HOW IS JAPANESE ANIMATION & MANGA REALLY SEEN IN JAPAN.

[VampireWicked]

Hiya!
A few months ago i made a similar thread on two other forums & i don't know if there's a similar thread here, sorry i didn't look but i'm wondering about something.

I feel it's an outdated subject but i don't think what's passed around what's said is all that 100%, so i actually would like a more solid answer & hoping here or somewhere i can get something a little more reasonable & accurate.

I've been on forums & seen members.....mostly people from the u.k. & mostly westerners continuously say japanese animation is dying, how manga, japanese anime, japanese citations who are even interested in that form of art are really frowned upon in japan.

How otaku is seen as nerd or geek & is an embarrassment to be considered one.

It's beacause most of those people are addicts being NEETs living off of parents monew most of the time, not looking for jobs and hence 'trash of the society' contributing nothing.

I believe the simple answer is, for so long the Japanese people were basically cog wheels for Japan and had the mentality of nation over self; while the otaku is just the opposite they're often self absorbed in whatever it is they are addicted to and like others have said mostly contribute nothing to society as a whole.

Because so called weebs are cancer to society. And also never go full weeb.

I've seen how those that have little to no interests in japanese animation or manga continuously think there's no decent japanese anime anymore, japanese anime & manga are absolutely nothing but ecchi, tentacle, hentai, school girls, panty shots or DragonBall Z & One Piece.

And i've actually seen a mod that's on an extremely lousy forum automatically label the Saya CG animation

as being created by nothing but typical japanese perverts.

The actual quote from that moderator.

Oh, Japan...
When creating the single most realistic CG character ever you decide to make it a schoolgirl... Wazzap with that? You could've gone with any single kind of human being in the world and you go with a schoolgirl... If you didn't fetishise them so much already I'd be like, alright, cool but I just-- I, ghh... I haven't the words. If you'd gone with an Idol I might've still gone facepalm face first but I'd still be less suspicious about the... purety of their intentions.

His instant reaction simply because it's a CGI model of a school girl that Saya was created by a japanese pervert for perverted intentions.

I've seen on forums how most members dislike any subjects on japanese animation, i've seen them wanting & requesting anything involving japanese anime & manga to be separated so they're easier to avoid.

I've seen the ridiculous DC Comics promotion:

I'm sure there's others.


So my question is is japanese animation & manga an embarrassment to japan as much as people on forums say, or are these people full of crap?

How accurate are the assumptions, if it was just BS comments i would absolutely not care but everyone that said things to that effect have done nothing but pass it off as 100% fact as if reading from accurate sources.

Is it true, is japanese animation or manga seen as something of an embarrassment to japanese culture.
I love to see thoughts, & If there's anyone from japan i'd love to see a response.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

As far as writing quality and critical merit goes, most of modern anime/manga is indeed dying. The haters indeed have a point when looking at the most popular titles, as a large majority of them are otaku pandering ones. That's not to say that there aren't any good titles, as there are some recent titles that can be seen as high or top tier series, though they tend to either be anime adaptations of older series (eg. HxH 2011, JoJo's anime) or ones with very little mainstream popularity (eg. The Tatami Galaxy).

I don't believe most of Japan see it as a problem, however, seeing as how it's a very popular export for both national and international marketing and profit. Most of the Youtube channels that focus on Japanese cultures show that Japanese interviewed by such matters as otaku culture don't seem to mind it.

To summarise, I'd say there's both a level of both truth and incorrect bias to those that outright hate anime/manga as a whole. If looking at it through the law of majority, the majority of anime/manga are indeed of mediocore or poor quality, primarily due to the way it's produced in recent years as most seasonal titles being recycled tropes and there simply being too many to find worthy titles. However, there are definitely series that even anti-otaku would be able to commend. They seem to simply have the belief that most anime/manga are the same thanks to the exposure focusing on purely mainstream or modern series. I imagine if more critically worthy titles or more unique series were presented to them, the stigma would slowly vanish.

 

[Papasmurf]

It's really not that much more stigmatized than being a nerd is in the US

 

[VampireWicked]

As far as writing quality and critical merit goes, most of modern anime/manga is indeed dying. The haters indeed have a point when looking at the most popular titles, as a large majority of them are otaku pandering ones. That's not to say that there aren't any good titles, as there are some recent titles that can be seen as high or top tier series, though they tend to either be anime adaptations of older series (eg. HxH 2011, JoJo's anime) or ones with very little mainstream popularity (eg. The Tatami Galaxy).

I don't believe most of Japan see it as a problem, however, seeing as how it's a very popular export for both national and international marketing and profit. Most of the Youtube channels that focus on Japanese cultures show that Japanese interviewed by such matters as otaku culture don't seem to mind it.

To summarise, I'd say there's both a level of both truth and incorrect bias to those that outright hate anime/manga as a whole. If looking at it through the law of majority, the majority of anime/manga are indeed of mediocore or poor quality, primarily due to the way it's produced in recent years as most seasonal titles being recycled tropes and there simply being too many to find worthy titles. However, there are definitely series that even anti-otaku would be able to commend. They seem to simply have the belief that most anime/manga are the same thanks to the exposure focusing on purely mainstream or modern series. I imagine if more critically worthy titles or more unique series were presented to them, the stigma would slowly vanish.

Yes but what do you think the percentage for each truth and incorrect bias is.

From you're view as a person interested in japanese anime/manga i'm guessing, in the quote i posted about the moderator & his comment towards Saya, & similar ideas from others like him.
Given how japanese anime/manga are a very popular export both nationality & internationally profit & marketing wise, do you find stereotypes like that aimed at japanese animation/manga are justified or is it something to be seen as nothing more than a narrow minded view from those that only see what they assume that part of japanese industry represents as a whole?



ALSO.
Another added for everyone.
What do you think about the separation or decrease in the japanese influence in the video gaming industry.
Do you feel was better served removing west & east from each other by increasing the western influence in the gaming industry.

Or do you think gaming went wrong with the more western touch & the once japanese influenced gaming world is what provided more variety in color, creativity, originality, fantasy, enjoyable gaming entertainment.

Do you feel japanese gaming was either a good or bad influence in the gaming industry altogether ?

 

[Satsuki]

Sales have been rising for the past two years, its not dying. Content is a purely subjective opinion.

As for how its perceived, a lot of people in Japan watch anime and read manga (obv). "Otaku" is a term used to describe fanatic people and the term was twisted in the western world to mean someone who just simply likes anime. I speak with Japanese people daily and none of them have ever said anything bad about people watching anime. In fact we have talked about anime many times.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Yes but what do you think the percentage for each truth and incorrect bias is.

From you're view as a person interested in japanese anime/manga i'm guessing, in the quote i posted about the moderator & his comment towards Saya, & similar ideas from others like him.
Given how japanese anime/manga are a very popular export both nationality & internationally profit & marketing wise, do you find stereotypes like that aimed at japanese animation/manga are justified or is it something to be seen as nothing more than a narrow minded view from those that only see what they assume that part of japanese industry represents as a whole?

I'd see the Saya example as a biased view, as the commentor seemed to not care of the context surrounding it. I'll admit, however, that a questionable track record for Japan's AI may influence this (eg. the popularity of dating sims and the like), but this is clearly not the case here.

As for the Anime/Manga stereotyping, I'd say it's 50-50 on the justification. The majority is indeed recycling of overused tropes and/or little more than a marketing tool, but there are still many diamonds in the rough when it comes to being pioneers of creativity.

 

[VampireWicked]

Sales have been rising for the past two years, its not dying. Content is a purely subjective opinion.

As for how its perceived, a lot of people in Japan watch anime and read manga (obv). "Otaku" is a term used to describe fanatic people and the term was twisted in the western world to mean someone who just simply likes anime. I speak with Japanese people daily and none of them have ever said anything bad about people watching anime. In fact we have talked about anime many times.

That's what i'm sensing from the opinions & comments from people, how west twists perceptions of the east & japanese entertainment.
How anything dealing japan automatically involves ecchi, hentai, school girls, tentacle.

Just open a discussion about anime & before mid thread some wack-o comments it's filled with nothing but fanservice.

I get stuff like that has a following but crying out loud i doubt it makes up the entire japanese animation industry, & the people in the west trying to pass it off as absolute fact is unbelievable.

It's like saying the only thing that makes up the western movie industry is transformers & fast and the furious because that's the only all westerners like.

Anyway tell me about artists in the japanese animation industry, how are they viewed by people of japan ?

I'd see the Saya example as a biased view, as the commentor seemed to not care of the context surrounding it. I'll admit, however, that a questionable track record for Japan's AI may influence this (eg. the popularity of dating sims and the like), but this is clearly not the case here.

As for the Anime/Manga stereotyping, I'd say it's 50-50 on the justification. The majority is indeed recycling of overused tropes and/or little more than a marketing tool, but there are still many diamonds in the rough when it comes to being pioneers of creativity.
Top

1. I completely agree.
Yes japan makes dating sims, etc but not every product produced is intended for that purpose.
That's like saying every product produced in the west is intended for mindless action.

2. Indeed.
I don't see the point of condemning an industry then passing around that idea as if it were absolutely true simply because of the popularity a particular.......ANY genre has.

 

[sei'taer]

Goku is being associated with the Tokyo olympics.

I mean that's all that needs said right?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Not to mention Pikachu being Japan's mascot of the previous World Cup, which covers the importance of the gaming industry in Japan.

 

[Satsuki]

Anyway tell me about artists in the japanese animation industry, how are they viewed by people of japan ?

Like those who work on anime/manga/LN? Or those who create doujin?

 

[VampireWicked]

Anyway tell me about artists in the japanese animation industry, how are they viewed by people of japan ?

Like those who work on anime/manga/LN? Or those who create doujin?

Either.
In the west i've seen alot ALOT of a one sided perspective about japanese animation & especially manga creators.

The members on that forum & a few others read the article Saya & focused on certain words then took off with it.

Computer graphics have improved so drastically in recent years that it’s becoming difficult to tell the difference between real life and renderings. But given a close look, I’m pretty confident in discerning one from the other. And when I first saw Saya I was convinced she was real. Only now, after looking at her revealing, skinless mock-ups, do I start to pick up on Saya’s subtle non-humanness.

Her creators, the Ishikawas, are a husband-and-wife duo who, together, are Tokyo-based freelance 3D CG artists. Saya was gently brought to life in their spare time as they attempted to balance commercial work and personal projects. According to the artists, the hardest part was achieving the moist, soft and translucent skin of girls this age. The hair, they add, is not up to their expectations.


Out of the entire article they picked out the words moist, soft, japanese, & school girl & totally went to town.
As i said before it's not a matter of people & their comments i have issue with but a the general view of japan i'm seeing by the western online communities & what's going around as if they were actual facts.


Other forums have the same beliefs.

...its it is kinda easy to say considering all their weird fetishes, hentai, interactive models, the teachers wearing nothing but bikinis and thongs. but what about america? Porn originated from america right?


2. Well, I've never been in Japan, but considering they invented hentai, well yeah, I wouldn't be surprised.

4. they made pokemon

5. The Picashu looks happy. I think it's because it's getting it's vagina opened.

6. No, they are a perverted country, the have an extremely high rape count, and don't get me started on the hentai crap. And porn did no originiate in America, it came before us.

nintendo and microsoft get all the normal games..why are sony systems the dumping ground for all the sexual deviant hentai stuff? there are all these weird pedo incest stuff spanning across ps2 to ps3 :?

2. Because Japan. Notice how none of those game ever leave the country.

3. obviously the sony fanbase is a considerable market for perverted anime fantasy games

4. Because they come from Japan where it is perfectly aceptable to grope girls on subways.

And surfing around the web on anime/manga & japanese games, the generalised idea western online communities have about japan gets much worse.

I understand japan has outrageous content but that's not all they produce & it's not like anime, manga & games don't involve stuff like Gundam, One Piece, DragonBall, etc etc etc.

Japan produced Sony, Sega, nintendo, gameboy, etc.
And it's not like no other country has doesn't produce any sexual content in the form of comics, games, movies or pin-up illustrations.

I really believe it's the popularity japanese merchandise has.
People in the west since i say about the early 2000s has started developing a really serious habit of hating something just because of the popularity & attention it gets.

 

[YoungWolf]

I'm sure there are two categories of people in Japan just like there are two categories in the US.

1. The people who love anime/manga and are proud of it
2. The people who are ashamed of it or just generally have no interest in it.

In the US it's:

1. The people who love it
2. The people who don't understand it or hate it

I don't know what you mean by the entirety of Japan being against anime and manga. That obviously could not be true when magazines like Shonen Jump are selling so well, the mascot of the Olympics is Goku, and anime/manga can be seen all throughout Japan in stores, on buildings and billboards, etc.

 

[VampireWicked]

I'm sure there are two categories of people in Japan just like there are two categories in the US.

1. The people who love anime/manga and are proud of it
2. The people who are ashamed of it or just generally have no interest in it.

In the US it's:

1. The people who love it
2. The people who don't understand it or hate it

I don't know what you mean by the entirety of Japan being against anime and manga. That obviously could not be true when magazines like Shonen Jump are selling so well, the mascot of the Olympics is Goku, and anime/manga can be seen all throughout Japan in stores, on buildings and billboards, etc.

That's what i'm wondering, why i'm asking.
There's so many in the west that swears 90% of japanese citizens think of anime, manga etc as a total waste.

And i'm asking the same thing, how is it a waste when there's things like this:

I don't understand when people say japan sees it as worthless when there's anime, manga theme parks like the west has disney world.
I can get if people has frequently visited japan or totally understood japanese culture but those not qualified on either downright making claims as such & continue spreading inaccurate assumptions around like that, i don't see the point beyond jealousy.
A simple dislike because of the attention & popularity it receives.

 

[Satsuki]

Anyway tell me about artists in the japanese animation industry, how are they viewed by people of japan ?

Like those who work on anime/manga/LN? Or those who create doujin?

Either.
In the west i've seen alot ALOT of a one sided perspective about japanese animation & especially manga creators.

The members on that forum & a few others read the article Saya & focused on certain words then took off with it.

Computer graphics have improved so drastically in recent years that it’s becoming difficult to tell the difference between real life and renderings. But given a close look, I’m pretty confident in discerning one from the other. And when I first saw Saya I was convinced she was real. Only now, after looking at her revealing, skinless mock-ups, do I start to pick up on Saya’s subtle non-humanness.

Her creators, the Ishikawas, are a husband-and-wife duo who, together, are Tokyo-based freelance 3D CG artists. Saya was gently brought to life in their spare time as they attempted to balance commercial work and personal projects. According to the artists, the hardest part was achieving the moist, soft and translucent skin of girls this age. The hair, they add, is not up to their expectations.


Out of the entire article they picked out the words moist, soft, japanese, & school girl & totally went to town.
As i said before it's not a matter of people & their comments i have issue with but a the general view of japan i'm seeing by the western online communities & what's going around as if they were actual facts.


Other forums have the same beliefs.

...its it is kinda easy to say considering all their weird fetishes, hentai, interactive models, the teachers wearing nothing but bikinis and thongs. but what about america? Porn originated from america right?


2. Well, I've never been in Japan, but considering they invented hentai, well yeah, I wouldn't be surprised.

4. they made pokemon

5. The Picashu looks happy. I think it's because it's getting it's vagina opened.

6. No, they are a perverted country, the have an extremely high rape count, and don't get me started on the hentai crap. And porn did no originiate in America, it came before us.

nintendo and microsoft get all the normal games..why are sony systems the dumping ground for all the sexual deviant hentai stuff? there are all these weird pedo incest stuff spanning across ps2 to ps3 :?

2. Because Japan. Notice how none of those game ever leave the country.

3. obviously the sony fanbase is a considerable market for perverted anime fantasy games

4. Because they come from Japan where it is perfectly aceptable to grope girls on subways.

And surfing around the web on anime/manga & japanese games, the generalised idea western online communities have about japan gets much worse.

I understand japan has outrageous content but that's not all they produce & it's not like anime, manga & games don't involve stuff like Gundam, One Piece, DragonBall, etc etc etc.

Japan produced Sony, Sega, nintendo, gameboy, etc.
And it's not like no other country has doesn't produce any sexual content in the form of comics, games, movies or pin-up illustrations.

I really believe it's the popularity japanese merchandise has.
People in the west since i say about the early 2000s has started developing a really serious habit of hating something just because of the popularity & attention it gets.

And what forums are these? American ones? Then what they say has no weight.

 

[VampireWicked]

And what forums are these? American ones? Then what they say has no weight.

I 100% agree, they shouldn't have even an ounce of weight but it's beyond common belief to the point it's a default reaction.
A stereotype.

And that's screwed up.

 

[Satsuki]

And what forums are these? American ones? Then what they say has no weight.

I 100% agree, they shouldn't have even an ounce of weight but it's beyond common belief to the point it's a default reaction.
A stereotype.

And that's screwed up.

Well to be honest with you, I don't think Japanese people care too much about it

 

[VampireWicked]

And what forums are these? American ones? Then what they say has no weight.

I 100% agree, they shouldn't have even an ounce of weight but it's beyond common belief to the point it's a default reaction.
A stereotype.

And that's screwed up.

Well to be honest with you, I don't think Japanese people care too much about it

Probably not & i'm sure they have stereotypical assumptions about westerners too but in any case i think it's better to be more informed, understanding, & less judgmental of an entire population based on few experiences from something that doesn't represent a country or race of people as a whole.

As much as poor judgements has be made based on lousy assumptions across the web worldwide you'd think people would have a clue by now.

Common habits doesn't dictate the behavior of every individual or a vast majority of people.
It's strange watching online communities beg for understanding, resist being labeled, & want others to identify with & yet be so inconsiderate obnoxious towards others.

 

[Satsuki]

I don't think anyone thinks that anime is the entirely of Japanese culture.

 

[VampireWicked]

I don't think anyone thinks that anime is the entirely of Japanese culture.

You not read the quotes i've posted, that seems to be the common assumption made by a large majority of online users.

 

[Satsuki]

Well I don't feel like going back and reading anything else so... ┐('～`┌

Japanese people like anime and artists of such things arent shamed unless they, say, only draw porn. Same as US