The differences between anime and cartoons

Caricature is a term that once referred to fine art during the Renaissance period. However, somehow, the meaning of the term evolved (or became, depending on how you look at it) into humorous and witty illustrations and, finally, into animated shows intended to entertain people, mostly children. For clarity, the term "cartoon" in this article will refer to animated programs. Recently, however, a new term has been coined: Anime. And the distinction between these two has caused a lot of confusion.

Strictly speaking, however, there should be no distinction between anime and cartoons. Anime is a term used by the Japanese to refer to cartoons, from their own country and from others as well. However, somehow, the world began to use the term anime in reference to Japanese cartoons exclusively. Japanese animation was once called Japanese animation, but this term was appropriately dropped when the term 'Anime' came into use.

Some say they see absolutely no difference between the two, even going so far as to classify both cartoons and anime as 'childish' due to the nature of how they are presented, to the misfortune of anime fans. Technically, there is no official difference and they are somewhat correct. But you only have to watch a single episode of any anime series and you will see that anime is much more than your usual antics comedy, cartoons at dawn. There is a real and profound difference between the two in addition to their spelling: anime is much more than 'just a cartoon'.

Storylines / Plots

The cartoons usually have a simple and defined plot. And they're generally about the good guys fighting the bad guys. Cartoons rarely go beyond that old cliche. Most anime series, on the other hand, are also about the same good against evil, but the plots are rarely simple and rarely predictable. You will find an element of politics, religion, humanity and many other abstract concepts within an anime. Whereas the cartoons are just about 'evil' cats chasing 'innocent' mice or a hero defending himself and others from a very evil bully. Anime can blur the lines between good and evil so much that you wonder which side is right. Look at the plot of Gundam, there are no good or bad. They are both fighting for a cause, a worthy one, and both sides are prepared to do good and evil to achieve their goals. Check out Naruto's Wave Country arc. Zabuza, evil as he was, had evoked more sympathetic tears than any of the typical Disney antagonists. However, there are few exceptions to the "cartoons are simple" rule. There are cartoon series that are very advanced like X-men. อนิเมะ

In terms of humor, anime goes beyond slapstick comedy offered by cartoons. There will be no cheesy joke about the chicken crossing the street with the anime. There won't even be the quintessential banana peel. The anime's humor is deep and witty. However, it should be noted that cartoons are mainly for children. The anime may be for an adult audience; mostly it is, actually. There are even times when anime plots are not suitable for children.

Characters

In cartoons, there is a protagonist, an antagonist, and a damsel in distress. Their roles are well defined and clear and the characters always act according to their roles. However, in the anime, the damsel in distress may well become the antagonist, leaving the protagonist in distress. No one knows what to expect in the anime. Anime characters are often developed in overtime through testing and growth, while cartoon characters have remained the same since the show began. (Of course, there are exceptions like Spiderman.) Since there is an ongoing plot, the anime characters actually grow and may even produce the next generation for the series. Anime fans tend to dig into characters much more deeply due to the depth and charm of the characters. Consider Naruto; Viewers watch him grow from a baby to a powerful young ninja, the way he relates to people, the way he learns new techniques, and the way he visually evolves. That's one of the main reasons for anime's popularity over simple cartoons.