Anime Fanatics For Anime And Manga

The Evolution of Anime

Every child had it for their Game Boy. Then came the cards and the action figures - parents searched frantically to get that one, elusive Machamp holofoil card to complete a set. It was 1998, and the Pokemon phenomenon was sweeping across the United States, just as it had captured the imagination of millions of Japanese kids two years earlier. Everyone wanted to become a Pokemon master, the heroes who "Gotta Catch 'Em All."

Pokemon helped draw the world to the current form of Japanese animation called "anime" - a range of artistic styles that, whether based in fantasy or reality, offer unique characters and intricate storylines that appeal to a wide audience.

Over centuries, the Japanese have told their stories by drawing pictures on temple walls that slowly found their way to wooden blocks. Then the woodblock prints were stamped into books. In time, words were included with each image, and the words and pictures were placed in sequence to tell a story.

By the early 20th century, manga, as it called in Japan, had become the primary form of literature in the island country. About 100 years later, moving pictures began captivating audiences in the West, and those in Japan searched for a way to tell their stories on the big screen. Lacking the money and equipment to create locations or the means to hire Western - looking actors to play certain roles, they turned to animation to create any setting or character they could imagine.

When television took off in Japan in the 1960s, anime was a popular feature. No show was bigger than the Osamu Tezuka cartoon adventure "Tetsuwan Atom," which debuted in 1963 and was quickly redubbed in English for American audiences as "Astro Boy." It became the highest-rated syndicated show in the US, and many other Japanese animes followed. "Jungle Taitai," known here as "Kimba, the White Lion," and "Mach Go-Go-Go!" which American kids loved as "Speed Racer," became Saturday morning must-sees across the country.

Tezuka is credited with introducing the oversized eyes that allow many anime to show distinct emotions. His inspirations were American cartoon characters such as Walt Disney's wide-eyed Bambi and Mickey Mouse.

Anime remains popular in print in Japan (manga), but its worldwide appeal is video. Though it is especially viewed by those who love fantasy, action, and adventure, animes are not just for children or teens. Themes include many realistic genres, including comedy, drama, romance ,and horror. There are even progressive art films and those with a social message.

The artwork alone isn't what makes an anime a hit. The best have great soundtracks, and songs that swell with the drama. Animes also are known for intricate plots with unexpected twists and turns that follow the characters to each new video in a series.

Anime is a fixture on YouTube, where you can find millions of videos and over 3,500 channels where enthusiasts offer their favorite animes - many of them series' that originated in Japan. Subscribers rate the videos and discuss characters and plotlines.

As for Pokemon, the heroes Ash, Misty, and Pikachu continue to battle the evil Team Rocket several times a day on American TV cartoon networks. Your local video store is likely to stock some of the 11 full-length Pokemon movies, and number 12 is scheduled to hit Japanese theaters this summer. It appears the "Gotta Catch 'Em All" crew has a long way to go