Compared to most other countries, Japanese culture is constantly being developed with every generation. That’s not to say that countries like the USA and the UK don’t have their own cultural heritage – but rather the unique way in which Japanese artistic heritage from early in time like the Middle Ages and before has been adapted to become iconic programs like the contemporary manga and anime we are familiar with today.
Many other countries don’t have the ability to claim that their offerings in the field of culture are built on the same foundation of time and tradition. Therefore, we can begin to see that anime – and its specific style – is proliferating into Western culture. What is the extent to which Japanese sci-fi and anime culture influence the western media and entertainment?
The humble beginnings of Anime: Did the First Anime Show Begin?
There is no consensus on when anime began to be developed. There are some who suggest that the first animated film was created between 1916 and 1917 by Shimokawa Ohten, however, as many recordings and reels were destroyed in the process, the majority claim that a release in 1917 containing 20 short anime films was the beginning of its development.
Kenzo Masaoka premiered the first anime film with sound in 1933, while 1958 saw the debut of the first animated feature, Hakujaden. The following year, the film premiered in America – and the fascination of westerners with Japanese sci-fi culture was born.
Japanese Sci-Fi Its adolescent version is being re-introduced by the West
The most popular elements that is a part of Japanese culture that is found in western films and television is the monster genre, also called kaiju. The early sci-fi genre was filled with creatures that appeared out of thin air to cause havoc (usually on Tokyo).
1954’s Godzilla created the basis for the films that changed in shape over the years but are still well-known today. In fact, there’s an entire array of studies just on the influence of Godzilla and kaiju. The other examples of kaiju movies comprise the sequels to 31 to the Japanese Godzilla series, Pacific Rim (2013), Dwayne Johnson’s 2018 film Rampage and the Cloververse collection of movies including the cinematic surprise of the series’ opener Cloverfield (2008) 10, Cloverfield Lane (2016) as well as The Cloverfield Paradox (2018).
The Pervasive Effects of Japanese Culture
Japanese culture has a lot more to do with TV and films. Other than that, in the realm of entertainment, anime is frequently used as a source of inspiration. It is said that the Devil May Cry movie game was dramatically influenced by anime – from the style of its characters to the progression of its plot. Additionally, it is a hit on Netflix animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender was so influenced by anime that many are stunned to find that it was made in America.
The trend has caused some to create a new category for anime that’s produced from outside Japan. In other areas of entertainment, the themes of anime and sci-fi don’t only influence films and TV but can be found in a range of merchandise, such as for instance, the Fortune Girl slot on some casino websites, as of example. This slot online pay homage to the anime aestheticand appeals to players who are interested by using designs and iconography of classic anime and Japanese sci-fi storytelling to deliver its gameplay.
What is the impact of Anime Influence Western Storytelling?
The story telling genre has also drawn inspiration from anime and traditional Japanese tales. Anime – including long-running series like Naruto, Pokemon, and Dragon Ball Z – has distinct methods of telling stories. The arcs are often focused on the ‘big bad which is the main villain for the day, and the heroes are given a distinct journey to make. But as many beleaguered anime fans can attest, there are also many filler episodes. These episodes slow down huge storylines and allow the anime to keep pace with the materials (often manga comic books).
One of the most prominent examples that this is happening in the West is the reaction to The Walking Dead from AMC changes depending on whether it is reflecting the comic books or not. The old-fashioned TV’s Sweeps Week meant that many dramas pushed back big events by adding unnecessary stories to show their main dramas or set pieces when more people would watch. Netflix and the shorter length of shows it releases combats this and eliminates the necessity for filler episodes.
Akira, a 1988 Japanese animated film Akira is often described to be one of Japan’s best cinematic exports. It’s also a great companion to Studio Ghibli’s film Spirited Away. It is known that George Lucas turned down an offer to show the original film to Western audiences in 1987 because he felt that the western audience wouldn’t be interested. The film, once it was eventually able to find its audience, turned many to Japanese animation and sci-fi as well as becoming a reference for other media that wanted to reflect the same style could employ. Indeed, Kanye West’s music video for Stronger is heavily influenced by Akira – according to the director.
Japanese storytelling is a reflection of the cultural and tradition passed down through generations, and have been re-imagined into one of the most easily recognized media trends worldwide. The concepts of Japanese anime and sci-fi are universal and can be applied to TV, film, gaming and entertainment in general in the west. As culture expands beyond country boundaries, we should anticipate more anime influence across western media.