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Japanese Animation Catching on in U.S.
AP via Yahoo ^ | Thu Dec 9, 3:30 PM ET | By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer

Posted on 12/09/2004 10:24:12 PM PST by Simmy2.5

By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer

TOKYO - Animation in America once meant Mickey Mouse, Snow White and Winnie the Pooh. These days, it's just as likely to mean Japanese fighting cyborgs, doe-eyed schoolgirls and sinister monsters — thanks in large part to people like John Ledford.

The 36-year-old American is one of the top foreign distributors of Japanese "manga" comics and animation, known as "anime," building his fortune on a genre that is rapidly changing from a niche market to a mass phenomenon.

Ledford, who's so busy his dubbing studio in Houston runs 24 hours a day, says the key to the success of Japanese manga and anime in the United States is their widely varied, cutting-edge subject matter.

"We're kind of like the anti-Disney," Ledford, a bespectacled, fast-talking man with a friendly smile, said during a recent visit to Tokyo. "Disney is very family type. We are appealing to the video-game, PlayStation, Generation X, Generation Y kind of crowd in America."

Although American animation releases, such as "Toy Story," "Shrek" and "The Incredibles," continue to wow audiences, they are largely aimed at children. Japanese anime and manga spans a wide range of topics, including science fiction, horror-thrillers and soap-operatic melodrama. At American video-rental shops, whole shelves are taken up by titles like "Ninja Resurrection," "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040."

One animation, "Ghost in the Shell" takes place in a futuristic world, where memories become individual identities that jump like spirits from one mechanical body to another, a dark science fiction that raises questions about death and the metaphysical threat from technology.

Another, "Apocalpyse Meow," chronicles the adventures of three brave rabbits fighting as American soldiers in the Vietnam War. The rabbits tromp through jungles dressed in camouflage and wielding machine guns, taking part in nightmarish battles amid smoking explosions and hovering helicopters.

Kathie Borders, who runs Wizzywig Collectibles, a store devoted to manga and anime in Ann Arbor, Mich., which carries Ledford's videos and books, says the popularity of Pokemon and YuGiOh! — perhaps the best-known characters — has propelled a boom in anime that's not only for the usually male, 20-something video-game-loving crowd. It's now drawing fans of all ages, and increasingly, women.

"They're fascinated by the difference in the culture," Borders said in a telephone interview, giving as an example stories starring Japanese schoolgirls. "They like reading something that's not the normal, run-of-the-mill story that they might have been used to."

The heroines may wear uniforms and go to schools that have strict rules compared to American schools, but universal themes, such as falling in love and growing up, transcend cultural boundaries, she said.

Ledford, who speaks a little Japanese, started out by bringing video games from Japan to the United States after dropping out of college. He later expanded into manga and anime.

His first anime deal was in 1992 for the cartoon version of his best-selling video-game "Devil Hunter Yoko," about a teenager who defeats goblins — an investment returned in full in just three months. More recently, Ledford's A.D. Vision Inc. has been taking part in funding for Japanese animation. His film unit now records $150 million in annual sales.

Ledford also has 1,000 manga books under license and publishes Newtype USA, the English-language version of a top manga and animation monthly magazine. His Anime Network moved from video-on-demand to a national cable network in July.

Manga and anime may not be for everyone with their heavy dosage of corny romanticism, blood-splattering violence and pubescent sense of erotica. But both are clearly no longer just for Japanese geeks as their counterparts in the United States, Europe and other parts of Asia simply can't get enough.

Shoji Udagawa, vice president at Kadokawa Pictures Inc., a major Japanese film studio, said Ledford understands anime and can help create works that will appeal to Americans as well as to Japanese. Americans tend to like anime with a darker ambiance such as those with robots, he said.

"He fits in well with Japanese but he has something that Japanese don't have," Udagawa said.

Bandai Co. Ltd., a major Japanese toymaker, and electronics and entertainment giant Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news) (news - web sites). also distribute anime in the United States, such as "Gundam," "Astro Boy" and "Cowboy Bebop." But the established companies tend to look for sure winners, Ledford says, while he offers a broader lineup.

Pokemon alone earned about $29 billion around the world since 1997, and the U.S. anime business, including licensed character goods and box-office revenue, is estimated at $4 billion a year, according to the Japanese government.

Works like "Spirited Away" by Hayao Miyazaki, which won an Oscar and the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival, are helping raise anime's reputation.

Kelly Lamb, a 14-year-old Ann Arbor high school student, has never been to Japan but is an avid anime fan and sometimes makes her own anime-inspired costumes.

"It's so funny and so hysterical," she said of "Excel Saga," one of her favorites. "If you're really feeling down, it's so funny it cheers you up."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Japan; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: anime; antidisney; astroboy; disney; gospeedracergo; japan; kimbathewhitelion; occult
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To: GretchenM

American animation still has its place. IMO, the only reason why they are slowly being pushed aside by Japanese anime is because American animated movies and cartoons no longer have the great stories they used to tell. This IMO, is due to Disneys (which dominated the format before anime and is when the idea that cartoons are a 'kids' thing) basically abandoning the format, and what they are pushing on us is crap (you can even argue it's due to liberalism [especially if you look at the themes of the cartoons they now produce [Pocohantas for example]). Pixar might be the exception, but as you know, Pixar is not a part of Disney. And despite what some people say, it isn't because of the animation style. "The Incredibles", with its great story, would've worked whether it was hand drawn or CGI. As for Pixar, once Cars is out, they will leave Disney. Many animators left Disney because of the change of direction there.

Another interesting thing to note, some of the few animated American series I love, are anime influenced. "Teen Titans" (yets, kids show. But an intelligent kids show) has many obvious anime influenced design. Also true for "Totally Spies" (umm...hehe. Yeah, I like this series too. Don't ask why).


41 posted on 12/10/2004 12:12:29 AM PST by Simmy2.5 (Kerry has been relieved of duty!)
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To: Mustng959

You may like some of the Tezuka shorts. He created Astro Boy (first as a comic book) but in his later years he was experimenting with different styles.

His shorts toured the animation short festivals (back when Spike & Mike were funny rather than pushing bad taste).

I like all sorts of animation. Right now I'm more geared for the Rocky & Bullwinkle boxed sets, Private Snafu's collected shorts, and Disney's Victory Through Air Power.


42 posted on 12/10/2004 12:16:40 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: Porterville

Yep. I love it.

Cartoonish? I wouldn't say so. Its style of animation is different from most anime I suppose. A bit... brighter, more fluid, I guess.

No big deal though. It's a movie that I don't expect people to like quite as much as I do. It just gets to me on some deep down, personal level. I love the story, the moral ambiguity of the whole situation, the characters, etc. I just love the movie.

And you're right about "Fireflies". Pretty gutsy film when you think about it. I bet even most Japanese filmmakers wouldn't want to tackle that story as an animation. It would NEVER get made in Hollywood. Even if Hollywood started making anime style films, they wouldn't make a "Grave of the Fireflies".

And it's true, American cartoons are taking on anime aspects. The eyes are most notable.


43 posted on 12/10/2004 12:17:41 AM PST by baseballfanjm
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To: Porterville

The DC-Warner Bros. superhero cartoons also modeled themselves off the 1940s Fleischer Superman cartoons.


44 posted on 12/10/2004 12:18:28 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: baseballfanjm

"Taking on Japanese stylings"?

Little animation has been done in America for decades. Even Japan farms it out now.

Easier on the art team. Lousy for a viewer seeking some variety.


45 posted on 12/10/2004 12:20:16 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: Boundless

Or maybe the 60s:

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer
he's a demon on wheels

And Kimba the White Lion!


46 posted on 12/10/2004 12:21:17 AM PST by raccoonradio (Boston: Home of the $15 billion car wash (Big Dig Tunnel).)
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To: Simmy2.5

No studio wants to tell an animated story these days if it is not a "musical". Feh. MOR adult pap songs or retro videos for 70s hits.


47 posted on 12/10/2004 12:21:33 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: elmer fudd; KneelBeforeZod

And what exactly is wrong with tentacle monsters having sex on the mind? Maybe if those schoolgirls didn't wear such cute outfits, there wouldn't be such a problem.


48 posted on 12/10/2004 12:22:52 AM PST by DreadCthulhu
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To: weegee

Well, I don't think there has been an animated musical since Disney abandoned that style a few years ago. It's all about 3-D now. Disney even closed down their 2-D film studios.


49 posted on 12/10/2004 12:23:41 AM PST by baseballfanjm
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To: Future Snake Eater

FWIW, the Australian DVD of Akira contains BOTH studios' English dub soundtracks.

Australia tries to throw a little something extra to the market since they are generally last to release a title.


50 posted on 12/10/2004 12:24:30 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: baseballfanjm

Shrek has musical interludes, whether the characters sing or they are a video to an existing song.


51 posted on 12/10/2004 12:26:21 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: B-Chan; Porterville

Really? You meet the most interesting people on FR. :)

I never actually read it...but I too loved the show as a kid. That and the Transformers.

Who would have thought the grandchild of a WWII pacific vet would be cheering on the Yamamato?!?


52 posted on 12/10/2004 12:38:09 AM PST by swilhelm73 (Dowd wrote that Kerry was defeated by a "jihad" of Christians...Finally – a jihad liberals oppose!)
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To: B-Chan; Porterville

Oh, and you guys prompted me to add Star Blazers to my netflix rental list.

I hope I like it as much as an adult as I did as a child.


53 posted on 12/10/2004 12:41:33 AM PST by swilhelm73 (Dowd wrote that Kerry was defeated by a "jihad" of Christians...Finally – a jihad liberals oppose!)
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To: weegee

Ahh, I see what you mean.


54 posted on 12/10/2004 12:42:07 AM PST by baseballfanjm
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To: swilhelm73

http://www.starblazers.com/video.html


55 posted on 12/10/2004 12:47:01 AM PST by Porterville (I'm not sensitive....I'm reflective....so go blank yourself.)
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To: Simmy2.5

I'm one of those "purists". I prefer my anime in subbed and not dubbed. Although they have done okay on some of them. It's difficult to ruin Rorouni Kenshin and Inuyasha is okay but much better in the original.

And yes... I am one of those who despised Funimation's ruination of Dragonball Z.


56 posted on 12/10/2004 12:56:30 AM PST by kuma
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To: weegee
Thanks for the info. Like I stated, I'm sort of old-fashioned (I thought slapstick and vaudeville was hilarious).
57 posted on 12/10/2004 1:34:12 AM PST by Mustng959 (In loving memory of those that gave their all to preserve our Freedoms!)
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To: Future Snake Eater

Sweet. I love Bebop. Unfortunately, when Ghost II came out on the big screen down here, I missed it. So, I'll have to get it on the DVD.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

58 posted on 12/10/2004 4:50:45 AM PST by section9 (Major Motoko Kusanagi says, "Jesus is Coming. Everybody look busy...")
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To: baseballfanjm

A very good friend of mine in Tokyo did the translation job on this flick . How'd he do ?

Sushi


59 posted on 12/10/2004 7:07:27 AM PST by sushiman
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To: section9

Robotech...

Anyone know where I can get a Veritech fighter or two? ;)


60 posted on 12/10/2004 7:14:44 AM PST by hchutch (A pro-artificial turf, pro-designated hitter baseball fan.)
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