DarkLordDragon
06-04-2003, 03:31 AM
السلام عليكم... كيف حالكم شباب... والله الصراحة موضوع ليس في المكان المطلوب ولكن أنا حبيت أخليكم تشوفون أحد إنجازات صديقي القديم و العزيز Hunter Gren والذي دائما يزودني بالأخبار والمعلومات حول الأنيمي... الصديق كاتب عن تاريخ الأنيمي وباللغة الإنجليزية, وهذا الذي كتبه سوف يتم نشره في المجلات وسوف يتم بيعه من النت وهذا ما كان يحلم به دائما, وضعت هذا الموضوع أولا لأني وعدته إذا حقق هذا النجاح وثانيا لأن البعض يمكن يستفيد من الموضوع, وأنا عن نفسي عجبني واتمنى يعجبكم أيضا...
===
Hunter Gren Article (http://www.aniworlds.com/features/article10.html)
===
Article - Anime on TV - 2-27-2003
Anime on TV
Since the birth of Anime, the American television market has been a player in the industry. When Tetsuan Atom made its debut in 1963 as the dream of a humble comic book artist, few would have guessed the impact it would have on the world of entertainment and the economy of Japan. Discovered by a NBC executives in Japan selling shows for syndication, Astro Boy as it came to be known in the states, started a revolution in Japanese entertainment and giving America, and the world, its first taste of Anime.
The success of Astro Boy led to the overnight development of an Anime industry filled with copycats, originals, and half way attempts that lead to what we see today. Famous names like Miyazaki, Otomo, and Rintaro all made their start in the industry that came from the humble beginnings as the gleam in the eye of a man named Tezuka.
Over the next three decades anime made repeated leaps into the American market, Kimba the white lion, Speed Racer and Robotech gave way to Transformers, Voltron, and Sailor Moon. Eventually, Dragonball made its debut. All the while Anime was slowly gaining its place in America, meanwhile in Japan it was developing into a full-fledged industry.
Today, the American industry of showing Anime has developed to a five plus hour per day airing across multiple networks and cable channels. While the early exposures where largely unchanged, as other, more mature titles where purchased for the US market the editing process began. Due to the US stigma of animation as a strictly children’s medium, shows where edited for language, content, and story. While it is debatable as to whether these changes ruined or improved the anime, it is undeniable that it gave Anime the one thing it needed most to make it in the American market: exposure.
Exposure makes market
High exposure leads to a larger fan base and while many have no clue or interest in what exactly anime is, carefull look at the TV industry allows one to follow a clear trend, if we have 100 pokemon fans in 1998, then in 2000 we have about 75 DBZ fans who now hate pokemon, in 2002 we have around 45 lovers of Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Inuyasha, and around 20 hard core otaku who have found the world of fan and digi subs.
By 2010, we have an anime industry with accolades of fans swarming in unprecedented numbers, all because a few shows debuted on TV back in the day. Following the same trend in a market, with the success of a few kids shows, networks then saw a market and got some teen and young adult shows. In time, the non-hentai adult titles are making there way to the airwaves.
Cartoon Network laid much of the groundwork for the anime industry’s current exposure on the American market. With the airing of Gundam Wing, Toonami started the ball rolling for the current state. Gundam Wing not only showed a new level of maturity for animation on American television, but also appealed to a demographic across several age ranges. The time chosen to air also made it accessible to adults watching with their children. The ratings showed the impact as Toonami surpassed TRL in ratings during the running of the last few episodes of Gundam Wing as well as the presentation of Endless Waltz.
The success of Toonami led to the creation of Adult swim, bringing shows specifically targeted towards older audiences such as Cowboy Bebop and several more incarnations of the Gundam saga. This also brought older themed shows such as Lupin III and Inuyasha to American television.
So we can see it's relative. Very few fans today didn't get their first glimpse of anime on TV and expanded from there. A good number of the shows on TV now are in the Young child market with several in the teen market and a very few in the 18-24 market.
Editing an issue of Morals
Editing has often caused massive outcry from the groups of hard-core fans. Referred to by many as “butchering” “slaughter” and even “castration” the process of altering dialog to reflect American morals and cultural understandings, as well as removal of acts of violence, fans are enraged by what the networks have to do.
As for the "castration" of anime, one thing to remember is that the Japanese have a very different system of morals than here in the US. What is fine for a 5 or 6 year old in Japan might be considered risky for a 12 year old in the US due to the far larger number of taboo’s regarding behavior, language and sexuality.
It’s no surprise to fans of any form of foreign entertainment that Americans just might be the most prudish demographic in the world market. While it is considered perfectly acceptable for children in the US to be exposed to countless acts of violence, parents seem to be bothered only when their children are exposed to aspects of romance or sexuality. While a feature film may contain countless forms of profanity and acts of graphic violence it could receive a meager PG-13, a film with minimal language and little or no violence can receive an R rating for a nipple and strong sexual situations.
Anime clearly meant for older audiences, such as Crest of the Stars and Serial Experiments Lain, have both seen unedited runs on the US networks who have recognized the older audience and fan desires, while on the more youth oriented CN, The Big O, Dragonball, and Yu Yu Hakusho all saw minimal edits. Even the Toonami showing of Gundam Wing saw very few cuts.
It all boils down to making money. We can lie to ourselves and claim it's a higher art form, but in fact even in Japan the reason anime is made is to get money for entertainment. It’s extremely rare for an anime to be made for a higher purpose but not impossible. Basically, they all want to turn a profit, and the US market is another aspect of how they can make a few bucks.
The editing has more to do with American morals than network design. The handling of DBZ shows this. Episodes cut, names changed, dialog altered, all for the almighty dollar. America is the only country in the modern world not to embrace animation as a medium for entertainment at all age levels and as a result, networks are less interested in anime in any aspect other than a children’s show.
The edits are designed to appease parents who have the mindset of “cartoon = safe for kids”. When a parent sees something that they don’t like, networks, advertisers and anyone who will listen hears all about it. Advertisers don't want to put their product spots around a show that angers parents and kids are forbidden to watch, its just not good business.
As much as fans want more Anime to be released, and possibly air unedited on TV, the editing continues. One aspect cannot survive without the other as the two are directly connected. The kids shows, reflect the past of fandom while the older themed shows forecast the future.
The End Result
It all draws back to a bigger anime market in the US, which means more obscure titles for the hard-core fans to access. Distributors are aware of the older fanbase and market and while they present edited and kiddie shows to networks they get other shows for DVD release. For every Pokemon they get for TV, we get another FLCL from the Distributors.
Networks are starting to notice the other items on the shelves and beginning to work on those titles, thus we get anime unleashed and Adult swim. ADV even has the faith in the market to risk the capital needed to attempt an all Anime Network. More anime on TV follows the upward spiral to even more titles being brought over for American viewing.
Excel Saga is a prime example of this effect. Many fans thought that Excel would never make it to America due to the extremely high number of cultural references and in jokes and yet here it is. I personally thought that although Lain was a great series, it would never air in the US, and yet, there it was. The surprises continue to shine forth and the ideas thought impossible in the past, such as the US airing of shows like EVA and Kenshin, will soon both be US broadcast history thanks to exposure and increased popularity of anime on TV.
The market grows constantly and will continue to grow as long as it gets the basic TV exposure. Thus, quantity leads to quality, and quality leads to greater quantity. A fantastic cycle in which the benefits are reaped by the fans and the industry creating a win-win situation that is unparalleled in possibility of success.
Epilogue
The only remaining hurdle to making Anime a force in America, is the crumbling of the mindset of animation as a kids only area of entertainment. While this process is quite slow, it can be expedited through more anime exposure on TV. The envelope continually being pushed by the more mature themes and content than the average animated program.
The fans can help too. When people ask you "aren’t anime cartoons, like pokemon?" as you watch EVA, retort with "Soprano's, isn't that like Sesame Street?" You can then say in all honesty that because they both had live persons as characters and lasted an hour you couldn't see the difference.
~End of rant~
*Steps off Soapbox*
Gren
===
I really liked his Article so much and since he is one of my best old friends I decied to make him happy by posting this around here and to let you know this guy's great stuff, and you will find other of Gren's stuff at this site: http://www.aniworlds.com His article gonna be puplsihed in
This Magazine (http://www.protoculture.qc.ca/Proto/Index.htm) I can't say anything more but I would say Congrates my friend and I am very glad you finally did it, I knew you would make it one day... I hope the others also congrates this guy on his achivement because this guy really deserve it and he is the one who always supported me on watching animes and writing reviews...etc
آسف شباب على هذا الموضوع ولكن وعدت الصديق أني أكتب عن إنجازه في هذا المنتدى حيث أنه كان يتابع المنتدى وكان دائما يشجعني ولذلك اتمنى تشجعونه وتهنؤنه لأنه هذا كان أحد أهدافه و لأنه فعلا يستحقه واتمنى باللغة الإنجليزية لكي يفهم وشكرا لكم... وآسف مرة أخرى وإن شاء الله إنشوفكم على خير...
===
وهذا كلمة منه الى الأعضاء:
Hunter Gren:
Anime is something with potental to be enjoied by all peoples of all nations, reguardless of language, race, region or religion, every person can find laughter, joy, sorrow and solice within the bounds of Anime.
===
Hunter Gren Article (http://www.aniworlds.com/features/article10.html)
===
Article - Anime on TV - 2-27-2003
Anime on TV
Since the birth of Anime, the American television market has been a player in the industry. When Tetsuan Atom made its debut in 1963 as the dream of a humble comic book artist, few would have guessed the impact it would have on the world of entertainment and the economy of Japan. Discovered by a NBC executives in Japan selling shows for syndication, Astro Boy as it came to be known in the states, started a revolution in Japanese entertainment and giving America, and the world, its first taste of Anime.
The success of Astro Boy led to the overnight development of an Anime industry filled with copycats, originals, and half way attempts that lead to what we see today. Famous names like Miyazaki, Otomo, and Rintaro all made their start in the industry that came from the humble beginnings as the gleam in the eye of a man named Tezuka.
Over the next three decades anime made repeated leaps into the American market, Kimba the white lion, Speed Racer and Robotech gave way to Transformers, Voltron, and Sailor Moon. Eventually, Dragonball made its debut. All the while Anime was slowly gaining its place in America, meanwhile in Japan it was developing into a full-fledged industry.
Today, the American industry of showing Anime has developed to a five plus hour per day airing across multiple networks and cable channels. While the early exposures where largely unchanged, as other, more mature titles where purchased for the US market the editing process began. Due to the US stigma of animation as a strictly children’s medium, shows where edited for language, content, and story. While it is debatable as to whether these changes ruined or improved the anime, it is undeniable that it gave Anime the one thing it needed most to make it in the American market: exposure.
Exposure makes market
High exposure leads to a larger fan base and while many have no clue or interest in what exactly anime is, carefull look at the TV industry allows one to follow a clear trend, if we have 100 pokemon fans in 1998, then in 2000 we have about 75 DBZ fans who now hate pokemon, in 2002 we have around 45 lovers of Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Inuyasha, and around 20 hard core otaku who have found the world of fan and digi subs.
By 2010, we have an anime industry with accolades of fans swarming in unprecedented numbers, all because a few shows debuted on TV back in the day. Following the same trend in a market, with the success of a few kids shows, networks then saw a market and got some teen and young adult shows. In time, the non-hentai adult titles are making there way to the airwaves.
Cartoon Network laid much of the groundwork for the anime industry’s current exposure on the American market. With the airing of Gundam Wing, Toonami started the ball rolling for the current state. Gundam Wing not only showed a new level of maturity for animation on American television, but also appealed to a demographic across several age ranges. The time chosen to air also made it accessible to adults watching with their children. The ratings showed the impact as Toonami surpassed TRL in ratings during the running of the last few episodes of Gundam Wing as well as the presentation of Endless Waltz.
The success of Toonami led to the creation of Adult swim, bringing shows specifically targeted towards older audiences such as Cowboy Bebop and several more incarnations of the Gundam saga. This also brought older themed shows such as Lupin III and Inuyasha to American television.
So we can see it's relative. Very few fans today didn't get their first glimpse of anime on TV and expanded from there. A good number of the shows on TV now are in the Young child market with several in the teen market and a very few in the 18-24 market.
Editing an issue of Morals
Editing has often caused massive outcry from the groups of hard-core fans. Referred to by many as “butchering” “slaughter” and even “castration” the process of altering dialog to reflect American morals and cultural understandings, as well as removal of acts of violence, fans are enraged by what the networks have to do.
As for the "castration" of anime, one thing to remember is that the Japanese have a very different system of morals than here in the US. What is fine for a 5 or 6 year old in Japan might be considered risky for a 12 year old in the US due to the far larger number of taboo’s regarding behavior, language and sexuality.
It’s no surprise to fans of any form of foreign entertainment that Americans just might be the most prudish demographic in the world market. While it is considered perfectly acceptable for children in the US to be exposed to countless acts of violence, parents seem to be bothered only when their children are exposed to aspects of romance or sexuality. While a feature film may contain countless forms of profanity and acts of graphic violence it could receive a meager PG-13, a film with minimal language and little or no violence can receive an R rating for a nipple and strong sexual situations.
Anime clearly meant for older audiences, such as Crest of the Stars and Serial Experiments Lain, have both seen unedited runs on the US networks who have recognized the older audience and fan desires, while on the more youth oriented CN, The Big O, Dragonball, and Yu Yu Hakusho all saw minimal edits. Even the Toonami showing of Gundam Wing saw very few cuts.
It all boils down to making money. We can lie to ourselves and claim it's a higher art form, but in fact even in Japan the reason anime is made is to get money for entertainment. It’s extremely rare for an anime to be made for a higher purpose but not impossible. Basically, they all want to turn a profit, and the US market is another aspect of how they can make a few bucks.
The editing has more to do with American morals than network design. The handling of DBZ shows this. Episodes cut, names changed, dialog altered, all for the almighty dollar. America is the only country in the modern world not to embrace animation as a medium for entertainment at all age levels and as a result, networks are less interested in anime in any aspect other than a children’s show.
The edits are designed to appease parents who have the mindset of “cartoon = safe for kids”. When a parent sees something that they don’t like, networks, advertisers and anyone who will listen hears all about it. Advertisers don't want to put their product spots around a show that angers parents and kids are forbidden to watch, its just not good business.
As much as fans want more Anime to be released, and possibly air unedited on TV, the editing continues. One aspect cannot survive without the other as the two are directly connected. The kids shows, reflect the past of fandom while the older themed shows forecast the future.
The End Result
It all draws back to a bigger anime market in the US, which means more obscure titles for the hard-core fans to access. Distributors are aware of the older fanbase and market and while they present edited and kiddie shows to networks they get other shows for DVD release. For every Pokemon they get for TV, we get another FLCL from the Distributors.
Networks are starting to notice the other items on the shelves and beginning to work on those titles, thus we get anime unleashed and Adult swim. ADV even has the faith in the market to risk the capital needed to attempt an all Anime Network. More anime on TV follows the upward spiral to even more titles being brought over for American viewing.
Excel Saga is a prime example of this effect. Many fans thought that Excel would never make it to America due to the extremely high number of cultural references and in jokes and yet here it is. I personally thought that although Lain was a great series, it would never air in the US, and yet, there it was. The surprises continue to shine forth and the ideas thought impossible in the past, such as the US airing of shows like EVA and Kenshin, will soon both be US broadcast history thanks to exposure and increased popularity of anime on TV.
The market grows constantly and will continue to grow as long as it gets the basic TV exposure. Thus, quantity leads to quality, and quality leads to greater quantity. A fantastic cycle in which the benefits are reaped by the fans and the industry creating a win-win situation that is unparalleled in possibility of success.
Epilogue
The only remaining hurdle to making Anime a force in America, is the crumbling of the mindset of animation as a kids only area of entertainment. While this process is quite slow, it can be expedited through more anime exposure on TV. The envelope continually being pushed by the more mature themes and content than the average animated program.
The fans can help too. When people ask you "aren’t anime cartoons, like pokemon?" as you watch EVA, retort with "Soprano's, isn't that like Sesame Street?" You can then say in all honesty that because they both had live persons as characters and lasted an hour you couldn't see the difference.
~End of rant~
*Steps off Soapbox*
Gren
===
I really liked his Article so much and since he is one of my best old friends I decied to make him happy by posting this around here and to let you know this guy's great stuff, and you will find other of Gren's stuff at this site: http://www.aniworlds.com His article gonna be puplsihed in
This Magazine (http://www.protoculture.qc.ca/Proto/Index.htm) I can't say anything more but I would say Congrates my friend and I am very glad you finally did it, I knew you would make it one day... I hope the others also congrates this guy on his achivement because this guy really deserve it and he is the one who always supported me on watching animes and writing reviews...etc
آسف شباب على هذا الموضوع ولكن وعدت الصديق أني أكتب عن إنجازه في هذا المنتدى حيث أنه كان يتابع المنتدى وكان دائما يشجعني ولذلك اتمنى تشجعونه وتهنؤنه لأنه هذا كان أحد أهدافه و لأنه فعلا يستحقه واتمنى باللغة الإنجليزية لكي يفهم وشكرا لكم... وآسف مرة أخرى وإن شاء الله إنشوفكم على خير...
===
وهذا كلمة منه الى الأعضاء:
Hunter Gren:
Anime is something with potental to be enjoied by all peoples of all nations, reguardless of language, race, region or religion, every person can find laughter, joy, sorrow and solice within the bounds of Anime.