Originally Posted by
Raycu
The very first definition I could find defining medium was: "an agency or means of doing something." Seeing as anime is just animation, it is a sub branch of a medium. Furthermore, I find it very convenient how you left out a significant branch of my argument based around how flawed your definition of anime is.
I would argue that some American made animation is anime because it has more taken from anime in terms of animation style and character design than from Western animation. Being semi-realistic and taking from eastern culture like Avatar doesn't make it anime, because although it has some mild similarities, and is eastern, it isn't trying to emulate Japanese animation style. Where as RWBY is very clearly trying to be anime, a lot of it boils down to intent. Because it's based off of Japanese animation, I'd say it's basically anime. This is why I'd also include Korean and Chinese animation, like Spiritpact (which you shouldn't watch because it's trash) as anime as well. It clearly is derivative of Japanese animation.
Not only does this definition basically match what most people would call anime, it also makes a lot of sense. If the intention is to create something based on Japanese style (which no matter what style, is considered anime), then it's practically the same as an anime, and it seems the same as anime, and it's written similarly to anime. So why can't it be anime?
I feel that a lot of this strict definition of only Japanese things that people often tote is simply because people have grown frustrated explaining how Avatar, or Korra isn't an anime, and in the end they just grow frustrated and come up with the simplest definition possible. Then they're confronted with Korean animation based off of Manhua or Japanese games, and they don't know what to do, or even though they recognize that it's basically the exact same thing as Japanese animation, they feel this dissonance with how they define animation. This definition both encompasses thematic, artistic, cultural, and regional ideas when it comes to an animated product.
Unless you legitimately don't believe Korean and Chinese animation is anime, then I guess you're a purist and can stick to your own definitions. I however have no qualms with saying that they're the same thing.
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