Is Powerpuff Girls anime?

[EinBebop]

I frequently see Powerpuff Girls being classified as anime- the movie is even featured in Animerica this month. But it's American? How are we qualifying anime these days?

[zimbach]

Originally posted by EinBebop
I frequently see Powerpuff Girls being classified as anime- the movie is even featured in Animerica this month. But it's American? How are we qualifying anime these days?

"Anime" is the Japanese word (derived from French) for "animation". All cartoons can be considered anime in this sense.

Anime also refers to the peculiar style of animation from Japan, produced for the Japanese market. These days, that definition has become fuzzy since much of the grunt animation work is done in Korea and Taiwan.

Cartoons produced for other countries thet show obvious inspiration by anime (without being outright derivative) are referred to as "anikkei" which means "anime-like". The Powerpuff Girls, Batman: TAS, and others fit this category.

[EinBebop]

Originally posted by zimbach

Cartoons produced for other countries thet show obvious inspiration by anime (without being outright derivative) are referred to as "anikkei" which means "anime-like". The Powerpuff Girls, Batman: TAS, and others fit this category.

Okay... but Batman was never embraced as anime in the way that Powerpuff Girls has been.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

No, it isn't "anime." True, "anime" means "cartoons" in Japan, but the reason we use the word here is to distinguish between Japanese animation and "everything else not Japanese animation".

So Animerica was really only self-indulging on a show that was probably a staff favourite, and PPG has *vague* similarities to anime, so naturally it got some wordtime in their little rag.

[Sharklady]

I think I recall reading that PPG creator Craig McCracken deliberately incorporated anime elements into his cartoon, partially in a takeoff of/ tribute to previous super-powered girls in anime movies like 'Project AKO', and partially just because he liked the look.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Sharklady
I think I recall reading that PPG creator Craig McCracken deliberately incorporated anime elements into his cartoon, partially in a takeoff of/ tribute to previous super-powered girls in anime movies like 'Project AKO', and partially just because he liked the look.

McCracken isn't a big anime fan, if the Animerica interview is any indication. Most of his influence is from older anime like G-Force (Battle of the Planets) and other retro works. But overall, he's mostly familiar with CN stuff like Cowboy Bebop and Blue Submarine rather than the vast field of straight-to-video anime.

I imagine most of the "anime" references in PPG (or Batman Beyond, for that matter) comes from the show's animators rather than the writers or the creator himself.

[Sharklady]

> I imagine most of the "anime" references in PPG (or Batman Beyond, for that matter) comes from the show's animators rather than the writers or the creator himself. <

But if you check out the very first PPG cartoon that Craig made as a college project, you'll see the title characters (then called the 'Whomp***** Girls') look very much as they do today.
This is available for viewing on the Cartoon Network website- look for it on the 'Theater' page.

[Sharklady]

Hey! Why is the filter here substituting *five* asterisks for a three-letter word?

Well, this helps illustrate why Craig changed the name.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Sharklady
> I imagine most of the "anime" references in PPG (or Batman Beyond, for that matter) comes from the show's animators rather than the writers or the creator himself. <

But if you check out the very first PPG cartoon that Craig made as a college project, you'll see the title characters (then called the 'Whomp***** Girls') look very much as they do today. This is available for viewing on the Cartoon Network website- look for it the Theater page.

Oh, I don't doubt the LOOK of the show is influenced by Craig's childhood favourites (speedlines and big eyes being a big thing in anime even in the 60s), but some of the more specific design references from some more obscure anime...I think those may have been from the animation staff.

[Sharklady]

> ...but some of the more specific design references from some more obscure anime...I think those may have been from the animation staff. <

Oh, I can believe that. Most Americans (like me) probably wouldn't recognize 'em if they saw 'em.

[DarthNuriko]

Originally posted by Sharklady
I think I recall reading that PPG creator Craig McCracken deliberately incorporated anime elements into his cartoon, partially in a takeoff of/ tribute to previous super-powered girls in anime movies like 'Project AKO', and partially just because he liked the look. I think I read something similar.

I've had a similar convo about this topic and can only say again, it's not anime! :D

It borrows elements that were primariy found in anime, pays homage to anime in aspects, etc. "Anime" does mean "animation" however, it is well known that this French word is used to classify animation primarily conceived, produced/co-produced, and created for the market of the land of the Rising Sun. The arguement of what it technically means is a cop-out. When you go to the "anime" section, you don't look for Cartoon Cartoons. ;)

I think as anime continues to become known and popular, more and more shows will have an anime look or feel to them.

As for Animerica, they once had a lame-o two page spread about how Sailor Moon was like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They shouldn't exactly be considered anime gospel. :);