Recently, I’ve heard about a show that’s supposedly an anime made in the United States. True anime fans will instantly see through the extraordinarily shallow marketing of “Kappa Mikey” and judge it on its own merits, I’m sure, save to say that Reuters (review), hardly a bastion of Otaku style, gives the show a dismal review. Still, the turn of events does raise an interesting question – does anime have to come from Japan?
If you use the simple definition of anime given here on FanCruft and on other sites,
“‘Anime’ is Japanese animation”, Then the answer must always be yes – since anime is by definition animation from Japan all animation which is not from Japan must not be anime. This, however, seems to me to be quite narrow-minded, even if it does appear to consensus, at least on ANN’s board (thread). If the styles and storylines of Japanese animation and the animation of any other country are basically the same, so that the only way to tell if an “anime” is Japanese or not is to look at the fine print on the back of the box, there’s no point in drawing a mental line between the two. Ironically, it is the very popularity of anime that ensures that this WILL eventually be the case. As I’ve said before, anime and manga inspired style is already highly visible in some webcomics. A Martian would probably not be able to tell the difference between a printout of some webcomics and real manga. In fact, I would bet that a lot of Americans might have trouble telling the difference between the two if it weren’t for left/right flow differences and language, both of which can be changed trivially.
So then, if it’s not just the country of origin that makes anime what it is, what is special about anime? Although Japanese cultural elements are usually present in anime, they’re not so overwhelming that they HAVE to be present for an anime to be an anime. I think it’s what’s said after the short definition in my “about anime” page that’s really important – it’s the plot, the heart, and the very soul that goes into anime that makes it what it is. Characters are dynamic. Plots are complex. Variations on themes are unpredictable and original. An anime has an anima.

Over the past two decades or so, the average visual style of anime has changed dramatically. Lines have become lighter and more organic, and shading has taken on the “plastic look” that’s most widely seen today. However, even among recent animes, this is by no means universal. For the longest time, I associated the older, blocky style with different types of plot and characters in anime; anime that was paint-by-numbers, unimaginative, hackneyed. But I’ve come to realize that I was stereotyping. Anime such Gokudo, Those Who Hunt Elves, and Record of Lodoss War have convinced me that although anime like that may not win a beauty pageant, it can still be great in other ways. As the old saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover – or an anime by its visual style.

Most anime fans know that anime usually comes in three basic formats: movies, series, and OAVs. Even within these formats, however, there is a great deal of variation on the length of an anime. This is especially true of series, which can “die early” without even reaching 13 episodes, or go on for years and years, spawning sequels and spinoffs along the way. Nor does a single anime universe have to be limited to a single format. The length of a series is an important consideration when thinking about what anime to actually watch.
It is especially useful to see anime that have first been done in one format, and then redone in another to understand how they differ. Comparing a movie and a series is similar to comparing a novel and a short story; the short story may be better or worse, but it will always be more brisk and to the point. For CLAMP’s X, both a movie and series adaptation were made; while the movie is stuffed full of action, with characters popping in and out with little explanation, and fights breaking out frequently, the series takes a slower, more in-depth approach, examining the characters and their personalities and motives in depth. The RahXephon series was completely remixed and retold in in the RahXephon movie; the movie’s ending is a secret, but unlike the series, where the past and the nature of the players is gradually revealed, the movie places these cards on the table right at the start; even if you’ve never seen the series, you’ll know 20 minutes into Pluralitas Concentio who the main players are, and what their basic backgrounds are.
As a reviewer, I prefer movies; they let me write more reviews in less time. As an anime fan, however, I would rather watch a medium-length series. There’s just something about a good series, one that keeps you wondering what will happen next, that pulls me in and makes me want to watch more. In Chrono Crusade, I wondered how things would turn out for Rosette and Chrono, and what Aion was attempting to accomplish. In NGE, I wondered what the purpose of the Angels was. In RahXephon, I wondered about the true state of the world. Series also have room for subplots. While the RahXephon movie barely touches on the relationship between Asahina and Ayato, it is the basis for a subplot which ultimately reconnects with the rest of the series when Torigai returns. On the other hand, extremely long series that go beyond 10 DVDs or so, can be expensive to watch in terms of both money and time, and can also be more difficult to follow, especially if the plot isn’t broken up into self-contained arcs.
Regardless of whether you prefer your anime long or short, the variation found among anime length is yet another indication of the flexibility of anime, and the way that it can cater to people with different tastes.

In the past weekend, I’ve watched a fairly eccentric mix of anime, including Elfen Lied, Taruto, Hand Maid May, and Initial D. I’m truly reminded that although not all anime is for everyone, there’s probably at least one anime out there for anyone.
If Elfen Lied were given a rating by the MPAA, it would probably be NC-17; I have a lot of difficulty imagining it getting anything less than an R rating. On the other hand, Taruto is a more or less child-friendly series, at least for the dub, and has villains that reject kidnapping as “too evil” for them to carry out. Most animes fall between these two extremes, and this is the case with May and D. But the subjects of these animes set them apart in their imaginativeness; one is about street racers and their cars, and the other is about a robot maid whose height could measured in inches.
The wide variety of anime available is a testament to liberating nature of the medium. The thing that has drawn me most to anime is the presence of a soul behind so many of the series and movies. Most animes have something – an intriguing mystery, a moral message, a genuinely tragic character – that lends the show a depth which is missing in a lot of western work, live-action or otherwise.
Even when ideas are taken from anime, as in The Matrix, there still seems to be something missing to me. The superficial elements of a good anime – mecha, a strong villain, over-the-top action – are present, but some sort of the real psychological meat of anime is missing.
I am NOT saying that good storytelling, like the type found in lots of anime, cannot happen in the U.S. and Europe. If anime ultimately reminds me of any other art form, it’s the plays of ancient Greece. In a few places here and there in the marketplace, and in far too many underfunded amateur works on the Internet, this sort of soul, this dedication to plot, is present. Let’s hope that both anime and high-quality entertainment and art continue to have a larger impact. And if it’s possible for them to both progress at the same time, that’s all the better.

I’d like to kick off February by sharing some musings on the best anime for Valentine’s day; anime with romance. Anime where two people are just meant to be together (even if it isn’t clear exactly which two). Anime that warms the heart. Without further ado, here’s my top ten list of the best anime for Valentine’s Day. Note that mild spoilers may be included throughout.

10. The Place Promised in Our Early Days
It’s when you look at its romantic aspects that Place Promised really shines. The link between Hiroki and Sayuri and their friendship/rivalship with Takuya is the very core of this story.

09. Mai Hime
Although it won’t be released until march in the U.S., Mai Hime has by far one of the most cinematic lovers in any anime, even if she is a slightly homicidal tea-drinking lesbian.

08. Parallel Duel
For a slightly goofy multiple-girls-fight-over-one-guy anime this Valentine’s, you can’t go too far wrong with Parallel Duel.

07. Earth Maiden Arjuna
Arjuna doesn’t just have a (somewhat garbled) environmental message – it also has romance. Arjuna and her boyfriend make multiple attempts to come to each other’s rescue throughout the series, with Arjuna usually being more successful. For all their creepiness, Cindy and Chris also have something going for them.

06. RahXephon
For anyone who’s seen RahXephon, I would highly recommend seeing it again; RahXephon is the kind of series where it’s easy to get more out the anime with repeat viewings. RahXephon is a show about many things, but it’s ultimately about how one character loves Ayato across time and space.

05. Angel Tales
A goofy harem anime where everyone loves Goro for no especially good reason. Cardboard-cutout romance will make you appreciate any depth to your own relationship.

04. Chrono Crusade
Chrono Crusade is also an anime about relationships. The ending goes beyond bittersweet.

03. Full Metal Panic
The tension between the characters that have the hots for Sosuke, and the partial resolution of this love triangle are the corner stone of this show.

02. Elfen Lied
If you don’t mind the blood and guts of this show, there’s romance hidden in plain sight in this psychological thriller. Could love be the key to a kinder, gentler Lucy? Of course not.

01. Voices of a Distant Star
Especially good for anyone in a long-distance relationship, Voices of a Distant Star is about the trials and tribulations of someone trying to maintain her feelings and sanity by sending messages back to earth – messages which take months and eventually years to arrive.

Honorable mention:
Although it didn’t quite make the above list, Steel Angel Kurumi is also worth looking into. The relationship between Nakahito and Kurumi is not quite really romantic love, at least from Nakahito’s point of view throughout most of the series, but the dedication these characters develop for each other certainly fits.