Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the US?

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tHeWasTeDYouTh
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Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the US?

When I was a little kid I remember watching Samurai Jack, Dexter's Laboratory, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, X-Men: Evolution, X-Men: The Animated Series, Spiderman along with many of the animated movies(Iron Giant, Titan A.E(LOL) which have high production value.

Does anyone know if people in Japan enjoy these shows? or is it one way love?

(I am not taking summer classes so I have been watching all the Justice League episodes, brings back memories of being home and watching it with my dad)
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Vent Noir
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

There are some American cartoons that have been shown over there. I know the Disney movies tend to be very successful in Japan. On the other hand, there was a poll done a few years ago in Japan of the 100 most popular animated TV shows of all time, and the only non-Japanese cartoon to make the list was Tom and Jerry. I also believe that one of the reasons Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z got made was due to Japanese free-to-air TV stations refusing to air the American Powerpuff Girls cartoon because it was non-Japanese (despite it being quite popular on pay TV).

If you can hunt down a copy, in the mid-90s Antarctic Press once published a one-shot comic/magazine called Justice focusing on Japanese fandom of American comics. I got the impression that American comics were about as popular in Japan as manga was in America at the same time (i.e. not very big). Things may have changed since then - I know that the Kick-Ass comic managed to get nominated for a Seiun Award.

EDIT: A list of American cartoons that I know have aired in Japan:

Tom & Jerry
GI Joe
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers (various series)
X-Men (90s)
The Powerpuff Girls
Kim Possible
Avatar: The Last Airbender
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

I know Avatar has a very niche fanbase over there.

Ironically, the people that do like it seem to prefer to watch it in english, although that might have something to do with the Japanese dub being almost comically bad...
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

J-Lead wrote:I know Avatar has a very niche fanbase over there.

Ironically, the people that do like it seem to prefer to watch it in english, although that might have something to do with the Japanese dub being almost comically bad...
"Oh noes! They destroyed the purity of the original English by dubbing it in Japanese!"
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schwarz ritter
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

Vent Noir wrote:
J-Lead wrote:I know Avatar has a very niche fanbase over there.

Ironically, the people that do like it seem to prefer to watch it in english, although that might have something to do with the Japanese dub being almost comically bad...
"Oh noes! They destroyed the purity of the original English by dubbing it in Japanese!"

Ironic, isn't it? LOL
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J-Lead
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

schwarz ritter wrote:
Vent Noir wrote:
J-Lead wrote:I know Avatar has a very niche fanbase over there.

Ironically, the people that do like it seem to prefer to watch it in english, although that might have something to do with the Japanese dub being almost comically bad...
"Oh noes! They destroyed the purity of the original English by dubbing it in Japanese!"

Ironic, isn't it? LOL
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Apparently, a lot of them are Zutards.
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schwarz ritter
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

Most likely because he's all "conflicted" and crap. Are they Azulatards as well? I mean, Nena was super-popular over there, so I wouldn't be surprised...
Reinhard: "Of course, grades in school aren't a good indicator. They focus too much on memorization and imitation, and don't foster imagination."
Kircheis: "What you find important are imaginative and conceptual capabilities, right?"
Reinhard: "That's right."
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

i think My Little Pony has something of a following in Japan

then again My Little Pony has something of a following everywhere
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schwarz ritter
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

You're right: even 40-year old adults collect that stuff! *facepalm* Not that there's anything wrong with it...
Reinhard: "Of course, grades in school aren't a good indicator. They focus too much on memorization and imitation, and don't foster imagination."
Kircheis: "What you find important are imaginative and conceptual capabilities, right?"
Reinhard: "That's right."
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

schwarz ritter wrote:Most likely because he's all "conflicted" and crap. Are they Azulatards as well? I mean, Nena was super-popular over there, so I wouldn't be surprised...
No, Zutards.
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schwarz ritter
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

I know what Zutard means. I was asking if Japan was also a haven of Azula fans like me. I used Nena Trinity as an example of how Japan seems to love psycho-ZOINKS (although Azula ISN'T a ZOINKS).
Reinhard: "Of course, grades in school aren't a good indicator. They focus too much on memorization and imitation, and don't foster imagination."
Kircheis: "What you find important are imaginative and conceptual capabilities, right?"
Reinhard: "That's right."
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Kenji
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Re: Are American cartoon popular in Japan like Anime in the

The Friendship is Magic case is interesting, because while there's a following, it's nothing like the American one.

If I had to put money on the cause, that's because the show's effect in America is fairly unique. There hasn't really been a girl's show in America that the boys can latch on to. No real "moe" shows in America, either. The imports from Japan count so little as to be meaningless, given the shrinking footprint-in-general anime has over here. So, being more or less the only game in town, anyone who would be interested in a show like this becomes interested in this particular show.

Meanwhile, in Japan, it's a tree to be lost in the forest. Not only are there so many more shows that fit this general profile, but many of those shows are actually being made for the periphery demographic (that is, men). Friendship is Magic, no matter its Internet fanbase, is and will continue to be a show for young girls.

This difference in intended audience, combined with the glut of shows with potentially similar appeal, would make it easy for a show that only obliquely gets at that appeal to be lost in the crowd.
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