When it comes to filmography, there are multitudinous techniques and disciplines that produce a plethora of film presentations that appeal to different audiences. There is a film concept in Japan that is known as Anime, which is an abbreviated version of the word, “animation.” In Japan, Anime is simply used to represent animation; however, outside of Japan the word is used to universally encompass all film disciplines that originate in Japan.
The true definition of Anime is a film concept using the tradition of colorful animation that originated in Japan. Originally, Anime was a local product, something specifically create for the people of Japan, but in recent years, it has become popular around the world, although it is yet to find its place in mainstream cinematography.
What makes Anime so unique is the manner in which it integrates artwork with, concepts, themes and storytelling in order to produce an entire finished product. We have reached a point in which Anime is becoming and international phenomenon, and many are asking will it ever become mainstream in the United States. The question is not “if,” but “when.”
Millennials are driving a wide array of markets, including the film industry, and their demands always include diversity and creativity. The very need to expand the modalities in which we communicate and share stories is driving the international popularity of the Anime concept. This type of animation is now being translated in numerous languages to reach millions of fans across the globe. While its popularity is not as celebrated in the United States as it is in other parts of the world, it is definitely building momentum.
The U.S. now has an entire generation that has actually grown up watching Anime programs, and they are now introducing their children to those same programs, as well as new ones. It is important to understand that Anime is not a genre, but rather a description that explains how a program was produced. In other words, Anime can be used to create programming in almost any genre, including comedy, drama, action, adventure, sci-fi, horror, etc. This means that the door is wide open to what we can expect in the Anime generated programming over the next couple of decades.
So, what makes Anime programming so special? In three short words, it is different. The programming is so much different than any other type of programming that currently exists. These differences present themselves in a number of ways, such as the breadth of the material, storytelling and other cultural nuances that are exhibited by the characters in the programs.
The art styles used in creating Anime programming can range from being flamboyant to the utterly outlandish back to the more simple and subtle presentations. With this type of range, there is literally nothing that Anime cannot touch in the way of program development. What Anime does, with almost relative ease, is give things a fresh and new appearance and feel.
So yes, we can expect Anime to go mainstream in the U.S. in the very near future.
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