Anime: An Alternative Format to the Live-Action Industry

Definition of Anime

Anime is a style of animation that originated and is still heavily centered in Japan. The word ‘anime’ is based on the original Japanese pronunciation of the American word ‘animation’.

Anime was widely referred to as Japanimation in the 1970s and 1980s. The name 'anime' began to supplant Japanimation in the mid-1980s and became prevalent.

Brief History of Anime

The history of Japanese animation can be traced back to the early times in the 20th century, when Japanese film makers experimented with the animation techniques also pioneered by those in France, Germany, Russia and the United States of America.
Animators like Ōten Shimokawa, Jun'ichi Kōuchi and Seitaro Kitayama from the late 1910s are popularly referred to as the ‘Fathers of Anime’. They produced numerous works, with the oldest surviving film being Kouchi’s Namakura Gatana , a two-minute clip of a samurai trying to test a new sword on his target only to suffer defeat.

A cel from Namakura Gatana, the earliest surviving Japanese animated short made for cinemas, produced in 1917
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The claim for the earliest Japanese animation is Katsudō Shashin; an undated and private work by an unknown creator.

Domestic anime production was beginning to develop a small but solid foundation when Tokyo and the surrounding area suffered catastrophic damage in the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1923. The anime industry was forced to start over from scratch.

By the 1930s, animation was well established in Japan as an alternative format to the live-action industry. The first talkie anime was Chikara to Onna no Yo no Naka, produced by Masaoka in 1933.

By1940, numerous anime artists' organizations had risen, including the Shin Mangaha Shudan and Shin Nippon Mangaka. The first feature-length animated film was Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors directed by Seo in 1944 with sponsorship by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

During the 1970s, anime developed further, with the inspiration of Disney animators, separating itself from its Western roots and developing distinct genres such as mecha and its super robot subgenre. Typical shows from this period include Astro Boy, Lupin III and Mazinger Z . During this period several filmmakers became famous, especially Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii.

The 1970s also saw a surge of growth in the popularity of manga , Japanese comic books and graphic novels, many of which were later animated. The work of Osamu Tezuka drew particular attention: he has been called a "legend" and the "god of manga". His work and that of other pioneers in the field inspired characteristics and genres that remain fundamental elements of anime today.
In the 1980s, anime became more accepted in the mainstream in Japan (although less than manga), and experienced a boom in production. Following a few successful adaptations of anime in overseas markets in the 1980s, anime gained increased acceptance in those markets in the 1990s and even more at the turn of the 21st century.
In 2002, Spirited Away, a Studio Ghibli production directed by Hayao Miyazaki won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and in 2003 at the 75th Academy Awards, it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Genres

Genres are different categories of works, based on the subject matter and how it is presented. Every Genre has its own characteristics that make it unique.
Anime features a lot of genres from Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Tragedy, Drama, Military, Magic, Romance e.t.c.

Why we Love Anime

Anime Otakus have got profound love for anime and manga because of its;

An Otaku is a person with obsessive interest in something, particularly anime or manga.

Action: Anime features a number of action packed series and movies that puts you on a mode of excitement and amusement. A very good example of an action packed anime is

Shingeki no kyojin (Attack on Titan)

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Visuals: The graphic content of anime is one of the reasons that makes anime so interesting to watch. As the years go by with improve in technology, animators have also improved the graphic content of anime, given the characters more details in design.

Charisma & Expression: This is one of the best features anime possesses. Anime always carry that charm that captivates its viewers in the way the characters express their emotions when talking, eating, fighting...

Plot: This is the general course of a story including significant events that determine its course or significant patterns of events. Animes are known for carrying deep, meaningful and sensational plots (storyline).

Values of Life: Such as...

• Brotherhood: We can learn the value of brotherhood from the Eric Brothers in Full Metal Alchemist.

• Friendship & Family: There's no anime or movie that talks about the value of friendship and family better than One Piece.

Motivational and Wisdom Quotes:

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Some Anime to watch as a Neophyte

Code Geass

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Sypnosis: In the year 2010, the Holy Empire of Britannia is establishing itself as a dominant military nation, starting with the conquest of Japan. Renamed to Area 11 after its swift defeat, Japan has seen significant resistance against these tyrants in an attempt to regain independence.
Lelouch Lamperouge, exiled prince of Britannia, unfortunately finds himself caught in a crossfire between the two nations' armed forces. He is able to escape, however, thanks to the timely appearance of a mysterious girl named C.C., who bestows upon him Geass, the "Power of Kings." Realizing the vast potential of his newfound "power of absolute obedience," Lelouch embarks upon a perilous journey as the masked vigilante known as Zero, leading a merciless onslaught against Britannia in order to get revenge once and for all.

Genre: Action, Military, War.

Attack on Titan

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Sypnosis: 2000 years from now, humans are nearly exterminated by titans. Titans are typically several stories tall, seem to have no intelligence, devour human beings and, worst of all, seem to do it for the pleasure rather than as a food source. A small percentage of humanity survived by walling themselves in a city protected by extremely high walls, even taller than the biggest of titans. Flash forward to the present and the city has not seen a titan in over 100 years. Teenage boy Eren and his foster sister Mikasa witness something horrific as the city walls are destroyed by a colossal titan that appears out of thin air. As the smaller titans flood the city, the two kids watch in horror as their mother is eaten alive. Eren vows that he will murder every single titan and take revenge for all of mankind.

Genre: Action, Horror.

Death Note

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Synopsis: Have you ever felt like the world would be a better place if certain people weren’t around? Such grim daydreams might occur when watching the dismal daily news, but on one fateful day, Light Yagami finds that these daydreams can become reality. By pure happenstance, he comes across a black notebook entitled "Death Note", whose text within states that whoever's name is written on its pages will die. With the aid of the death god Ryuk, Light takes it upon himself to rid the world of its corruption, ushering in a new era of purity one death at a time. But as Ryuk foretells, Light's actions will not go unchallenged...

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Drama.

One Piece

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Synopsis: Long ago the infamous Gol D. Roger was the strongest and most powerful pirate on the seas. As he was about to be executed he revealed that he hid all of his wealth, including the legendary treasure known as One Piece, on an island at the end of the Grand Line - a treacherous and truly unpredictable sea. Monkey D. Luffy is a spirited, energetic and somewhat dim-witted young man with a very big dream: to find One Piece and become the Pirate King! However Luffy is no ordinary boy, as when he was younger he ate one of the Devil's Fruits and gained its power to become a Rubber Man. Now in this grand age of pirates Luffy sets out to gather a crew and sail to the most dangerous sea in the world so that he can fulfill his dream... and maybe even his appetite!

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Tragedy.

Naruto Shippuden

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Synopsis: Two and a half years have passed since the end of Naruto’s old adventures. He has trained hard with Jiraiya-sama and has returned to Konoha to reunite with his friends; but Akatsuki, the organization that threatened Naruto years before, is on the move again and this time Naruto is not the only one in danger. With the powerful Akatsuki organization looming ahead of him, Sasuke still missing, and the struggle with the beast hidden inside him a continuous battle, will Naruto's hard-earned improvements be enough? Join Naruto, Sakura, new friends and the rest of the old gang as the action heats up with new techniques and stronger enemies.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy.

More to be posted soon on my weekly recommendations...

Where to get Anime for free

Here are some websites you can get quality anime for free!!!

• Animerebirth
• Gogoanime
• Kissanime
• Chia-anime
• Animerush

References

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime
• https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00043/
  Soon to come posts:
  • The difference between anime and cartoon
  • My Top 25 Animes and why

Next post: The difference between anime and cartoons

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