Should Avatar: The Last Airbender Be Considered Anime?

[steenajack]

Basically, what the title says. I'm just doing this for fun and to see what other people think about the show. I'm a big fan for this series, so you'd think I'd just go and choose the first one. But, honestly I'm stuck between the first and third choices. So anyway, just go ahead and have fun with this. Please no flaming, bashing, or anything that would suck the fun out of this thread. Just want to keep the piece here is all; this is not meant to be very serious at all. Enjoy! :lol::lol:

[Fish and Chips]

No, it shouldn't.

I'm not really up on Avatar. I know what it is, I can recognize it, though I couldn't tell you much about it. However, I think its dangerous to apply labels to a medium like that.

One of the reasons I enjoy Anime as a medium is because it's not really held down by anything. There are no necessary genre conventions, it's a concept more than a style. The problem is the minute you start to label things by what they appear to be, you limit what they can be. Why would you think Avatar is Anime? Because it carries certain Anime sentiments? If so, then you're confining Anime within those sentiments. Is it because of the art style? Is Anime even one art style? There are certain characteristics prevalent in Anime, yes, like there are in anything, but they shouldn't define it. A mystery will usually have a murder and a murderer, but a murder and murderer isn't necessarily a mystery.

Avatar isn't Anime. It's ours, which is very much the same thing, but is also different in its own way. It's just as problematic to associate it with Japanese animation as it is to disassociate it with American animation.

[Roy Mustang]

US cartoons = American animation

Japanese cartoons = Anime or Japanese amimation


[color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color]

[steenajack]

Thank you guys for your input. :3!

[KhakiBlueSocks]

[font="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="4"][color="RoyalBlue"]In the official sense, no. "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is not an anime. Unofficially, I would put it in the "honorary Anime" position because it does share some attributes with anime, and it's storyline would make a GREAT anime series.[/color][/SIZE][/font]

[AnimeGirl]

They're actually making a LIVE action of this, looks cool, it's just called "The Last Airbender" (I need to see the cartoon XD). I'm not really sure what to say about this (especially since my bro and I are working on an anime, and not being Japanese, does that mean it's not an anime? ????), so I guess my vote is: I'm lost..... XD

[ADXC]

It's not anime. It's American animation as Roy said.

However, it is still some of the better American animation I've seen in a while.

[steenajack]

They're actually making a LIVE action of this, looks cool, it's just called "The Last Airbender" (I need to see the cartoon XD). I'm not really sure what to say about this (especially since my bro and I are working on an anime, and not being Japanese, does that mean it's not an anime? ????), so I guess my vote is: I'm lost..... XD

I highly recommend the TV series. It is pretty amazing. X3! Wonderful story, and it's pretty clean too. XD! you may even like it yourself.

And about your anime, I'd say don't worry too much about whether people consider it an anime or not. Just write what you love and don't let people's petty little arguments bother you. ! If you enjoy what you do, do it. Doesn't matter if people think it should be considered an anime or not.

BTW,(if you don't mind me asking) how is that movie you're doing coming along?

[GAINAX]

In the Literary sense Avatar isn't an anime, Japanese animation = Japanamation = anime, but in the sense of style I'm not sure if I'd consider it anime either.
It's good, but its more akin to American action cartoons with more storyline and better characters.

[Ella Edric]

I say "Who cares?..." XD It's a totally awesome show!!!! But, if it were up to me, I would say that it is kind of a mix between anime and american animation.^__^

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I don't think it's anime because it doesn't have Japanese involvement, but I haven't watched the series. It looks good though. I'll see if my local library has them.

[TGJesusfreak]

Love the series. I think it's a mix between american and japanese animation. It has similar elements to anime.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

No, it shouldn't.

I'm not really up on Avatar. I know what it is, I can recognize it, though I couldn't tell you much about it. However, I think its dangerous to apply labels to a medium like that.

One of the reasons I enjoy Anime as a medium is because it's not really held down by anything. There are no necessary genre conventions, it's a concept more than a style. The problem is the minute you start to label things by what they appear to be, you limit what they can be. Why would you think Avatar is Anime? Because it carries certain Anime sentiments? If so, then you're confining Anime within those sentiments. Is it because of the art style? Is Anime even one art style? There are certain characteristics prevalent in Anime, yes, like there are in anything, but they shouldn't define it. A mystery will usually have a murder and a murderer, but a murder and murderer isn't necessarily a mystery.

Avatar isn't Anime. It's ours, which is very much the same thing, but is also different in its own way. It's just as problematic to associate it with Japanese animation as it is to disassociate it with American animation.

Actually, this is one of the most compelling arguments for your side that I've seen. I'm convinced to switch my opinion by dint of what you've said.

[Cognitive Gear]

Generally speaking, I don't see the usefulness in the distinction outside of "Hey, this cartoon is from Japan!"

The term seems a bit redundant as well. It's not like I hear about people who do not speak French running around calling French animation "animé". People generally refer to it as "French animation".

[Sheol777]

I tend to agree with Roy Mustang.

Avatar is most definitely not anime. That being said, it is one of the greatest american cartoons to ever be made. It has a great story and .....I could go on.

A decent definition of anime I hard once was 'japanese cartoons made for japanese people'

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I tend to agree with Roy Mustang.

Avatar is most definitely not anime. That being said, it is one of the greatest american cartoons to ever be made. It has a great story and .....I could go on.

A decent definition of anime I hard once was 'japanese cartoons made for japanese people'

By that definition, the Big O's second season would not be Anime as it was merely made by Japanese people but was not, in fact, intended for Japanese audiences.

[ScalpelFactory]

It's not made in Japan, therefore not anime. It borrows heavily style-wise and all that, but 'anime' is a defining label here in the US. The more we keep it that way, the better.

[Sheol777]

By that definition, the Big O's second season would not be Anime as it was merely made by Japanese people but was not, in fact, intended for Japanese audiences.

This could open up an interesting debate.

[RainbowSounds]

Eh. who care's? It's an awesome show, anime or not.

Technically I suppose it wouldnt be anime since it's not made in Japan....but whatever.

[mechana2015]

What Fish said.

[J.R.]

I really don't care what it's considered. It's a good show.

[steenajack]

I really like how this thread is going. I enjoy hearing other peoples opinions about the show. X3!

[ST. Attidude]

I think that definition that "it has to come from Japan" is faulty.

Really, it's more like Japanese animation...what if a team of German artists or a group from any other particular nationality or ethnicity made an animation in Japan...would you still call it anime?...just some food for thought, not trying to start a fight or nothin'...

[Yamamaya]

No, it shouldn't.

I'm not really up on Avatar. I know what it is, I can recognize it, though I couldn't tell you much about it. However, I think its dangerous to apply labels to a medium like that.

One of the reasons I enjoy Anime as a medium is because it's not really held down by anything. There are no necessary genre conventions, it's a concept more than a style. The problem is the minute you start to label things by what they appear to be, you limit what they can be. Why would you think Avatar is Anime? Because it carries certain Anime sentiments? If so, then you're confining Anime within those sentiments. Is it because of the art style? Is Anime even one art style? There are certain characteristics prevalent in Anime, yes, like there are in anything, but they shouldn't define it. A mystery will usually have a murder and a murderer, but a murder and murderer isn't necessarily a mystery.

Avatar isn't Anime. It's ours, which is very much the same thing, but is also different in its own way. It's just as problematic to associate it with Japanese animation as it is to disassociate it with American animation.

But there is a notable difference between Japanese animation and American animation in art style. Even though there is a great diversity of art styles in anime, you can still recognize it as anime.

It depends on which term you want to use. If you think of anime as a general art style(like how one would define the artwork of a particular period of time like the Renaissance) then yes you could say Avatar is anime.

If you consider it merely Japanese animation then no Avatar isn't anime.

We have all our catchphrases in the anime world. Anime sounds cooler than cartoons and fanservice sounds more innocent than suggestive themes. Lawl.

[Nate]

It's not made in Japan, therefore not anime.

By that definition Naruto and Bleach are not anime.

Since they're animated in Korea.

So you might want to pick a better definition than "Made in Japan" because otherwise most anime isn't anime because they're animated in cheaper countries.

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Frankly, as long as it's got big, saucery eyes, I'm gonna call it Anime no matter what anyone else thinks. It's a style, and a style can be practiced by anyone, anywhere.

Besides, American or Japanese, it's still going to be actually ANIMATED by Koreans, which makes the whole "country of origin" thing pretty pointless.

EDIT: Dang it, Nate beat me to it.

[Nate]

Since Blitz posted I'll just make a new post rather than edit my old one.

I'll go further than what I said about Naruto and Bleach. You might respond by saying "Oh well the IDEA came from Japan so therefore it's anime even if it isn't animated in Japan." By that logic, the new Iron Man and X-Men anime aren't anime because the idea came from America, even if it's being animated in another country. Also by that logic Transformers: Animated IS an anime because Transformers is a Japanese creation.

Just throwing that out there.

Also,

Frankly, as long as it's got big, saucery eyes, I'm gonna call it Anime no matter what anyone else thinks.

So you call Betty Boop and Mickey Mouse anime?

[ST. Attidude]

Y'know Nate, that theory might make the most sense, I mean by golly, even Spongebob Squarepants is animated in Korea, and you don't see anyone labeling it so, because from what I can read, its the identities of the creator(s) that have the final say...

[Nate]

I would define anime as "A series that is primarily planned and written in Japan."

This seems to be the most fitting definition. As I said, then the Iron Man and Wolverine anime series would be anime, because although the characters are American, the anime series is being primarily planned and written in Japan, regardless of where it is being animated, as well as being why Spongebob Squarepants is not an anime, even if it is being animated in Korea the same as Naruto is (because it is primarily planned and written in the US).

[Fish and Chips]

But there is a notable difference between Japanese animation and American animation in art style. Even though there is a great diversity of art styles in anime, you can still recognize it as anime.

My point is once you reduce defining something to one thing, you make it that one thing, and hinder its ability to be or become anything more. Yes, certain artistic trends and styles exist in Anime, but if you're going to classify something as Anime because the art style looks the same, it becomes entirely about the art style. By that logic any Manga that borrows heavily from Western art is An American or European comic, and any Anime a cartoon.

Side Note: I am well aware that Manga means comic, and Anime animation; I am merely using them as exclusive terms to make my point easier to understand.