Definition and Origin of Anime
– Anime refers specifically to animation produced in Japan.
– In Japan and in Japanese, anime describes all animated works, regardless of style or origin.
– The term anime is derived from a shortening of the English word animation.
– English-language dictionaries define anime as a style of Japanese animation or as a style of animation originating in Japan.
– Some sources claim that the term anime is derived from the French term for animation, but this is disputed.
– Animation in Japan began in the early 20th century, influenced by techniques from France, Germany, the United States, and Russia.
– The first professional and publicly displayed anime works appeared in 1917.
– Early animators such as Ōten Shimokawa and Seitarō Kitayama produced numerous films, with the oldest surviving film being Kōuchi’s Namakura Gatana.
– Animation in Japan faced competition from foreign producers, but continued to progress in technique and style.
– The modern era of anime began in the 1960s with Osamu Tezuka’s adaptations and the establishment of major anime studios.
– Emakimono and shadow plays are considered precursors of Japanese animation.
– Emakimono, a moving panorama, was common in the eleventh century.
– Kage-e, originating from China, became popular during the Edo period.
– Magic lanterns from the Netherlands were also influential in the eighteenth century.
– Kamishibai, a paper play, remained popular in street theater until the 1930s and inspired anime characters.
Characteristics of Anime
– Anime production focuses less on movement and more on the detail of settings and camera effects.
– Diverse art styles are used in anime, with character proportions and features varying greatly.
– Large and emotive eyes are a common characteristic feature in anime.
– Anime combines graphic art, characterization, cinematography, and other imaginative techniques.
– The anime industry consists of over 430 production companies, including major studios such as Studio Ghibli and Kyoto Animation.
Impact and Popularity of Anime
– Anime is distributed theatrically, through television broadcasts, home media, and the Internet.
– Anime is often adaptations of Japanese comics, light novels, or video games.
– The medium has seen widespread international success since the 1980s, with a widening demographic embrace of anime culture.
– Japanese animation accounted for 60% of the world’s animated television shows as of 2016.
– Streaming services have contributed to the increasing distribution of anime worldwide.
– Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train became the fastest grossing film in Japanese cinema, making 10 billion yen in 10 days.
– Beat the previous record held by Spirited Away, which took 25 days.
– Anime adaptations of Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Tokyo Revengers were among the top 10 most discussed TV shows worldwide on Twitter in 2021.
– Anime differs from other forms of animation in terms of art styles, animation methods, production, and process.
– Anime exhibits a wide variety of art styles, differing between creators, artists, and studios.
Animation Techniques and Character Design
– Modern anime follows a typical animation production process involving storyboarding, voice acting, character design, and cel production.
– Animators have increasingly used computer animation since the 1990s to improve efficiency.
– Early anime works experimented with different animation techniques such as images drawn on blackboards, stop motion animation, and silhouette animation.
– Cel animation dominated the medium until the 21st century when other techniques like stop motion puppet animation and computer-generated images were used.
– Anime scenes use limited animation techniques and emphasize achieving three-dimensional views with instrumental backgrounds.
– Anime character design is diverse but often incorporates common elements based on the target demographic and era.
– Human anime characters tend to accurately reflect the proportions of the human body, with most characters being about seven to eight heads tall.
– Some anime works feature super deformed characters with disproportionately small bodies compared to the head.
– Exaggerated eye size is a common anime character design convention influenced by Osamu Tezuka.
– Hair in anime is often lively, colorful, and uniquely styled to emphasize action and emotions.
Genres, Formats, and Industry
– Anime genres include children’s, girls’, boys’, young men’s, and young women’s, as well as genres targeting an adult audience.
– Some adult anime works are labeled as hentai, while others incorporate ecchi themes without explicit sexual content.
– There are genres that explore homosexual romances, such as yaoi and yuri.
– Anime genre classification differs from other types of animation and can incorporate multiple genres.
– Science fiction and mecha are major anime genres, with iconic series like Astro Boy and Gundam.
– Early anime works were made for theatrical viewing before being televised.
– Original video animation (OVA) refers to works released directly on home media without theatrical or televised release.
– Original net animation (ONA) refers to anime distributed online.
– The home distribution of anime releases became popular with VHS and LaserDisc formats in the 1980s.
– DVD format offered advantages like multiple subtitling and dubbing tracks, but also had region coding restrictions.
– The animation industry consists of numerous production companies and major studios like Toei Animation, Studio Ghibli, and Gainax.
– Studios often collaborate on complex projects.
– The Association of Japanese Animations is a trade association for anime studios.
– Anime episodes can cost between US$100,000 and US$300,000 to produce.
– Anime accounted for 7% of the Japanese film market in 2001 and contributes significantly to DVD sales.
– Anime songs have gained global popularity through streaming services and social media promotion.
– In 2023, the opening theme ‘Idol’ by YOASOBI topped the Billboard Global 200 Excl. U.S. charts.
– Anime genres incorporate elements popular with children of all genders.
– Some Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime
