| What is it that makes Japanese animation popular, not | | | | animated characters. But "Dragon Ball Z" was at the |
| only to the young but to adults as well? I remember a | | | | top of the charts for a cartoon series for its duration in |
| few years ago when I was a freshmen and | | | | America. |
| sophomore in university I was addicted to the | | | | So back to the original question, what makes |
| Japanese anime "Dragon Ball Z". In fact, it even gave | | | | Japanese animation so popular? It may be this humble |
| the famous American cartoon "The Simpsons" a run | | | | author's opinion but I would have to say the action, and |
| for its money in my book. | | | | to a further extent the deadly violence. As a prime |
| What I find odd is that "Dragon Ball Z" has about 39 | | | | example "The Simpsons" being probably the most |
| episodes per season but if you want to write an | | | | popular America cartoon is a comedy based cartoon. |
| overview of the entire season you can do so in just | | | | In fact most of the newer American cartoons are |
| about one paragraph. And I mean you can add all the | | | | based on comedy or to some extent mystery (Yes, |
| meat of the entire season into just that one paragraph. | | | | Scooby Doo, I am looking at you). |
| Here is basically what I mean... | | | | In the 1980's America had its share of action cartoons |
| Episode 1-10ish: Bad guy arrives and starts terrorizing | | | | like "Transformers", "Thunder Cats" and "He-Man" but |
| the fictional planet. Minor super heroes fight the villain | | | | as the end of the 80's came so did most of the |
| and lose (perhaps one even dies). Main hero who was | | | | American action cartoons. And with the release of the |
| conveniently not able to combat said villain for | | | | great "Akira" on video in 1990 and the subsequent mind |
| whatever reason finally arrives for the ultimate | | | | blowing action/gore that came with it, most American |
| showdown. Episode 10ish - 38: Half of the time verbal | | | | cartoon lovers immediately turned their eyes to Japan. |
| fists are being thrown between said hero and villain | | | | The movie stuck its "geta" in the door and made the |
| while the other half goes to physical fists. Sprinkle in | | | | debut for Japanese animation in the west. |
| some dialogue from the minor heroes like, "Wow! He is | | | | In the 1990's newer American cartoons such as |
| at full power!", and you have yourself about 600 | | | | "Batman" and "Superman" came out and were |
| minutes. Episode 38 ending: Hero kills villain. Episode 39: | | | | enjoyed by most American action cartoon lovers, but |
| Everyone is happy and life returns to normal. | | | | with only these few American cartoons there left a lot |
| And there I was, in my late teens, with my eyes glued | | | | of time for other action animation from Japan to fill the |
| to the television. I even knew nothing of importance | | | | gap. With the amount of older Japanese anime being |
| was going to happen for about 25 episodes but there I | | | | translated along with Japan's fresh anime, there is quite |
| sat unable and unwilling to move. "Dragon Ball Z", which | | | | a lot of the Japanese component in the western |
| aired in Japan from 1989 - 1996 did not first air in | | | | market. So, this author's opinion is that Japanese anime |
| America until 1996. By the time I started watching this | | | | happened to come along to the west at just the right |
| anime it was already 10 years old. And this length of | | | | time, and now that it's here it won't be leaving anytime |
| time for an animated series is a long time when | | | | soon. S.B. |
| compared to the new techniques and styles of | | | | |