Anime

toc =Anime=

The term Anime (ah-NEE-may), although sometimes mistakenly used to categorize a large group of media from Japan, is a short form for Japanese animation. Anime has its roots in manga (MAHN-ga), or Japanese comics. Most anime series start in manga form and may be adapted into an anime if it gains popularity.

History
By the early 20th century, animated film-making started to appear in Europe and the U.S. At this time, manga had become an important form of literature for most of the Japanese society. Thus when film-making developed in Japan, it became a huge phenomenon with over 40% of all Japanese domestic films being animated films based on manga. Due to manga being largely incorporated in the Japanese society appealing to all age groups, the scope of the animated films also spanned all ages. This is converse to western society where cartoons are perceived as primarily for children. When television became a popular medium in Japan, animation leapt onto television, becoming a large part of the programming schedule. One of the first massively popular series shown was Osamu Tezuka’s //Tetsuwan Atomu// in 1963 which was renamed //[|Astro Boy]// when it was shown in the U.S. Soon after the migration of Astro Boy, other Japanese animated shows found their way to American television. Although these shows were edited to fit American standards (editing out any nudity, excessive blood, swearing, etc), there were still many complaints about the violence in the shows. Although many series were released in Japan and were wildly successful, American protests resulted in a decrease of anime brought to the U.S. for a number of years until the late 1970s. On the other hand, Anime just like manga and Japanese TV drama have all become quite influential in Asia.

Styles of Anime
Developing their own unique animation styles and genres, Japanese animation can often easily be distinguished from western cartoons. A majority of the public associate anime with “big eyes, giant robots, crazy colored, spikey hair” although there are too many styles of anime to set a single definition for it. While there are some common features in genre and story layout, Japanese animation separates itself from western animation going on to incorporate a larger variety of new styles and techniques. This style of animation, allows for the reader to capture a better understanding of emotions felt in the characters, through the drawings. Large eyes show emotion better, and such details as budging veins or sweet drops can show anger or embarrassment. Anime, as well as Manga, have different groupings to distinguish their target audience such as: Shoujo (for girls) or Shonen (for boys). As well as common genres such as action, fantasy, comedy, romance, etc, anime displays new genres such as, among others [|Mecha] (a sci-fi style anime with giant robots) or Yaoi/Shonen ai (boy boy love) which is popular in Japan and becoming increasingly popular with western fan girls.

Anime Genres
One difference that anime has with respect to its western counterparts is the variety of genre. While western cartoons are often geared towards children in terms of artwork, there are many different kinds of anime that are made to appeal to adults and teens. The highly stylized look of anime, and its depictions of reality (however minor they may be) tend to allow for a different viewing experience in relation to western cartoons.

Similar to western media, anime has become divided into many genres. These genres can include anything from sports, reality, or history anime that focus on a specific individual or setting in the real world; in contrast, fantasy anime can take viewers into an intergalactic adventure at the farthest reaches of outer space, or create entirely new worlds and societies.

The genres of anime mirror those of manga, seeing as manga has been a primary inspiration for anime. In fact, a large percentage of anime seen on TV in Japan began as manga.

Several examples of anime that illustrate the different genres are listed below, with thier sub-genres and some example. This is by no means an exhaustive list. As with any media format, anime genres are sometimes meshed together to form an original program that is different from anything before it:

> media type="youtube" key="KZmrqcSpKXs"
 * __Historical__**
 * Historical Drama
 * Histrorical Drama's are anime's that depict real events and use anime as a medium to convey a message about the time period, whether it be a mistake that should not be forgotten or to remind the japanese people about a part of their history.
 * Example: Barefoot Gen, Nitaboh
 * Period Piece
 * Period pieces are like historical dramas, except these tend to be works of pure fiction. Using ancient times as their settings they make comments on classical views and attitudes as well as historical events in their own ways.
 * Example: Basilisk, Ninja Scroll, Emma
 * Romance: Romance anime is basically having animation or cartoons displaying romance. This is an example that was taken from Youtube about romance anime. It has its popularity and its significant audience.

Set in the Edo Period (wikipedia 2006) of Japan, this anime follows the adventures of Mugen, a wandering swordsman; Jin, a dishonoured samurai; and Fuu, a young orphan girl in search of her father. Samurai Champloo features many anachronisms, with its many references to hip hop culture and contemporary Japanese television programs.
 * History/Action:** Samurai Champloo

Although the story and anachronisms are inaccurate for the time period, Samurai Champloo functions as an exploration of the government, typical lifestyles of the time, and at some points, even relationships with outside cultures during that time period.

Hajime no Ippo is an anime that revolves around the life of fictional professional boxer, Ippo Makunouchi. As Ippo progresses in his boxing career, he acquires and learns techniques created by classic boxers, and incorporates them into his own boxing style. This is apparent in the illustration of his particular fighting style. However, for the most part, it appears that Ippo is modeled after Mike Tyson, mimicking the "peek-a-boo" guard and using in-fighting techniques that are similar to Tyson's. Other characters that Ippo challenges are also modeled after great boxers such as, Tommy "the Hitman" Hearns, and Rocky Marciano.
 * Sports:** Hajime no Ippo

Following the life of teen military specialist, Sagara Sosuke, the series is set in a parallel world, and is based upon world events around the 1990s. The story begins in 1999, where Cold War has not ended. China, like Berlin prior to the fall of the Berlin wall, has become divided. Sosuke is a specialist in a covert anti-terrorist military operation called Mithril. His mission revolves around protecting 17-year old Kaname Chidori, a Japanese high school student. Unbeknownst to Chidori, she possesses an intelligence that few have, and various factions are in pursuit of her.
 * Fantasy/Comedy:** Full Metal Panic

Full Metal Panic includes fantasy militaries, and features a different world based on alternate possibilities in of our own reality. Another addition to add to the element of fantasy is the use of Arm Slaves (giant robot warriors controlled by a single soldier), and Black Technology (highly advanced technology, employing, for example, the capability to render an object invisible).

Comedy

Horror

Erotica

Sports

Magical Girl

Mecha

Sci-fi

Fantasy

Steampunk

Shounen

Shoujo

Japanimation Invasion
In the last few years alone, North America has seen a massive increase in Japanese media. Everyone probably remembers the Transformers or Sailor Moon from their childhood. You had to be living in another galaxy not to notice the Pokemon invasion. Over the years, more and more anime series have been airing on Canadian and American television. While TV stations such as YTV or the Cartoon network are showing many new series all the time, many fans, once hooked on Anime turn to the internet as their main source. A majority of anime fans have come to prefer original Japanese anime with English subtitles rather than the edited English-dub version on television. The Internet also allows fans to view new series released in Japan just days after they are aired on Japanese television rather than having to wait for up to years for English licensed, dubbed versions to hit American television. Growing in numbers all the time, groups of “fansubbers” by all sorts of names have been formed to help translate Anime and distribute it on the Internet for English viewers.

Anime Symbols
Both Manga's and Anime's have become famous for the numerous symbols they incorporate to represent an action, emotion, or a physical condition. Many of these symbols include:
 * **Sweat drops**: indicates bewilderment, exasperation and nervousness (usually drawn as one large tear near the head)
 * **Black aura with tear shaped swirls around the character with back turned crouching**: indicates a blow to the ego, depression
 * **Swelling or lump**: indicates injury to the area
 * **White cross shape bandage**: also indicates injury or pain to the area
 * **Throbbing veins**: indicates anger and irritation
 * **Red streaks across cheeks and nose**: indicates blushing, shyness and embarrassment
 * **Balloon bubble daggling from nose**: indicates deep sleep or fake sleeping
 * **Electricity shooting between two characters**: indicates a fight or extreme anger at one another
 * **Eye symbols**: these are self explanatory - big hearts, swirls, crosses and fire
 * **Character dropping suddenly with a thud**: indicates a humourous reaction or an ironic reaction
 * **Pupils disappearing with a glassy glare**: indicates possession of some sort
 * **White shaped mushroom like bubble**: indicates awkward relief or depression (is shown when character exhales)
 * **Rainbow shaped eyes**: indicates a cute face of extreme joy and happiness

Images
Some popular Anime titles include: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Naruto, Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist and Death Note just to name a few.


 * [[image:naruto2.jpg]] || [[image:fma2.jpg]] ||
 * Naruto || Full Metal Alchemist ||
 * [[image:bleach.jpg]] || [[image:gundamseed2.jpg]] ||
 * Bleach || Gundam Seed Destiny - Example of mecha in the background ||
 * [[image:http://baike.baidu.com/pic/1/11468831197712888.jpg width="336" height="358"]] || [[image:http://www.animint.com/encyclopedie/base/image/i/inuyasha-film-2.jpg width="349" height="346"]] ||
 * Detective Conan (Close Case) || InuYasha ||

media type="youtube" key="R8Lz6hWj62g" Opening for an anime series "Samurai Champloo"