The Anime Explosion: Anime's Influence in Other Mediums Posted Sep 25, 2021
Once the butt of many jokes in high schools across America, anime has come to the fore as a font of creativity, artistic development and new content. The thousands of different anime films and television shows have, at this point, inspired generations of artists and storytellers.
If you are familiar with anime and have watched a wide number of different series and films in the medium, then you will likely already be able to recognize the influence which anime has had on art, culture and society in North America, Europe and elsewhere around the world. Keep reading to learn more about the wide-ranging and far-reaching impact of anime on other mediums and cultural forms.
Contemporary art in the Global North
Although it may surprise a number of anime skeptics, anime has actually had a profound impact on contemporary art in North America and Europe. Artists like Takashi Murakami have utilized the anime fandom and aesthetic to create a fresh, exciting type of visual art which many people in the Global North have recognized as new and interesting. Murakami has collaborated with Kanye West and his art has been collected by celebrities like Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt, so his work is certainly popular.
Anime has also created an explosion of personal creativity from fans around the world. Fans engage with anime and express their interest through a wide range of different art forms, including costume design. Costume design, otherwise known as “cosplay”, is a major area of interest for anime fans around the world and has led fans to create wild, wonderful and flat-out bizarre designs. The proliferation of cosplay has arguably also had an impact on the world of fashion as many streetwear designers — and even some high fashion labels — have looked to the zany creativity of cosplayers for inspiration.
Gaming and gambling platforms
The world of anime has also had an impact on the video game and gambling industries. Entire video games and video game series have been inspired by particular anime shows and have created spin-offs for fans and newcomers alike.
One of the biggest examples of this impact would be the Pokémon franchise. Pokémon started as an anime series but very quickly expanded to a physical card game and a series of video games. The Pokémon games and films remain extremely popular as evidenced by the success of the Detective Pikachu film which was released a few years ago.
Perhaps more notably, anime aesthetics have had a major impact on video games more generally. The stylistic variance, creativity and themes which have been prevalent in anime series over the course of the last 20-30 years can be found reflected in the aesthetics of hundreds of different video games.
Gambling, specifically online gambling, has also been heavily impacted by anime. The excitement, fun and creativity inherent in anime are perfectly suited for online casinos and games as it leads to games which are thrilling and engaging.
The connection between gambling and anime has deepened over time as the audio and graphics for online casino games have improved considerably to the point that the games are extremely engaging and encompassing. Gamblers who are looking for the best online casino games which are inspired by anime can look to this website for a list of the highest rated anime-themed casino games currently available on the market.
Alternate forms of animation
Perhaps more than any other area, anime has had a major impact on other forms of animation. In order to witness the impact that anime has had on other types of animation, all you need to do is watch a number of classic anime films and series — and then watch the animated series which you can find on Cartoon Network, Adult Swim or elsewhere.
Japanese animator Rie Koga noticed the innate differences between anime and American shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory and realized that she could fuse the two and create a better version of American animation. Since moving to the United States, she has helped to shape the American animation industry. She cites shows like Steven Universe as evidence that the anime style is making an impact in America.
These are just a few of the many different ways in which anime has had an impact on other cultural mediums. Just like other significant cultural outputs, the impact of anime is pervasive and impossible to define summarily, but you can be sure that anime will continue to influence Western culture for as long as it remains popular.
