Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Explaining Anime to Someone

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
13 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

Last year I had a bit of a family reunion in San Diego, and I got to see several family members who I hadn’t seen in many years. We were talking about my long sojourn in Japan, and at some point I found myself trying to explain the phenomenon of ‘anime’ to my older brother who had no knowledge of the subject. Essentially, I told him, anime was a generational movement starting in the late 1970s which was essentially about “freedom” — the freedom to create a story using the endearing medium of cell animation in which people actually died in dramatic ways instead of bailing out of the plane at the last minute, as they always did in lame 80s cartoons. The popularity of Japanese animation through the 80s and 90s was driven in part by its kakko-ii (cool) themes, such as transforming robots, destroying Tokyo and epic Magical Girl transformations, but it was also because the stories and characters touched viewers emotionally in new ways. It’s about bold new ideas which could only exist in 2D form, and loving the art styles of the characters as they constantly evolve and change. Yes, describing something as complex as anime to an outsider was difficult. How would you go about it?

Attempting to explain anime to someone is hard.

Tags: familyMacrossrobotech

More Posts Like This

The Top Anime Music Created By Yoko Kanno
Your Friend in Japan

Legendary Anime Composer Yoko Kanno: 10 Times She Changed Our Lives

by Peter Payne
2 months ago

Today is the birthday of Yoko Kanno, the amazing anime composer, arranger, and producer who has created some of the...

Robotech 40th Anniversary Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Robotech Turns 40! How Did It Revolutionize Anime?

by Peter Payne
3 months ago

Tomorrow, March 4, marks the 40th anniversary of Robotech, the influential early anime adaptation that helped usher in the modern...

Lynn Minmei First Japanese Seiyuu Voice

Who Was Your First Japanese Seiyuu? Lynn Minmei Was Mine!

2 years ago
Best Anime Kiss Moments Blog Post

What Are the Best Anime Kiss Moments? J-List Customers Respond!

2 years ago
11 Bankrupt Anime Studios

12 Famous Anime Studios that Went Bankrupt

2 years ago
Sailor Moon Anime Arcade Games

What Are the Best Anime Arcade Games on M.A.M.E?

2 years ago
Next Post
Jlistbig Xd0tmy W

Japan is Thankful for Chinese Tourists?

Trending Today

Please Put Them On Takamine San PV2 5
News

The Power of No Panties, Please Put Them On, Takamine-san

3 months ago
Anime Reverse Image Search Ultimate Guide
Your Friend in Japan

Find That Anime! The Ultimate Anime Reverse Image Search Guide

1 week ago
Shock! Manga Artists Who Also Created Hentai
Your Friend in Japan

Shock! 15 Famous Manga Artists Who Also Made Hentai

1 year ago
Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

2 months ago
Summer Pockets Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Summer Pockets: Rewinding to a Simpler Era of Visual Novel Anime

5 days ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Happy News! J List's Fiscal Year End Sale Gives You The Best Anime Deals
Your Friend in Japan

Don’t Miss the Best Anime Deals in J-List’s Fiscal Year-End Clearance!

by Peter Payne
May 19, 2025

Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san, Episode 4 — Choose Your Own Adventurous Lingerie!

The Chained Soldier Manga Will Enter a Short Hiatus

Don’t Miss the Best Anime Deals in J-List’s Fiscal Year-End Clearance!

Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse Fights Oni in Another World

The Holo Yukata Beauty Figure — Beautiful Beyond Words

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.