Conversation About Japaninmation

Question- Japanimation? Is that even a word?

Answer- Um, yes, actually, it is! Japanimation, or in other words, Anime, has grown recently in popularity throughout the US of A in the last few years. Original adapted from a Japanese comic book form called Manga, Anime springs forth new tales of heroism, tragedy, and comedy, and have been employed for viewer discretion throughout many mediums, including the internet, television, and DVD.

Question- Just how popular is Anime?

Answer- Very, I'm glad you asked. Today, Anime is the fastest growing commercial industry for entertainment, besides Hollywood, currently in the west. DVD sales are skyrocketing, and companies advertising the trend have grown from just one company in 1992 to over 20 million companies this moment. One of the greatest revolutionaries in this style was Hayao Miyazaki.

Question- ...Who's Hayao Miyazaki?

Answer- Only one of the greatest Anime story-tellers of all time! He was the director/artist who first brought the style of Anime to the western world, and with big hits such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, he has started the trend that teenagers and adults are starting to convert to.

Question- Okay, this all sounds great but is it all Japanese?

Answer- Nope. Not at all. In fact, Americans have started their own animated shows, the most successful of which is Avatar: The Last Airbender. While whether or not the authenticity and quality is better is arguable, children have taken to the drawing style eagerly, boosting the style's overall popularity in the west. Even then, most Anime viewing styles for Anime have been either dubbed (the Japanese voices were replaced with Americanized English ones), or subbed (English subtitled added to it). Either way you go, you're bound to understand the story. The commercial companies made sure of that!

Visit more information about the popularity of Anime here!

Question- Which do you prefer; Anime or regular American TV?

-Aurelia Zipper