Information About Anime Online

Image via Wikipedia

The influence that Japanese anime has had on the Web is really important. In the early days of modern web communications, the Internet became an popular source of information for followers of the series that were given at that period. Aficionados of shows like Robotech, which had been a heavily debated combination of three Japanese series, opened the door for the huge presence that manga has on the web today. Many enthusiasts have preferences about animations on the web, but the large American brokers of the classification have their own niche as well. Viz Media, for instance, maintains a big presence with their offerings. Bleach, Naruto, Death Note, and One Piece are among the most cherished modern programs. As these are Viz properties in North America, they are well promoted as part of the manga Internet series belonging to Viz Media.
Fan based homepages are often the only data in English about pending Japanese anime, as well as classic series that were never available in North America. Western followers are very typically in the dark regarding such releases, and the data they can glean about these anime electronically is usually the only information that is provided to them.
The chasm that these websites fill is as profound as the complete presence of cartoons electronically. As Japanese anime continues to swell worldwide, the want and scope of websites that cater to its clientele will change with it. Web forums and blogs will certainly have to evolve to keep up with the swelling demands of a fanbase that puts incomparable effort into its own masterpieces.

Ninea loves to watch the TV Show, Wipeout. She also thinks the best anime out there is One Piece.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ninea_Vakar

Anime Basics

There are a few things that transcend cultures. Often, countries and cultures are so different that what is accepted and loved in one country is not accepted and loved in another. As a result, the core value system or language is so different that it just never catches on. However, anime is one of those special things like music or some fashion choices that have managed to cross different cultures.
Anime, which is the shortened version of Japanese term animation, is huge in Japan. It is a genre that produces massive profits and it has been around for nearly 100 years. Anime is not only released in Japan but around the world. It is translated into multiple languages, bringing in billions of dollars every year.
Anime originated sometime around 1917. Japanese filmmakers began experimenting with animation techniques that were coming out of European countries; the oldest known anime clip consisted of a samurai warrior testing a new sword that lasted 2 minutes. By 1933, companies were releasing anime that had sound.
In 1937, after the successful release of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a Japanese animator named Osamu Tezuka managed to simplify many of Disney's trademark animation techniques into something cheaper that let him both experiment with his animations and still get them out on a very tight schedule. The manga boom of the 1970s also helped the industry grow. Mangas are Japanese comics, many of which ended up being turned into anime later on. This practice is still hugely popular in Japan where the most popular anime shows are actually adaptations of Japanese manga. By the 1980s, anime had become popular and accepted by the mainstream in Japan and that also caused production to increase. When several anime shows such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Sailor Moon, and Cardcaptor Sakura were released, anime's fame became popular in overseas countries in the 1990s, further establishing anime as one of Japan's most successful industries.
Animes are defined by several unique things. While it's true that artists have their own personal vision for their art, there are some stylistic elements that are now present in all anime. These include things like very large eyes, very complex hairstyles, and elongated limbs. Body proportion is directly related to the length of a head. For instance, almost all anime characters are drawn to a standard "eight heads" and then if they are taller, another "head" of height is added. The characters also have very large eyes that can be brilliantly colored in shades like silver or purple. The colors are added with the purpose of giving the eye's cornea depth. This is done by shading the eye with a light color, the tone color, and then a darker color.
An anime character's facial expression is also very important. Their faces are extremely expressive where Western cartoon characters are not. A variety of expressions that are never used in Western animation are common place is Japan. For instance, to express embarrassment, a sweat-drop is drawn on the character's head. If a character is non-pulsed, their eyes will revert to slits. If a character is particularly emotional, their eyes will actually seem to "waver."
All of these things are common in anime. The genre has produced some of the most interesting stories the world has ever seen and continues to be one of the most profitable.

In some countries, entire television stations are devoted to anime. These stations, along with their associated websites, allow fans around the world to watch anime clips and entire episodes either on the TV or online. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Kurszewski

Bishojo and Moe Characters - The Ideal Female in Japanese Anime and Videogames

"Bishojo" is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful girl," and usually refers to genres of anime and video games that are centered on them. What is considered to be bishojo is subjective to its artists and audiences; such characters can have but are not limited to:

• Large, endearing eyes to convey her emotions -- a characteristic of the anime-art style
• An ideal female body shape -- the hourglass figure
• An emphasis of the breasts by making them large, giving her sex appeal
• A wide array of hairstyles, even those that seem impossible in real life
• Have a wardrobe that includes skirts, blouses, and dresses
• Moe characteristics

"Moe," pronounced "mo-eh," literally referring to a budding plant, is an informal Japanese term meaning a type of feeling towards anime female characters. The moe character exudes an aura of innocence, through her appearance and quirky personality; we might be attracted to her so much that we desire to be with her -- to protect her, to be her boyfriend, to be her father, because in our minds she represents the ideal female.Take the anime series, "K-On!" for example -- it can be considered bishojo and moe anime. Mio Akiyama, among fans of the series, is a popular character because she displays moe characteristics. Though she is shown to be serious, we also see her embarrassed and frightened; she generates her audience's desire to console her as well as protect her from her friend Ritsu Tainaka, who happens to tease her frequently. Mio can also be bishojo due to her hime (hii-may) cut hairstyle; though, all of the female characters of K-On! can be bishojo because the school uniforms they wear make them look cuter (subjective).
Visual novels (VNs) are a popular genre of game in Japan, and are another major source of bishojo and moe characters aside from anime series. The majority of VNs involve romance between a male protagonist and several female romantic prospects. Usually the male protagonist is depicted as a young Japanese or Asian, as it's assumed that whoever plays such VNs is a male of Asian descent, giving him someone to identify with. A player sees the world in his view, and eyes a girl whom he deems bishojo and moe. He desires to be with her maybe because of her beautiful long black hair and clumsy personality, or he identifies her with a girl he has known in real life -- he thus plays the game to vicariously have a relationship with her. In the end, he can have sex with her (in adult-oriented VNs), and/or marry and have children with her.
One might argue that bishojo and moe characters are objectifying the female sex mostly because of the nature of the anime art style. However, others argue it's not -- she offers herself for him to protect, offers herself for him to be with her, and most importantly offers her eternal love and support, not as an object but as if she were a real human female. She can represent a girl a guy has loved, and offer him a second chance with her, giving him a fantasy he cannot otherwise achieve in real life.
The world is an imperfect place and is filled with many broken hearts and loneliness. Bishojo and moe characters offer a perfect fantasy for male, as well as female, audiences to escape the harshness of the real world. It's a potent concoction that can elicit feelings of longing and nostalgia.

Are you itching for some bishojo and moe characters? Visit Pixael Soft for some free homebrewed bishojo and moe visual novels you can download and play, as well as excellent anime resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryne_Dorig