Why do the Japanese make the characters Caucasian looking?

Question

In anime and manga the characters all have similar Caucasian features yet retain Japanese names and references. Why is this?

Answer 1

Actually, the Japanese art of anime evolved from the work of Disney and cartoons like Betty Boop. The style takes on Japanese characteristics, but the large eyes remain, which helps that "Caucasian" look. Many anime characters are pretty unrealistic anyways(purple hair, anyone?). The trend for Westernized beauty in Japan is a popular one: lots of women and girls bleach their hair to make it non-black. All these combine to make for a Caucasian appearance, but the original Disney influence is one of the biggest.

Answer 2

Because Japanese people are mostly white-skinned, blacked haired, and brown eyes. I think the Japanese people decide maybe that since they know the whole world likes their animes and mangas, they decide that maybe most people will get bored with how Japanese people look since they mostly have the same main features, so they have blonde hair and different colored highlights. I hope I am not offending anybody, but when I watch something with
Japanese I can't tell the difference between most people. So, to sum it all up, I think trhey are just trying to appeal to a wider audience.

I don't make sense a lot. Even to myself.


~Cerina

Answer 3

During WWII A Man That Made That Robot Kid Astor Boy Made His Comic Look Like " White People " Cause He Wanted To Since He Was The First He Like The "Walt D. " And Everyone Copy His Style And They Wanted To Show There Roots To That First Anime

Answer 4

They are appealing to a world audience and know that there is much money and interest in the US and W. Europe but I think some of the characters do look quite Japanese.

Answer 5

I was told that japanese people tend to hold the western culture in high reverance.
They are initaly in love with it so they tend to copy their clothing and styles.. adding into their fantasy ( anime) looks quite caucasian because of the differences "we" have. where as they are all the "same" skin, hair and eyes... caucasian people vary so much in eye color and hair color.. etc.. that it is very appealing to them.
I have heard also of Oriental people getting plasic surgery to look more like caucasian people. Especially eye work.

I hope I havent offended anyone.. its just what I had heard.

Answer 6

Anime characters look like that because the main purpose of anime is the noticeable eyes. The eyes are meant to be "big" and "sparkly." And anime was originaly inspired by cartoons, so that might be why it's like that.

Answer 7

I'll give you the answer.

Believe it or not, it's the Beatles' influence and the late 60's.
The "mod clothes", the long bangs, the pointy toed boots are all from the Beatles. The girls usually wear mini-skirts and boots, even fur vests!

My job here is done....

Answer 8

Because they are trying to 'save face'.

No, seriously, they do not have to but they have this culturally ingrained inferiority complex where the consider western style beauty superior to their own. It is sad and unnecessary.

Answer 9

Japnese peolple admmire the western world also they try to sell they cartoons in the american and europen market

Answer 10

What caucasians have you been hanging out with that look like anime characters? Maybe I just haven't seen enough anime, but I think the characters look more like the "greys" from the X-files than any human race.