As for what I do when I encounter Anime, read manga or try and draw manga pictures of my own, is try and comprehend the narrative and what it is trying to say through a Japanese lens. I also read Japanese novels and have found Japanese storytelling modes to be fascinating indeed, their whole concept of what a plot is varies so much and yet there is a unity to it that isn’t the same as the Chuck Palahniuk or Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman novels I love so much.

The fact that it might be symbolic doesn’t surprise me, of course, as anime is full of those types of things, even down to the birthdates of its characters at times (despite the anime itself never really telling us their birthdate!), but certainly I never considered it to be. This is the real reason I read anime blogs, I think, to find out what other people noticed that I haven’t.

Great read.

@Dm: The best of everything has to come from somewhere, indeed ^^ However, I’m not sure that a general consensus would agree that the best animation is from Japan. Same thing goes for U.S. movies — perhaps the U.S. has larger production budgets and produces superior films, but I know from experience that many people abhor Hollywood movies.

As a science, I don’t understand animation very well, but if you compare your average anime to your average, say, ‘Western’ cartoon — from an animator’s standpoint, each has its strengths and weaknesses. Same thing applies to manga and U.S. comics (Marvel, etc.)

We have to remember, too, that anime still caters to a niche audience (Japanese fans included.) I truly believe that what really makes anime special runs far deeper than technical prowess. Perhaps it’s style…

@Asuka: I hope to visit Japan sometime soon! Glad I could put a name to a face for you. This tune has been bugging more for YEARS!

@13: Takes one to know one