Art is universally described as a subjective topic. What might be beautiful and artistic to some may mean the complete opposite to another. One cannot judge another person on such views because everyone is different in their own right. Before visiting the exhibit KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime, Manga, and Video Games I did not think much of anime let alone think of anime as a serious art form. When I think of anime, I think of childhood “fads” such as Pokemon or Sailor Moon, both of which were huge and iconic figures while we were growing up. It is safe to say that I am a little biased when it comes to anime because I grew up with the notion that anime can be a little childish. This is probably one of the reasons why I never took to it as a teenager and even now as a young adult. Upon entering the exhibit I will admit of being very skeptical about what I was going to see. However, I kept an open mind, and after exiting I think my preconceived notions of anime have changed and therefore think of anime as a true art form.
One of the realizations that I came across while visiting KRAZY! is that anime extends far beyond the artistic realm of Pokemon or Sailor Moon. The first thing that caught my attention was Takashi Okazak’s “Afro Samurai”. Okazak’s artwork can only be defined as brilliant. His use of detail in creating his characters is intricate and precise, something not really seen in episodes of Pokemon. Also, Moyoco Anno’s drawings of Sakuran are extremely detailed pieces of art strewn with vibrant colors. Taiyo Matsumoto’s “Black and White” comic strips again are extremely detailed. It is easy to see that anime can be taken to a different level by the minute details that is put into these pieces.
To my delight, what came as a surprise to me is how anime can have a substantial story behind it’s art. While art can be beautiful, what makes a drawing or painting TRUE art is the story behind it. A wonderful example of this is Makoto Shinkai’s “The Place Promised is Our Early Days” (2004) which is about two boys and a girl set in a time post-World War II. This series takes you through their relationships with the political tension of what is going on in Japan. Okazak’s “Afro Samurai” is another example of art backed by it’s story which is about a futuristic world taking place in feudal Japan. It is not uncommon to find a lot of anime steeped in the history of it’s origins. This understanding that anime can have a serious story behind it while being beautiful really solidified my views on anime. This topic brings up another good point on how it is not only the visual meaning behind a piece of art but the meaning the artist is trying to convey to you. In my opinion, it is then when an artist can both accomplish these things that make the art truly beautiful.
The world of anime, surprisingly, stretches far and wide than people realize. I understand that there is much more to be seen than just what we viewed in the KRAZY! exhibit. The sheer magnitude of anime can be a little intimidating but entertaining nonetheless. It is unfortunate to see the bias against it but luckily enough, it does not take much or too long to see that it truly can be taken as a serious art form.