Do you consider Anime an art style?

Question

It's really starting to make me mad. My present art professors think that anime isn't considered an art style, so whenever I draw something anime-ish, they say I stole it from someone, and that it wasn't my own creation. They don't seem to realize that everything has a style; do they not paint blotchy like the Impressionists because their eyesight is failing? They seem so close-minded to the fact that thousands of people draw in this Japanese cartoon style, and that even individual anime and manga have their own styles. It's not like my characters look like they came out of Akira Toriyama or Rumiko Takahashi, it's my own particular anime style. Is it just me? Or are my professors being biased? I SO want to prove them wrong!

Answer 1

They are closed minded. Anime is an art style.

I had a student who won a state award for her art. She did a lot of Anime work. I recall having an interesting conversation with the closed minded type of "art professional" you describe your teachers as being.

The "professional" could not accept that there was anything original about the student's work because it was not done in what she considered a "fine art" mode. I told her that the student not only drew the scenes, but created the characters and situations, and had built several complete dramas using the characters.

Then the "professional" said, "But it's just copying. It's not really drawing. It's comic books. It's not an original style." (How she could say that after I told her the student had created the characters, I don't know. But she did.) I then asked her, "If you had a student who did paintings in the mode of the Hudson River School, would the student's work be original fine art?" She said, "Yes, if the student used his or her own composition and didn't just copy the work." Bingo! I said, "This student created all this work in the Anime style. It's an international art movement."

Your teachers are resistant. But don't try to force the issue with them. They probably want to teach you how to use a variety of approaches in your art, and if you insist on doing everything Anime style, what's the point of going to art school? You ought to expand your stylistic repertoire while you're young and flexible.

Yeah, they're wrong. But ask yourself if it's worth it to bang your head against a wall trying to prove anything to them. Just learn what they have to offer and move on.

Answer 2

Anime has a number of different styles. In recent years I have really come to appreciate alot of the work I've seen especially the background work.
I definatly do not thing your professors should dismiss it as an art form, but I do believe that many people my age focus on it too much. I know a number of people I go to school with who have struggled with aspects of the program (animation) because they have spent their entire lives drawing anime exclusivly so they have trouble adapting to the fine arts programs, and disney / warner brothers style of cartooning.
Anime is a wonderful style, with some very interesting aspects. Don't let other people influence your likes and dislikes. Keep them in mind as a reason why you should be open minded and learn from as many different aspects as you can so you can become a well rounded artist.

Answer 3

Yes. Don't let your professors get to you, though. They aren't professors for nothing, you know. They're really good at what they do and can give you really good advice on creating your own art. I've noticed that really good anime blends a tons of different artistic styles into it's own thing. Your professors ARE very narrow-minded, however, they are not stupid. If you learn from them and get good at doing their thing, you can use that and take your anime to a whole 'nother level.

I deal with the same thing in my music. I listen to hardcore and metal. You can bet my music professors were not amused. However, learning classical, blues, and especially jazz made my music a hundred times better. I mean, it still pretty much sucks, but it sucks much less now.

Maybe a better example would Between the Buried and Me. They are my all-time favorite band because they can write and play so many different music styles and yet through it all, their music is still undeniablely hardcore. The thing is, they don't get stuck in the same musical ruts the other hardcore/metal bands do, and it's because they're so well-rounded musically. I think they're one of the best bands around, check them out.

Answer 4

I don't particulary like anime, but I'm not going to deny that it is art...however I must say that you are in scool to learn, art is more than just anime, we can't draw just what we want all the time. I think his problem with anime is that it all looks the same, in my opinion anyways, and he doesn't see how you have your own style of anime because he knows nothing about it. Lay back on proving him wrong, learn first, because the more you know about art, you can find ways to apply it to your anime and make it better and then it will be easier to prove him wrong. Remember, to prove someone wrong you have to be excellent at what you do first.

Answer 5

I have no problem with Anime for it's function: a graphics expression that was unique at first mark then very quickly became common place and boring.
I'm afraid you need an adjustment as to what IS art. Take a look at these sites:

http://www.denverartmuseum.org/explore_art/temporaryExhibitionDetails/exhibitionId--103255/exhibitionType--Current

http://www.artnet.com/Artists/ArtistHomePage.aspx?artist_id=12281&page_tab=Artworks_for_sale

http://www.takashimurakami.com/

To be Art, you have to, at least halfway, stand people on their ear, stir their emotions or sensibilities. The only emotion graphic Anime handed me is zzzzs.

Anime graphics are immediately identifiable as emanating from one source.
That rips it out of the "style" category from word "go".
.

Answer 6

It all looks like kiddie-porn to me. Androgynous little pubescent boys and girls with huge dewy eyes and and suggessive clothing. A real psycho-sexual sicko dreamed this stuff up. Your professors are right.

Answer 7

Anime is art. Just ask them whether they think Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" (a urinal he entered into an art exhibit) is art...if they say no, ask them why they're art teachers.

Answer 8

When Stephen King was in college his writing proffesor didn't find his talents to be up to par, so to show up his teacher he sent one of his "Mini-Stories" to a well known magazine that published mini-horror stories. Then he shoved it in his proffesors face.

Good Luck. Anime Rox! :D

Answer 9

maybe they are just tyng to say your going with a fad an trying to broaden your horizons?

Answer 10

well of course it is because anime is someones artistic talent and they express themselves this way