Why do Japanese kids look so American?

[Korobooshi Kojiro]

This has been bothering me forever...

Okay, in Keroro Gunsou, the main human, Fuyuki lives in Japan, but he looks American like me.

Lan Hikari, from Megaman, lives in Japan (or, the futuristic version of it), but looks like my friend down the street.

Seto Kaiba, from Yugioh, lives in Japan but looks like my older brother.

So, why is this? Is their some reason why japanese kids in anime always look american? Is it a cultural thing, or something?

 

[Comis Patronus]

I remember reading a commentary in Shonen Jump-creator of Naruto says,"it's to appeal to a western audience." Which is why this is done and why Naruto is blond.

 

[Avegaille]

^ Hmm... no wonder it's like that... XD

I suppose either that could be a reason or Japanese people just like to make themselves look like Americans... =P I mean... notice how huge the eyes of the Anime characters? o_o;;; You don't usually see Japanese people with huge eyes and everything... Ah well, what I noticed on my part... ._.

 

[Je suis meilleur]

American??
More like just Western World (excluding Japan anyway)
I really don't know. A custom?

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

I can find the anwser to this specifically. Mostly anime characters look and resemble Japanese models/celebrities/ singers whatever. Its to appeal to the audience of perfect looking and goodlooking people. Death Note and GTO for example ahve drawn people as Asians. Notice how the upper part of their eyes are round and comes down like a half oval. Also the cheeks if you notice are more "puffer" and rounder than an Americans' face.
Hair's another thing. Japanese have VERY VERY VERY straight hair. more than Westerners do. Because of that, they can help make their hair do what ever they like(curly, frizzy, etc).
About Japanese with blonde hair and blue eyes well, many celebrities dye their hairs and change color eye contacts. Their for manga artist are also going with the media to make their character have the same to appeal to their audiences.
Basically it more so of pop culture references.

There are some Japanese in anime that DO look more westerner than what i've said above. Matsumoto Rangiku of Bleach (and alot of other Bleach characters like Chad) don't really look japanese but more of American. When I first saw her image I though se an american. Plus Kubo like Western stuff so it understandable.

Hope this helps.

 

[Yamato-san]

There are some Japanese in anime that DO look more westerner than what i've said above. Matsumoto Rangiku of Bleach (and alot of other Bleach characters like Chad) don't really look japanese but more of American. When I first saw her image I though se an american. Plus Kubo like Western stuff so it understandable.

but isn't Chad of (partial) Mexican descent? He's at least explainable.

Anyway, it's not just pop stars and other celebrities. When they're not working or going to school, the Japanese people will make their casual dress give them a very individualistic style, which can include dying hair. You'd have to consider that aside from being in a very homogenous culture where practically everyone has the same hair color, they also have to wear uniforms. It'd come off as no surprise if uniqueness is very important to them, and thus, they'll give such traits to their fictional characters (it's interesting to note that, more often than not, anime hair coloring seems to be natural. Perhaps the artist is portraying their desire for a unique body that they're born with, rather than altered).

 

[Kakashi Sensei]

I sure looks better this way, who knows what kind of credit it would of got with japanese that dont look like what they are now.

 

[HK]

I've already told TSC my wisdom, and so I share it with you all: Japanese lover sexy people.

... On a less serious note (and me stop trying to make a funny... and failing), I would like to put in my short two cents that it is really a mix of adapted styles with it coming out more Caucasian-looking more often than naught. I can't really look at the majority of anime characters that I've come across and say that they look any nationality, simply as they don't.

I sure looks better this way, who knows what kind of credit it would of got with japanese that dont look like what they are now.

I. Don't. Understand. What. You. Are. Saying.

 

[XBebop]

It's also easier to show emotion when you're drawing people with a lighter skintone. That could be another reason.

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

but isn't Chad of (partial) Mexican descent? He's at least explainable.

Yea you're right. my fault. Well Tousen another one. He's fricken Black. Maybe this has to do with the style he did before with Zombie Powder as it was more foriegn orientated than Bleach is.

Anyway, it's not just pop stars and other celebrities. When they're not working or going to school, the Japanese people will make their casual dress give them a very individualistic style, which can include dying hair. You'd have to consider that aside from being in a very homogenous culture where practically everyone has the same hair color, they also have to wear uniforms. It'd come off as no surprise if uniqueness is very important to them, and thus, they'll give such traits to their fictional characters (it's interesting to note that, more often than not, anime hair coloring seems to be natural. Perhaps the artist is portraying their desire for a unique body that they're born with, rather than altered).

That is true, but if you look at the majority of shoujo titles and even some boys manga, you'll notice that the resemblance of many characters seem like Jpop stars or other japanese celebrities. Other reason could be resmbling cosplayers and stuff. It not just the hair color but the hair style, faces, cloths they wear etc.

I've already told TSC my wisdom, and so I share it with you all: Japanese lover sexy people.

... On a less serious note (and me stop trying to make a funny... and failing), I would like to put in my short two cents that it is really a mix of adapted styles with it coming out more Caucasian-looking more often than naught. I can't really look at the majority of anime characters that I've come across and say that they look any nationality, simply as they don't.

That's true. I mean if you look at Hellsing, or Trigun, or even Berserk, they come off more cucasians/ other nationalities(besides japan) than Japanese. But if you look at Death Note, Naruto,many shoujo series, etc. they come off more Japanese( some resemble Jpop stars etc).

On other hand we have anime/manga that don't resemble japanese people judging from the style. Bleach seems to be a notable one, with a few exceptances.

XBebop, Your commnet sound racist.

 

[Kirby]

It's also easier to show emotion when you're drawing people with a lighter skintone. That could be another reason.

...How would darker skin tone effect the way facial emotions are drawn. Being an artist myself, I can easily draw facial expressions on dark skin or light skin. And since I'm an amateur, think of what the professionals can do.

And the 'it's more to appeal to western culture' reason makes most sense to me.

 

[Chris]

Easy answer. All stemmed from most early anime/manga artists using Disney characters as their main source of inspiration in drawing styles.

The distinctive "large eyes" style of Japanese animation (anime) was invented by Tezuka, who based it on cartoons of the time such as Max Fleischer's Betty Boop and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Tezuka is known for his amazing techniques which include imaginative stories and stylized Japanese adaptations of western literature. His early art style was basic and inspired by Disney, whom he greatly admired.

And there you have it. It continue on today, though there are the typical actual Asian looking characters (like Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist) as well as the typical Asian stereotype (like Takeshi in Pocket Monsters, with his slits for eyes ).

 

[SuperSonic]

The answer isn't so hidden. The western world (basically the American World) has a large effect on the pop culture of the rest of the world. America influences many trends in media and music on other countries. This is especially true in Japan, where the English language and other American symbols are used everywhere. This is due to the large amount of media that America spews out. And because of that the ideals of beauty and attractive figures are based on what they are being exposed to. This causes a change in their characters.

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

what all you guys said are all correct. There really is many origins to came and form what we call anime now.

About facial expressions, I personally love the why American cartoonist(like disney, WB, Tex Avery etc) do because it moves more fluidly and the expression comes off as a better impact. When I see most anime(s), its not as fluidly and expressive. But this could also have to do with different cultures and how they see themselves expess their face and emotions.

 

[Chris]

It's really more on different animation styles, really. Not to mention, a good deal of anime is usually outsourced rather than done in-house like a grand majority of American cartoons were done. Though this doesn't include Hanna-Barbera, who pretty much outsourced the crap out of most of their shows from the '70s. >_>; Some cartoons today are outsourced, like The Simpsons, though.

Because of that, you can also expect errors in the animation as well as different artist groups doing designs that look significantly different from another's.

 

[FireKero!]

Because of that, you can also expect errors in the animation as well as different artist groups doing designs that look significantly different from another's.

*coughcoughNarutocoughcough*

IMHO, I think it's just a personal kinda thing. Some characters in a show look of japanese-heritage to a tee, while other characters in the same show, living and born in the same city, look nothing like the other japanese.

Which is why I feel bad for anyone who bothers to watch kappa mikey

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

It's really more on different animation styles, really. Not to mention, a good deal of anime is usually outsourced rather than done in-house like a grand majority of American cartoons were done. Though this doesn't include Hanna-Barbera, who pretty much outsourced the crap out of most of their shows from the '70s. >_>; Some cartoons today are outsourced, like The Simpsons, though.

Because of that, you can also expect errors in the animation as well as different artist groups doing designs that look significantly different from another's.

Yes indeed. However, what's funny is that Spumco when they did Ren and Stimpy, it was just a small little company, yet they were able to pull off the "golden age of animation" with the facical expressions, the exaggerations, and even the close up detail painting(picticularly ugly and gross stuff).

7ea the 70's and even some of the 80's was consider the "dark age" of animation. This accounted for Disney, hanna barba, WB etc. It wasn't till late 80's/earlier 90's when animation begin to pull back together again.

Still, as you said, even now cartoons seems to be outsourced.

This is why as for American cartoons, I like Ren and Stimpy, Bruce Timm's Batman/ Superman/ Justice League, many Disney movies, etc. It's rich.