Anime: what it is, features, interesting facts

Anime is a type of animation in the style of Japanese animation. Characters are drawn on paper or in computer programs. They have a special appearance: big eyes, bright hair and original hairstyles, long arms and legs, a specific style of clothing. Modern cartoon scenes or pictures are made in bright colors. The animation often uses the method of approximation of objects and various special effects.

Features of anime

It all started with manga, Japanese comics that read from right to left. They are drawn in black and white and are not just for teenagers. The audience for manga is under the age of 45. Tezuka Osama, the most famous author of manga comics, suggested creating TV series with characters in this style aimed at Japanese audiences. In the 1980s, anime began to gain popularity.

Now Japanese cartoons are loved by children and adults in different countries, because they have such an abundance of life and emotions. For a reason, anime artists draw the characters with big eyes. Their task is to convey a rich palette of emotions and feelings. In some cases, a positive character has a large eye, while a negative character has a very small eye or even a line in its place.

If a character is angry or upset, he or she shakes and discolors, with tears splashing in his or her eyes. When drops of sweat trickle down, it's a sign that he is agonizingly making a decision or worrying a lot. The happy characters have wide-open, sparkling eyes. The effect of the image is intensified by the music that corresponds to the plot. It has an additional effect on the audience's emotions. It is created by famous composers and singers.

The color of hair, clothing of the characters are chosen not only for artistic characteristics and harmonious combinations in the scenes of the cartoon. With each shade, the Japanese identify a certain outlook, attitude towards life, the characters' character:

• Black - restraint, flexibility of mind, nobility. Male protagonists are often brunettes.
• Red color speaks of the character's noble origins.
• White predominates in negative characters.
• Light purple and pink is associated with femininity and tenderness.
• Brown speaks of softness of character and loyalty.

Types of anime:

• kodomo - for children from 6 to 10 years old;
• Shojo - for teenage girls, the stories have a lot of romance, the emphasis on human relationships;
• shonen - cartoons for boys who like competition, action, humor;
• josei - stories for young women about family relationships;
• seinen - action series for young men.

Interesting facts about anime

There are such remarkable facts associated with this cartoon style:

• About 500 new anime are released every year in Japan.
• 60% of all existing cartoons are anime.
• The first anime series, «Astroboy,« from 1963, became popular all over the world. It was in black and white.
• Anime characters were assigned a birth date and blood type.
• At the beginning of the birth of anime, the state sponsored the creation of such cartoons to promote political ideas.

Based on Japanese anime movies are made, games are created and themed parties are held. It is not just an animated genre. Anime is Japanese pop culture with its own categories of participants. Passive viewers simply sit through hours of Japanese cartoons. Anime cosplayers dress up in character costumes, make up and act out scenes from anime in public or online. Otaku collect posters, CDs, cosplayer costumes, and anything related to anime.