The age old question: Is anime art?

[Lady_RyuuXX87]

Ah I was wondering on whether to put this here or not... anime is related to graphic novels, or manga so I decided to talk about it here. I'm sure this topic has been mentioned before but I always get this a lot from my art teachers that anime is not art. Or, at least the *correct* art! There shouldn't be a right or wrong art. I've always wanted to draw my own stories into graphic novels too so that is also why I posted this here. I think anime is the simplified version of drawing a person. There is less detail, it's fun to do :D What do you all think about that?

[knightrunnermatt]

Manga is definitely art. It may be simple, but isn't that what post-modern art revolves around? The Japanese super-flat movement thrives on making complex objects as simple as possible. I think the art is what carries manga mostly. I haven't read many manga that were well written...

matt

[zombiewriterS]

I definatly think anime is art. Manly because I believe that there are little to no rules to art. These are the only rules I believe there is to art.

1. you have to enjoy it
2. it has to be self-expression
3. there is no limit to your medium

So there's no wrong art and no right art. It's just art.

[Richard White]

Absolutely, anime and manga are art.

My original production cel collection is proof of that to me. :D

I've seen how the art is created on the celluloid cels, building from the front backwards, so unlike a canvas painting, the anime cel is painted in reverse. That takes a mind set I certainly don't have.

Then again, comics are art . . . as evidenced by my collection of original comic pages.

You can say there's commercial art, graphics art or fine art, but you know what? They're all ART.

[Sheryl Nantus]

ab-sol-fricking-lutely it's art!!!

TCM has been running anime movies for a treat on Thursday nights... finally got my hubby to watch some of Porco Rosso and our fav, Princess Mononoke...

tell you the honest truth, I'll take most of the Japanimation films over anything coming out of Hollywood these days.

:)

[JAlpha]

Back in the day when I was in art school, I was introduced to the concept of body piercing as "living" art, and puking into a bucket on a stage as "performance" art, and displaying a jar of urine on top of a Bible as a proper sculpture to display in the school's student gallery.

Now. when I hear people try to exclude various forms of animation and such from the broader realm of what constitutes art---it makes me want to puke in a bucket.
And don't get me started about the art of smilies :Soapbox:

The "gatekeeper" of the arts mentality is prevalent in visual and literary circles, and I've learned to tune it out. I'm much more at peace creatively as a result. "It's art because I say it is," has become my mantra for all my creative pursuits. I've designated myself as the "gatekeeper" of my art.

[veinglory]

of course it is art, but if they are teachers of fine art it is not what they have to teach you. If anime art is your main focus you may have chosen the wrong school to be in? There are plenty of places where at least some of the teachers are skilled in anime and other graphic art techniques.

[Atomic Bear]

Any drawing is art. Is it good art? ... that is up to the viewer to deside.

As for education. Manga in the end is drawing just like anything else. Being able to draw well vs. drawing Manga well could make a huge diffrence in what your final work will be. In the end it will go beyond Manga into your own style. A style made up of all that you have learned.

[Paint]

I love anime as an art form. It has so much power and movement. I love what the anime artists are doing with hair! How do they get such expression with so little line in the face?? It is commercialized to pieces and usually that is not good for an art form. I also like the way it is linked to spirituality and natural power; water, wind, fire, etc.

[Snitchcat]

Wheee! My post disappeared from this thread. =^P

Yes, IMO, manga / anime is art.

"Manga" means "unusual art".


I've found those who say manga / anime isn't art have very limited exposure to the form, or an incredibly limited view of what comprises art. But, as with all things creative, whether or not you call it art is subject to your POV.

[Somnilocus]

Anything you put your heart, soul, and mind in to is art; whether it be painting the Mona Lisa, dancing, or taking a dump. As an artist, I can tell you that many artists who draw in a more realistic style cannot draw anime/manga for ****. Sure, photo-realism is impressive, but a simplistic piece of art that you absolutely fall in love with is even more impressive.

"Manga" means "unusual art".

Are you serious? :\

[C.bronco]

ibid everyone above, of course!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Ah I was wondering on whether to put this here or not... anime is related to graphic novels, or manga so I decided to talk about it here. I'm sure this topic has been mentioned before but I always get this a lot from my art teachers that anime is not art. Or, at least the *correct* art! There shouldn't be a right or wrong art. I've always wanted to draw my own stories into graphic novels too so that is also why I posted this here. I think anime is the simplified version of drawing a person. There is less detail, it's fun to do :D What do you all think about that?

The simplified answer:

Hai! :D

[Snitchcat]

Are you serious? :\

Yes. (^_^)

"man" = "out of the ordinary", "something unique", "not of conventional", etc. As far as I can see, the concept doesn't quite have an exact English equivalent.

"ga" = "art"

[Sailor Kenshin]

Yes. (^_^)

"man" = "out of the ordinary", "something unique", "not of conventional", etc. As far as I can see, the concept doesn't quite have an exact English equivalent.

"ga" = "art"

Is that how the kanji read?

[Snitchcat]

Is that how the kanji read?

Yes, that's how it's read. (^_^)

[realist from earth]

Personally I would pay no attention to the artist crowd for the most part. They tend toward an elitist perspective and are of really no help. They are very much like the "artist" writer types that talk about what is and what isn't real literature. I have actor friends that talk about what is and what isn't cinema or theatre. If you like drawing, and you can get someone to pay you for it; do it and don't care what other people think.

[Somnilocus]

Yes. (^_^)

"man" = "out of the ordinary", "something unique", "not of conventional", etc. As far as I can see, the concept doesn't quite have an exact English equivalent.

"ga" = "art"

Thanks but I speak Japanese. :P The kanji mean "cartoon" and "picture" but anyway--

I agree with Realist From Earth: there's no right or wrong answer, just personal opinions. Do what feels right.

[Mike Coombes]

1. you have to enjoy it
2. it has to be self-expression
3. there is no limit to your medium

I'll have to disagree with rule 1.

Good art provokes reaction, whether it be love, hate, revulsion, enjoyment or just confusion.

I'll also take a pop at #2.

Art is usually, but does not have to be, self expression. Many artists have experimented with distancing themselves from the medium by making it a random accidental creation rather than something they have worked to achieve.

As for manga - yeah, why not? We had a Manga exhibition at our local art gallery a while back.

[Snitchcat]

Thanks but I speak Japanese. :P The kanji mean "cartoon" and "picture".

Heheh, cool.

I'm reading it from a Chinese perspective. It's about the same thing. :)

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks but I speak Japanese. :P The kanji mean "cartoon" and "picture" but anyway--

I agree with Realist From Earth: there's no right or wrong answer, just personal opinions. Do what feels right.

Ooo! Thou speakest Japanese?

My new best friend. ;)

[Rowen]

Yes, I think it is art, because the way anime should be drawn is quite a difficult task. I struggle with the Hair and Body . The shading of anime is also very hard and requires a lot of experience..
Any tips on anime or gundam please Email me. rowey13@webmail.co.za

[Lock_Dragmire]

Alright, here's the thing to talk about here.

In general, yes it's art. Simply because of the fact that like all art forms, even down to graffitti, a person can express themselves through it, creating characters, stories, conveying feeling through anime like Piccaso conveyed his through disfigured faces and obcure forms that represented people.

On the other hand, it't become so copy/paste that no one puts any real effort into making anime images. They grab something and make a re-color, call it thier own, and thus is no longer art, it's a stolen work that looks like it's been raped repeatedly and beaten with an ugly stick.

You must also take into consideration that these people in aime and manga are supposed to be people. It's based on lives, characters, real people, therefore are more often than not expected to LOOK like people. That means proper anatomy and proportion, being well versed in the structure of different perspectives and forshortening, scenery and syle.

The main objective of anime is to visually tell a story with moving graphics. A painting alone can tell the tale of the entire universe, but a drawing of a person standing on a blank background tells little more than what that person looks like. There is no dynamic aspect, no story, no life to it. But on the flip side, place that person in a forest, running, speed lines and a bit of forshortening on the forward facing hand, and you've got a story.

Overall, anime IS art, it is just one of the simplest and least defined forms of art there are. Everyone can draw anime (whether it looks good or not), but not everyone can paint like Da Vincci.

[InfinityGoddess]

All forms of animation is as much "art" as a painting in an art museum or a panel in a comic book. The difference is that it moves. That is all.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Alright, here's the thing to talk about here.

In general, yes it's art. Simply because of the fact that like all art forms, even down to graffitti, a person can express themselves through it, creating characters, stories, conveying feeling through anime like Piccaso conveyed his through disfigured faces and obcure forms that represented people.

On the other hand, it't become so copy/paste that no one puts any real effort into making anime images. They grab something and make a re-color, call it thier own, and thus is no longer art, it's a stolen work that looks like it's been raped repeatedly and beaten with an ugly stick.

You must also take into consideration that these people in aime and manga are supposed to be people. It's based on lives, characters, real people, therefore are more often than not expected to LOOK like people. That means proper anatomy and proportion, being well versed in the structure of different perspectives and forshortening, scenery and syle.

The main objective of anime is to visually tell a story with moving graphics. A painting alone can tell the tale of the entire universe, but a drawing of a person standing on a blank background tells little more than what that person looks like. There is no dynamic aspect, no story, no life to it. But on the flip side, place that person in a forest, running, speed lines and a bit of forshortening on the forward facing hand, and you've got a story.

Overall, anime IS art, it is just one of the simplest and least defined forms of art there are. Everyone can draw anime (whether it looks good or not), but not everyone can paint like Da Vincci.

Have I got this right? You're complaining because some people draw anime characters that are not up to your standards?

I don't suppose you have seen the many BAD copies of DaVinci that are out there, but how is either one germane to whether anime is art?

And no. Not everyone can draw anime.

[Rasun]

It's hard for me to even believe how many people agree, and see the truth that "Manga" is a form of art... And have the evidence to back it up... Nice to see that I'm not the only one that thinks so... However when I showed This drawing I did (http://hanyouyomi.deviantart.com/art/Gammastein-Vs-Hulk-103347957) on the forums of DigitalWebbing.com I was told by one messageboarder that I shouldn't use DBZ as reference in how to draw the human anatomy, when the truth is I started drawing realism much like every other artist... It's just that when I got into drawing manga Akira Toriyama was one of the influences on my art style.

[benbradley]

Why would it NOT be art?

I recall the late Frank Zappa being asked if rap is music, and he basically said yes (ISTR his full answer had to do with it being some sort of art form, but that it was interpreted as a positive response to the question). If rap is music, then anime is most definitely art.
Back in the day when I was in art school, I was introduced to the concept of ...
Oh, do I really want to go there... nah, I don't need a ModeratorGram today...
...
The "gatekeeper" of the arts mentality is prevalent in visual and literary circles, and I've learned to tune it out. I'm much more at peace creatively as a result. "It's art because I say it is," has become my mantra for all my creative pursuits. I've designated myself as the "gatekeeper" of my art.
I suppose "conservatories" serve a purpose as far as preserving classical music and "classic" art, but it becomes a little amusing to think of a relatively new American upstart music form called "jazz," yet I've heard of a "jazz conservatory!"

No doubt someday the Berklee College of Music will someday be renamed "The Berklee Conservatory of Rock." :D

[Lock_Dragmire]

No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant at all.

What I meant was that..well...how can I put it better.

First, I DID say that it is in fact art. There's no denying it. Anime/Manga is art.

But the thing is that there's a difference between being inspired by other pieces and just outright being uncreative, which in a sence equates to unartistic.

I'm talking in the sence of people who follow things, not the original animes and mangas. Pokemon was way popular back when it first came out. People started drawing them, well not drawing, tracing. The original picture of pikachu, that's art, the original creator created it by hand. The drawing of pikachu that was drawn freehand, that's art. Tracing it is not art. It might be a picture on paper, but that's not "art" that's claiming you did something that you didn't.

Drawing out a figure from scratch, that's art. Taking another character and changing its colors, then calling it your own, is not.

InuYahsa with blue hair is still InuYasha, no matter how you re-name him.

Also, SOMEtimes, though not all the time, people tend to be happy with the odd proportions and unrealistic poses and angles of anime/manga and don't seek to improve passed that. That's why art colleges refuse to accept any anime and manga or cartoons and comics in portfolios, because it's not true to life. If it were something that was meant to be abstract, then that's a different sroty, but trying in terms of figure drawing, the best thing is to be accurate is all I'm saying. And most of anime fans focus on figure drawing, animals and people.

That's the poont that I'm trying to make. Some of the more awesome animes and mangas take from figure and life drawing, so it looks very realistic.

I'm not making the argument that it's not art, I'm trying to show the other side of the argument and WHY it is as it is.

[Lock_Dragmire]

Also, everyone can draw it if they put their mind to it. That's what I keep telling someone I know who's trying to learn, and they get better and better. Even he can draw anime now, and it's an amazing thing to watch someone improve. But one things he does most when he does so is take from life drawing, and basically ignores anime proportions and things like that, and yet, he still draws in anime style.

Not everyone is GOOD at it, but everyone CAN draw in anime style. It just takes time, practice, and patience.

[Sailor Kenshin]

No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant at all.

What I meant was that..well...how can I put it better.

First, I DID say that it is in fact art. There's no denying it. Anime/Manga is art.

But the thing is that there's a difference between being inspired by other pieces and just outright being uncreative, which in a sence equates to unartistic.

I'm talking in the sence of people who follow things, not the original animes and mangas. Pokemon was way popular back when it first came out. People started drawing them, well not drawing, tracing. The original picture of pikachu, that's art, the original creator created it by hand. The drawing of pikachu that was drawn freehand, that's art. Tracing it is not art. It might be a picture on paper, but that's not "art" that's claiming you did something that you didn't.

Drawing out a figure from scratch, that's art. Taking another character and changing its colors, then calling it your own, is not.

InuYahsa with blue hair is still InuYasha, no matter how you re-name him.

Also, SOMEtimes, though not all the time, people tend to be happy with the odd proportions and unrealistic poses and angles of anime/manga and don't seek to improve passed that. That's why art colleges refuse to accept any anime and manga or cartoons and comics in portfolios, because it's not true to life. If it were something that was meant to be abstract, then that's a different sroty, but trying in terms of figure drawing, the best thing is to be accurate is all I'm saying. And most of anime fans focus on figure drawing, animals and people.

That's the poont that I'm trying to make. Some of the more awesome animes and mangas take from figure and life drawing, so it looks very realistic.

I'm not making the argument that it's not art, I'm trying to show the other side of the argument and WHY it is as it is.


Got it.

Even tracing, though, can be helpful for a beginner, as a checkpoint (if you're not taking classes). Do your drawing freehand on tracing paper the same size as the original and then lay your drawing over the original to see if you made any glaring errors.

The odd proportions are deliberate, I assume, and just part of character design.

Pipikachuuu! :D

[Akuma]

Pipikachuuu! :D

I'm sorry, did I hear something?

Because I thought I heard something. ;)

[pandora_6666]

It's hard for me to even believe how many people agree, and see the truth that "Manga" is a form of art... And have the evidence to back it up... Nice to see that I'm not the only one that thinks so... However when I showed This drawing I did (http://hanyouyomi.deviantart.com/art/Gammastein-Vs-Hulk-103347957) on the forums of DigitalWebbing.com I was told by one messageboarder that I shouldn't use DBZ as reference in how to draw the human anatomy, when the truth is I started drawing realism much like every other artist... It's just that when I got into drawing manga Akira Toriyama was one of the influences on my art style.


I've started doing manga/anime style just in the last couple of years - before that I did more realistic pencil art, so I am by no means an expert, but I do think you should learn basic proportions from life first and then take those proportions and stylize them yourself into your anime/manga style. A person cannot really draw something well unless they understand what they are drawing: such as why a curve goes in a certain place, or why hair is done a certain way , etc etc. (hair is my weakness - argh! I hate hair!) But, what I mean is that you don’t necessarily need to go all out in pencil shaded drawings, but you should concentrate on more traditional/realistic figure drawing just so that you can understand how the human anatomy looks and why it looks that way.

As I said, I am by no means an expert and I learn something new with every drawing I do and find something that I had been doing wrong that needs fixed. Each picture or work should be an improvement over the one you did before. if you don't look at it and find where you did something better than you have a problem.

and yes, there is a difference in the body proportions between the anime/realistic art. They can be very subtle, but they are there, like heads tend to be bigger in anime/manga and people are generally thinner, even in the very realistic ones - but this is not a rule, like anything, it's a difference in each artists style. Like in DBZ. I won't lie, I am not fond of the DBZ style because their heads are far too tiny and the body proprtions feel very wrong to me, but that's my opinion. if that's what you like then you shouldn't quit liking it, but you also should not take it as the gospel for figure drawing either.

But, to answer your original question, is it art? YES! Anime is the art form I have wanted to do since I was a toddler but it has escaped me until recently because it has a flowing style - a looseness to the lines and curves - that i was lacking. But now that I've gotten the hang of it, it's about all I am doing anymore. I keep telling myself I need to do some more realistic art because I am getting rusty but then I gaze at whatever I've just done and am so overwhelmingly... impressed is not the word I want but it will suffice in lieu of cornier ones - that I end up starting my next sketch in the anime style again, LOL!

[Rasun]

I've started doing manga/anime style just in the last couple of years - before that I did more realistic pencil art, so I am by no means an expert, but I do think you should learn basic proportions from life first and then take those proportions and stylize them yourself into your anime/manga style. A person cannot really draw something well unless they understand what they are drawing: such as why a curve goes in a certain place, or why hair is done a certain way , etc etc. (hair is my weakness - argh! I hate hair!) But, what I mean is that you don’t necessarily need to go all out in pencil shaded drawings, but you should concentrate on more traditional/realistic figure drawing just so that you can understand how the human anatomy looks and why it looks that way.

As I said, I am by no means an expert and I learn something new with every drawing I do and find something that I had been doing wrong that needs fixed. Each picture or work should be an improvement over the one you did before. if you don't look at it and find where you did something better than you have a problem.

and yes, there is a difference in the body proportions between the anime/realistic art. They can be very subtle, but they are there, like heads tend to be bigger in anime/manga and people are generally thinner, even in the very realistic ones - but this is not a rule, like anything, it's a difference in each artists style. Like in DBZ. I won't lie, I am not fond of the DBZ style because their heads are far too tiny and the body proprtions feel very wrong to me, but that's my opinion. if that's what you like then you shouldn't quit liking it, but you also should not take it as the gospel for figure drawing either.

But, to answer your original question, is it art? YES! Anime is the art form I have wanted to do since I was a toddler but it has escaped me until recently because it has a flowing style - a looseness to the lines and curves - that i was lacking. But now that I've gotten the hang of it, it's about all I am doing anymore. I keep telling myself I need to do some more realistic art because I am getting rusty but then I gaze at whatever I've just done and am so overwhelmingly... impressed is not the word I want but it will suffice in lieu of cornier ones - that I end up starting my next sketch in the anime style again, LOL!

Such a modest woman you are... And no I don't use Akira Toriyama's work as the gospel for figure drawing. So far as drawing Marvel characters go, as much as I'd like to draw them in my own fashion, I'd much rather not have them look like some of my original characters so I've looked to references of Marvel artists that have appealed to me the most, Ed Mcguiness, Arthur Adams, Joe Mad, and Frank Cho... As for the body porportions of my characters if I hadn't said it before I'll say it now, I noticed that the right side of a character's body is smaller then the left... I often blame that on me using my own anatomy seeing as how my right arm, and leg are smaller than my left. :p

[KikiteNeko]

Art is subjective. I think it's art, my mom thinks it's cartoons and I should go out and do something better with my Saturday because I'm 24 years old.

>.>

[Sailor Kenshin]

Art is subjective. I think it's art, my mom thinks it's cartoons and I should go out and do something better with my Saturday because I'm 24 years old.

>.>

I'm older than you and most of what I watch is cartoons. :tongue

[Dave.C.Robinson]

Confession time: I'm not overly fond of most anime or manga (though I am a big comics fan).

Is it art?

Yes.

As to the question of is it fine art, commercial art, good art or other art?

Does it matter?

It's art.

Some people like it, others don't-- but it's still art.

[Wolvel]

I'm older than you and most of what I watch is cartoons. :tongue


+1 I'm 38 and watch mostly cartoons.

As to the question...yes its art just like abstract to people is art so is manga.

[pandora_6666]

Such a modest woman you are... And no I don't use Akira Toriyama's work as the gospel for figure drawing. So far as drawing Marvel characters go, as much as I'd like to draw them in my own fashion, I'd much rather not have them look like some of my original characters so I've looked to references of Marvel artists that have appealed to me the most, Ed Mcguiness, Arthur Adams, Joe Mad, and Frank Cho... As for the body porportions of my characters if I hadn't said it before I'll say it now, I noticed that the right side of a character's body is smaller then the left... I often blame that on me using my own anatomy seeing as how my right arm, and leg are smaller than my left. :p


LOL! At least you have an excuse! I have this terrible problem of crooked heads! One side of their face is always a little slimmer than the other - I have no idea what my deal is! No matter how many heads I draw there it is again!

I tend to use myself as figure reference as well, but not only am I short waisted but a bit chubby, so I always end up having to try to shave off the extra pounds and lengthen the torso, LOL! I wish my brother would get a really thin, hot girlfriend with a large rack that I could use as a model for free - he wishes so too, I imagine, LOL!

[Rasun]

LOL! At least you have an excuse! I have this terrible problem of crooked heads! One side of their face is always a little slimmer than the other - I have no idea what my deal is! No matter how many heads I draw there it is again!

I tend to use myself as figure reference as well, but not only am I short waisted but a bit chubby, so I always end up having to try to shave off the extra pounds and lengthen the torso, LOL! I wish my brother would get a really thin, hot girlfriend with a large rack that I could use as a model for free - he wishes so too, I imagine, LOL!

Oh wow that's interesting... Maybe you don't pace yourself it's all about patience really. Maybe you have to slowly sketch it out slowly in order to nail everything.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Preliminary studies help a LOT. One summer I drew nothing but hands and eyes. :p

[8thSamurai]

This question is EVERYWHERE. Oy.

Yes, manga is art. Like every other stylized representation, studying realism is important in order to create 'buyable' deformations.

If an art teacher is trying to teach people how to draw, and they insist on handing in poorly rendered, derivative drawings of their favorite cartoon characters, I understand the frustration. Using exclusively manga artwork as reference, one is only going to end up with unrealistic, derivative deformations.

OP - I did look at your drawing. It does not show any basis in understanding musculature or proportions.

In order to create something stylized effectively, one has to know where muscles go, at least.

Try www.conceptart.org for some hard core learning.

[jmascia]

Let me put it to you this way? Would you consider Bugs Bunny or the Flintsones art? Do you think of Sponge-Bob as being artistic? Or how about Batman: The Animated Series? If you consider these things art, then yes, anime is art.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Let me put it to you this way? Would you consider Bugs Bunny or the Flintsones art? Do you think of Sponge-Bob as being artistic? Or how about Batman: The Animated Series? If you consider these things art, then yes, anime is art.


Spongebob, definitely.

[adarkfox]

Yes it is art... but at the same time, soooooo many people I've seen go through school (HS and College) who can religiously draw their favorite anime/manga character but can't draw anything else worth a crap.

My only argument in the debate would be that original anime/manga is art. Being able to replicate established art does not make you an artist (no matter what the medium!)

[Sailor Kenshin]

Yes it is art... but at the same time, soooooo many people I've seen go through school (HS and College) who can religiously draw their favorite anime/manga character but can't draw anything else worth a crap.

My only argument in the debate would be that original anime/manga is art. Being able to replicate established art does not make you an artist (no matter what the medium!)

Sure it does.

Legit painters spend hours at museums, rigorously copying Rembrandts and such as part of their training.

[Lucifal]

Seems like a resounding yes then.
I can't see how people can [successfully] argue manga (sorry, anime, the question was aimed specifically at Japanese animation) isn't art.
It's like saying digital art isn't art. . . Or film isn't art. . . Or writing isn't art. . .

[SilverVistani]

Okay... unfortunately, I'm running a bit low on my time to be on here before having to go to work, so I'm going to post without reading what everyone else has said. Thus, sorry in advance if I repeat anything that someone has already posted.



It most definitely _is_ art. People who say otherwise are silly if they are simply referring to the style.

Now, here's where I'm going to get convoluted on you. There are two ways to look at it. 1) Anything created for the sake of creation and/or to be viewed and enjoyed by others is art or 2) The concept (or lack thereof) behind something is what makes it art or not art.

The style, itself, is not what makes something art or not. I do a lot of character drawings in my free time, but I don't necessarily consider them "Art" because they're just representations of my characters' physical appearance. There's nothing more behind them than that. Now, once I take the same character and pose him/her into an illustration where something is happening and/or something is being portrayed/symbolized... That is art to me.

It doesn't even have to be anything very specific or overwhelming in detail either. Just something a bit more.


... That being said, there have been many a character drawing that I have loved and considered art.


Really... Art is subjective. More so, I would venture to say, even than writing is subjective. Especially in todays world where the definition of art has changed so many times and will be so different from person to person. I actually know some people who base the quality of whether something is art or not by the thought of "geez, that's easy enough... Heck, I could do that."

Anyway... I'm sorry if this is confusing. I'm not even sure if I know where I stand on this anyway. The main thing that I can say is that I do not think that Anime/Manga is not art simply because of the style used. It's a style that takes a lot of practice and development to draw well and also still has a lot of room for personal style as well.

... *slinks away feeling a little silly*