Japanese Cartoon Art

Japanese cartoon art has been one focal point to the introduction of Japan to the whole world. We have gotten to know more about Japanese culture and how the country has risen to become what it is now. Many of this art are shown in the many animated cartoon series and movies. Video games have also shown Japanese cartoon art and just like the movies and series they have been accepted internationally. The world of animated art has seen Japan create lots of animated movies and series that have been accepted wholly by the whole world.

Most of the Japanese cartoon art is usually three and two dimensional and you will find the use of bright colors is always in constant use and help create a montage of various color use. The cartoons are able to look life like because of the use of the colors which help in creating a more realistic look at human emotion. This way we are able to tell if the cartoon is angry or annoyed, by the red cheeks and also if they are sad or sick they usually turn different colors or more pale than usual.

However the colors are not the only thing that the Japanese artist uses to denote emotion. The use of the large western like eyes is also used quite frequently and many times I have always wondered why the use of western characters, have become a big theme in most of the Japanese animated movies and series.

I guess its because the whole world looks to the west as the main super power countries and it is easier to use them as characters in the animated movies.

Japanese Animation Movies

Since the creation of Japanese animation movies, the world has learned to fall in love with them and since many are in Japanese, you will see that people have gotten used to reading the subtitles and still enjoy watching these movies. Animated movies in Japan began in 1917, and since have gone on to make more than just movies but animated cartoon series.

Some of these Japanese animation movies would be suitable for little children, however since a growing majority of adult viewers started watching the movies make more mature and with more mature scenes that little children could not watch. However they also started creating more family oriented movies that the whole family and not just kids or adults could watch.

Since the movies were animated it was easier for the creators of the Japanese animation movies to be creative and go all out with art and the drawings. You could find that the movie was very imaginative and full of fantasy. It was easier for the movie director to make a story work because it was animated and all the olden Japanese stories of vampires and all other creatures were easily created and made for entertaining movies. Another key figure in Japanese animation would be the samurai and his sword. Many of the movies featured samurai warriors and the funny thing was that they were warriors of the past in the future is actually quite interesting to watch.

Many of the animation was like a work of art and the work of Japanese calligraphy and Japanese painting also came into play in creating most of the qualities of the animation style. If you are looking for animated Japanese movies then you can always get them from the internet and they are quite interesting to watch.

Download Anime Free - Ethical?

This has been long enough. There are a LOT, and I mean a LOT, of ‘ethics’ debate that have been raging for a long time between anime fans, and this debate will continue on and on for a long, long time.

Is it ethical for us anime fans to download anime free, such as fansubs, on the internet?

Obviously, it is deemed as non-ethical because what the “free downloaders” are doing is basically using the pirated products of the author’s and workers’ work. They are denying the authors and the people who made the royalties that they deserve.

I mean, what’s $20 compared to the hard work done by the people behind the animes, which could have taken months, even years, to produce the lovely animes that we all enjoy?

But, the free downloaders have a different view.

1. Most Popular: Well, it’s FREE. Why shouldn’t I? Saves myself lots of money too.

-Well, these are the freebies hunters. Couldn't say much about them.

2. Even if I buy, the authors only get a minuscule amount of money. I’d buy IF ALL of the money goes to the author which is, of course, usually not the case.

-Well, there are production costs too, which is unfortunately is NOT cheap. The companies that distribute and dubs the anime deserves their money too.

3. The products are too pricey! $30 for 3 to 4 episodes? Come on!

- Yes, high quality products come with a high price. Sorry about that.

- But.. I would like to state that companies should NOT take advantage of anime fans by pricing the DVDs at a very high price. This is absolutely NOT fair and VERY unjustified. Maybe we should have some kind of “anime consumer body" to control the pricing?

But, in a sense, fansubs are also a very good thing. Fansubs provided HUGE amount of advertising for the animes. Animes wouldn’t have been THIS popular without the existence fansubs. Kudos to all fansubbers. You all are greatly appreciated.

There’s no sure number, but a certain percentage of the people who watch fansubs will end-up buying anime merchandises, including DVDs themselves (I fall into this category).

Losses because of the people whom did not buy? Probably just a minuscule compared to the HUGE advertisement that the anime got. The people who would not buy after watching the anime wouldn’t have bought the DVD/manga in the first place anyway (I think).

I’ve got my own views too.

Personally, I prefer watching the fansubs than the DVD versions. Monetary factor? Maybe yes, maybe not. But the main factor is because of the QUALITY of the fansubs. Actually, I prefer reading the “subbed” version than watching the “dubbed” version because, for me, the Japanese voices sounds more suited to the animation than English voices. Well, it’s just a matter of personal preference.

Some fansubbers definitely made a better job than those made by the companies. This is also true for the manga versions too. Some companies just go for the quick buck. Put up some cr*ppy translations and that’s it! SOME of them also doesn’t have any respect for the originality of the anime/manga. This p*sses many anime/manga fans off. Darn.

When that’s the case, I’d rather give my money to those fansubbers rather than paying to that sort of company.

Probably, some of the MORE justified cases to download anime free are when the anime haven’t been licensed by a distribution company in your country yet. That is when the only way to get those anime is through downloading from the internet. (Disclaimer: Just a thought. I don't condone it)

So, what should you do then?

Watch the fansubbed animes/mangas on the net as if it was a test run. And if you like it then show support for the people behind it by buying the DVDs or the manga. That’s good enough. =)

Actually, I found that buying stuffs online is sometimes much more cheaper than buying at your usual offline store and I’ve been doing it for sometime too.

One of the place will be Amazon and eBay and buy the used books and DVDs if you need it darn cheap. Anime specialized online stores are good too. You can find some cool deals with them.

Animation Art - 5 of the Most Common Mediums Purchased by Collectors

Animation Cels - A cel (short for celluloid) is a blank clear plastic sheet used by the studio artist to paint an animated character or object based on the animator's original pencil drawing. The cels are then placed over a background and photographed in sequence to produce an illusion of life in the completed film or cartoon short. Every cel is different but this does not mean that every cel is unique. Often multiple copies of a cel were created by the Inkers as color models in order to advance their technique and skills in Animation Art.

Limited Edition Cels - A non production hand painted cel created for sale to the collectors market. It is produced in fixed limited quantities and are easily identified by a fraction (150/500) in the lower right hand corner. They were not used in films or cartoon shorts, and the original intent was to recreate the original production cels. Nowadays many studios release new images not based on production Animation Art.

Sericels - A non production cel created by means of a printing process similar to silk screening. No work is done by hand, therefore no painting or inking is involved. They are often produced in limited quantities of 5000, and they are marketed as a low cost alternative to production and limited edition cels.

Animation Drawings - A drawing on paper in pencil, sometimes colored which is created by a studio artist of an animated character or object for which the cels are later created.

Giclee - The French term "Giclée", literally meaning "spray of ink," is used to describe these prints. Four precision nozzles spray up to a million microscopic droplets per second on to fine art paper. Then, each piece of paper is individually hand-mounted. Displaying a full color spectrum, the prints are lush and velvety, capturing the subtle nuances of the original artwork.

Marvel Comic Wallpaper

If your child's room is looking a bit dull and you are looking to make it a bit more fun for the child then you should try marvel wallpapers. Most of this wallpapers have your child's favorite character on it, whether it is the X-men, Daredevil or even Electra there all kinds of Comic book character wallpapers out there.

These Marvel Comic Wallpapers have been there for a very long time, but with the comic characters becoming movie heroes there are now several new look wallpapers which are glossier and some even glow in the dark, but make sure you don't put up characters that will scare your child. You can get your child his or her favorite character or characters all lined up together to fight their nemesis or bad guy.

Kids tend to enjoy these wallpapers and you will probably have to get matching bed sheets as well as duvet to go with the wallpaper. But the wall is not the only places you can put up your child's or even your favorite Marvel comic book character. You can now also find wallpapers just as you probably found posters on the internet, which you can set up on your computers desktop. Marvel Comic Wallpapers characters can come in either cartoon form or in real life form because of the new marvel comic movies that have been showing up in the cinema halls and have become big blockbusters. If you are shopping around for the wallpapers for your kid's room its always best to try the main site of Marvel Comics where you will probably find the original kind of wallpapers as well as a bigger variety.

Anime and Manga - Find the Best New Animation Online

Japanese animation has quickly become an international craze and continues to grow with each passing year. It's from the sensational anime market's ever-growing world impact that term "Otaku" was derived and incorporated; the coined loanword that fans choose to identify themselves by.

Once thought to be a uniquely Japanese form of animation, anime has quickly spread across the globe and become an internationally recognized art form with a rabid following and loyal fans hailing from every country. Anime has inspired new forms of media and art and reinvented old ones.

Perhaps the greatest intrigue that anime has to offer is its unique art form and style. Using a mix of painted backgrounds and drawn characters, anime brings a foreign medley of artistic doctrines into a singular form of media. With outlandish plot devices and artistic sequences and a fast-paced animation style, anime brings fresh and fun styles to western animation.

Following plot lines that are varied and diverse, anime covers a wide range of topics and genres within itself. In Japan the Shinto religious beliefs have continued through the years and have contributed widely to the strange, often surreal but contemporary settings that many anime series take place in.

Anime dates back into the 1930's when it was little more than black and white animated cinema. It has evolved over the years with assistance and impacts from western animators such as Disney. When Snow White debuted in the 1960's, Japanese animators used it was a springboard for their fledgling industry and by the 1970's anime was seeing a surging growth. The real break for anime came in the 1980's when the animation industry was booming and by 2000, Japan had become a world leader in animation.

Anime's popularity has only grown over the years and in the modern day anime is an internationally recognized term with dedicated internet communities and fan followings. Conventions for anime fans are routinely held and attract thousands upon thousands of devoted fans each year.

The most devoted and obsessed fans of anime usually refer to themselves as "Otaku", a loanword from the Japanese language which is used to describe a level of fandom and interest that is taken to an extreme. Affectionately embracing the title, fans eagerly take to the term "Otaku" with pride and dedication.

Anime and Manga - History Of

The History of Manga starts in the 19th Century. A common misconception made by Westerners is that the term 'manga' simply refers to anime and animated projects. While this is true to a certain extent, the word manga itself actually means 'Comic'.

The first manga appeared early in the 19th Century - in 1814. This was called the Hokusai manga, and consisted of a series of sketchbooks by a Japanese artist named Hokusai. Each sketch in the Hokusai manga is based on various topics including gods, monsters, mountains, flowers, and birds - the sketches were loosely if not at all related to each other.

It is important to remember that at that stage, the images in the Hokusai manga weren't representative of the manga we see today. The Hokusai manga style was that of sketchings, and it wasn't until later, when the influence of the western world set in, that we began to see the drawing style we see in manga today. This was known as Ponchi-e - when Japanese artists began to concentrate on effectively using thick lines, colours, and forms. The era of Ponchi-e also went hand in hand with animated films, and in the 20th Century we saw the first emergence of manga animation - today commonly known as 'anime'.

Animation quickly became very popular in Japan due to the under-developed 'live action' entertainment industry it had at the time. The 1980's saw a boom in production of anime, as mainstream Japan began accepting it more and more readily. In the 1990's and 2000's Japan's anime influence spread overseas, and currently there are anime series' that broadcast almost on a global scale. An example of this is the ever popular Dragon Ball Z anime, which broadcasts all over America, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Europe.

Today, we see western countries like America becoming more and more enravelled in the jap-anime style of drawing. Safe is it to assume that anime will live on, and the background and history, of anime and manga will spread and diversify due to exposure from western cultures, and the more advanced animation technologies we have today.

Information on the Best Anime

There are many anime films and shows that are popular. The title of THE BEST ANIME is variable depending on the person. Each person who enjoys anime has a series or film that they think of as greater than the rest.

What makes an anime great? There are many factors. The greatest anime have intense storylines, gorgeous artistry, involving charaactures, and music that takes you deeper into the world.

Many people observe anime for the plotline. Aficionados of a manga will stay with an anime because they are involved in the plotlines from the manga. Animations that can hold good plotlines without a manga are always considered top of the line.

Anime that is animated or drawn awesomely will always capture an audience. Anime movies tend to have better animation and art than a recurring program. This is because films tend to have larger wallets and more time for artists to spend. Anime movies like Spirited Away, Princess Monoke, and My Neighbor Totoro are thought of some of the greatest anime out there due to the precision of art and animation in them.

Anime is also about the personas. People love the characters in them and will cosplay their most liked. Some fans will also be attached to certain couples in an anime series. A popular anime couple is Serena/Darien from Sailor Moon.

Many fans will also enjoy the unique music from their favorite anime. The music from the movies and programs help to nudge the plotline forward and make you empathize more for the characters. From idealized slow jpop jams to tougher, quicker jrock songs, the tunes are just as vital as all else in the animation.

Computer Animation in Post Production

One of the most sought after jobs in the market today is computer animation. The technology of computer animation is getting simpler and simpler day by day; simultaneously, the opportunities for people aspiring to become computer animators have increased tremendously.

The Technique

Traditionally, animation always used to be done in the manual way. The most popularly adopted method was to create a series of cartoon frames, which were then combined into a film. Another method was by using physical models, which were placed in a certain place and the image was captured; the model was then moved and the next image captured; and the process used to continue.

But, the conventional way has been replaced by computer animation. Computer animation, which is a part of computer graphics, is the technique of creating moving images with the use of computers. It is created by means of 3D or 2D computer graphics. Computer graphics is also referred to as 'Computer-Generated Imagery'. An image is shown on the computer screen, which creates an illusion of movement and this is replaced by a new image, which is slightly different from the previous image. Sophisticated computer animation involves moving the camera or the objects in a more refined way, wherein, the law of physics is used for achieving this.

The Software

Computer animation can be created with the help of a computer and animation software. Cinema 4D, Amorphium, Poser, and Ray Dream Studio are some examples of animation software. Many software options are available and prices vary according to the sophistication of the programs.

Computer animators are creative artists who use high-tech tools for achieving their creative perfection, but the ultimate reason for their achievement is their creative vision.

Forms of Animation

There are different types of animation available:

• Scripting Systems was the earliest system used for motion control, where the computer animator writes a script in animation language. One of such scripting languages is Actor Script Animation Language.

• Procedural Animation (which defines the movement over time), uses the law of physics for generating a movement. For example, consider a motion, which is the result of another action, as in the case of a ball, which if thrown towards an object, hits that particular object and causes it to move in the desired direction.

• Representational Animation is a technique, wherein an object changes its shape during animation. This is sub-divided into three categories - articulated object animation, soft object animation, and morphing.

• Stochastic Animation, which controls a groups of objects like fireworks and waterfalls.

• Behavioral Animation, where a group of objects behaves according to a set pattern as indicated by the animator.

Computer generated animation is used in various diverse fields such as films, television, videos, advertising, gaming, website designing and in a host of other situations. Due to its wide range of application, computer animation has seen a spurt in growth in the last few years.

Audiences all over the world, especially young audiences, are captivated by the extreme graphics and sound effects, which have been introduced in television programs, movies as well as in commercials. Use of multimedia makes the presentation even more attractive and effective.

Are you planning to jump into the world of computer animation? Go ahead... the sky is the limit!

All Anime - Get Unlimited Anime Downloads

Anime is not only popular to children but also to adults because they portray real life stories and situations. It is not surprising that it has captured the hearts of many people. If you are also fond of anime like Gurren Lagann, Darker Than Black, sola and Lucky Star, then it is best to get unlimited anime download to get everything you want. Imagine getting an access to download anything you want without limitations.

Surfing the internet and looking for high quality anime downloads could be really frustrating if you do not know where to start. Free downloads will also leave you unsatisfied and you will not find everything you want. There are also sites that charge too much for complete anime episodes and some even charge monthly fees. The good news is that you do not have to spend a lot to get unlimited downloads.

If you are looking for anime download, membership sites offers them for a small membership fee. This is another option for anime lovers who do not want to spend too much to get unlimited download.

There are thousands of full episodes that you can download and files are not only limited to anime movies but it also includes anime music, wallpapers, themes and a lot more. Getting access to unlimited anime download without monthly fees and with just one time fee is really cool and a good deal. You can download the files to your PC, iPod, PSP and you can also burn them to DVDs or CDs. Software and tutorials on how to download are all provided.