Changes

The '''Japanese animation''' industry has attracted much interest in the West, with [[English]]-speaking fans avidly adopting Japanese terminology such as ''anime'' (short for "animation", but used almost exclusively to refer to animated features originating from [[Japan]]) and even ''otaku'' (a derogatory term meaning "obsessive fan"<ref>[http://www.beneaththetangles.com/the-christians-guide-to-anime-and-otaku-dom/ The Christian's Guide to Anime and Otaku-dom] at Beneath the Tangles</ref>). The term anime (アニメ) is the short form of of the Japanese word ''animeeshon'' (アニメーション), which is itself derived from the English word ''animation''.<ref name="Anime">[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Anime Anime] at TV Tropes</ref> Anime shares a similar visual style with its print couterpart ''manga'' and both are derived from the works of Japanese artists such as Osamu Tezuka.<ref name="Anime"/>

The '''Japanese animation''' industry has attracted much interest in the West, with [[English]]-speaking fans avidly adopting Japanese terminology such as ''anime'' (short for "animation", but used almost exclusively to refer to animated features originating from [[Japan]]) and even ''otaku'' (a derogatory term meaning "obsessive fan"<ref>[http://www.beneaththetangles.com/the-christians-guide-to-anime-and-otaku-dom/ The Christian's Guide to Anime and Otaku-dom] at Beneath the Tangles</ref>). The term anime (アニメ) is the short form of the Japanese word ''animeeshon'' (アニメーション), which is itself derived from the English word ''animation''.<ref name="Anime">[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Anime Anime] at TV Tropes</ref> Anime shares a similar visual style with its print couterpart ''manga'' and both are derived from the works of Japanese artists such as Osamu Tezuka.<ref name="Anime"/>

The best known ''anime'' director in Japan is [[Hayao Miyazaki]], founder of [[Studio Ghibli]] and famous for ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'', ''[[Spirited Away]]'' and ''Princess Mononoke''.

The best known ''anime'' director in Japan is [[Hayao Miyazaki]], founder of [[Studio Ghibli]] and famous for ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'', ''[[Spirited Away]]'' and ''Princess Mononoke''.

In recent years, the translation process of anime and manga has come under criticism for the process of "Americanization". This process is the editing of the original works so that they can be made more acceptable for the American public. Episodes are known to be shortened to add more time for commercials. Religious influences and [[homosexuality]] are removed so that anime can be shown and marketed to younger audiences. Some directors adopt a policy of "no cuts", where their works cannot be altered and are more literal translations. If this condition is not met, the director will not allow his work to be translated. Some groups of Bilingual speakers have, thus, taken to providing "unofficial" translations for the general public, uploaded to the internet for free. This was one of the major controversies of the SOPA bill that was recently a major issue.

In recent years, the translation process of anime and manga has come under criticism for the process of "Americanization". This process is the editing of the original works so that they can be made more acceptable for the American public. Episodes are known to be shortened to add more time for commercials. Religious influences and [[homosexuality]] are removed so that anime can be shown and marketed to younger audiences. Some directors adopt a policy of "no cuts", where their works cannot be altered and are more literal translations. If this condition is not met, the director will not allow his work to be translated. Some groups of Bilingual speakers have, thus, taken to providing "unofficial" translations for the general public, uploaded to the internet for free. This was one of the major controversies of the SOPA bill that was recently a major issue.

Some non-Japanese cartoons, particularly such shows as ''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'', ''Totally Spies!'' and ''Kappa Mikey'', have anime-influenced artwork and appearances, showing a heavy influence by the anime style.

Some non-Japanese cartoons, particularly such shows as ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'', ''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'', ''Totally Spies!'', ''The Amazing Spiez'', ''Code Lyoko'', ''The Boondocks'' and ''Kappa Mikey'', have anime-influenced artwork and appearances (with ''Kappa Mikey'' and ''Totally Spies!'' and its spinoff ''The Amazing Spiez'' being the most anime-like in appearance and feel), showing a heavy influence by the anime style.

==Anime genres==

==Anime genres==

===Shonen (少年)===

===Shonen (少年)===

Japanese for ''young boy'', Shounen is the most popular genre in Japan and the most well known outside the country. Aimed at young teen boys, Shounen are often action/adventure series featuring martial arts, Japanese and Chinese folklore, simplistic animation and conceptual fantasy and science fiction. Popular titles that have been translated to English include ''[[Astro Boy]]'', ''Science Ninja Team Gatchaman'' (adapted for American audiences by Sandy Frank as ''Battle of the Planets'' and later by [[Ted Turner]] as ''G-Force: Guardians of Space''), ''Star Blazers'', ''[[Robotech]]'', ''[[Naruto]]'', ''Bleach'', ''[[One Piece]]'', ''[[Dragonball]]''/''[[Dragon Ball Z|Z]]'', ''Gundam'', ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', ''Prince of Tennis'', and ''[[Sgt. Frog]]''. ''Pokémon'', the 1990s superfad, is also Shonen. <br />

Japanese for ''young boy'', Shounen is the most popular genre in Japan and the most well known outside the country. Aimed at young teen boys, Shounen are often action/adventure series featuring martial arts, Japanese and Chinese folklore, simplistic animation and conceptual fantasy and science fiction. Popular titles that have been translated to English include ''[[Astro Boy]]'', ''Science Ninja Team Gatchaman'' (adapted for American audiences by Sandy Frank as ''Battle of the Planets'' and later by [[Ted Turner]] as ''G-Force: Guardians of Space''), ''Star Blazers'', ''Captain Harlock'', ''[[Robotech]]'', ''[[Naruto]]'', ''Bleach'', ''[[One Piece]]'', ''[[Dragonball]]''/''[[Dragon Ball Z|Z]]'', ''Gundam'', ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', ''Prince of Tennis'', and ''[[Sgt. Frog]]''. ''Pokémon'', the 1990s superfad, is also Shonen. <br />

===Shojo (少女)===

===Shojo (少女)===

==Criticism of anime==

==Criticism of anime==

Anime has come under criticism over the years by animation purists due to most, if not all, anime shows (particularly the more recent shows from the 1980s onward) looking stylistically similar in their artwork and lacking a clear-cut distinction between styles,<ref>[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.247476-Criticism-of-Anime-and-Manga Criticism of Anime and Manga]</ref> as well as being considered inferior in visual style to American animation.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/notes/i-hate-anime/our-reasons-for-not-liking-anime/556774851034596 Our reasons for not liking anime]</ref> The anime genre has also been criticized for the inclusion of such above-mentioned subject matter as homosexuality, pedophilia, pornography (which has its own anime subgenre, ''hentai''), horror and graphic violence, which tend to make such shows taboo for younger viewers. Another glaring criticism of anime is the poor adaptation of many such shows into English, with poor voice acting (in particular, making some charatcers sound childish), nonsensically-interpreted storylines and dialogue (especially when the dialogue does not match how a particular character feels in a scene), the changing of character names to ridiculous-sounding names, and the elimination of Japanese cultural references and their replacement with more recognizable pop culture for English-speaking audiences.<ref>[http://ca.ign.com/articles/2008/05/30/anime-adaptations Anime Adaptations]</ref><ref>[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Anime Anime] at Fanlore Wiki</ref> The most looked down-upon aspect of anime is its hardcore segment of fans (the above-mentioned ''otakus''), who often violently react in extreme, histrionic and illogical fashion to any criticism of the anime genre (including even making death threats to the critics and others who are not anime fans<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/notes/i-hate-anime/questions-asked-when-overprotective-anime-fans-come-to-this-page/815531001825645 Questions asked when overprotective anime fans come to this page]</ref>), giving such fans much in common with [[liberal]]s who react in similar fashion to any criticism of any of the liberal sacred cows like "global warming", the homosexual agenda, abortion, feminism, socialism and Islam.

Anime has come under criticism over the years by animation purists due to most, if not all, anime shows (particularly the more recent shows from the 1980s onward) looking stylistically similar in their artwork and lacking a clear-cut distinction between styles,<ref>[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.247476-Criticism-of-Anime-and-Manga Criticism of Anime and Manga]</ref> as well as being considered inferior in visual style to American animation.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/notes/i-hate-anime/our-reasons-for-not-liking-anime/556774851034596 Our reasons for not liking anime]</ref> The anime genre has also been criticized for the inclusion of such above-mentioned subject matter as homosexuality, pedophilia, pornography (which has its own anime subgenre, ''hentai''), horror and graphic violence, which tend to make such shows taboo for younger viewers. Another glaring criticism of anime is the poor adaptation of many such shows into English, with poor voice acting (in particular, making some charatcers sound childish), nonsensically-interpreted storylines and dialogue (especially when the dialogue and/or its tone do not match how a particular character feels in a scene), the changing of character names to ridiculous-sounding names,<ref>[http://www.cornponeflicks.org/harlock/ZIVharlock.html ''Captain Harlock'' vols. one and two

by ZIV International] at the Captain Harlock Archives</ref> and the elimination of Japanese cultural references and their replacement with more recognizable pop culture for English-speaking audiences.<ref>[http://ca.ign.com/articles/2008/05/30/anime-adaptations Anime Adaptations]</ref><ref>[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Anime Anime] at Fanlore Wiki</ref> The most looked down-upon aspect of anime is its hardcore segment of fans (the above-mentioned ''otakus''), who often violently react in extreme, histrionic and illogical fashion to any criticism of the anime genre (including even making death threats to the critics and others who are not anime fans<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/notes/i-hate-anime/questions-asked-when-overprotective-anime-fans-come-to-this-page/815531001825645 Questions asked when overprotective anime fans come to this page]</ref>), giving such fans much in common with [[liberal]]s who react in similar fashion to any criticism of any of the liberal sacred cows like "global warming", the homosexual agenda, abortion, feminism, socialism and Islam.

==References==

==References==