Is there really any difference between 'anime' and 'cartoon'?
I'm going to show two very simple yet meaningful clip. In both 'anime' and 'cartoon' style.
Personally, both clips are great. Even though one looks more comical and the other more realistic, each is able to portray a good moral value to the audience. It's true that the original show added a humorous jab at the end, whereas the fan-made one had a more serious undertone to it. Even so, I don't think it makes the original any less amazing.
Most people say anime is much more 'superior' to cartoon, and that the style is only for kids. Some say they have no story plot, only one-shot stories or humorous dialog.
Of course, there are also people who say anime is 'lousy' and 'weak' because their styles are always the same or similar in a way. Too much unnecessary flashbacks, fan service and it's too long!
Both of the party are correct, yet they don't mean the other category as a whole. People who went through an anime phase, like me, knows that both of them are equally good. I watched anime ever since I was 10, and I didn't like cartoons because they're style is not 'pretty enough' or the show is so 'childish'. I would get so mad when people say anime is stupid, and it's just lazy animation and copy-cat art style.
I still enjoy anime now, but I'm in no way obsessed with it. In fact, I found myself enjoy watching cartoons just as much as anime! There is nothing wrong with watching what you love, be it anime or cartoon. And age seriously does not matter.
Moving on, 'anime' is but an abbreviation for the Japanese to pronounce 'animation'.
In Japan, anything animated is considered an 'anime'. People who live outside of Japan, however, knew 'anime' as 'the pretty and beautiful Japanese cartoon style'. This has been lead down through many generations. Naturally, people who don't know the origin of the word 'anime', stuck with its label like it's normal, or right. By the time they notice the actual meaning, some would calmly accept it but others may throw a rampage over the 'atrocious accusation'.
The art style is very much different when comparing the two. 'Anime' is aesthetically pleasing to the eye while 'cartoon' is humorously enjoyable. Both are distinct on its own, for example:
Anime eyes are more delicate looking and often shows the audience the character's personality. Distinct eyelashes can be notice and the colour of the eyes are often unnatural yet beautiful colours.
Cartoon eyes are more simple looking, and are often the same. Most of them do not include eye lashes because of its simple rounded form.
Anime eyebrows do not exaggerate much, making them much less expressive and mellow. The more exaggerated forms of expressions often distorts the whole face, or they simply replace the whole features for something more comical.
Cartoon eyebrows are more expressive. Most of the time, it is their eyebrows that does the talking.
Cartoon rarely needs abstract symbols to express drastic emotions, because their features are exaggerated enough for expressing themselves perfectly.
It's common for anime to have characters with much more idealistic figures, making them appealing and all the more enchanted to the viewers. They hardly have a variety of body shapes and features, and made most of them look like cousins or distant relatives.
Cartoon have a more distinct variety for faces and body shapes. This allows much more character into a single show, and it makes them easily recognisable.
Next will be the story plot. Much can be said about these two categories, because plot exists in every story. It's the matter of importance and whether the story itself contains educational value, humorous content, self-discovery or motivational value.
Counter pointing the fact that people say cartoons are for kids, there are cartoons out there that deals with much more serious issues. Some are just as full of suspense and action as an anime.
There are so much more good anime and cartoon out there that if we could just step out of our comfort zone and explore, we can learn so much more from the characters in these stories. All in all, nothing makes a good anime or cartoon if you can't learn anything that makes you a better person from it. Having fun and enjoying them are the most important, or course.
In the end, both 'anime' and 'cartoon' are just words people use to associate things they love about. It's okay to keep using what we're comfortable with, but it's not okay to deny the truth and fact.
