Forum - View topicAnime and American Culture
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KyuuA4
 Posts: 1361 Location: America, where anime and manga can be made |
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Can American Culture mix in with anime? Why or Why not?
For starters, it already has. This is in due part of hip-hop making its way into anime. To some degree, I'm still rather surprised by the hip-hop nature of Samurai Champloo; but that was rather neat. |
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Azathrael
 Posts: 745 |
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American culture is embedded into Japanese culture. Anything Japanese after 1945 might as well be considered definitely part American. But that's speaking very technically, as I wouldn't call anything in anime as having "American culture".
When the occupation forces (mostly US troops) came to Japan after 1945, the Japanese government established "comfort stations" (If that word doesn't ring a bell, it basically means prostitution houses). The prostitutes were hired to be the "buffer" in protecting Japanese women's chastity and they were called "panpan girls". Instead of being society's lowest class, these panpan girls became a sort of trend. Their heavy influence of American culture (ie. The way they dressed to service the US troops were very modern compared to the average Japanese woman at the time. Stockings, make-up, dresses, etc) made them the most looked upon figures in Japanese society at the time. Unknown to most history textbooks, panpan girls were huge bridges that brought a lot of American culture into Japan. But that's then. What about now? A lot of people consider "globalization" as "Americanism". The problem with that is "Americanism" itself is constantly changing. No doubt the US has the most diverse population on earth with the most diverse cultures, but most of them can't be claimed to have been originated in the US, to start with. This constant hybridization of cultures in America constantly changes America; therefore the words "American culture" or "Americanism" lacks the power to define itself due to the power of globalization. As with the religion thread (which I didn't bother getting into it), my opinion on this subject is the very same: reference doesn't mean influence. A relatively few anime titles with Christianity or Hip-hop don't constitute "influence". Influence would be reflected in the fundamental basics of anime creation, not in the general theme or setting of a particular anime. I see an unusually large amount of German references in anime - the reason of that cause would probably be influence, not reference. Anime is in the process of globalization like any other entertainment, but seeing whether or not foreign influences have significantly embedded itself in anime is something I have yet to see. On the other hand, anime has had a enormous influence in the US. Starting with Pokemon, a lot of children's entertainment I happened to see on Disney or Cartoon Network were all animated and becoming much more similar to anime. I would say the vice versa of the topic's question is already true, while the original question is still unanswered. /And what oh what is American culture!? Globalization as Phenomenological! Please don't answer my sarcastic (^) statements. |
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ivorymoose
 Posts: 240 |
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The first anime I watched when I was little is a title known as Candy Candy in the late 70s. It is about an orphan girl named Candice White living in Michigan. The entire 114 episode anime was set in the US and English culture. This anime achieved cult status, it still has a strong fan base today and it is still popular in Japan. It has been translated into every language except English. It has been aired all over the world but regrettably not the US. I believe (not sure) French Canada might have aired the series in French. The background music (OST) of this series is very American. Currently, this series is banned from broadcast outside Japan due to legal court battles over ownership rights.
In the 70s and 80s, most characters I know like Candy, Nausicca and Heidi do not look Asian. I noticed that nowadays, many anime characters have multicolored hair and eyes but a lot of their costumes/cloths have American influence. Nowadays, I watch mainly fairy tales, samurai and mecha titles. Miyazaki titles always had American influence. I actually do not know of any recent title that is set in America. This is an interesting thread, perhaps someone else will know if there are any recent animes set in the US. Samurai Champloo.....I thoroughly enjoyed it. |
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jaybug39
 Posts: 552 Location: Oregon, Is it FOOTBALL yet? |
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Now what show was I watching where South Park was copied into an anime? Actually I wasn't watching, I just flipped the channel to see what was what, and it was an anime block on CN, and there's a bunch of South Park like characters. If that doesn't say American culture can be in anime, I don't know what would.
But I don't think you will see pilgrims anytime soon. |
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murph76
 Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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That would be FLCL. Episode 5, I think. When the guy with the nori eyebrows is getting his hair cut. -Murph |
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Kirkdawg
 Subscriber Posts: 742 Location: California, USA |
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I'd say it already has mixed into the American culture, but I think it hasn't evolved into a mainstream type idea until the turn of the century. I believe a newer generation may be more accepting of anime and allow it to flourish as compared to years past.
It's a different taste, and the old generally speaking do not like new and different things. I don't know any way better to put it, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks. It's rather odd, I know plenty of people who enjoy anime yet it's like a social taboo for them. I'm confused. 
Sometimes I feel like smacking them across the head and saying "IT'S OKAY IF YOU TASTES DO NOT CONFORM TO OTHER'S EXPECTATIONS." Once everyone gets over that big hump, I believe people in general will be much more casual about anime in America. |
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dewlwieldthedarpachief
 Posts: 751 Location: Canada |
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How about the word "anime" itself?
If I recall correctly, Western-style animation (perhaps Disney, in the case of Tezuka?) partially inspiried the original incarnations of what we call anime today. In the 1970s animation was still in experimental stages worldwide, and the Japanese market couldn't allow for comparable budgets. This spurred cost-cutting techniques that have been elaborated on since and give it a very distinct look to other animation. On Wikipedia they note that animation allows for a much broader realm of possibilities than the local live action film industry has. Its visible to me, as virtually all the movies I've seen and heard of from Japan are limited to Japan. And I couldn't get my head around why they watch the junk from Hollywood... |
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coffee
 Posts: 170 Location: Florida |
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That's because the Japanese think that American stuff is hip and what-not. That's why you hear random english words in J-pop songs and see english words thrown in otherwise Japanese text. The Japanese attempt to emulate the American culture to an extent as well (think peace sign eveytime they take a picture). |
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mistress_reebi
Posts: 735 Location: Canada |
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I was reading a book on anime and it actually came from the French word, "animé" (an-ee-may) which means animated. |
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Iritscen
 Subscriber Posts: 794 |
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Sorry, that's false. "Animé" does mean "animated" in French, but that's a semi-coincidence. You see, "animé" comes from "animation", the English word. Plain and simple. Of course, our word "animation" comes from a Latin root that the French word also comes from. What confuses people is that animé has that accent mark. That's added when the word アニメ is romanized. Romanize it straight and you get "anime", which, if the word is new to you, might look like "An-eim". The accent indicates that it is a pronounced "e", not a silent "e". That's a tradition going back hundred of years in English, if you'll recall your mandatory high school reading of Shakespeare or Chaucer. |
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Iritscen
Subscriber Posts: 794 |
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Definitely it did. But Tezuka was also inspired largely by Fleischer Studios' work. I always make a point of this because more people should be familiar with the Fleischer's amazing work in the heyday of animation. For your consideration: 
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nailz
 Posts: 30 Location: USA |
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Azathrael certainly has is right that American culture is embedded in Japanse culture post ww. It's popularity in the US has increased massively in the last few years. Well, it's becoming more mainstream anyway. I remember when I was young, anime was sort of a dirty topic since most adults associated it with pornography.
Now, can anime mix with American Culture? With the popularity increase here, and lord knows we are generating some bucks for the industry, will anime retain its Japanese-ness? ahh, cursed lunch breaks, never long enough to follow up a good thread! |
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ivorymoose
Posts: 240 |
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I think early anime in 70s and early 80s have a stronger American influence than they do today. However, when I first saw a Gundam on tv in the early 80s, it was a Japanese production. Consequently, I have always associated Gundam or anything that looked like a Gundam with Japanese Anime. It never occured to me that Gundam is inspired by American cartoon or Hollywood because I am not familiar with American movies in the 70s and 80s. I have not seen anything that look like a Gundam in Disney's early works.
 Astroy Boy....errrr....I hated that and never understood why my friends enjoyed it. Huh!
Tastes do change because people change with age. I grew from liking romantic shoujos to hating it. I grew from hating mecha to liking it. |
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Keonyn
 Subscriber Posts: 5567 Location: Coon Rapids, MN |
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Yeah, I agree with ivorymoose. It seems to me that you see more Japanese culture in anime today than you used to in the 80's and 90's. Granted, some today consist of hybrids like Samurai Champloo which seems to blend traditional Japanese culture with modern American hip hop culture. Most older anime I recall don't have many, if any, references to Japanese culture aside from visually displayed languages.
Of course, you also have to consider that anime is fiction and as such a lot of what's going to come out of it isn't necessarily based on any specific modern culture. Just because some titles don't have representations of Japanese culture doesn't mean that's a bad thing. |
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jaybug39
Posts: 552 Location: Oregon, Is it FOOTBALL yet? |
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You know, what really strikes me, are the German, Russian, and the French influences also not forgetting the British cultures in anime.
German: Elfin Lied, Last Exile, it had Iron Crosses on all the airships, and used phrases such as Immelman turn, which actually exists from a WWI German fighter pilot of same name, I believe, but am uncertain of my memory. Russian: Commander Kalinin is supposed to be Russian, but he has no accent in dub, and I couldn't tell if a Japanese speaker was faking a Russian accent or not. In Ghost in the Shell, some things weren't making sense quite right, because the words were Russian, not Japanese. Had a hand upside my head moment there, duh. I wonder if the singer for the first season's OP song being Russian had anything to do with all the Russian words? French: All fancy restaurant scenes not involving "Beefbowl" are syled in the classical French manner. But then I have only studied culinary arts a total of 6 months, I could be wrong. Russians copied the French this way. British: Read or Die, and Hellsing to name two. Anime looks at many cultures. It's another reason why I like it so much. |
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