Love anime? Here’s a fun blog on shocking facts about anime in Japan. Come let’s find out more!
Anime in Japan is not merely entertainment; it's a cultural phenomenon that permeates everyday life and global pop culture.
From its origins to its economic impact, anime boasts a rich history and an array of fascinating facts that illustrate its significance and the reasons behind its enduring popularity and influence.
Crazy Facts About Anime in Japan
Anime Originated In Japan
Well, this might be an obvious fact but not a lot of people know that anime was initially introduced by Japan.
This is because English dubbed versions of anime series make people innately think that anime originated from The US or European countries.
Anime originated in Japan in the early 1900s but wasn’t quite popular during that time.
However, anime became more modern during the 1950s and grew famous in 1961 when Tezuka Osamu, allegedly known as the founder of manga started drawing shonen manga.
While Disney was capturing the hearts of people in the West, Japan was inspired to make anime as great as Disney animation. Hence several animation studios began appearing all across Japan in a short span of time.
As a result, anime reached mainstream media in the 1980s and became famous all around the world.
During the millennia of 2000, anime became a new genre in the entertainment industry with a rapidly growing fan base.
- Related: History of Anime
- Related: Parent Guide to Anime
Anime Is Different From Cartoons
A major misconception among viewers nowadays is that they consider anime to be the same as cartoons for children. Although both cartoons and anime are animated content, they aren’t necessarily the same and have major visual differences as well.
One of the main visual differences between cartoons and anime is that cartoons are drawn in sequences and anime characters are hand-drawn mainly by manga artists.
Another key visual difference between anime and cartoons is that anime focuses more on a character’s physical attributes like having large emotive eyes and vibrant features.
Whereas cartoons are focused on portraying the reactions and movements of characters rather than characters’ features.
Hence why some cartoon characters appear to look similar and anime characters look contrasting. Anime series also focus on special camera effects like zooming and slow-motion to make the scenes appear more dramatic.
Apart from visual differences, anime caters to different demographics while cartoons are mainly targeted toward children and are kid-friendly. Cartoons also originated from Western countries, unlike anime which originated from Japan.
Anime Has A Variety of Genres
Ever since anime became a renowned source of entertainment for countless people around the globe, it had to cater to different groups of people. And then new genres began emerging in the anime industry.
Some of the common genres of anime are action, horror, thriller, comedy, fantasy, and romance. Then there are anime-specific genres like mecha which focuses on robots, coming of age, a slice of life, historical drama, etc.
There are also gender-related anime along with anime targeted toward adults such as:
Shonen Anime - Shonen anime is the most popular anime genre which is targeted toward young teenage boys who are aged 12 years and above. Shonen anime features a main male protagonist and also has action scenes, comedy, friendship, and sometimes a hint of romance as well. Examples of famous shonen anime are Naruto, Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, Death Note, and Bleach.
Seinen Anime - Seinen anime is a popular anime genre that’s marketed toward young adult men specifically aged 18 and above. Seinen anime also has a main male character and features action and romantic scenes. However, it may also contain some graphic and violent scenes. Examples of seinen anime are Berserk, Hellsing, Tokyo Ghoul, Attack On Titan, etc.
Shojo Anime - Shojo anime is targeted toward young female teenagers between the age range of 12 and above. Shojo anime features a prominent female character and contains friendship, romance, and coming of age concepts as well. Some examples of shojo anime are Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket, and Ao Haru Ride.
Josei Anime - Josei anime is anime targeted toward adult females who’re above the age of 18. Josei anime also contains action, romance, horror, and even sexual themes. Some examples of josei anime are Princess Jellyfish, Paradise Kiss, Bunny Drop, etc.
Anime also has a genre in the name of “Hentai” which is for adults and it features strong sexual content that’s strictly only for those above the age of 18.
There are also anime for children as well such as Pokemon, Doraemon, Shin Chan, etc.
Most Anime Series Were Adapted From Manga and Light Novels
Most anime series that have captured the hearts of countless people were adapted from a source material and usually, that source material is either a manga or a light novel.
When manga artists publish their work in manga magazines, the publishers and editors analyze how the readers view the manga chapters.
If the manga chapters receive attention and good reviews from the readers then manga artists are encouraged to publish more chapters either weekly or monthly.
Once the manga has reached a wide audience and is well-received among critiques then the manga is adapted into an anime series.
Some examples of popular anime series that were adapted from manga series are One Punch Man, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hunter X Hunter, Tokyo Ghoul, etc.
Although these anime series were adapted from their respective manga series, it’s up to the anime directors and producers to alter the narrative.
Some anime require a different storyline than the original one because it’s quite intricate to replicate an entire manga storyline into an anime series.
Captivating Characters and Gripping Storylines
Since most anime series are adapted from manga series there are a plethora of characters featured throughout the anime.
In addition, anime places great emphasis on character development that you’ll even find a side character to have a pristine backstory.
Even anime series that are original feature intriguing characters who possess captivating physical attributes.
It’s also worth praising that despite anime featuring a wide range of characters, each character is designed with unique features so it’s convenient for the viewers to identify between characters.
The lore behind anime series needs praise as well. The storylines are written to be gripping which can attract multiple viewers. The plot is what initially keeps viewers glued to the anime series before anything else.
It’s made to be very relatable to the viewers and provides coherent continuity which takes the viewers forward with it.
Evergrowing Otaku Fan Base
When talking about anime it’s crucial we mention the vast fan base as well. The anime industry has a massive fan base that’s ever-growing. In fact, anime geeks are called “Otaku” which is a Japanese word that describes people who’re obsessed with anime and manga cultures.
Although otaku is a word with a negative notion, the word itself has made anime quite popular and likable. There are otakus everywhere in the world who join events to meet up and profess their passion for anime such as anime conventions, cosplay events, etc.
Anime Is Highly Influential
Anime has proven to be an influential entertainment content lately. With a large fan base and a billion-dollar industry, it has reached the depths of the planet. The industry has not only provided viewing entertainment content to its fans but also other sources of entertainment like games, and merchandise.
In Japan, there are countless stores that are dedicated to anime-themed products, merchandise, games, and whatnot. You’ll find anime-themed manga shops all over Tokyo and places inspired by anime as well.
It’s also common to find anime cosplayers in Tokyo city which has brought tons of foreigners to Japan.
Anime is One of the Highest-Grossing Industries in Japan
Anime is undoubtedly one of the highest-grossing industries in Japan. It has earned a net worth amounting to billions not just locally but all around the globe as well.
As of 2020, the global anime market size was $22.6 billion and it increased to $24.8 billion in 2021. It’s expected to reach over $50 billion by 2030.
The highest-grossing anime franchise of all time is Pokemon with a net worth of about $110 billion.
Anime has also made its way into winning renowned awards like the Oscars.
Spirited Away is a Japanese anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki which won an Oscar award for the best-animated feature film in 2002. It also became one of the highest-grossing films in Japanese history.
What are the 3 interesting features of anime?
Some of the prominent and interesting features of anime are:
- Noticeable physical features such as large emotive eyes, a small nose and eyes, and slender physiques.
- More focus is placed on camera special effects like zooming, panning, and slow motion.
- Anime has a plethora of genres that are targeted at several demographic groups from children to teenagers, adults, and gender-specific genres as well.
What are 5 facts about anime?
- Anime is a multi-billion dollar industry that has a net worth of about US $28 billion.
- It has an ever-growing fan base all over the world.
- The word “anime” is derived from the English word “Animation” and only refers to animated content produced in Japan. Hence, animation created in other countries is completely different from Japanese anime.
- Anime characters have emotive and exaggerated physical features.
- Anime series are known to have intricate and engrossing plots.
What is unique about anime?
The most prominent aspects of anime are characters have emotive features which make them look more real. The storylines of anime series have complex structures, outstanding character development, coherent backstories, appealing themes, and also can relatability with the viewers.
