Cartoons versus animes

You're under arrest

My girlfriend is astounded as to why my interest lies in animes and what is so great about them as compared to more conventional cartoons say like Transformers, Scooby Doo or even the Powerpuff girls. My answers is that I’ve nothing against western borne cartoons, I grew up on them and in most cases I still enjoy a good laugh from the Loony Toons and Disney. Sitting in the room, eating a steaming plate of hot maggi mee and the latest cartoon on the idiot tube, that was life when you’re young.

Well the difference between conventional cartoons and animes is mostly in the theme. The fact that old cartoons often tell tales of good versus evil in very clear lines with morals inserted in each episode. Remember we were always rooting for the good guy and we know he will triumph over their adversary in the end and they’ll live happily ever after (no surprise there). Gargemel, always scheming to catch poor, innocent, fun loving goody two shoes smurfs; Voltron battling new fiendish foes every week to save the planet; He-man the very personification of the perfect human form, strong, courageous, never self doubting and righteous pitting himself against the sheer personification of evil, Skeletor (can’t be more obvious with a name like that). A confession, I was always rooting for the bad guy, they always seem to have more variety and better looks as compared to the monotonous heroes.

Another stark distinction was that cartoons in the past was that they subdivided to an intended audience, namely through gender basis. Cartoons like Jem, Shi-Ra and My Little Ponies were targeting girls and He-man, Thunder Cats and Transformers were mainly for guys. This target specific theme often led to the cartoon itself mirroring the target’s taste. The heroes in male cartoons were strapping muscle bound hunk of meat and often can do no wrong with stunts that defy imagination. Lots of explosions, fight scenes and man toys. Girl toons were more designer drawn with lots of emphasis on fashion, cute stuff and product placements (come on, Barbie’s accessories are meant to lure girls to buy the real stuff). Okay so there were neutral cartoons that tickle the funny bone such as Disney, Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse :)

Enter animes, instead of the feel good, alls well that ends well feeling, the feel of the whole series is often a dark mixture of emotional turmoil. Things don’t always end up good for the hero (if you could even call him that). The main persona reflects us as humans, frail, prone to mistake and indeed fallible. It gives a feeling that the world the characters inhabit in could be ours and this adds a sense of reality to the whole picture. Stories do not end on an episode by episode basis but builds up with twists and turns. Good is not always good and evil is not always evil, instead the personas are often caught in a flux of grayish morality. At times it’s more of an intellectual exercise trying to figure out what the plot is and keeping up with the twists and turns. Even the more cutesy and funny ones like Love Hina and Ah! My Goddess have plots so thick that you can find more beyond what’s shown at face value if you dig deep enough. A recurring theme is always that of the modern world impinging into nature, the constant battle and struggle of a world trying to move on while reconciling both. The worlds created out of the animator’s mind are also bizarre at times, no longer the monotone fantasy worlds of Tolkenish inspiration found in most Western cartoons, the worlds range from the bizarre (Nausicaa), mixtures of modern and fantasy (Visions of Escaflowne) and other times sheer creative freshness (.hack// sign).

So if those reasons are not good enough to lure you to try an episode or two, better reserve judgment until you watch one yourself. To get people hooked, I often cite Azumanga Dioh, one peek and I’ll bet you’re hooked for life ;) Action fans would love Samurai X, the Gundam series and Evangelion. Cute thing lovers and romance series followers can opt for Boys Be, Love Hina and Fruit Basket. The intellectuals should follow Studio Ghibli’s movies like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Laputa. For sport fans; Prince of Tennis and Slam Dunk. General viewers can go for Ranma Half and You’re under arrest. There’s something for everyone! Animes are to me better than most of the current fare such as Spongebob Square pants. But I still love some of them such as Kim Possible and Mr Bean the animated series:)