monkat said:
SatanicSaint said:
Avatar:The Legend of Aang,Rocko's Modern Life,Angry Beavers,Fairly Oddparents,Rugrats,Spongebob and Simpsons etc.
Basically anime, cancelled, cancelled, very rarely worked on, cancelled, no longer good, and no longer good.
...
I hate to say it, but Monkat is right. Might as well add a "no longer good" onto Fairly OddParents, as well. I was watching the pilot episodes the other day, and was amazed at how much more clever and funny it was than the newer ones.
Ontopique:
First and foremost, I believe that the "cartoons Vs. anime" argument is futile. The majority of Western cartoons are leaned more on humor, in contrast with anime, which usually puts its emphasis on plot. So in the end, it's all a matter of how you like your cartoons. In my opinion, cartoons are cartoons, regardless of country of origin or theme.
That being said, I'm not too fond of anime as a whole. Not because it puts its emphasis on plot, but because of the fact that I can, in fact, call it its own genre. Japanese animation has become a muddled, wriggling cesspool of orthodoxy and unoriginality, with an unfathomable amount of animes using the same basic plots, themes, character clichés, and even art style. Sure, this holds true with any type of show, but the sheer monumental amount of nearly-interchangeable animes out there is far more glaring.
Many use the argument that animes appeal to a more adult sense of entertainment than many american cartoons, and though I can see why some people may grow tired of the cute and cuddly themes of western cartoons, I feel that it is not always necessary to use "adult themes and storylines" to create an entertaining, well-crafted, or epic experience. In my humble opinion, I find many of these "mature" animes to be more unintentionally melodramatic and sharing the same traits and plots as countless other shows. But once again, standards and preferences will vary.
My least favorite aspect of anime as a whole is the art style that seems to be prevalent. No doubt one of the most recognizable art styles today, it is also infamous for having the least variation. There is little room for creativity with this catch-all style, and as a result, anime characters from completely different shows may find themselves having nearly-interchangeable features.
Though many hate the anime art style solely for this reason, that actually isn't the part that irks me. No, the visual aspect of anime that I truly resent is the animation. Japanese animation was never known for the fluidity in which its characters and scenery move. In the early days of anime, this was acceptable due to the limitations of the methods the animators used. But to see jerky two-frame animations still prevalent in many of today's anime is simply inexcusable. Even animes with lots of over-the-top action are some of the worst offenders. Some will regard the art as insignificant to the more important story and plot. However, many animes lack in this areas as well. And besides, the animation of a cartoon, regardless of country of origin, is a huge signifier of its craftsmanship. If studios aren't willing to put forth effort in neither the story or the art, then what purpose does it serve?
Of course, there are exceptions to this unfortunate truth, with some animes breaking away from the monotony and really introducing original new ideas and attempting to breathe new life into the tired anime niche. But for the majority of them, my displeasure holds true. And once again, this is all just a matter of opinion. I still love you otakus out there!
