Anime for Dummies: A User-Friendly Introduction

Admit it. You watched "Voltron" when you were a kid. And you loved it every bit as much as I did.

Believe it or not, that childhood TV classic can be pinpointed as the beginning of a cultural revolution. Ever since kids our age were mesmerized by the sheer coolness of those robotic lions flying through the air, a phenomenon that originated on the far side of the globe has steadily been invading our shores. Now, it's here in full force, and the current symbol of the fad is a bright-eyed child clutching a stuffed Pikachu doll.

Hail the rise of anime, or Japanese animation.

According to Andrew Huang, president of the Harvard Anime Society, the current craze that we're witnessing had humble beginnings. "Many people who had seen 'Robotech' or 'Voltron' as kids found out where it had come from, and that there was more of it," Huang explained. "This was the core of the fan base for a long while. In more recent times, as word got out and these fans introduced their hobby to non-fan friends, anime started to spread more and more into the mainstream."

So, what exactly is anime? What distinguishes it from the animation that Americans are familiar with (i.e. Disney or Warner Bros.)? Here's a quick introduction to the form.

Anime originates from a type of Japanese comic called manga, which features crisp, motion-oriented illustrations, as well as storylines that are often quite violent. Anime takes that unique illustrative style and translates it into the animated medium. Result? A quality of animation unmatched by anything we have to offer here in the states.

Throughout the world, anime is renown for fast-paced action and dynamic treatment of movement (the characteristic "motion lines" that accompany every punch and kick). As for the really big eyes? One theory postulates that the over-exaggerated eyes of anime characters are a way of turning the "slanty-eyed" stereotype of Asians around to caricature Americans. In any case, it's all in good fun.

Since the early days of "Robotech" and "Voltron", the range of Japanese titles available in the U.S. has become increasingly diverse. In fact, one of the most intruiging things about anime is that it defies generalization. "I wouldn't call anime a genre, because it is so versatile, and its versatility is completely exercised by Japanese animators," Huang said. "In the broad picture, the only thing completely in common is that it's animated, and it's by Japanese people."

Under the broad umbrella of anime, fans of all genres can find something that appeals to their tastes. "You have the romantic comedy, you have action, you have psychological dramas--it's as varied as live-action acting is in the U.S., and you wouldn't call live-action a genre, would you?" Titles range from very kid-friendly stuff ("Pokemon") to the ultra-violent adult material ("Macross Plus"), with various levels in between.

In general, these titles are much more sophisticated than the cartoons we're used to--the critically acclaimed "Neon Genesis: Evangelion," which features an intriguing blend of drama and action, grapples with political, religious, philosophical and human issues, all within the context of a futuristic sci-fi thriller.

Not exactly the type of story you'd expect to see Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny hopping around in.

Recently, the anime invasion has received a fresh dose of life. "Specifically, there's the airings of 'Sailor Moon', 'Dragonball Z' and 'Pokemon' on broadcast TV, as well as an expansion in the market of video tape/DVD translations of anime," Huang said. "More movies and television series are being marketed in the U.S. as we speak."

The immediate future will see the American release of one of Japan's highest grossing films of all time, Miyazaki's Mononoke Hime (translated as The Princess Mononoke) by Disney, under their Miramax label. The film, which features the dub-over voices of Claire Danes, Gillian Anderson and Minnie Driver, will open in major U.S. cities, including Boston, on Oct. 29.

The road to our cultural consciousness was not a quick one for Japanese animation. Only a few years ago, the availability of anime in America was rather limited; die-hard fans who wanted to get their hands on the latest imports had to dig around for them, in obscure video stores or at science-fiction conventions. As interest spread, however, so did availability.

According to Huang, "The 'real stuff'--shows unmangled by censorship and poor English dubbing jobs--was available only by a few small commercial companies at relatively expensive prices or through fansubs, which are subtitled translations done by fans for fans, not for profit. In the past years, the commercial scene has grown tremendously as the market has blossomed."

And that is most definitely a good thing. Japanese animation has opened countless eyes to a vast mindscape of animated possibilities, with the potential to tell stories that producers of live action entertainment can only dream about.

"I admire the Japanese greatly for realizing the variety that is accessible through animation," Huang remarked. "It's something which American society has long been misled about--that cartoons are not simply kid's fare."