Popular graphic novelsScott Pilgrim“saw their return this month with the premiere of the animated series”Scott Pilgrim Takes Off“, animated by Japanese studios Science SARU under the direction of Abel Gongorawho had already directed other projects such as “Star Wars: Visions” and had participated in others such as ““Inu-ou”“Nihon Chinbotsu: 2020” and “Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!“.
Not only that, the character design was done by Shuuhei Handa (One Punch Man, Little Witch Academia); Shouko Nishigaki (DEVILMAN Crybaby, Yohoujam Time Machine Blues) and Masamichi Ishiyama (Darling in the FranXX, Fire Force), so the production team was a mix of both top Japanese and Western talent.
However, it seems that there is a debate about the classification of this new series, and we are not referring to the fact that it is a series for adults or for all audiences, but rather that some have refused to consider it as an “anime.” Considering that it was produced by the Japanese studio Science SARU, it would be undeniable that it is considered “anime” taking into account the definition of this in the West.
Although in Japan anything animated is called “anime,” whether or not it was produced within Japan, the definition changes when we talk about the West. Here, any animated series produced exclusively in Japan is usually called “anime,” in the same way that any animated series produced in China is called “donghua.” However, even though the series “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” complies with this rule, a platform of the stature of MyAnimeList has refused to recognize it as such.
“Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” does not appear in the MyAnimeList catalogwhich has led fans to debate why the staff refuses to accept this series:
- «If it’s not on MyAnimeList, it’s not an anime. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.».
- «It’s funny because they have South Korean-produced series like “Lookism” on their list, which is definitely not an anime».
- «Inspector Gadget, Ducktales, The Smurfs and other series were produced by Japanese studios, but focused on a Western audience. I don’t see the problem with those who have the same opinion about Scott Pilgrim».
- «Amazing that MyAnimeList includes shit like Link Click, but not this series».
- «There is no error in MyAnimeList’s decision».
- «The storyboards and story were made in the United States. Science SARU studios simply handled the animation. It’s not an anime, it’s a cartoon».
- «The line that defines whether something is an anime is always tricky. We could say that an anime is completely aimed at the audience in Japan. It is also considered whether the scriptwriters, directors and producers are Japanese. This is why things like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners are a real anime».
- «Just because a studio in Japan made it doesn’t make it an anime, just because a Japanese studio made it doesn’t make it a Japanese project. So no, it’s not an anime».
- «MyAnimeList is irrelevant nowadays anyway. This just justifies it.».
- «It is because although it was animated in Japan, it is still a Western production, as happened with Batman The Animated Series, Transformers Prime, Animaniacs and Thundercats».
- «If it is produced and animated by a studio in Japan, then it is technically an anime».
- «Maybe it’s the same thing that has been discussed for years about Avatar: The Last Airbender and Oban: Star Racers».
- «Some are too particular about what should be considered anime and what should not.».
- «I would put it in the same boat as Teen Titans. I wouldn’t consider it an anime».
- «It is not an anime because it was not a project planned and produced in Japan».
Fountain: MyAnimeList
