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Post by Bleu Eyed Brunette on May 11, 2009 19:20:13 GMT -5
Do you think the main characters of SM appear Asian (in the anime version of course, lol.) Personally, I can't see most of them as looking Asian. It's not like I'm trying to be racist, or eurocentric, or egotistical, or whatever. It's just the association I have. I will never see Usagi Tsukino as appearing Asian, it's just not possible for me. I've tried to, and I just can't.
There are some characters that could be a possibility, such as Rei, but I still associate wide eyes with being caucasian. Although, this is often a sterotype, as some asians have almond shaped eyes that can, at times, be wider than some caucasian eyes.
Yet there are other characters that I almost always associated with being Asian or having Asian like features, such as Urawa (Greg), Al, Ann, and some of the monsters, esp the tree monster that appeared in the episode where Usagi got her "Moon Crystal Power" upgrade.
What about the other people here? lol
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Post by blueknight on May 11, 2009 20:45:38 GMT -5
I've noticed that too. It seems to be the light skin and different colored hair. For example Usagi, and Mina's blond hair and blue eyes have a more European look. Same with some of the others. Rei and Mamoru seems to look more like a native of Japan. This could be the animator's and manga artist's choice. Japan has seen a lot of western influence. This could be one of those things. I can see it in other anime as well.
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Post by Ellethwen on May 11, 2009 21:52:17 GMT -5
From what I've seen in the Sera Myu musical, it's like wide eyes are what people want there. Maybe that's why?
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Post by Sailor Cybertron on May 11, 2009 22:34:58 GMT -5
Rei looks the most like she could be Asian. Maybe Makoto if it weren't for the green eyes. But everyone else... nope, can't see it.
Then again, there aren't a whole lot of anime characters that look Asian anyway. Unless we go the Fullmetal Alchemist route and have the story set in a country/world other than Japan... but not many series do that.
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Post by blueknight on May 11, 2009 23:45:10 GMT -5
Paranoia Agent has a lot of characters that look asian.
Anyway, our western views might be causing us to notice the difference of appearance. I myself like to think they look more Caucasian but that jut may be because of my own experience in my home country.
(Now to stretch my critical theory muscles!)
Another possibility is that the creators view the west like we view the east. They see the west as exotic and mysterious the same way we see the east. Sailor Moon and the others are mysterious misfits in one way or the other. By making them seem more western they are placing emphasis on that mystery. In this way they are also romanticizing the west.
It's the way people in western countries have movies with old karate masters to teach the heroes some martial arts.
Some examples:
Samurai Jack
Jackie Chan Adventures (In fact anything with Jackie Chan)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
all of the Karate Kid movies
those Bruce Lee movies
Even episodes of the Power Puff Girls, The Boondocks etc.
The list can go on forever. It is our romanticising the east. I would imagine the west is romanticised just as much.
If anyone is interested I might recommend some essays on Post-colonialism and Orientalism. Now before this becomes any longer I am going to stop
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Larry Laffer
Dream Mirror
l33t Smartass
I shall not BOW! EVER!
Posts: 6,625
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Post by Larry Laffer on May 11, 2009 23:50:48 GMT -5
How many anime characters(bonus points if they're the good guys/gals) do you know that actually look asian?
That many huh?
edit: Go watch the "Super Nanny" episode of Drawn Together.
You'll understand!
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Post by BTTF Rini on May 12, 2009 14:08:30 GMT -5
I agree. They don't appear Asian to me either. Except for Raye, but that's all I can really say. I'd have to make comparasions after watching a few episodes. However, I have made my made up character, in my fanfics, mention the SM crew not looking very Asian. I put that in there as a weird sort of joke.
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Post by Bleu Eyed Brunette on May 12, 2009 22:30:11 GMT -5
So it's not just me then. LOL. It's funny, because right now there are people raging over this on the internet. Like to the point where they write entire essays or post long videos. Example: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKTvFhRbBt8I *almost* feel like posting a video back. lol. |
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Post by blueknight on May 12, 2009 23:27:04 GMT -5
No. I guess everyone wonders this question when they first see anime.
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Post by Bleu Eyed Brunette on May 12, 2009 23:30:26 GMT -5
They must. For me, I was exposed to DubMoon way before the original Sailormoon, so thinking that they were Caucasian was second nature, because Serena was acting like a typical American Vally Girl at times. lol. I think if I had first been exposed to Usagi instead of Serena, I might have an easier time seeing her as being Asian. But having blonde hair and blue eyes doesn't help visualize it.  |
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Larry Laffer
Dream Mirror
l33t Smartass
I shall not BOW! EVER!
Posts: 6,625
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Post by Larry Laffer on May 13, 2009 9:14:30 GMT -5
If you think about it, the right question people should be asking is why in the world don't live action actors look anything like their anime counterparts?  |
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Post by blueknight on May 13, 2009 20:39:42 GMT -5
They try to work with whatever the population gives them.
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Post by haruka173 on Jan 10, 2010 4:54:07 GMT -5
Paranoia Agent has a lot of characters that look asian. Anyway, our western views might be causing us to notice the difference of appearance. I myself like to think they look more Caucasian but that jut may be because of my own experience in my home country. (Now to stretch my critical theory muscles!) Another possibility is that the creators view the west like we view the east. They see the west as exotic and mysterious the same way we see the east. Sailor Moon and the others are mysterious misfits in one way or the other. By making them seem more western they are placing emphasis on that mystery. In this way they are also romanticizing the west. It's the way people in western countries have movies with old karate masters to teach the heroes some martial arts. Some examples: Samurai Jack Jackie Chan Adventures (In fact anything with Jackie Chan) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all of the Karate Kid movies those Bruce Lee movies Even episodes of the Power Puff Girls, The Boondocks etc. The list can go on forever. It is our romanticising the east. I would imagine the west is romanticised just as much. If anyone is interested I might recommend some essays on Post-colonialism and Orientalism. Now before this becomes any longer I am going to stop Whoa, this makes it fun to be back.  Also, blueknight, you've posted the best answer I've seen about this question. And you're right! Here in Asia we do like romanticising the West. A lot. XD I didn't think we'd do a lot of it because my country is so Westernised, but then - and sorry to go off-tangent on this - I was shocked when a group of scouters from Unitel Pictures, back when they were still on a severe budget, asked my mum if we would allow their team to shoot the scenes set in America inside our house for their second film, Living La Visa Loca, because apparently, our living room - with the antique Chinese cabinets and the knick-knacks from Vietnam that my mum collected during her business trips - was "American enough." What. XDDDDDDDD PS to the OP, awesome question. |
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