Is "Cartoon" Offensive?

[Pirandello]

Ha, Clerks. Love that show.

 

Still, though, I do agree with Atomsk, Dex, and Phallus. I have two separate categories that I differentiate between "cartoon" and anime". Just depends on how I see it.

[CyberToyger]

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.

 

Japanese movies and Western movies are both movies, though each are distinguishable. You would not call a Japanese movie, a Western movie. You can however call either of them by the umbrella term -- movie.

 

Animes and Cartoons are both Animated Illustrations/Pictures; or animations. Calling an anime a cartoon is incorrect as they are separate forms of animation. You can call either of them by the umbrella term -- animation.

 

Macs and PC's are both computers, but good luck calling one by the other without getting savagely attacked or ridiculed. You can call either of them by the umbrella term -- computer.

[Johnny]

PC's are both computers, but good luck calling one by the other without getting savagely attacked or ridiculed. You can call either of them by the umbrella term -- computer.

 

Actually, a mac is a type of Personal Computer, running some version of the Macintosh operating system.

So is a PC running linux.

 

Windows and Mac PCs are both PCs. Both PCs and a Nintendo DS are computers.

[MasterDex]

I wouldn't consider it scolding, more pointing out the differences. Yes, cartoons and anime are really the same thing but to the average westerner, cartoon=children's animation, anime=Japanese animation and animated series=mature animation. It's all semantics but there are different connotations that go along with them.

[AgamemnonV2]

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.

Uh, didn't anime come from Japanese cartoonists who found inspiration from Tex Avery's use of an emphasis on the eyes?

 

Regardless, they are both forms of art and to call them "different" in classification is ridiculous. They're both animated cartoons.

[MasterDex]

Regardless, they are both forms of art and to call them "different" in classification is ridiculous. They're both animated cartoons.

 

In that case then all the subgenres of metal music are ridiculous too. The difference in classification is there for a reason - to distinguish between western cartoons and Japanese cartoons. While some may share similarities, there are far more differences between the two, even if they are both animated.

[AgamemnonV2]

Regardless, they are both forms of art and to call them "different" in classification is ridiculous. They're both animated cartoons.

 

In that case then all the subgenres of metal music are ridiculous too. The difference in classification is there for a reason - to distinguish between western cartoons and Japanese cartoons. While some may share similarities, there are far more differences between the two, even if they are both animated.

The "difference" in classification is there for a culture that is xenophobic to the extreme. I really don't care what you say, I've been in enough art classes to know the difference between technique and style. Subgenres STILL are of the same genre. Anime literally means animation so this is really a null point here. Just because the word "cartoon" has negative connotations does not mean Japanese animated cartoons gets to be excluded because some people in their thirties like to watch it.

[MasterDex]

The "difference" in classification is there for a culture that is xenophobic to the extreme. I really don't care what you say, I've been in enough art classes to know the difference between technique and style. Subgenres STILL are of the same genre. Anime literally means animation so this is really a null point here. Just because the word "cartoon" has negative connotations does not mean Japanese animated cartoons gets to be excluded because some people in their thirties like to watch it.

 

I'm not saying anime should be excluded from the cartoon umbrella. What I'm saying is that there are diferrences between western cartoons and anime/Japanese cartoons/whatever you want to call them and it goes beyond the art techniques and styles and they should be acknowledged rather than treating both types of cartoon as the same thing because they aren't. Anime is the general word for anime in Japan. Anime in the west, however, is the general word for Japanese animation in particular.

 

Re: Metal. While subgenres still fall under the same general genre, there are vast differences between them. Someone who like Death Metal might hate Symphonic Metal or Black Metal and vice versa. The labels exist for a reason and there's no reason not to apply them unless you're speaking in the broadest of terms.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Re: Metal. While subgenres still fall under the same general genre, there are vast differences between them. Someone who like Death Metal might hate Symphonic Metal or Black Metal and vice versa. The labels exist for a reason and there's no reason not to apply them unless you're speaking in the broadest of terms.

 

I tried to make this point earlier. I love heavy metal but have specific tastes within the genre, such as enjoying NWOBHM but disliking glam and over-the-top black metal. But I'm still going to say that I am a metalhead or metal fan if I'm talking with someone who's not familiar with the ins and outs of the genre.

[King Jimmeh]

Anime and cartoons are certainly both words in the west accustomed to different genres (they may mean the mean the same in Japan, but mean they are different in the west, ala comics and manga). Anime is mostly defined as animated series made in Japan (be it Pokemon, Hellsing, or Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (which has a more western-style)) and cartoon has a mostly defined style as being for western children (Tom & Jerry, Dexter's Laboratory, etc.).

 

Obviously, each crosses over in terms of terms of target audience, and even in style, but for the most part they can be differentiated.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Re: Metal. While subgenres still fall under the same general genre, there are vast differences between them. Someone who like Death Metal might hate Symphonic Metal or Black Metal and vice versa. The labels exist for a reason and there's no reason not to apply them unless you're speaking in the broadest of terms.

 

I tried to make this point earlier. I love heavy metal but have specific tastes within the genre, such as enjoying NWOBHM but disliking glam and over-the-top black metal. But I'm still going to say that I am a metalhead or metal fan if I'm talking with someone who's not familiar with the ins and outs of the genre.

 

what the fuck is NWOBHM!?

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Re: Metal. While subgenres still fall under the same general genre, there are vast differences between them. Someone who like Death Metal might hate Symphonic Metal or Black Metal and vice versa. The labels exist for a reason and there's no reason not to apply them unless you're speaking in the broadest of terms.

 

I tried to make this point earlier. I love heavy metal but have specific tastes within the genre, such as enjoying NWOBHM but disliking glam and over-the-top black metal. But I'm still going to say that I am a metalhead or metal fan if I'm talking with someone who's not familiar with the ins and outs of the genre.

 

what the fuck is NWOBHM!?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Wave_of_British_Heavy_Metal

[Cyber Rat]

and cartoon has a mostly defined style as being for western children (Tom & Jerry, Dexter's Laboratory, etc.).

 

No it does not, stop making things up. It's the same as saying video games are aimed at children.

[MasterDex]

and cartoon has a mostly defined style as being for western children (Tom & Jerry, Dexter's Laboratory, etc.).

 

No it does not, stop making things up. It's the same as saying video games are aimed at children.

 

It kind of does though. Say cartoon to any regular joe and they'll probably think "Children's show" before they think "Oh! Like Archer and South Park!".

[Thursday Next]

and cartoon has a mostly defined style as being for western children (Tom & Jerry, Dexter's Laboratory, etc.).

 

No it does not, stop making things up. It's the same as saying video games are aimed at children.

 

It kind of does though. Say cartoon to any regular joe and they'll probably think "Children's show" before they think "Oh! Like Archer and South Park!".

 

If you say "South Park" or "Family Guy" to the same Joe, they will probably think "cartoon" as opposed to "Western animation series".

 

Put another way...

 

Just because when you say "Metal" to me I think of "80's hair metal" first it doesn't make Rammstein any less metal.

 

Cartoon, Animation and Anime are all analogous to the layperson though as a Japanese translation "Anime" may imply origin (depending on who says it). Some enthusiasts may find the alleged misuse offensive, but most people don't mean anything disparaging by it.

[Mr. GOH!]

"Cartoon," "'toon," "anime," "animoo," "Japanimation," "Funimation," "Trickfilm," and "Japanime" are all vulgar and offensive.

 

 

The only correct term is "animated film." Every other term is imprecise and politically loaded.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

What if it's not a film?

[Mr. GOH!]

What if it's not a film?

 

Good question.

 

"Animated feature" and "animated short" are also acceptable.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Short implies that it's not a series though

[Mr. GOH!]

Short implies that it's not a series though

 

 

I suppose I could also tolerate "animated program."

 

 

[TheFlyingGerbil]

how obliging of you.

[CorgiShinobi]

 

This is just like one of my Japanese animes!

 

According to this thread, Otacon is truly not an otaku!

[Battra92]

"Cartoon," "'toon," "anime," "animoo," "Japanimation," "Funimation," "Trickfilm," and "Japanime" are all vulgar and offensive.

 

 

The only correct term is "animated film." Every other term is imprecise and politically loaded.

 

Motion Picture animation?