Anime Character Styles

Anime, also known as Japanese animation, is a specific genre of animation that is based on manga, which is a class of comics. Anime has a very distinct style and differs greatly from Western cartoons and animation.
 
 
Anime characters, just as characters in most types of animation, are generally people, but can be animals or other types of beings. One anime series, "Hellsing," which is an anime series and a manga series, even has a cast of vampire characters. Other popular anime characters include:
  • anime aliens
  • anime angels
  • anime cats
  • anime dogs.
Anime Style
 
In addition to the distinct anime character styles, the actual animation involved sets anime apart from other animation styles. Anime uses less movement and emphasizes action rather than movement. This makes anime both easier and less costly to produce.
 
What sets anime characters apart from other animated characters? A number of factors make them distinguishable from Western animated characters.

Anime Features and Attire

For one, anime characters generally have extremely big hair. Spiky hair that extends much farther than most normal hair is a regular element of anime, as is hair that comes in irregular colors, such as orange, red, pink or bright yellow. While some characters have normal hair colors, the big hair theme almost never varies.
 
The facial features of anime characters also differ from the faces present in other animation styles. Features are somewhat more exaggerated than normal features, and tend to be less detailed than features in American animation.
 
Anime characters' mouths are not designed to look as though they are actually speaking the words they are saying. Anime mouths will open and close with speech, but they are not as detailed and shaped as the mouths in cartoon characters in other animation styles.
 
The clothing featured in anime series varies depending on the genre of the particular anime. Medieval clothing, space suits, karate uniforms and sometimes even regular clothing like T-shirts and shorts are featured. However, common themes in anime clothing include bright colors, clean lines and eastern-influenced clothing. Another common occurrence is the typical "school girl" outfit, though again with exaggerated bright colors. Belts and chains are often worn by anime characters.

Anime Weaponry and Violence

Unlike most cartoons created in the United States and other western countries, anime contains a great deal of fighting and violence in some cases.
 
Thus, another common element in anime character styles is the carrying of weapons. Most commonly, the weapons present are those for fighting and are also eastern-influenced. Some common weapons include:
  • chains
  • nun-chuks
  • swords.
Even children in anime features seem to carry weapons, which is very different from American animation.
 
This is also one reason that some anime series are edited and cut in America and other countries. The theme of fighting and violence in anime is something that is not esteemed in other countries.
 
In addition to the fighting that occurs with weapons, many anime series feature characters with supernatural abilities or special powers. These characters often fight using their special abilities. This common anime theme is less common in American and other Western animation styles.
 
Resources
 
Wikihow (n.d.). How to Act Like an Anime or Manga Character. Retrieved January 8, 2008, from the Wikihow Web site: http://www.wikihow.com/Act-Like-an-Anime-or-Manga-Character.