Ivogoji wrote:So I was on myanimelist and there was this discussion about western animation getting closer to the quality of anime, so I was all like
I mean even bottom tier anime are better than the majority of western cartoons. Pointing to one particularly outstanding show amidst the proverbial ocean of mediocrity doesn't prove anything. The sheer volume of anime is a big factor too- there's SO MUCH of it. There have been way more opportunities for anime creators to produce well-written, well-animated shows.
While there are quite a few modern cartoons I consider good, I would also consider all of them roundly inferior to the cartoons of the 90s and early 2000s. A little piece of me dies inside whenever anyone says cartoons used to be 'just for kids' and are 'getting more mature'. There's no western animation on tv anywhere near the depth and complexity of action shows like the DC Animated Universe, the original Marvel animated universe, Gargoyles, Beast Wars, Samurai Jack, or Teen Titans. Even the comedy series of the previous decade like Hey Arnold, Invader Zim, the Disney Afternoon lineup, and the 90s WB cartoons had more maturity and substance than most of today's cartoons. There have been some impressive shows in recent years- Korra, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, Star Wars Rebels, Over the Garden Wall- but can they hold a candle to the classics? No way; even granting the quality they do have those cartoons are severe outliers compared to most of the rest of western animation. So no, I don't think western animation is getting better/catching up with anime. If anything the disparity in quality is growing bigger.
And again, anime has volume. For every great action cartoon like Samurai Jack there are like ten great action anime. For every well written slice of life cartoon like Hey Arnold there are a dozen solid slice of life anime. The difference is crazy.
So yeah, thoughts?
i think you're looking through rose-tinted glasses.
Western animation began the animation craze. Without things like Mickey Mouse/Steamboat Willy or Looney Tunes, anime wouldn't exist. Western animation's influence on anime is and always has been huge.
Also, yes, we do get some ****** shows like Problem Solverz, Teen Titans Go, PPG 2016, most non RIck & Morty Adult Swim shows, non-early seasons of Family Guy, South Park/Ren & Stimpy rip-offs, but japan gets shows made deliberately for fanservice, shows that pander to the LCD, and shows like Monster Fetish the show, SAO the harem show, and Sister Incest the Anime.