Anime is one of the most distinctive forms of entertainment. The seeds of ]Anime bloomed several years before World War II when the Japanese government employed animated shows to educate and propagandize the population.
Anime has gone a long way since then, bursting in popularity when it debuted in the West in the 1990s and continues to grow in popularity all around the world to this day.
Anime is an expressive term for the Japanese art of animation. It is neither a genre nor a style, but rather refers to a broad and distinctive tradition of animated entertainment that includes both comic strips TV shows, and feature films.
Keep reading to know about the subject in detail.
The Evolution of Anime
Anime has been around for nearly a century and the first known specimen, Namakura Gatana, was released in 1917 and lasted only four minutes. It went through highs and lows as it overcame numerous national and global challenges.
A diverse range of artists has utilized anime to push boundaries and tell tales. The genres encompassed by this umbrella are as varied as the art form itself. Many individuals in the West have preconceived assumptions about how anime should look.
Artistry and styles appear to have no boundaries, and artists are free to express themselves artistically. Whatever the type, one thing is constant throughout these productions: the method is rather time-consuming.
The Perils of Anime
This takes us to some of the dangers that children face while digging into the world of anime. Because so many anime TV series and movies are geared toward adults, the possibilities of a child being exposed to highly unsuitable material are considerable.
Violence, vulgar language, nudity, drug use, and sexual content are all examples of what they might detect in a live-action R-rated film.
However, since anime has grown in popularity, a quick Google search can disclose if a certain TV show or movie is intended for children or adults, which can help you limit what is acceptable. Fortunately, there is no shortage of anime suitable for children’s viewing.
Is Anime a TV genre?
Yes, it is a TV genre but not only confined to TV, Anime is more than that.
Anime usually comes in 3 media formats:
- Tv shows
- OVAs
- Movies
TV shows
Each episode lasts around 24 minutes, there are 12-13 episodes in a quarter, and each show must take an integer number of seasons.
Anything above two quarters is deemed “long-running” or “mainstream rubbish.”
OVAs
OVAs are typically 1-6 episodes long, with each episode lasting roughly 30 minutes. They are directly released on cassettes, CDs, or DVDs.
Because they are not subject to TV censorship, many OVAs are strictly for the adult audience. Many TV shows, in particular, feature OVAs that are essentially fanservice.
Movies
1-2 hours in duration, similar to a live-action film.
Anime movies are more visually appealing and action-packed than TV Anime. Hayao Miyazaki is well-known for his Anime films such as Spirited Away, while Makoto Shinkai has lately made a name for himself with films such as Your Name.
In short, A popular enough Anime will not be confined to the TV genre only. It can span all three genres, with a few seasons of a TV Show, a fanservice OVA, and a movie for a grand finish.
Is Anime basically a TV show?
Yes, Anime is a TV genre that is not only confined to the screens but you can also get Mangas, films, and video games too.
In Japan, they are directly broadcasted on television. Some Anime airs as Saturday morning programs for children. Other anime focuses on edgy topics intended for teenagers and adults.
As for content, no, Anime is way different than a TV show. Anime can be anything from a situational comedy to a detective story to an action film. Although there is no live-action setup in Anime, it does portray characters with human feelings that could relate to that audience.
Honestly, some Anime characters have better facial expressions and dialogues than the actors playing in a TV show.
What TV shows have Anime?
There are many anime TV shows broadcasted on television from time to time like Dragon Ball Z or Naruto. Here is a list of some popular Anime TV shows:
| # | Anime TV Shows | Genre | IMDB Rating /10 |
| 1 | Fullmetal Alchemist | Adventure fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Dieselpunk | 9.1 |
| 2 | Death Note | Crime, Drama, Thriller | 9 |
| 3 | Cowboy Bebop | Neo-noir, Space Western, Drama, Western, Adventure, Space opera, Action fiction, Thriller | 8.9 |
| 4 | Bleach | Adventure, supernatural | 8.2 |
| 5 | Naruto | Action Adventure | 8.4 |
| 6 | Neon Genesis Evangelion | Apocalyptic, Mecha, Psychological drama | 8.5 |
| 7 | Elfen Lied | Dark fantasy, Science fiction | 8 |
| 8 | (The) Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Comedy, science fiction | 7.8 |
| 9 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion | Anime, Mecha, Mecha Anime, Action, Science fiction | 8.7 |
| 10 | Full Metal Panic! | Action, Mecha, Military | 7.6 |
| 11 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 | Anime, Mecha, Mecha Anime, Action, Science fiction | 8.7 |
| 12 | Dragon Ball Z | Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts | 8.8 |
| 13 | Fruits Basket | Romantic comedy, Slice of life, Supernatural fiction | 8.6 |
| 14 | Gurren Lagann | Adventure, Comedy Drama, Mecha | 8.3 |
| 15 | Hellsing | Action, Dark Fantasy, Vampire | 7.8 |
Why is Anime better than TV shows?
The biggest advantage of preferring Anime over TV series is that Anime provides all of the enjoyment that TV shows do plus more. The entertainment level, scenarios, and fanservice in Anime cannot be matched to television shows.
Even though both Anime and TV shows share comparable characteristics, like plot line, protagonist, villain, fights, difficulties, etc.
Since Anime is purely animated, you will surely go crazy over some cinematic moments (like fight sequences). TV shows rely on actors and their expressions for every scene, which is impossible to replicate in Anime.
However, Anime does have a specific style to show emotions like sweating when a character is confused and a red nose or cheeks when it gets shy.
If you enjoy observing people and their expressions you might like TV shows; otherwise, with all the beautiful art style and storylines, Anime is way better than them.
Is Anime a cartoon?
No, Anime is not a cartoon.
Anyone telling you that Anime is a cartoon has either not watched an Anime or is just not interested to see the difference in them. Anime is a significant part of Japanese culture from textbooks to clothes to transport, you’d find them everywhere in Japan.
The way an Anime character looks and shows emotions is way different from cartoons. Unlike cartoons, Anime is not specifically made for children, any age group can watch Anime according to their taste.
Some other differences regarding Anime are:
Art Style
Japanese animations or more commonly called Anime are more inclined toward the “human look and stories” where almost all the main characters are human.
You’d see some differences like large doe eyes, colorful wild hair, broad legs or arms, etc.
Other than that, the sceneries of Animes are a treat to watch!
Meanwhile, cartoons are just anything that talks and makes funny faces with no basic detailing like you’d find, not even detailed backgrounds. You’d see an animal talking or laughing or even basic household stuff (the beauty and the beast reference) all singing and dancing.
Complexity
Anime is much more complex than cartoons. It takes much more effort, detailing, and script to make an Anime series or feature film.
Since Anime also ponders on adult topics like loss, grief, sexuality, violence, and social issues. They require thoroughly written scripts and art styles to make their audience hooked up to the show.
On the other hand, cartoons hardly work on their detailing. you’ll see many silly things in a cartoon-like power puff girls not having properly structured hands or miss Bellum never showing her face.
The Sequence or Repetition of Episodes
Cartoons are repetitive, they don’t have a sequence and you can watch any episode without any prior context to the plot. Cartoons don’t have an episode nor an OVA for it.
Whereas Anime have sequence-wise episodes and seasons. You have to watch them in a sequence to understand the plots and twists.
Anime, like TV shows, has serial numbers or titles, and each episode has its own name and number. Animes are similar to short films, lasting 20-25 minutes.
Genres
Anime has different genres whereas cartoon usually focuses on kid-friendly stuff some of the cartoons might show some serious topics but they are never shown as a mainstream storyline, unlike Anime.
Anime is classified into five genres:
- Drama
- Action
- Science fiction
- Horror
- Progressive Anime
The drama is concerned with emotions and character development, whilst the action and horror are concerned with battles and darker themes. Science fiction and progressive Anime are both stylized and include futuristic characteristics.
Anime is divided into five main demographics:
- Shojo
- Shonen
- Seinen
- Josei
- Kodomo
Each demographic is concerned with young girls, boys, teen boys and adult males, young women, and toddlers.
Conclusion
- There’s no denying it: anime is a wildly memorable form of storytelling. anime is an international phenomenon with fans all over the world.
- In terms of content, Anime is not just confined to kids only. Anime portrays Human anatomy and emotions more accurately than anime.
- Anime is a TV genre and also comes in the forms of OVAs, Movies, and Manga.
- There is a huge difference between Anime and cartoons in terms of art style animation, Complexity, and episode sequence.