Anime and Cartoons

So lately ive gotten much more into Japanese animation, mostly in movies, but shows too. I guess it all started when I fell in love with the Boondocks on adult swim. It’s a black comedy show but styled in anime. Its great. Since then ive gotten Netflix and have been watching as many good anime films as I can. Hayao Miyazaki has some great ones.

Regardless, I think what I admire most in these styles of art are the exaggerated expressions of the characters in the film. Their super happy, confused, or sad expression almost appear more human than those of real life television actors. I think this attribute of Japanese anime, parallels a fundamental pillar of art in expressing human emotions in clear regards.

Once I recognized that I myself was beginning to enjoy anime films, I realized how many American shows I enjoy that are animated. About half of the shows I prefer on television are cartoons. I think the same allure that encaptures me is there radicalized expressions of the characters. Sure the plots need to be entertaining, but whats a plot without good characters?

All in all I would argue that animation is an excellent representation of human experiences in an art form. It is much more like a drama that other evocative arts such as pictures or sculptures. It is more comical, yet within that can express a certain level of concealed tragedy, that almost all comedy possesses. I wonder if with the passing of generations that it will no longer be only children who enjoy cartoons. As I learned from a pop culture history class, the first cartoons were created for adults. They were lude rude mickey mouses who were actually entertaining. Lets see if this comes back around (if it has not already.)