Is Teen Titans Anime?

[EcchiSpice]

I think we've all seen Teen Titans, or at least know the gist of it. But is it anime? The title song is sometimes in Japanese, sometimes in English, and the charater design is definatley influenced by anime. Also, a lot of the sight gags are remeniscent of visuals in anime. I ran into a guy at the con who would like to cosplay Slade, an awesome idea, but would the die hard anime freaks think it out of place? I'm really curioue to hear what everyone has to say. Who knows, I might make a pretty cute Starfire.  

[Nyco27]

technicaly I don't think it's anime, but seeing as there was a starfire, beastboy and robin at last years con so I think you're safe. Most of the time people won't put down anyone else for any costume. They may be like, "eh... and who are you?" though, which can get annoying if it happens to many times.

Nyco

[EcchiSpice]

I'm not really too worried about how the costumes would be received, more curious about how people perceive the show itself.  Same question for Code: Lyoco. Where are these shows produced?

I'm not even sure if the local where a show is produced truely produces an anime versus a cartoon. I watched a movie that was written in the US and sent to Japan soley for the art. The only thing that would make it anime was style in drawings. I for one think there is a lot more the anime genre. For instance, there are definatley plots and such that are rooted in US culture and Japanese culture respectively.

Is there a standard set of rules for determining what is anime?

[Radien]

Is there a standard set of rules for determining what is anime?

I'd say any animation that was produced and released in Japan. Yes, there are anime that blur the line, but unless I'm missing something, Teen Titans is not one of them.

Personally, and off the record, I usually don't encourage non-anime costumes, but at least Teen Titans is inspired by anime. 'Thing is, the artistic style might not extend to the costume design (I don't remember; I haven't seen much more than a few comic book covers).

Technically, you can wear whatever you darn well please (er...as long as it follows the safety and decency rules, anyway). But your choice of what to wear will affect how well-appreciated your costume is, since the whole point of the convention is to celebrate and enjoy a shared interest.

Example: I laughed my frickin' head off when I saw a giant paper mache`-headed Kenya Lion costume at Sakura Con. I didn't care that it wasn't anime, because... "Holy Crap! LIONS."

[zenix]

yes and harry potter didnt get a warm reception at sakuracon

[Kei-Kei]

I heard Code Lyoko was french and personally I'd be scared to see someone cosplaying anything from it.

[Radien]

yes and harry potter didnt get a warm reception at sakuracon

I'm not sure if that was true of everyone. Were people, perhaps, mostly upset about its heavy inclusion in a cosplay contest skit? Note I'm talking about 2003, when they made their first appearance.

[TomtheFanboy]

I am officially against costume snobbery!
If you're in costume then you're one step up automatically. Even if they're Klingons at a star Wars convention the good costumes get respect.

I'm taking a que from another great French animated character, Madeline;
To the cos-snobs at the zoo, Tom the Fanboy says "Poo-poo!"

[Zenn]

Even though Teen Titans is american, i can see no reason why you shouldn't be able to cosplay from the series(after all I was thinking about cosplaying as Megatokyo's Junpei).. I honestly dont know much about Code LYoko so i guess ....um....well i dunno. Just go fer it. No Harry potter. It is not even close to anime. that and the fact that it mocks the wiccan people is enough for me to dislike it.. but if you wanna go as someone from Harry potter then by all means do... or better yet don't.

[superjaz]

i think dressin from teen titans would work, (i was thinkin of making a beast boy outfit for my brother) it's so funny seein robin in anime style, the opening theam is sung by puffy ami yumi

[TomtheFanboy]

No Harry potter. It is not even close to anime. that and the fact that it mocks the wiccan people is enough for me to dislike it.. but if you wanna go as someone from Harry potter then by all means do... or better yet don't.

The Wiccan People?
Um, if you say so.
Harry Potter isn't about making statements other than "Good Wins".

You stated your opinion, so I'll leave it be now and get back to the topic. There are a lot of people who aren't as honest and let their personal opinions about anime cloud their opinions of other people. Zenn made it clear what he (she?) thinks about Harry Potter, others will say things like "Those people shouldn't be allowed in!" or other even worse statements! It's a personal opinion about what would constitute anime. I don't see HP as anime because it's a book to a hollywood movie.

However my opinion of costumes comes from my general "fandom" feelings, as long as it's scifi/fantasy/toon stuff I'm cool with it. Just like the gal who came dressed as Belle from the Disney Beauty and the Beast. Great costume! Not anime, Disney, but she was still cool. I think that you should try and get as close to the theme of the convention as possible, especially since Orycon provides a more general scifi environment that might be better for you Storm Trooper armor. However, if you reeeeeally want to wear a costume to the convention and that's all you have. Go for it.


Just remember, this is an anime/Japanese culture/gaming convention, act accordingly if you are dressed as Gaijin.  

[superjaz]

Harry Potter isn't about making statements other than "Good Wins"

the author of harry potter said with hermoionie she was aiming for a mesage of equality with the house elfs and s.p.e.w.

[princessfrodo]

Teen Titans is not an anime, but it still kicks ass.

Anime usually has better quality animation. (Look at background scenes and compare them to most known anime from within the last 5 years.  SAC, FMA, etc all have detailed background scenery while most America via Korea animation does not, and have generic character drawings.)

[TomtheFanboy]

Harry Potter isn't about making statements other than "Good Wins"

the author of harry potter said with hermoionie she was aiming for a mesage of equality with the house elfs and s.p.e.w.

OK, I should've quantified my statement somehow to water it down, but I get off on a technicallity.
Rowling said Hermione was about equality.
Not Harry, heh heh.

[Nyco27]

On the whole Harry Potter issue, wasn't Joe from Bakazoku Harry at our first year? I seem to recall people not really caring.

Im gonna have to agree with Tom on this one, If you're in costume hurray for you. Personaly my favorites at K-'04 was the Link costume and the fighter with sword-chucks (yo).

Nyco

[FilkAeris]

I don't think Teen Titans is anime, particularly since it's based on American comic books, but I don't really see a problem with cosplaying from it if you feel like it.  Harry Potter was mostly appreciated at Sakuracon, and Staze's Legolas was voted Most Stalked the same year.  For that matter, I'm debating making an Amidala costume one of these years.  So I would say, whatever floats your boat.  Just remember that in the end, it is an anime con.  ^_^

[EcchiSpice]

I'm glad to see some quality discussion.
 
In reference to Princess Frodo:

I'm not too sure about quality being the absolute hallmark of anime. However, that is generally the case with any animation aimed more at adults, whether produced here or in Japan. Case in point: Heavy Metal. Excellent animation for its day.  Definatley for an adult market.  Produced by American   artists.  But think of the sort of Saturday morning cartoons produced here and their Japanese counter parts. I don't think that Pokemon is going to win any awards for its art. It is, however, undeniably anime.

[Radien]

I am officially against costume snobbery!

People who dislike seeing large amounts of non-anime costumes are not necessarily being snobs. There are snobs out there, who really do frown on other people's costumes because they want a reason to make themselves feel superior, but please don't suggest I have anything in common with those people. >_<

Everyone has different hobbies. Few of us are only into anime, and for some of us it's a secondary hobby. Like FilkAeris said, though... remember, this is an anime convention. It's not like we ALL think anime is the "BEST THING EVAR," but at an anime convention, anime is most certainly the thing that the largest number of us have in common.

Now, I quite like seeing the occasional non-anime costume. If someone has had a long-time dream of going as a Teen Titan, go for it. But seeing people fight en masse for more non-anime costumes at an anime convention puzzles me. :?

that and the fact that it mocks the wiccan people is enough for me to dislike it.. but if you wanna go as someone from Harry potter then by all means do... or better yet don't.

"Magic" isn't presented as a Wiccan religion in Harry Potter. Magic isn't a concept exclusive to Wiccanism, either. In my opinion, Witch Hunter Robin would be much more relevant to that. But we are straying off-topic here.

Anime usually has better quality animation. (Look at background scenes and compare them to most known anime from within the last 5 years.  SAC, FMA, etc all have detailed background scenery while most America via Korea animation does not, and have generic character drawings.)

*squints* Ummmm.... not exactly....

It could be argued that cable TV animation is better in Japan than America, and that motion picture animation is better in America than in Japan, but the real difference isn't quality so much as priorities.

Japanese animators tend to put their priorities into art quality. They spend much, much more time and effort improving the quality of a frame, and less into having more frames. They also put more effort into voice acting and scene construction than they do lip-synching.

They also focus their efforts: anime characters tend to stand in one place for awhile, and then have a fairly fluid transition as they move somewhere else. Lots of still-frames in use, but it looks more well-animated if done correctly.

American animators (and Western in general, really) put top priority into constant, fluid movement. They are slightly less concerned with individual frame quality. They use less stock footage and more animation frames, but as a result, low-budget animators sometimes spread themselves thin and end up with choppy results. In high-budget animation, however, you usually see very fluid motion and perfect lip-synching.

So yeah, we always have to return to the question of "where was it made and released?" Meaning, Animatrix is technically anime and Teen Titans is not. But hey, it's all good!

[Teh Becca]

If Teen Titans is anime, would that make Totally Spies anime too?

[princessfrodo]

If Teen Titans is anime, would that make Totally Spies anime too?

Because it needed to be repeated.

But I do like Megas XLR in small doses.  It's humerous punnage is well worth sitting through. ^.^

[TomtheFanboy]

I am officially against costume snobbery!

People who dislike seeing large amounts of non-anime costumes are not necessarily being snobs. There are snobs out there, who really do frown on other people's costumes because they want a reason to make themselves feel superior, but please don't suggest I have anything in common with those people. >_<

No no no, I wasn't accusing anyone in specific.
I'm just against the sentiment of "HOW DARE THEY!?"
You should be as anime as possible because that's the con theme.
I don't think there should be MORE non-anime cosplay though, the current 5-10 percent is just fine.

[superjaz]

But I do like Megas XLR in small doses.  It's humerous punnage is well worth sitting through. ^.^

espesuly since the fight some clasic anime characters in some episods, like the sailor scouts or volteron team

[Nyco27]

But I do like Megas XLR in small doses. It's humerous punnage is well worth sitting through. ^.^

PIZZA-HAM!

Nyco

[BlackjackGabbiani]

If you're going to demand there only be anime costumes at an anime con, all the video game cosplayers will rise up in protest.

And is TT anime? Depends on your definition of anime.

[Xella]

My opinion on the whole matter: GENERALLY speaking, non-anime/video game costumes are fine at con—I was contemplating dressing as a tauren or something for next year, assuming a) I could pull it off and b) I knew I wouldn't get totally lynched.  I, however, have a personal and undying hatred for both Harry Potter and Star Wars, and will therefore be one of the ones glaring and muttering under one's breath if Snape or Stormtroopers walk by.  These people have their own conventions, and while I can understand the desire to dress up in your hard-earned costume at any opportunity, there will be metaphorical blood the next time I get a transfiguration teacher sniffing up its nose at me and saying "Fifty points from the anime fandom!" (esp. when they have no sign of a badge on them, anywhere, and are therefore con crashing; see Fanime 2003).  Hisss ¬¬#

(Plus, Belle? Kingdom Hearts, yo.  Can therefore fit.)

[Radien]

I'm just against the sentiment of "HOW DARE THEY!?"
You should be as anime as possible because that's the con theme.
I don't think there should be MORE non-anime cosplay though, the current 5-10 percent is just fine.

Ah, that's not too bad. I'd prefer 5 percent, but anyway I agree.

If you're going to demand there only be anime costumes at an anime con, all the video game cosplayers will rise up in protest.

Blackjack, that's the catch: NOBODY is "demanding" anything. Not one person in this thread has made demands of any sort.

As for video gamers, Japanese video games are technically a branch of Japanese animation. They are Japanese, and they have animation in them.

And is TT anime? Depends on your definition of anime.

The American use of the term "anime" means "Japanese animation." Teen Titans is not anime. It's "anime-styled," or "manga-styled." But not anime.

Look at it this way:

Say you're holding a Picasso art show. Somebody brings you a Van Gogh painting, and says "Look! It's a Picasso!!"  You say, "uh, no. That's a Van Gogh." They reply by saying "but they're both abstract! So it's a Picasso!!"

Picasso and Van Gogh are both great artists, and perhaps Van Gogh would fit in just fine at the back of a Picasso exhibit. But they're still two different things, so what's so wrong with saying so?...

Despite the surname of its creator at (cough) Warner Brothers (big hint *there,*) TT will be considered NON-anime in the AMV contest.

M opinion otherwise, seeing a non-anime character costume at an anime con is kinda like seeing an SCA member at a science fiction convention - if the costume is visually interesting, go for it. Problems happen when you go the other way around, such as donning a Klingon costume at an SCA event ...

I think the only risk is that the non-anime character might not be recognised. I remeber this at Sakuracon 2003, when there was a sharp increase in the number of game character costumes (especially FF) compared to the previous year. People who watched anime but weren't into computer games would go up to a 'Yuna' and say "Cool, what show is that from?"

People who get their animation fix from domestic sources like cable are more likely to watch non-Japanese anime, and they will 'get' the costume. People who torrent around and think 'Hmm what series is Gonzo gonna release next,' might not watch American television otherwise, and would be less likely to recognise the costume.

- G

[Radien]

Despite the surname of its creator at (cough) Warner Brothers (big hint *there,*) TT will be considered NON-anime in the AMV contest.

Hmm... is that you, Guy?

Also, are you saying a Japanese animator is on their staff? I'm not up on this sort of thing, so I'm not sure what you're hinting at...

My opinion otherwise, seeing a non-anime character costume at an anime con is kinda like seeing an SCA member at a science fiction convention - if the costume is visually interesting, go for it. Problems happen when you go the other way around, such as donning a Klingon costume at an SCA event ...

Good example. I never thought of it that way. I've heard SCA rumors about having to deal with a rowdy Klingon costumer at the gate once (the rumor said that he refused to leave), but I've never been to a sci-fi convention to see the flipside.

I think the only risk is that the non-anime character might not be recognised. I remeber this at Sakuracon 2003, when there was a sharp increase in the number of game character costumes (especially FF) compared to the previous year. People who watched anime but weren't into computer games would go up to a 'Yuna' and say "Cool, what show is that from?"

*sigh* I get this all the time... it's one of the reasons I decided to finally make a non-game cosplay this past year, for once. :roll:

"Ooh!! Ooh!! I know you!! You're..... *pause* ...That ONE guy!! From.... from... from that ONE game!!!"


...However, to be fair, that happens with all sorts of different subgenres within anime.  For instance, I'm a fantasy anime fan, and I don't watch Sailor Moon, DBZ, Naruto, or for the most part mecha anime; and I'm also an RPG-lover who doesn't worship Final Fantasy... so I'm already out of the mainstream loop on multiple counts.

[SailorNaboo]

I was the "Hermione" to Joe's Potter at Sakura 2003 and I got nothing but positive comments.  There was also tons of arguements on Sakura's message board that the Baka Zoku Harry Potter skit should have gotten "Best of Show" as well.  At Kumoricon 1, Joe spent some time as both Harry and Hermione (He looked so cute!) and I only heard positive.  

Considering that the new Harry Potter book will be out over the summer and our con is on Labor Day, there will be renewed interest in th costume.  If there wasn't a new book soon, I'd look at the costumes and think, 'isn't that getting old?'

As for Teen Titans... It has the same target audience as a lot of anime and the theme song is sung by Puffy AmiYumi (who now have their own cartoon network show).  I'd call the costume "fair game," and even have it be elegable for a Hall Cosplay award, but not elegable for a workmentship award in the main cosplay contest.  

Shoot, two of my most popular costumes ever were my female Strongbad and female Homestar Runner.  Not anime, but there is huge overlap in target audiences.  

You can really tell if you picked a costume that is too out of place for a con.  The year I was "Death" from Neil Giaman's The Sandman, I couldn't go back upstairs to wash off my makeup and change.  It was a great costume and all, but I could feel immediately that it didn't fit in.

[Anonymous]

Shoot, two of my most popular costumes ever were my female Strongbad and female Homestar Runner.  Not anime, but there is huge overlap in target audiences.

But those costumes tapped into another Japanese tradition: "mascot girls."

I think it's so awesome that you found the picture that inspired those. If you still have the jpeg, it'd be cool to see again.

[Radien]

Shoot, two of my most popular costumes ever were my female Strongbad and female Homestar Runner.  Not anime, but there is huge overlap in target audiences.

But those costumes tapped into another Japanese tradition: "mascot girls."

I think it's so awesome that you found the picture that inspired those. If you still have the jpeg, it'd be cool to see again.

EDIT: Bah, the forum upgrade logged me out and I didn't notice it until I posted. I intended to delete that last post, but apparently the mod hierarchy has been reset. Please excuse the mess.

[Anonymous]

Im sorry about this but it would be funny to see people dressed up like the whole One Piece crew in the mini show Soccer King for One Piece ^_^ soccer uniforms and all

[Anonymous]

Despite the surname of its creator at (cough) Warner Brothers (big hint *there,*) TT will be considered NON-anime in the AMV contest.

Hmm... is that you, Guy?

:-D

Also, are you saying a Japanese animator is on their staff? I'm not up on this sort of thing, so I'm not sure what you're hinting at.

Glen Murakami.

I've heard SCA rumors about having to deal with a rowdy Klingon costumer at the gate once (the rumor said that he refused to leave), but I've never been to a sci-fi convention to see the flipside

I don't know about Klingons, but years ago at an SCA 'war' called Pennsic there was a splinter faction called 'Tuchux,' who were fur-loinchothed barbarian characters based on a series of sword/fantasy works written by John Norman (in the 70's?) about a planet called 'Gor.'

About costume snobbery, the SCA was then rife with "Authenticity Police" and there was MUCH discussion about whether the Tuchux should be welcome at SCA events, since they aren't from a factual, documentable historical period or place. There was an 'apre moi, le deluge' tone to it; if the SCA allowed -these- then next we'll have Conan and Red Sonjia and maybe even Tarzan showing up at revels. (Stick-jock counter argument: "But they FIGHT!")

The flip-side works better because SF fans merit themseves on originality and plausibility, (the new and the possible) while the SCA merits accurate reproduction of  history, (i.e, verifiable) and their version of 'the possible' is 'could this have really happened, and if so, how close can we mimic what things would have been like?'

Also, since time-travel is a common story device in SF, there's the 'possibility' of meeting Renaissence or medieval type folks in science fiction, even a classical Greek, Roman or an ancient Egyptian civil engineer. Technically this should hold true for black-powder, pioneers,  and Civil War reenactor types, but I haven't seen Blues vs. Greys or buckskinner costumes at SF cons. Man, could you imagine - if ever a Japanese animation studio decided to take on the story of Gettysburg, or Vicksburg, or Shiloh, would that 'legitimize' basic/generic/authentic US Civil War costuming?
(I'll start a new thread on this - watch for it on 'Cosplay Chat')

"Ooh!! Ooh!! I know you!! You're..... *pause* ...That ONE guy!! From.... from... from that ONE game!!!"

Or the authentically detailed costume my wife made for me a few years back (Prime Minister of Taraku.) NOBODY recogniized the guy except a few who knew 'Vandread,' and I guess that series never got too popular in the US, or what, but it was a JOY to run into 'Magno' at Sakuracon; we each felt the other was the only person at the con who 'got it,' plus we are somewhat rival characters in the anime and that added a fun edge.

I'm a fantasy anime fan, and I don't watch Sailor Moon, DBZ, Naruto, or for the most part mecha anime; and I'm also an RPG-lover who doesn't worship Final Fantasy... so I'm already out of the mainstream loop on multiple counts.

I'm also way on the periphery of things - I got into anime in part from living and learning the language while in Japan, and in part by watching AMVs. I am a slow, plodding thinker so I like computer games like 'Empire'** and a WW2 fleet-to-fleet battle simulator in real time. It DOES take about 8 minutes to turn the IJN 'Yamato' around, ok?) as opposed to games that look like a spasm of button mashing. I love the historical stuff like the new 'Samurai 7' and the delicious mechanical details of 'Last Exile,' but I dislike Disney-ish kiddie stuff like Miyazaki. I don't buy cable, so I don't know (or care) what's on CN.

I think anime fans have very diverse tastes, but almost no one represents the 'model,' or statistical average of the group. Think of the poplulation density, where the 'average center' of the USA is in some cornfield in like eastern Kansas (ok, where ever...) There are big 'cities' of definable genres in anime: mecha, school romantic comedy, live action, jidaigekki, horror, fantasy/magical, etc. but just about no one lives at the exact statistical center.

This might develop a new difficulty in creating a parody work (like a comedy AMV) that 'everyone' will get, because as new genres evolve and develop further from the 'center,' there will be a shrinking of the common body of culturally identifiable images which 'everyone' can recognize.

Which gets back that  guy in the hall going "You .. you're that ONE guy...!" but also how a 'generic' costume like a non-descript HS uniform, a Tokugawa-era ronin, or spacefarer's dress uniform MIGHT still work, and personally I think it's a great aspect of 'do-it-yourself.' Fan art is all about creating our own stories and worlds, and if you can present a recognisable archetype even though it's not a specific example from a series some professional has already created - that can be WAY cool, because in a way, it's your own original story.

- G

**  I *still* have 'Empire' from 1983 and it RUNS in Linux! -- and I am playing session RIGHT NOW...

[Dustin]

Wait, you were the Vandread guy?

I think I ran into you in the elevator. I knew it was a Vandread costume, but I couldn't remember the name.

Been awhile since I had watched Vandread. I personally feel it was a popular anime, alot of people probably just saw it as some sort of Gundam/Eva knockoff, nothing could be farther from the truth.

[Anonymous]

Wait, you were the Vandread guy?

:-D again.

I knew it was a Vandread costume, but I couldn't remember the name.

That -IS- one of SEVERAL challenges with cosplaying that character:
- His name isn't ever mentioned, only his title, just like saying "Mr President," if a lottle more formal than addressing him as "President [Surname.]"
- He mostly shows up only for a few scenes in only the FIRST and LAST episodes of th series.

So -WHY- do him? A. He's comically bombastic, B. I have little to no hair. Most major or important anime males have about 15% hair by body wieght. There's a bald dude in Nadesico, Prince of Darkness, but nobody would recognize THAT character either. Same goes fot the bald mechanic onboard Silverna ('Last exile.') Black turtleneck amd some BDU-lookin' pants. I saw a 'Lavi' last year, but who would recognize the mechanic?

- G

[Lizzie]

Heehee! I've had this argument before over The Last Unicorn..

Honestly? If you analyze all the different facts and look at it from every angle possible...It could be counted as anime all dependant on what defines anime to you...art style or where it was produced.

And, about the cosplay thing, if I saw a Robin or a Starfire or a Beast Boy, I wouldn't demand that they change their costumes or leave the con. I'd wanna take some pictures! It's a con. People go there to have fun. The last thing someone wants to happen is some costume nazi to come up and insult them. I see Jedi, Klingons, Elves and Wizards walking around, and I actually think it's pretty neat. Do what you like.

[master-shake]

Its my understanding that anime cons in Japan include even Disney animation - The snob aspect seems to be an American thing..

Teen Titans Go! seems to have lots of in-jokes and head-nods towards all kinds of basic anime (anime in the sense that we as Americans know anime) gags - so its obvious the writers/artists are at least fans of anime..

I asked this very same question on an image post board a few months ago and had tons of people jump down my throat!

Any one who gets down on you for liking Teen Titans, or for cosplaying as one of them is just a jerk, in my opinion..  The one common thing we all share is a love for animation - period - whether its Big Eyes/Small Mouth or not..

Ok i'd raise an eyebrow or two if I saw Ariel the Little Mermaid walking around at the con - but we're all going there to have fun - Getting into a "my anime is better than your anime - you aren't a real anime fan" kind of thing is just petty and stupid..  We should be encouraging an atmosphere of creativity and sanctuary..  

Anime geeks need to stick together, after all

[superjaz]

if i saw arial i would think it was from kindom hearts, like bell at this years con and people were snapin pics like crazey

[master-shake]

if i saw arial i would think it was from kindom hearts, like bell at this years con and people were snapin pics like crazey

Ahh yeah - good point - -

Yeah, either way i'd be taking pictures - I love cosplayers - They totally make the con.

[EcchiSpice]

I am impressed by all of the phenomenal well thought out answers I've had in response to my query! Thank you, guys. I really think that it is important to take a good look at the things we love in life and realize just what we appreciate most about them. It really opens up a new perspective on our selves.

On a different note, I am suprised that no one has mentioned the purely nuts and bolts definitions of anime. (Character traits, prevailing themes, etc.) From my perspective, anime is one of those thing that's "you'll know it when you see it." BESM anyone? The themes are no less obvious. I started watching anime as a sort of break from the same old themes Disney's been shoving down our throats since our respective infancies. After seeing so much anime, I am starting to see actively repeating themes here as well. Of course, these are incredibly enjoyable stories, but in the end, I can't be the only one finding most anime to border on predictable. (I know I just shot my popularity with that statement.)

It is wonderful to find a story that really pushes the envelope, developing perhaps a different genre, or even parodying the prevailing storylines of the day. Think how great it must have been to witness the inclusion of robots and their struggle with there own existance at the very beginning, before we were overrun with just such stories.

I also think it is wonderful to see american made cartoons paying homage to their anime cousins. I see things like 'Teen Titans' as the beginning of something great - Americanime, if you will. This would be a sort of hybrid that links cultural aspects of both anime and cartoon, and forces the creation of stories that can really boggle the mind.  

Please do eleborate on themes you've noticed, and I would also love to know some of the less obvious Japanese produced animation. (Was Last Unicorn' Made in Japan? I loved that movie.)

[superjaz]

the last unicorn is american, one of it's directers also directed "flight of the dragons" a movie from the same gene as the last unicorn, i just hope that they do justice to the live action movie of TLU.

[superjaz]

the last unicorn is american,

corection theit was a co job story voices and music were american but the animation was japanese, i was looking this up and the person who wrote the book has written a sorta sequl due this fall, its kinda like a diff story  set 50 years latter in the same world and you find out what hapend to them