Pokemon: is it a true anime? (Discussion)

[Pokeplayer150]

Now just a quick disclaimer, I usually don't watch anime often but whenever I do, I tend to nitpick at certain details. The same can be said for Pokemon, I'm at least ten episodes in to both the Indigo League and Black and White Sagas and after contemplating the overall series for a while as well as comparing it to other anime, something began to feel really off about the show. But don't get me wrong, contrariwise to my initial belief, I actually found the show enjoyable (Well, the original series at least). What I mean is that whenever I saw an episode of pokemon and then watched some other anime aimed at kids, including: Digimon, Dinosaur King, and Beyblade, I felt like it didn't belong with the aforementioned shows. Yet when I watched stuff like Pokemon Origins or even the Black and White 2 Trailer, I did feel like both of those were believable anime (I know that trailer would have made one). Overall, I just could never put my finger on exactly why Pokemon never felt right as an anime, maybe it's the animation style and quality and how it doesn't match up to modern standards or that it seems to lack that adult edge I tend to find in a lot of anime, even the ones aimed at kids. I truly don't know, and that's why I'm putting this question up for discussion: Do you believe that Pokemon, ignoring the fact that it's technically called one, is a true anime and why? Please remember to respect everyone's point of view and that this has nothing to do with whether the show is good or bad, so no criticism of the show itself and no fan wars, the latter will be reported. I hope to see replies soon , see ya!

 

[Beth Pavell]

Well, I suppose it has more in common with a western cartoon than an anime as such ... but then it is very much an international franchise

 

[Necrozma]

Maturity has nothing to do with it. Pokémon is an anime.

It's Japanese animation, plain and simple.

 

[Osprey]

What Tsutarja said. It's animated, it's Japanese, so it's anime. That's the only criteria needed for something to be considered anime. Considering anime has a lot of different genres, differences in style, target demographic, and other details (including that "off" feeling you get while watching it) has nothing to do with whether it is a "true" anime. Might affect what kind of genre it'll be grouped in, but not much besides that. Besides, it's a little unfair to compare Pokemon... to something like Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist, or Fairy Tail. Those kinds of shows are for older people, and they might expect more out of the animators and writers than a bunch of 7-year-olds would.

 

[Solayoh]

I always called it, and in fact still call it a cartoon. Its not like traditional Japanese anime really.

 

[Garren]

Yeah, it's not traditional anime.

Anime doesn't have cheaply drawn episodes that constantly re-use stock footage every chance they get just to save a buck.

Anime doesn't have weeks and weeks of nothing but filler, recycling and re-using the same characters over and over for 15+ years.

Anime doesn't have loser "villain" trios who do nothing but try, unsuccessfully, to make the audience laugh through their "comedic" attempts at villainy.

 

[Pokeplayer150]

What Tsutarja said. It's animated, it's Japanese, so it's anime. That's the only criteria needed for something to be considered anime. Considering anime has a lot of different genres, differences in style, target demographic, and other details (including that "off" feeling you get while watching it) has nothing to do with whether it is a "true" anime. Might affect what kind of genre it'll be grouped in, but not much besides that. Besides, it's a little unfair to compare Pokemon... to something like Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist, or Fairy Tail. Those kinds of shows are for older people, and they might expect more out of the animators and writers than a bunch of 7-year-olds would.

You make some very good points with that statement. Now that I think about it you're right in saying I used some unfair examples, I probably should have just compared it to other anime aimed at kids and I apologize for that. However, I have to disagree with your claim that because it's Japanese animation that immediately solidifies it as a "true" anime. Allow me to explain a little more, I'm not talking about anime in general, I'm talking about anime that fills all criteria that applies to practically types of anime, and thus people can easily see it standing alongside other shows. I inferred at this in my opening post but I didn't make it clear enough. Besides obviously being a Japanese animation, other notable criteria are having colorful images, dynamic characters, and, of course, action-packed stories. Let me put this in an example that relates to my previously stated question: "I don't think Pokemon is a legitimate anime because while it has very colorful imagery, the characters are usually very static and even bland at times, and the story doesn't put a lot of emphasis on action, which is hardly ever seen since the show is so cyclical except when they incorporate the villain arcs from the games, but even then the characters hardly get involved." Overall, you did point out some things that I could have thought more about when writing my opening post and thank you for that, but I have to differ with your claim because there are many more things that make an anime an anime beyond simply being made in Japan. So to end this on a friendly note, to each their own!

 

[God Fire]

Pokémon is a very oriental animation! I always thought! O_O I see a few elements of western references.

 

[Cute Charm]

Considering that pokemon was made in Japan, by Japanese animators, and commissioned by a Japanese company...it's anime. Anime for little kids perhaps, but still "true anime". It's not like all those 80s cartoons like Transformers or Jem (or 90s cartoons like Batman: TAS that used Sunrise) that look like anime, were animated in Japan, but were commissioned for western companies for a western audience.

And frankly the B2W2 trailer and Origins really seemed that they were geared more towards the shonen demographic and older fans that grew up with the original Red and Green games. The main series is geared towards...well...preschool kids or kids under 13. So like everyone else said it's a little unfair to compare it to stuff like Attack on Titan and FMA which are geared towards teenagers and young adults. It would be like calling Saturday morning cartoons "not real cartoons" because they're nothing like the Simpsons or the cartoons on Adult Swim.

 

[BlackButterfree]

What Tsutarja said. It's animated, it's Japanese, so it's anime. That's the only criteria needed for something to be considered anime. Considering anime has a lot of different genres, differences in style, target demographic, and other details (including that "off" feeling you get while watching it) has nothing to do with whether it is a "true" anime. Might affect what kind of genre it'll be grouped in, but not much besides that. Besides, it's a little unfair to compare Pokemon... to something like Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist, or Fairy Tail. Those kinds of shows are for older people, and they might expect more out of the animators and writers than a bunch of 7-year-olds would.

 

[PockyAddict]

It's a anime whether the critics like it or not. It's a animation from Japan and is animated and airs first there so it's 100 percent a real anime. Anime does have varing styles...

 

[garrison-san]

Suggesting that all "true" anime has to follow a specific formula/style is akin to suggesting that all "true" Western animation has to be like Disney.

What you seem to be getting at here is whether or not it's a good anime, which is another issue entirely.

 

[Neo Blaze]

Pokémon is an anime, no matter how one looks at it. People have just come to expect a high standard when it comes to anime and the Pokémon anime does not always live up to that. There are many, many different kinds of anime, both in storytelling and in animation, but the Pokémon anime is just unique in its own right. I agree with garrison-san that the debate whether this anime is a good one is a whole other discussion than whether this anime is a true anime or not.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Pokemon in its core is anime having basic characteristics known for such genre of entertainment media. Unlike typical cartoons like Tom&Jerry, Road Runner, Flinstones, Simpsons etc known for their sole plot and structure revolving around use of gags, funny moments and same principal of issues and solutions to them delivered on daily basis not having continuity and correlation between past and future episodes .

Pokemon is different kind of genre having running gags and comic relief moments, but also show which does have character development, flaws characters need to deal with, exploration on history of some region and protagonist or story which goes forward.

Pretty subpar and underwhelming anime which has inconsistent following, overused ideas and lack of direction to take narrative and characters on deeper, more constructive development. Along with often being disrespectful toward past replacing main companions and than forgetting about them and their unfinished stories. But still anime nonetheless.

Could it be better? I believe company has enough money, resources and cadre of qualified proffesionalists to do something more groundbreaking with way Ash progression is written, contain stronger continuity keeping ties with history and maintaining previous important characters relevant bringing them back acknowledging existence. And providing sense of unity, compact plot and more creative ideas injected in current formula.

But i believe this subject isn't point of this thread. So yeah in nutshell pokemon is anime containing traits inherent to it. It just happens its anime which dont use full potential and diapason of options on its disposal to make it more rewarding to watch.

Though it has certain appeal, sense of adventure and entertainment value which regardless of your own personal disappointments keep you interested in it. At least in my case it does.

 

[Pokeplayer150]

Hey everyone, I've been reading your feedback and decided to fix some of the examples I used in my opening post to make it sound more just. Thank you for you're feedback and please continue the discussion!

Pokemon in its core is anime having basic characteristics known for such genre of entertainment media. Unlike typical cartoons like Tom&Jerry, Road Runner, Flinstones, Simpsons etc known for their sole plot and structure revolving around use of gags, funny moments and same principal of issues and solutions to them delivered on daily basis not having continuity and correlation between past and future episodes .

Pokemon is different kind of genre having running gags and comic relief moments, but also show which does have character development, flaws characters need to deal with, exploration on history of some region and protagonist or story which goes forward.

Pretty subpar and underwhelming anime which has inconsistent following, overused ideas and lack of direction to take narrative and characters on deeper, more constructive development. Along with often being disrespectful toward past replacing main companions and than forgetting about them and their unfinished stories. But still anime nonetheless.

Could it be better? I believe company has enough money, resources and cadre of qualified proffesionalists to do something more groundbreaking with way Ash progression is written, contain stronger continuity keeping ties with history and maintaining previous important characters relevant bringing them back acknowledging existence. And providing sense of unity, compact plot and more creative ideas injected in current formula.

But i believe this subject isn't point of this thread. So yeah in nutshell pokemon is anime containing traits inherent to it. It just happens its anime which dont use full potential and diapason of options on its disposal to make it more rewarding to watch.

Though it has certain appeal, sense of adventure and entertainment value which regardless of your own personal disappointments keep you interested in it. At least in my case it does.

So you're saying I've been accidentally looking at the quality instead of going over my main point? Oops, I've been breaking my own rules and haven't even realized it. Maybe I should write a completely separate post on what the anime should be like. Thanks for helping me see this.

 

[Hidden Mew]

Pokemon is an anime. Maturity levels and content doesn't determine whether a show is an anime. It is animated in Japan for a Japanese audience, so it is an anime. There's no way to escape that fact. Questioning if it is a "true" anime just because it isn't like FMA or Attack on Titans doesn't really make any sense to me. Those shows are aimed at an older audience than Pokemon does, so of course they'd have more mature content than Pokemon. That's like saying other western animated shows aren't true animated series because they aren't like those animated sitcom series.

 

[CrashBash]

Pokemon may be different from, say, Full Metal Alchemist or Attack on Titan, but that doesn't mean it's NOT an anime. By design, it can't be anything other than an anime. It's just that it's designed with children in mind, whilst FMA and AOT are more for the maturer audiences.

Western Cartoons have the exact same gap and no one seems to have any problems. Compare, as a random example, Family Guy with SpongeBob SquarePants. They're both clearly Western Cartoons, just with different audiences in mind. Or would you claim one of them isn't a cartoon at all? I wouldn't.

 

[JacobYBM]

Given that 'anime' is just shorthand for 'animation', like how 'televi' is shorthand for 'television', the multiple Pocket Monster animated series are indeed 'anime'. It is a commercial product that exists to promote the sales of another product and itself, just like late-night cartoons like Shingeki no Kyojin: Attack on Titan, Sword Art Online or any other cartoon that airs on television, paid for through advertisements, or released to home video for purchase.