When we say Anime, we’re referring to what’s sometimes called Japanimation, a combination of drawings rendered by hand and via computers originating in Japan. It is often characterised by brightly coloured graphics, vibrant characters, and fantastic themes and is beloved the world over. Interestingly, the countries where it’s the most popular are Japan, followed by…
The Origins Of Today’s Beloved Pokémon
There’s a popular chart that has made its way onto the internet that displays how long it took a product or service to reach 50 million concurrent users. For air travel and television, this took a number of decades. For Facebook and other social media platforms, this took less than 10 years. But for a…
The Difference Between Anime And Manga
The Western world often gets the difference between anime and manga mixed up, or doesn’t even know that there is a difference. The two are definitely linked, but they are completely different storytelling mediums. Manga is the comic book or graphic novel format and anime is the cartoon television show or movie.
Why Is Pokémon Still So Popular?
For over 20 years, Pokémon has been dismissed as a fad – something silly that is just for kids. However, if you look at the facts, Pokémon is far more than a fad and has actually become a multi-billion-dollar cultural phenomenon that is showing absolutely no sign of slowing down. There are TV series, movies,…
The Top 5 Best Selling Mangas Ever
Mangas are comics that can be found in Japan and are the equivalent of the comic books bought from comic book stores in the United States. Mangas have been around for decades, and are usually the inspiration for many of the most popular anime shows that have gained incredible traction in the last 20 years….
Old School Anime Shows Worth Giving a Watch
Most modern anime fans are understandably excited when the latest and most popular shows release a new season, and there’s nothing like sitting down to watch what’s come out of the ever-changing world of anime. But sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the newest shows and watch some of the older classics that…
Top 5 Anime Movies for Kids
Unlike in the western world, where there are only a couple of studios that are really known for creating animated films, Anime is one of the leading styles of filmmaking in Japan. There are literally hundreds of animation studios all over the country that are dedicated to making movies. However, not all Anime is for…
The Portrayal of Women in Anime
Throughout its history, Anime has come under heavy fire for being misogynistic or for drawing female characters for the sole purpose of being ogled or objectified. The counter argument to this is, how is that any different to almost all Hollywood blockbusters or popular television shows that come out of the Western world. Being tailored…
The Vital Role Music Plays in Anime
It’s a strange concept, but people certainly associate ideas and feelings with what can only be described as random sounds, albeit those combined in a way that produces beauty of form and harmony.
Cross-Cultural References In Anime
Fans of anime know that the genre constantly references popular culture in Japan, but it certainly does not limit itself to the island nation. A closer look at reveals countless nods to western pop culture hidden in movies and series.