Calling anime a cartoon is like mistaking a Ferrari for a go-kart. Both are vehicles, sure, but they offer vastly different experiences. Here, we’ll give a break in the debate and explore seven key reasons why anime deserves its own unique space in the domain of animation.
This is a personal message for otakus: please refrain from hitting your friends if they say that Anime is a Cartoon.
Now, jumping back to our comparison of Anime and Cartoons, we did a lot of research and checked out a ton of data, which led us to these main differentiating factors.
Reasons Why Anime Is Not Cartoon
1. Target age group
Cartoons are for kids; Anime is for a more mature audience. People look down on anime because it is associated with cartoons, but it is more than just childhood drama. It requires good mental strength to see the depth of imagination and effort put into its creation.
We can agree that some anime, like Pokemon, is more meant for kids. But there are anime like Death Note and Attack on Titan that have mature themes and complex storylines, resonating strongly with adult viewers.
2. The budget spent on each episode
Creating a world-class anime costs a lot more than a few million dollars. For instance, the cost of each Dragon Ball Super episode was approximately $170,000. And yes, it has been one of the most expensive anime series to date. And when the Ultra instinct episode was released, it crashed servers of anime screening platforms.
Similarly, Gear 5 Luffy Episode 1071 of One Piece was in production for nearly seven months, indicating the level of detail and budget required for a single 22-minute episode. It’s 100x more than what a production house might even dream of spending on a mere cartoon.
3. Depth of Animation
Anime has its own unique style of creation that stands itself apart. It does not follow any other Western cartoon-type animation. Even in a screening of 100 cartoons and one anime, one can easily point out which one is Anime. Check out this snapshot of Goku’s Ultra Instinct and observe the detailing of the physique and the level of animation.
To be precise, anime scenes are three-dimensional. They focus on the background, emotions, and a lot more. More than anything, they’re beautiful, like art.
4. Exposure to Genre
Anime touches almost all genres, from sci-fi thrillers to emotional comedy to romance. It leaves nothing while giving space for everything. It’s a complete package. Cartoons are primarily meant to entertain the audience and make them laugh.
The best part is that Anime doesn’t hesitate to showcase the dark and crazy side of the world. It portrays it in such a creative way that it compels the viewers to watch until the end. The best examples are Attack on Titan (S4) and Akame Ga Kill.
5. Origin and evolution
Anime has its roots in Japan, where it began with a very basic but detailed animation style. Over the last two decades, it has developed into something phenomenal and is now reckoned by the whole world. It’s a constantly evolving art form, that pushes the boundaries of animation with every new season.
On the other hand, Cartoons have a more Westernized origin story, often featuring lighthearted themes and “happily ever after” endings, which are quite far from reality.
6. Storytelling
Compared to cartoons, anime tends to have more complex and mature storytelling. It showcases character development and many other things that create a sense of bond between anime and viewers. Conversely, cartoons have a pretty simplistic plot without any scope for plot twists.
Samuel L. Jackson himself said that Anime has the best, if not the greatest, storytelling out there“. He even mentioned that One Piece has a phenomenal storyline and plot. He is one of those celebrities who love Anime and are publically vocal about it.
7. Length of each episode
Unlike cartoons, which can vary greatly in episode length, anime episodes have a standard format of 22-24 minutes. This allows for a consistent viewing experience, with each episode building upon the previous one to create a captivating story arc. There are anime movies (of course) that follow the standard cinematic format, offering a complete story within a longer runtime.
So, Is Anime A Cartoon?
NO! Anime, by all means, CANNOT be called JUST cartoon.
So, the next time you hear someone dismiss anime as “just a cartoon,” politely correct them. Anime is a rich tapestry of art, storytelling, and diverse genres waiting to be explored by them.
