The animated seriesAvatar: The Last Airbender” has captivated audiences around the world with its dazzling, stylized visuals, clearly inspired by Japanese anime. However, the question arises: Is this series produced by Nickelodeon really “anime”? The answer is not as simple as it seems, since it all depends on your definition of the term “anime.”
If by “anime” we mean “a cartoon created in Japan,” then the answer is a resounding no. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was created by two Americans, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, and produced by an American studio, Nickelodeon Animation Studio. From this point of view, “Avatar” is technically an anime-inspired production, rather than an anime itself.
However, in Japanese, the word “anime” applies to all forms of animation, including works created outside of Japan. By this definition, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” along with all other animated films and television shows, fall under the realm of anime. However, there are purists who disagree with this interpretation, arguing that considering series like “Avatar” as anime amounts to a form of cultural appropriation.
Even the creators of “Avatar,” DiMartino and Konietzko, seem uncomfortable labeling their work as anime. In a 2007 interview with IGN, the creators accepted the interviewer’s claim that the series “is not anime.” However, DiMartino acknowledged that “a lot of Avatar’s inspiration comes from anime” and expressed hope that the series would appeal to anime fans.
In an appearance earlier this year on a Nickelodeon podcast, DiMartino and Konietzko were more receptive to the idea of classifying “Avatar: The Last Airbender” as an anime. During an episode of the series “Avatar: Braving the Elements,” the creators argued that even Japanese filmmakers would have a hard time categorizing their so-called “American anime.”
“You could talk to 20 top directors in Japan… and I’d bet you’d get 20 different answers“DiMartino said. “It is not something monolithic either.“. Konietzko added that when they were making “Avatar,” he was less concerned about its anime status than trying to capture the “magic” of the art of Japanese animation.
In conclusion, the question of whether “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is considered an “anime” is a debated topic that depends largely on the perspective of each individual and the definition given to the term “anime.” What is clear, however, is that the series has managed to captivate a wide audience, regardless of how it is classified.
Fountain: The Escapist Magazine
