Question about Japan and Japanese animation?

Question

Me and my friends laugh at the Japanese, partly because we're assholes, because when we come across japanime all we see are white people and caricatures of black people. We think its funny that a whole race of people would spend their time idolizing another race in its entertainment. Are we misinformed and the oval-eyed characters in these shows are how the Japanese see themselves? And do the Japanese truly see black people as the caricatures from Nazi and KKK propaganda? Not meant to be inflammatory, just an honest question.

I don't know if its egotistical, I'm black, but it could be that I see the world as black, white and latin, so maybe its my fault. Again this isn't supposed to be inflammatory so be nice if I'm just in the wrong. Thank you and continue with the answers.

Here are links in regards to the question of racism for the person that asked. They are from Wiki, although I wouldn't cite Wiki in an academic paper its a good place to start for useless info.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_(ethnic_slur)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jynx_%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29

Answer 1

I got a really good mark on my Uni essay just recently, I wont go into it, but it was all about anime as escapism.
Do you know Miyazaki? The famous guy of Spirited Away, Mononoke Hime, Howls Moving castle etc. he said, and I quote "Japanese people hate their own faces"
That is why they use the big eyes and yellow hair. Its escapism from what they see around them every single day. They have green hair, and pink hair too, not just blonde and brown.
Anyway I wont go into it, but you need to watch alot of anime to understand who the Japanese are, and I don't just mean the stuff on cartoon network, that's only the weird wannabe stuff that somehow gets onto cable TV. That is not the best anime that japan has to offer.

Answer 2

Japanese people have skin that varies in colour from very pale and creamy, to very well-tanned! Therefore, the skin colour of the anime characters isn't as 'off' as you might first think!!

The main reason that the 'eyes' are often drawn large and round is because it's easier to draw expression into them than it is to draw expression into smaller, narrower eyes.

As for the hair, if they all had black hair it would be very difficult to distinguish which character was which - especially in a scene with lots of people fighting!

I've never actually SEEN black people on anime - probably because I don't watch a lot of it, just what I see while my daughter's watching - so I can't comment on how they're portrayed. But if they're represented to look like Nazi and KKK propaganda, maybe it's an attack on American ethics, or a mickey-take (I'm being polite for a change!!), or maybe you're right, and the artists have seen so FEW black people that they have no true idea of what they/you might be like. Tell me the names of a couple of anime with black people in, and I'll watch if I can, then tell you what I think!

Answer 3

Don't be misled. It's an astute business observation. I'd go as far as to think they could care less. In a country where nobody owns anything because it is far too expensive everybody is probably looking for the break that will make you something of means. How do you do that? You go with what sells. How do you ascertain that? You see what is popular here - even if it really isn't, you read the reviews, even if they're vapid, then you emulate and try to make a buck. This is the heart, soul, and drive of America itself. Sheer emulation. Little or no content.

Answer 4

till you're already rather fluent in eastern and characteristic an ungodly quantity of money on your age, then the prospect is calling somewhat on the slender part. have you ever checked the language those international instructions are in? you'll likely could be in those language colleges a at the same time as earlier being fluent sufficient for college, all the at the same time as no longer earning any funds... regrettably i do not stay contained in the States so i am going to't say any Universities. Sounds somewhat like a pipe dream, see the position issues finally end up once you've the money and are waiting to observe for universities.

Answer 5

I have seen all the animes there could be, and not one time have i thought that the drawings looked like white people, or for that matter Japanese, in fact they don't look like any race, but that is why they are cartoons, animations, they are supposed to be fantastical as in fantasy. Thinking that Japanese want to make their animes Anglo looking is a little bit egotistical.

Answer 6

Japanese have small eyes and adore wide eyes and that is why they make most anime this way, as simple as that. They like putting blonde hair on characters because it looks nice, hair bleaching and coloring is very popular in Japan. it's not like all anime have blonde hair and wide eyes, some have black hair and thin slanted eyes, I don't think you watched enough anime to notice this. it's animation, so why not color their eyes pink and color their hair blue, it looks cute doesn't it?

Answer 7

The big-eyed and blond characters aren't necessarily supposed to represent actual caucasians, they're just cartoon characters.

Answer 8

what i like about japan is the fact that it's not full of these regulations influenced by the bible-belt mothers who dictate what can be animated.

who cares if they show black people with big lips and singing "mama's in the kitchnin makin shortnin shortnin bread"