2006-12-12 10:23:52 · 17 answers · asked by Reo 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Comics & Animation
I love this question. I actually know the real answer to this. I was watching a documentary on the first japanimators to introduce their work to the U.S. The characters were originally asian looking but U.S. focus groups largely rejected the cartoons because of this. The big eyes were a way to 'Americanize' the anime to make it more marketable. Also I would imagine that that is kind of how the artists saw us. Ha! I imagine the artists were like "You want some big eyes? I'll give you some big effin eyes you little jerks."
2006-12-12 10:36:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Eyes have often been a symbol to designate character, especially in eastern art. Large round eyes spread throughout Japanese Art as Buddism came from India via China. The Buddist idea of the eyes being a gateway to the soul can be found back into antiquity. Early Ukiyo-e, woodblock portraits, and 18th century manga use expressive and rounded eyes.
In the twentieth century, animation and comics came to Japan. Many early artists were further influenced by the stylings of Walt Disney cartoons which also frequently featured large expressive eyed characters.
The combination of Eastern and Western influence contributed to this to create the modern "big eyes" style that most anime and manga have today.
2006-12-12 18:46:30 · answer #2 · answered by mathew_raven 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anime was greatly influenced by Disney.
Disney gave his characters and instructed his artists to give their characters un-characteristically large eyes. This is because many emotions can be expressed merely with the eyes alone.
The anime artists adopted this technique. Particularly the one that started it all,... Osamu Tezuka, the creator or Astro Boy. :-)
Everything that's come since then has simply copied a winning technique that gives their characters expressive emotion via the eyes. That is why they are the most prominant feature on most anime characters
2006-12-12 19:19:33 · answer #3 · answered by Lighthawk Demon 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you read a book teaching you how to draw manga,they will mention that the reason that the eyes are drawn so big is so that they are more expressive.In Japanese Manga,everything is exaggerated.Exaggeration is they key to a good manga.
2006-12-13 08:36:02 · answer #4 · answered by Jess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, American characters have large eyes, too. Have you ever seen bugs bunny? The Fairly Odd Parents? And lot of disney princess? They have big eyes, too. Anime was greatly infulenced by american cartoons, back in the fifties.
(And it's not because Japanese want big eyes, nessecarily. I am Asian, too.)
2006-12-12 19:24:55 · answer #5 · answered by Mickey the Ninja 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As an Asian female, this is my personal theory: Asians view Western features as attractive and desirable, and that includes big eyes and small pointy noses that you see in alot of anime characters. But then that's just my theory.
2006-12-12 18:29:05 · answer #6 · answered by chiapet159 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
1. Big eyes are cute and expressive
2. Big eyes are easy and fun to draw
3. Big eyes set anime apart from american cartoons
^-^
2006-12-12 23:40:41 · answer #7 · answered by bunnygirlgreen 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It makes it easier to express emotion.
2006-12-12 18:50:17 · answer #8 · answered by nukeYOU 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
because it's sooooo cute!!! the little glimmer in their eyes.
2006-12-12 18:26:11 · answer #9 · answered by Hollow ✌ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
becuse the japanes see the amaricans as big eyed and ar trying to emulate the look
2006-12-12 18:25:34 · answer #10 · answered by dirtydeathgutter 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋