Thorgi Duke of Frisbee Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 On a Kotaku article about Dr. Pepper appearing in Japanese animation, I posted that I didn't understand why they would put product placement like that in a cartoon instead of a fake brand. Suddenly, this guy jumped down my throat for using the word "cartoon" instead of "anime" when describing Japanese animation. Do people take offense when you call an animated show a cartoon? I consider Archer to be a cartoon, and that's as far away from children's entertainment as you can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercurial Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Cartoons are cartoons. Technically they are all called animations and cartoons are just pictures, but hey whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Rat Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 It's the same people who complain about "graphic novels" being called "comics". It's stupid, really. Like it matters what it's called, as long as you enjoy it. I guess people are just afraid to tell others "I watch cartoons" or "I read comics". Mark my words, we'll soon be having people telling us how they "indulge in interactive entertainment" instead of playing video games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgamemnonV2 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 He's "vertically challenged." He's "big-boned." Nothing is safe from political correctness, even the animoos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercurial Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I've never heard someone say someone else is big boned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgamemnonV2 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I've never heard someone say someone else is big boned. "Large" then. Or "big." Anything to apparently avoid the word "fat." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBeeferton Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Fluffy/Cuddly are my favorites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr W Phallus Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I tend to avoid saying cartoon myself just because it has slightly negative or childish connotations to a lot of people but unless someone says it in a derogatory context or tone of voice then I don't care if they call any animation a cartoon. Same with graphic novel/comic, I don't have a problem with saying I read comics. I sometimes use the two terms to distinguish between the format so I'd call a trade paperback a comic and a collected edition a graphic novel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangelove Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Comics and graphic novels are the same thing, just as cartoons and anime are the same thing. People need to lighten up. I WILL murder the shit out of you for calling anime "Japanimation" though. MURDER. YOU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Fluffy/Cuddly are my favorites. Bubbly is the blind date watch word for me. I hear "bubbly" and I think "blubbery". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4: Gritty Reboot Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Fluffy/Cuddly are my favorites. No, he's not fat... He just has a little extra chocolate storage! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterDex Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I'm with Mr. Phallus on this. I tend to avoid using the word cartoon because it tends to carry negative connotations. Differentiation is the key here. I call Tom and Jerry and The Looney Toons cartoons. I call Family Guy, South Park, American Dad and Archer animated series' and I call animated series like Fullmetal Alchemist and Death Note to be anime. I wouldn't jump down anyone's neck for calling any of them cartoons but I would probably point out that there's a difference between a cartoon like Tom and Jerry or Spngebob Squarepants and anime or animated series'. I also consider comics and graphic novels to be two different things. To me, a graphic novel is a one-off story like Arkham Asylum or The Killing Joke and a comic is like 2000AD or the regular Spiderman or Batman chapters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Rat Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I also consider comics and graphic novels to be two different things. To me, a graphic novel is a one-off story like Arkham Asylum or The Killing Joke and a comic is like 2000AD or the regular Spiderman or Batman chapters. What about Sin City? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I'm with Mr. Phallus on this. I tend to avoid using the word cartoon because it tends to carry negative connotations. Differentiation is the key here. I call Tom and Jerry and The Looney Toons cartoons. I call Family Guy, South Park, American Dad and Archer animated series' and I call animated series like Fullmetal Alchemist and Death Note to be anime. I wouldn't jump down anyone's neck for calling any of them cartoons but I would probably point out that there's a difference between a cartoon like Tom and Jerry or Spngebob Squarepants and anime or animated series'. I also consider comics and graphic novels to be two different things. To me, a graphic novel is a one-off story like Arkham Asylum or The Killing Joke and a comic is like 2000AD or the regular Spiderman or Batman chapters. I agree that to people who are part of that culture the different words mean different things. Like "jus" and "coulis" to a lay person are just "sauces" while to a chef or foody there is a world of difference. There's no point raging at people (which I acknowledge you don't) who say "are you reading a comic/watching a cartoon?" You can either take a breath and explain the differences (subjective though they may be) or say "yup" shrug your shoulders and carry on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterDex Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I also consider comics and graphic novels to be two different things. To me, a graphic novel is a one-off story like Arkham Asylum or The Killing Joke and a comic is like 2000AD or the regular Spiderman or Batman chapters. What about Sin City? Comic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Rat Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Also, related to the graphic novel VS comic thing, a quote from Alan Moore: "It's a marketing term ... that I never had any sympathy with. The term 'comic' does just as well for me. ... The problem is that 'graphic novel' just came to mean 'expensive comic book' and so what you'd get is people like DC Comics or Marvel Comics — because 'graphic novels' were getting some attention, they'd stick six issues of whatever worthless piece of crap they happened to be publishing lately under a glossy cover and call it The She-Hulk Graphic Novel..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgamemnonV2 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Comics and graphic novels are the same thing, just as cartoons and anime are the same thing. People need to lighten up. I WILL murder the shit out of you for calling anime "Japanimation" though. MURDER. YOU. Japanimoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Jimmeh Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I do differentiate between cartoons and anime, as cartoons are generally for children, while anime can often not be. As for shows like Simpsons, Family Guy, I may be tempted to call them Adult cartoons, or adult animated shows. As for comics and graphic novels, for me, comics are the single issues, graphics novels are trade paperbacks and collected editions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4: Gritty Reboot Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 It's really the same as any other hobby; an enthusiast knows differences and nuances that an outsider may not. People call the pop-era Def Leppard "heavy metal," and I cringe, yet I'm not gonna go all crazy on someone for not making a distinction between "glam" metal and the NWOBHM. Obviously, unless someone means something offensively or with a negative connotation, there's no reason to go crazy about it, whether the distinction is justified or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Rat Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I do differentiate between cartoons and anime, as cartoons are generally for children, while anime can often not be. So Freakazoid, Animaniacs and Batman: The Animated Series are anime. Good to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Jimmeh Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I did say "generally". Of course there are exceptions to the rules. Like there are obviously anime shows aimed at kids, e.g. Pokemon, Stitch!, Dragon Ball Z and Digimon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberToyger Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 The majority of people have come to know American animated shows as cartoons, and Japanese ones as animes. To them, its the equivalent of vans and SUV's. While vans and SUV's are large, gas-guzzling vehicles, they are different. The same applies to the former. American cartoons are made in America (usually) and have English audio natively. Japanese animes are made in Japan and have Japanese audio natively. Also, there is no real consistency to American cartoons while most Japanese animes follow a general drawing + coloring + shading process. While I personally would not spazz out, I would politely correct/point out that cartoons and animes are indeed, different breeds of creature. Just as vans and SUV's, bananas and plantains, potatoes and sweet potatoes, or even Macs and PC's are all separate entities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Rat Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 While I personally would not spazz out, I would politely correct/point out that cartoons and animes are indeed, different breeds of creature. Just as vans and SUV's, bananas and plantains, potatoes and sweet potatoes, or even Macs and PC's are all separate entities. Yes, they each have their own characteristic narrative approach, but we still consider both Japanese movies and Western movies to be "movies" despite the same difference in narrative. And a Mac is still a computer, only named differently for marketing reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I tend to switch between using cartoons and anime quite a lot. Toyger got a good comparison going. Cartoons, anime and even 3D stuff are all animated films. Badmin pointed out that there are a few types of anime, that goes for cartoons and 3D stuff as well. Fluffy/Cuddly are my favorites. I can see why. Also, listen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorgiShinobi Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I'm with Mr. Phallus on this. I tend to avoid using the word cartoon because it tends to carry negative connotations. Differentiation is the key here. I call Tom and Jerry and The Looney Toons cartoons. I call Family Guy, South Park, American Dad and Archer animated series' and I call animated series like Fullmetal Alchemist and Death Note to be anime. I wouldn't jump down anyone's neck for calling any of them cartoons but I would probably point out that there's a difference between a cartoon like Tom and Jerry or Spngebob Squarepants and anime or animated series'. This is pretty much my thought process. I would never, in my entire lifetime, become offended over terms like "cartoon" and "anime" being used in context that I know are not accurate. Generally, I say I watch animated shows and movies. That's the truth because Looney Tunes, Freakazoid, Darkwing Duck, FLCL, Gurren Lagann, Outlaw Star, Tenchi Muyo, Samurai Champloo, American Dad, Adventure Time, Toy Story, Tangled, The Secret of NIMH, Wall-E, The Princess and the Frog, Fantasia, Regular Show, and etc. are all animated! The difference is that people will generally think of Looney Tunes as a "cartoon" and something like Dragon Ball Z as an "anime." Adults are self-conscious about watching cartoons so they call shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons as something like an "animated adult show" or some nonsense. There's the issue of locality, but I tend to point out that creation and production can be entirely two different locations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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