Growing up as a child, I wasn't opportuned to watch cartoons due to the fact that the world was not so civilized then. Most of the things I was able to watch then were stage plays by different theater groups on a black-and-white television. But fortunately, the world is well advanced now, and different cartoons and anime are available for both children and adults. My younger siblings are the ones that brought me into the world of cartoons; that is primarily what they watch, and I have no choice but to join them because once they are around, they do seize the television set for themselves.
I enjoyed watching cartoons more than animes because in cartoons, simpler languages are used and it looks more interesting to me than animes, probably because I'm not a fan of animes. Who wouldn't love to watch "The Lion King" and "Frozen" over and over again?
While anime and cartoons both involve animated moving images, there are some key differences between the two genres. This topic got me busy. I had to look into the origin of anime, and I found out that anime is a style of animation that originated in Japan. I could have guessed though, while cartoons can originate from any country and cut across a wider range of styles. From my perspective, the differences between anime and cartoons are kind of glaring, and I believe any parent would prefer his or her child to watch cartoons rather than anime. To me, cartoons are more educational in several ways than anime.
For an anime
This was the topic discussed a few weeks ago in the hivelearners heart-to-heart Monday hangout. After listening to different people's opinions on which one is the best between anime and cartoons, I was able to note some key differences that made me prefer cartoons to anime.
The differences I could see between anime and cartoons are as follows:
Firstly, the visual style. One of the most noticeable differences is in the visual style. Anime tends to have a more stylized and exaggerated art style compared to most cartoons. According to my research, characters in anime usually have large eyes, vivid hair colors, and very expressive facial features. Body proportions are also more elongated and exaggerated in anime compared to those in cartoons. The animation in anime tends to be very fast-paced as well. Cartoons, on the other hand, have more varied visual styles depending on the creator or studio, but generally aim for a more realistic look.
Secondly, the storytelling approach. I so much love the storytelling concept in cartoons. Anime tends to focus more on overarching story arcs and serially arranged episodes, while cartoons often have more self-contained episodes. Anime stories are usually planned out to last for many episodes or even seasons, and that is so annoying. Why will I keep watching one anime with so many episodes for a very long time? One will surely get tired of it.
Anime has complex ongoing plots and character development. Cartoons, on the other hand, more commonly have stand-alone episodes with simple morals or jokes that don't necessarily progress the overall story. Anime also deals with more mature topics like violence, sexuality, and psychological themes, while cartoons are often limited to themes more suitable for children. Anime is age-restricted, while cartoons aren't. , are family-friendly.
For a cartoon
Another difference I was able to point out is the target audience. While cartoons are primarily made for children and sometimes families, anime has a much broader target audience. Some anime are indeed for children, but there are also anime titles that are clearly intended for older teenagers and adults. Anime covers a wide range of genres, including action, drama, romance, horror, and more. Meanwhile, cartoons usually stick to more kid-friendly genres like comedy, adventure, or education-based shows. The level of violence, language, sexual content, and other mature themes is also generally higher in many anime compared to cartoons, which might not be suitable for children's health and mental development.
While anime and cartoons both use animation to tell visual stories, they differ completely in their artistic style, storytelling approach, and target audience. Anime influences are based on their origins in Japan versus other parts of the world. The genres each have dedicated fans around the globe due to their unique qualities and diversity of stories and characters. I am a lover of cartoons, any day and anytime.
Thanks for your time, and your comments will be appreciated.