Is DragonBall a "Cartoon" or an "Anime"?

The Time Traveller · Post by **The Time Traveller** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:43 pm

In English speaking countries Anime means Japanese Cartoon, like Manga means Japanese comics, and how both words are just the Japanese for cartoons and comics, thats all.

Gyt Kaliba · Post by **Gyt Kaliba** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:47 pm

Personally, I never refer to Dragon Ball as a cartoon but not because I think it insults it or whatever - it's just the term that is most commonly used and what I got used to calling it. I don't throw a shit-fit when someone else calls it a cartoon either like some people do, although...I used to, back in my noob days.

The Time Traveller · Post by **The Time Traveller** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:51 pm

Gyt Kaliba wrote:Personally, I never refer to Dragon Ball as a cartoon but not because I think it insults it or whatever - it's just the term that is most commonly used and what I got used to calling it. I don't throw a shit-fit when someone else calls it a cartoon either like some people do, although...I used to, back in my noob days.

Man, I know what you mean. Back when we assume kids in Japan don't watch TV or anything.

For some reason (Gotta catch 'em all!), if a cartoon is from Japan then people tend to think of it as more of an advert for toys...

Gyt Kaliba · Post by **Gyt Kaliba** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:54 pm

That's the reverse of what I sometimes think - a lot of American cartoons are made just for the toys. It's CGI, but Cars anyone? (Not that I didn't love the movie, but Disney's gone psychotic).

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:44 pm

But isn't the definition of an anime a Japanese cartoon? So that's kind of what it is. A cartoon is drawn, which is what DB/Z/GT is. The only thing is, a cartoon is different in that it doesn't continue in each episode like most Animes do, but then again, Cowboy Bebop doesn't exactly continue throughout all 26 episodes (the story continues, but each episode has its own story), but that's still an Anime.

Vegard Aune · Post by **Vegard Aune** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:46 pm

TheGreatness25 wrote:But isn't the definition of an anime a Japanese cartoon?

No, it's the japanese word FOR cartoon. There's no difference between american cartoons and japanese ones except the language. They're still a bunch of drawings with sound playing alongside them. The anime=japanese cartoon-thing is nothing more than a fan-term. Kinda like "Ultra Super Saiya-jin" for example.

Jerseymilk · Post by **Jerseymilk** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:51 pm

Vegard Aune wrote:
TheGreatness25 wrote:But isn't the definition of an anime a Japanese cartoon?
No, it's the japanese word FOR cartoon. There's no difference between american cartoons and japanese ones except the language. They're still a bunch of drawings with sound playing alongside them. The anime=japanese cartoon-thing is nothing more than a fan-term. Kinda like "Ultra Super Saiya-jin" for example.

Ya it's really only in the West that we use anime to specifically refer to Japanese cartoons. But like I said earlier, it's really rare that I've seen people in Japan, including those in the industry itself use any word but "animation" when talking about cartoons. The times I have heard or seen it, it's usually been when someone is talking to Western fans like at a Western con for example, since that's the term we use so they're simply following the adage, "When in Rome..."

MagicBox · Post by **MagicBox** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:46 pm

Gyt Kaliba wrote:That's the reverse of what I sometimes think - a lot of American cartoons are made just for the toys. It's CGI, but Cars anyone? (Not that I didn't love the movie, but Disney's gone psychotic).

Disney didn't have anything to do with Cars' production, but I guess I get what you're saying. It's true; many films here are made with a main goal of selling merchandise rather than telling a good story. I didn't necessarily get that vibe from Cars, but I did get it from other films (*cough*Transformers*cough*).

As for the topic, I never really thought about it until now, but when talking about the DragonBall series (or any anime, for that matter), I never really call it an anime or a cartoon. I just call it a show. That's the first word that comes into my mind when I have to talk about it in a conversation. I've always been of the opinion that there's really no purpose in pointing out all the differences between animation and live action and stuff like that. I mean, yes, there are differences, but I've never been able to understand people who judge animation on a whole different level than live action just because it's animation, and vice versa. Animation is just another form of storytelling like live action, stop-motion (which I guess is still animation, but still), and others. So when I'm talking about any series, be it DragonBall, Detective Conan, Animaniacs, Boy Meets World, Family Guy, Scrubs, or whatever, I always just use the term "show" or "series." When I'm referring to the animation medium as a whole, I just say "animation."

That's just me, though. I've no problem with calling DragonBall a cartoon, nor do I have a problem calling it an anime, because really, they both mean the same thing and they both are accurate words to describe the property. Regardless of what fancy titles you give it, it's just animation, and whether it's from America or Japan doesn't change that. Yeah, there are some minor differences in the way terms are used by the masses, like how most everybody uses "anime" when referring to foreign animation, but really, those minor differences fall into a territory of irrelevancy, IMO. I really only say "anime" to make sure that the person I'm talking to knows what I'm talking about.

I also understand that these days, the word "cartoon" is used more as a derogatory statement than a compliment, but by definition, it's an accurate term, and I've never had a problem with using it.

I do get a kick when people get offended when they hear their favorite anime called a "cartoon," though. Like how they'll immediately blurt out in defense "It's not a cartoon; it's anime!," like that magically makes the series in question cooler or more mature. It just tickles me to death.

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:25 pm

I've never had a problem with people refering to Dragonball as a cartoon. But I bought some Dragonball Z manga today, and it was in the "childrens" section. And that did kinda bother me.

Gyt Kaliba · Post by **Gyt Kaliba** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:38 pm

It does annoy me a little when people try to mock me for my anime obsession, cuz it's for 'Little Kids' in their opinion, but it's not because I don't think it is - it's cuz these are the same people who giggle at every word out of Spongebob's mouth.

As per the stocking of manga in the kids section, I've seen it in the Teens section at Hastings, which isn't too bad really. I still don't know why Invader Zim is always in the anime section, but to each his own.

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:25 pm

Manga and anime have their own sections at my local book shops and movie shop.

Arcwave · Post by **Arcwave** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:04 pm

This is ridiculous.

A cartoon simply implies animated films in general. Yes, anime is considered a "cartoon", however, it is a subcategory of the genre. Anime is animation made in Japan. Period. Is Avatar an anime? No, it was made in the United States at Nickelodeon Studios. People who argue this really annoy me.

Back on topic... Yes, DBZ is a cartoon, but is also anime.

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:20 am

Well I was just being cautious because whenever I tell a die hard DBZ fan that DBZ is a cartoon, they go nuts and tell me that it's an Anime. I ask them what the difference is, and they start giving me crap about how it's cotinuous, and plus there's other differences, yadda yadda. So from now on, I'm going to look forward to disproving anyone who attacks me over that. Effin awesome.

Gyt Kaliba · Post by **Gyt Kaliba** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:26 am

Tell them that VegettoEX himself has told you there's not really a difference. If they still gripe, then they're lame. If they don't know who VegettoEX is, then they don't have internet capability or fail as DB fans.

SuperVegito17 · Post by **SuperVegito17** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:47 am

anime ofcourse, since it is made in Japan....isn't that the definition?
If you are thinking of the orthodox anime-style character design, well they were slightly different, but yet, its an anime.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:29 am

Gyt Kaliba wrote:Tell them that VegettoEX himself has told you there's not really a difference. If they still gripe, then they're lame. If they don't know who VegettoEX is, then they don't have internet capability or fail as DB fans.

That might have worked in 1999-2000, but I don't think so today

.

Honestly, it all stems from a superiority complex / self-esteem issues.

Gyt Kaliba · Post by **Gyt Kaliba** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:25 pm

VegettoEX wrote:
Gyt Kaliba wrote:Tell them that VegettoEX himself has told you there's not really a difference. If they still gripe, then they're lame. If they don't know who VegettoEX is, then they don't have internet capability or fail as DB fans.
That might have worked in 1999-2000, but I don't think so today .

Honestly, it all stems from a superiority complex / self-esteem issues.

I dunno, you and your site are still referred to as the essential Dragon Ball Bible, so it may work.

I think most people have that problem in the early days of their fandom, or at least I did. I used to freak out if someone called DB a cartoon. Thankfully I've since grown out of that phase.

JohnnyBoy_Z · Post by **JohnnyBoy_Z** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:16 am

I consider Dragon Ball, DBZ and DBGT (mainly the Dragon Ball series) as classic anime. That's really what it is.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:42 am

TheGreatness25 wrote:Well I was just being cautious because whenever I tell a die hard DBZ fan that DBZ is a cartoon, they go nuts and tell me that it's an Anime.

I wish I could actually meet a few of these people in real life.

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:46 pm

I don't. I'd rather stay away from them.