inspired but that dosen't make it an anime. That just means it looks more like an anime then other cartoons. It's still a cartoon though because it wasn't made in Japanese by Japanese manga artists/writers and directors. I can't believe this question is still asked about Avatar. I mean really, it's a Nickelodeon Original Cartoon. It's NOT an anime. Can everyone comprehend that or will this question have to be asked about again for no real reason?

please dont be rude in this thread.

i just asked this question because the storyline of avatar is anime based but it has the comedy and cartoony feel.


Japan doesnt own the rights to make anime, America can make anime's just a lot of people compare them to the japan type of anime.

which in return makes the American Anime look bad.

[Zack]

Seeing as there's now a such thing as "American anime" and "Korean anime" for some reason, the definition of anime is now being twisted around.

[Gokou Ruri]

i just asked this question because the storyline of avatar is anime based

How exactly is it anime-based?

Seeing as there's now a such thing as "American anime" and "Korean anime" for some reason, the definition of anime is now being twisted around.

I don't think neologisms made by fans have any merit when it comes to anything.

[HG Revolution]

How exactly is it anime-based?

The writers do cite Miyazaki as a major influence.

Then again, so does Pixar. Avatar does look like a Japanese show but ultimately it isn't that anime-esque.

[Gokou Ruri]

The writers do cite Miyazaki as a major influence.

I meant the story/plot, not the show itself.

I'd figure writing would matter more than art-style.

[MonkeyFunk]

This annoys me. Why is "cartoon" a bad word? The main dictionary definition of "cartoon" is just a drawing (or series of drawings in the case of animation) meant to be humorous or satirical.

Interestingly, there are plenty of people in the animation community who feel that being a "cartoon" is something to be aspired to; Jerry Beck said that Happy Feet isn't a cartoon in his eyes because it was made with motion capture instead of down-and-dirty, from-scratch animation, for example.

As for Avatar... weelll, I have beef with the word "anime" used in pretty much any context, so my answer would definitely be "cartoon".

[Dr. Dave]

I'm sorry, but this thread's gotten terribly silly.

Labeling the show as "anime" or "cartoon" is unimportant. Avatar is animated, and it's GREAT. That's the only label that matters.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, where we will continue the debate on how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.