Why do Anime characters seldom have a Japanese ethnicity?

Question

This always struck me as odd. Anime comes from Japan (I’m told term “Anime” is an portmanteau of “Japan” and “Animation”) but only once in a while do the characters actually look like the Japanese people that draw them. Many are blond, in fact; Cloud (Final Fantasy) or Vash (TriGun) are good examples. It seems to me [based on my own observations] that most Anime characters look Caucasian. That seems odd since Japan’s been animating for years and years but Anime has only been picked up by the United States since the 80’s or so. The classic Anime characters don’t seem to have any of the Asian characteristics from which they originate. Am I right or totally confused? I’m not a HUGE consumer of Anime, but that detail always stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Can anyone shed some light on the matter for me?

I’m certainly not complaining about these characters, I like them a lot; I don’t want them to change. I just can’t figure out why so many Anime characters have western features. You do have a point, though; when most of the characters have the same color hair it is hard to differentiate between them (Take most of the fighters from DragonBall Z for example).

Answer 1

Why they don't look Japanese? I have no idea, but I remember watching America's Next Top Model and a Japanese stylist said that they find people with fair features (blonde hair and blue eyes for example) exotic because there not natural Asian traits.

Answer 2

Actually, the ones who are aimed at widespread local consumption, the characters or at least the leading character(s) are probably bound to be Japanese, even if their enviroment isn't Japan (though it might have a Japanese style). Though granted, the characters might not look like Japanese.

For international or 'special' consumption, the characters don't have to be Japanese.



As for many Anime characters look Caucasian.

What if I say they were based on Disney's character design?

Disney's Cinderella and Square-Enix's Cloud might have shared the same ancestor

Answer 3

Actually, the characters are supposed to be Japanese (unless it's made clear, through the character's name or otherwise, that the character is from another country). The anime/manga style of drawing was influenced by American cartoons, specifically features like the large "Disney eyes," which the anime/manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka thought allowed the characters to show their emotions more distinctly. As for the different hair colors, I remember reading somewhere that anime characters are given crazy hair colors for one simple reason - so the viewers can tell them apart. It does make sense though, considering that most Japanese people have dark hair (although in more serious animes, we do see characters more realistically drawn with Japanese features). Also, most anime characters are fair skinned because most Japanese people are also fair skinned. However, most non-Japanese people seem to equate large eyes and fair skin to Westerners, specifically Caucasian people.

So all in all, it really just has to do with the drawing style itself.

Answer 4

I've noticed alot....
I think they give them those features
but they are supposed to be japanese.
Its funny because I had a similar conversation like this and the person I was talking to said they think they are suppose to be japanese but thats how they wish they looked so they draw them that way. I love the way they look but i like anime with variation in the characters


Hana, not all japanese people are fair skin.....there are brown, tan, olive,and yellow in complexion as well in other asians

Answer 5

Yes i noticed that too, my brother bugs me about this whenever i watch anime. Although anime varies in style from person to person i think that the overall common anime style we see is influenced by western animation hence why the characters tend to have a western look. In the wikipedia article below, it talks about osamu tezuka (one of the grand daddies of anime) and how artists were influenced by betty boop and mickey mouse. You might want to read the wikipedia article to find out more info if you are interested in the exact details.

Answer 6

I noticed that, too! I always thought it was just because the Japanese people are fascinated by Americans, but Zatch Bell is actually supposed to take place in Japan, and yet all of the characters in that show look very American what with the pale skin and whatnot.

Answer 7

It is a way so show the spectators other colors than black and brown. And it is more lively to see strange colors on the screen and also helps identify a character. Because between 2 persons with black hair I have difficulties to say who is who. But if one have blue and the other green then it is easier. And besides as I already said it is more beautiful.

Can you imagine a Cloud or Vash with black hair? Not me.

Answer 8

anime characters are more often than not of japanese ethnicity. it's common for anime/manga characters to be drawn in an outrageous style. anime drawings are meant to look rather "out of this world" instead of realistic, so i wouldn't say that anime characters look caucasian (really, how many caucasians have naturally purple hair, red pupils, or uber-bambi eyes? zilch)
as for their fair skin, japanese are fair-skinned anyway.

Answer 9

I see a lot of the anime characters with western feautures too, but I see them with a very wide variety of hair, not only blonde.

Idk, maybe a lot of the japanese artists find western feautures more appealing?

I've only seen an african american anime once or twice though.

Answer 10

Many Orientals find Caucasians exotically attractive, the same way that many Caucasians find Orientals exotically attractive. Could it be that terribly simple…?

6 JAN 07, 0603 hrs, GMT.