From Nihon to the West: Anime's Influence on Western Culture
More than just Subtitles and Cat Ears
What do Elon Musk, 90’s hip hop, Kanye West, and Scott Pilgrim all have in common?
That’s right — anime.
From the colorful realms of Sailor Moon to the action-packed adventures of Dragon Ball Z, anime has traversed the Pacific, leaving a profound and indelible impact on Western culture. Once a niche interest, anime has now transcended into mainstream media and pop culture, influencing everything from fashion to music, art to gaming, and even altering the way we consume content on streaming platforms.
Anime’s meteoric rise prompts us to explore how these intricately woven stories from Japan have molded Western pop culture, adding to its diverse tapestry of creative expression. Let's take a look at anime’s pervasive influence on our western world.
1. Entertainment and Pop Culture
Since its introduction in the West, anime has grown immensely popular. Classic anime like Astro Boy, Akira, Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Pokemon, as well as recent hits like Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer have garnered massive audiences and are constantly referenced in memes, media, and music. The “It’s over 9,000” meme from Dragon Ball Z, Jon Bellion’s song Adult Swim, and the American cartoon Adventure Time are a few examples that come to mind from my own life.
Kanye West and Elon Musk both like anime too, among many other prominent pop culture figures. Turns out they have great taste — Kanye loves Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira, and Elon has a whole laundry list of recommendations:
2. Fashion
Anime has also influenced Western fashion trends. Cosplay, for instance, is a significant aspect of fandom that has become increasingly mainstream at comic conventions and similar events. Additionally, anime-inspired clothing, including graphic tees, hoodies, and accessories featuring characters or symbols from various series, have become commonplace.
3. Music
Anime music, particularly opening and ending themes, has gained popularity, and Western artists have begun to incorporate these styles into their own work. Anime soundtracks often feature a mix of J-pop, rock, electronic, and classical music, offering a unique blend of East and West.
One of my favorite examples is the show Samurai Champloo (Shinichirō Watanabe), with its incredible blend of Edo period Japan (1603 to 1867) as the setting and 90s American hip hop culture as the flavor and music. The soundtrack was created by the musical genius Nujabes (RIP), whose songs have gone on to inspire countless American hip hop and lo-fi artists. The incredible call and response of art!
The opening and ending songs are my two favorites from the show:
Battlecry - Nujabes (Samurai Champloo OP)
四季ノ唄 [Song of the Four Seasons] - Nujabes (Samurai Champloo ED)
Art and Animation
Anime's distinct art style has influenced Western animators and artists; shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Boondocks draw heavily from anime in terms of art style, storytelling, and themes. The classic anime style of exaggerated physical features, vibrant colors, and dynamic backgrounds are often incorporated in Western animations these days, much more so than in past decades. Many artists, both professional and amateur, draw inspiration from anime styles.
My favorite example here: Giancarlo Volpe, the director of Avatar: the Last Airbender, has stated that members of his staff "were all ordered to buy FLCL and watch every single episode of it." How sick is that? And you can totally see FLCL’s influence in the show, from the fluidity of the animation to the ridiculous facial expressions that characters make.
Language and Cultural Exchange
Anime has fostered interest in Japanese language and culture among Western audiences. Many viewers are motivated to learn Japanese to watch anime without subtitles, and cultural elements presented in anime, like festivals, food, traditional attire, and societal norms, provide insight into Japanese culture.
I’m a prime example — minored in Japanese in college because of my love for anime and Japanese culture!
Literature and Comic Books
Manga, the Japanese equivalent of comic books and graphic novels, has become popular in the West and influenced the style and storytelling techniques of Western comics. This has led to the creation of an entire new genre of Western comics heavily influenced by manga, often called "Amerimanga" or "OEL manga" (Original English Language manga).
Streaming Services
The popularity of anime has influenced the strategies of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, which have all invested in licensing more anime content. Netflix even has some of its own originals now. Dedicated anime streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Funimation have also seen significant growth.
My favorite Netflix original anime: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., Hi Score Girl, Little Witch Academia, and, of course, Carole & Tuesday.
Wrapping Up
In summary, anime has had a substantial and wide-ranging impact on Western culture, influencing various forms of media and sparking interest in Japanese language and culture. It's clear that this cultural exchange continues to be mutually beneficial, leading to new creative works and deeper cultural understanding.
Cheers to anime, and cheers to the westerners like you and I who have been impacted by it, be it in small or large ways.