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When people hear the word animation, they usually think about western cartoon characters put in classic situations, such as a cat and mouse chase, fairy tale scenarios, and action heroes saving the day. Today, that notion is still quite popular, although more and more people are becoming aware of a unique kind of animation that managed to evolve into a major category of its own: anime. Anime refers to animated works that hail from Japan, although some Korean and Chinese animations are often mistaken as anime. Also known in the west as “Japanese animation”, this particular kind of animation is often characterized by a huge emphasis on visual styles. An anime can be drawn with a very realistic feel, but it can also be drawn in a more cartoonish way. Although anime can differ when it comes to visual styles, there are certain elements that are commonly used, such as exaggerated hairstyles and large eyes. Although there are certain anime that do not use these visual elements, viewers can still distinguish anime from western animation. Most anime shows are broadcasted as half-hour episodes in local Japanese TV networks, but today some American TV stations broadcast anime episodes dubbed in English. TV stations would air an anime movie or two, which lasts at least twice as long as a normal episode. There are also 2-minute anime shorts which are aired between full-length programs. Contrary to popular belief, anime or animation in general is not strictly for kids. In fact, majority of the most popular anime are actually intended for teenagers and older people. An anime movie can have a very serious plotline, which younger audiences might find boring, in contrast to a western animation movie. This is a sharp contrast to western animation, in which most of the mainstream cartoons are intended for younger viewers. This can also explain why majority of American anime viewers are teenagers and older. Anime has become a familiar term not only in Japan but also in the whole world. Today, it’s not unusual for some Americans to watch an anime movie or series on TV. Some even take their enthusiasm one step further, dressing up and acting as their favorite anime characters in an activity known as cosplaying or cosplay.
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