Japanese Anime - is it always appropriate??

Question

As said in this article (and I agree) anime is taken for granted to be rated PG - but if you're not careful you can be watching Japanese Anime with adult ratings.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/68353/how_dangerous_is_anime_for_kids.html?page=2

I tend to watch anime that has an interesting plot. Anime with hereos, a little love interest, adventure, villians, etc is what I like.
I have seen Fruit Basket, Teen Titans, Rave Master, Pretear, etc.

Where do you draw the line when watching jap. anime?

Here I am talking about Jap. Anime NOT American. Anime.

I tend to prefer Jap. Anime but have to be careful as their rating system is different

Hey - I didn't want to start an argument or anything.
I asked for your views on the anime that is being produced today. My title wasn't great I realise as I was also talking about american anime (which Teen Titans is one).
I am not an adult - I am a teenager and I do watch anime produced for children. I think thats fine cause I like it - and if you like something watch it is what I say.

Answer 1

It's not always appropriate. I draw the line when it comes to how much gore it has. I also don't like sex in anime and manga. Such as: Basilisk - I REALLY wanna watch the series and read the manga, but it's just too gory. Inuyasha has lots of blood, but not too much for me to handle. Fushigi Yuugi has violence and....well, how to say this...i wouldn't call it "sex". I'd just call it "passionate love". but Fushigi yuugi and Inuyasha are 2 of my fav. series. so, i draw the line when the series is either a bloodbath or just plain hentai.

Answer 2

I don't have to draw the line when watching anything. I think it's amazing how he could write an article like that, while they still have little kids watching shows like Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park.
Not all cartoons are made for children, but neither are video games, TV Shows, Movies, and so on. I mean, some parents took their kids to watch Passion of the Christ and had the audacity to complain about it!

The anime you listed above are the mild anime that are made for kids to watch (With the exception of Fruits Basket, because there are some innuendos, and a little bit of homosexuality). Adult Swim caters anime for older audiences, and it's advertised on the TV everyday. Those shows do have an interesting plot, that's why it's so popular. FullMetal Alchemist and InuYasha are pretty popular, and now there's a show called Bleach. You're making me wonder how old you are now. =P

First of all, anime would be my last concern, though it seems like he's singling it out as a very negative influence in his article. For example, I know a lot of kids who watch InuYasha. The show doesn't come on until late, and even with the disclaimers and what not, that doesn't stop them from watching it. They think it's an awesome show, and that's the jist of it.

Secondly, the author states that "Avatar: the last Airbender" is appropriate, but it seems like he's saying it's better because it's an American cartoon.

".....whether they are American or not, must take the growth of Japanese anime or manga programming very seriously, especially if they do not wish for young people to be taken in by a art or style of animated programming that can be very unhealthy."

Do you see anyone in Japan becoming corrupted?
Japanese and American culture are very different. Japan is more open minded, while we...have to censor everything and create lawsuits if they're not. I bet you that he hasn't watched Love Hina, or Ghost in the Shell to make a remark like that. If either of these shows were live action, we would all know that it wouldn't be for children anyway. There are ratings, and people just choose to ignore them rather than discuss it with their children.

"There are individuals out their who try to live there life based on the fictional works of Japanese anime, simply because they are not in touch with reality, or do not wish to be."

Ignorance at its best. I want to know what the hell he's talking about. He obviously doesn't know what it's like to be on the other side of the fence, so he could just kiss our asses.

-TCC

Answer 3

I don't draw a line. I am adult enough to handle the "adult" content. Anime is not made for Americans. If you watch it on US television, or purchase the US dvds they are clearly marked with a rating system that is consistant with the American market.
The Japanese watch this stuff all day long and their society is ten thousand times better then America's.
The article on Associated Content is from a bunch of soccer moms with nothing else to do but make up propaganda. God forbid they use that time to raise their kids. I wish these people that complain about ratings would figure out that it is not the entertainment messing up the youth of America, it is the lack of parents that is the problem.

Answer 4

It's really a matter of different cultures. What's PG in Japan and what's PG in America may be different. Besides, sometimes ratings like that are just a bunch of lies. Kids these days probably have already caught up with what was too mature 20 years ago, and ratings probably won't stop them from watching adult anime anyway...

On a sidenote, I can't say that I never find western cartoons appalling or indecent (not necessarily always in sexual tones), even if they're PG or PG-13.

Answer 5

because people change with time. It was still okay in america back then to watch cartoon when your an adult but now because of peer pressure other people will call you a kid or immature. Even the cartoon age end right after grammar school graduation. If you watch cartoon in high school, other people will laugh at you. It is the same for video games. American societies contain the most bullies in the world. When video game try to progress in a new age it is often stopped by ignorant parents saying the game too violence or blaming video games because of violence. What they dont know is that parenting is their job and they believe it is the govt job to keep check of their kids. American cartoons are dying, I remember I used to watch cartoon till 7 in the 90s from after school to the simpsons. Now I check the cartoon channels and they barely show any around the same time. Besides which famous american cartoon heroes doesnt wear the underwear outside and spandex inside. Even new american made cartoons are now copying japanese techniques of drawings such as avatar and that black ninja kid.

Answer 6

Adult anime is almost always clearly labeled as to what content and what audience would consider it to be "adult" material; the Japanese culture is a bit different from the U.S., so what is 'PG' to the Japanese audience might raise a few eyebrows here in the U.S. With the growing popularity of anime here in the States, the ratings have become more precise as the western world becomes more acclimated with this particular art form...

Answer 7

if you're thinking of buying or renting, make a quick research about the anime, be it on the net (you can read the reviews) or an acquaintance who have watched it.
if its on tv, well by few episodes you can already know if you like the story right? so if its leaning towards frivolously perverted, then stop watching =)

i like:
fruits basket, pretear and rave master too!
ouran highschool club, hunterxhunter (although no lovestory), yuyu hakusho, DNangel, Full Metal Alchemist...

i like them funny, sweet, good plot and twists, and those which has good lessons along the lines.

Answer 8

Considering there's a porn genre in anime, it's most certainly not always appropriate for everyone. I don't really "draw a line," but I don't watch things that are unappealing to me.

And... Teen Titans is not anime.

Answer 9

you have to be very cautious and if you are an adult investigate any show regardless of anime or not, before you let your kid watch it.

this being said, I prefer anime with drama that makes you think, or comedy, which can be semi perverted, but oh well as an adult, I'm pretty sure I can handle myself.

Answer 10

There are levels of Japanese Anime just as there are levels of all entertainment. That's why there's Adult Swim.