Thorn

Isn’t it ironic how Tenchi is targeted at youth? It’s not out of place within its Japanese genre or its intended market at all, but Lighthawk is totally right from an American perspective–seeing the .gif swimsuits covering up full-frontal nudity–thinking “wow, why are they even trying to show this to kids?” Because an American show aimed at a younger audience…well, Ryoko’s cupcakes or anything equivalent would definitely be a no-no!

What’s a shame to me, that I sincerely hope will change (slowly, but gradually) is how animated programs are marketed here in the U.S. In animation, from a producer’s standpoint, seems like there are only 2 markets: young children and adults (& of course “adult” having the connotation of low-brow, overtly sexual, etc.). Rarely is anything ever targeted at pre-teens, teens or young adults (well, much of anything with substance, imo). There’s virtually nothing inbetween. It’s either Dora the Explorer or Family Guy.

I can’t–I won’t, I refuse to lol–even begin to imagine how I would have turned out if my sole animation experiences growing up were from U.S. Alot of anime (granted, we see the ‘good’ ones, there’s crude Japanese animated programs too, to be fair) is targeted at younger audiences (youth, teens, etc.) but they’re not condescending them; they’re not patronizing them. They give teens, in a geuine and sincere way, something every teen desperately wants and needs: they treat them like young adults. They don’t insult them with ridiculously simple plots, or one dimensional, cookie-cutter characters, or lame-ass, overused, fart/sex jokes. They’re rich, dynamic stories filled with passionate, genuine, unique, well-thought out protagonists, antagonists, antiheros and everything inbetween, fighting against personal anguish, moral dilemmas and societal/political crises that are on a level that, frankly, are some of the key reasons adults enjoy the series. They’re not hollow. They mean something. Certain shows become staples of people’s identities (why alot of us are here, in 2012, am I wrong?) and for good reason.

It’s no wonder to me why people look at otaku, or general anime fans, or casual viewers of anime with a strange look of “Really? Why?” It’d be like if someone said “FAMILY GUY is my LIFE! It means sooo much to me!” I’d be like “Really? Why?” Sorry to rant, but maybe thinking of that will help the next time someone gives you flack for being an anime ‘nerd’/dork/whatever…pity them…pity the HELL out of them. 😉