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Your Name / Kimi no Na wa (2017)
“There has never been a work of art created which didn’t somehow reflect its own time.” ― Hayao Miyazaki
Anime, or Japanese animation, is a widespread phenomenon that has caught the hearts of millions through distinctive stories, polished animation, and insanely active communities of fellow fans. One aspect of the beloved medium is the ever-changing art that differs from series to series as styles shift throughout the years. Although many view the 1990s as the time that anime gained popularity beyond Japan, with shows like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon becoming instant hits, Japanese animation likely originated as early as 1917. The lack of technology back then obviously resulted in a wildly different style more akin to that of feudal artworks.
To start off, Astroboy -- a story of a young, super-skilled male robot designed by a “mad” scientist -- was the first episodic Japanese animated series and the first anime to be localized in the States. It first began in black and white before gradually transitioning to full color. Save for the eyes, the art is similar to American cartoons with rounded body parts, little shading, and simple yet striking colors (when referring to the colored version, of course).
Astro Boy (1963-66)
Then came the retro times of the ’80s and '90s. During this time, characters usually had L-shaped noses, black pupils, elliptical-shaped eyes, and high-volume hair. Muted colors were also generally used because of the older technology at the time. Plus, you can generally distinguish an old anime because of the slightly fuzzy, grainy texture they have.
Classic Studio Ghibli films and anime like Ranma ½, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Cowboy Bebop (one of my favorites!) started their run in these two decades. Each of these oldies but goodies carry a certain charm despite their VHS-Esque looks; in fact, the former anime aesthetic gained popularity, as made apparent based on the mood boards and lo-fi edits of the scene screencaps! Nostalgia is a strong force that drags people back time after time to year-old movies.
Now, modern anime art has changed drastically. To set in motion, most characters lack a nose! Face shapes have become more one-note, as there is no longer the prominent cheek ridge that many olden characters had. There’s also more of a focus on dramatic lighting rather than intense shading, and the colors lack the high-value saturation from before. Moreover, the linework is less thick and defined, resulting in softer looks.
Notable critically acclaimed 2010’s films include Kimi no Na wa and Koe no Katachi, which are also visual masterpieces designed with perfect palettes, rich detail, and settings rife with life. This can be owed to technology’s large strides in advancements -- with new software, tools, and options, an array of possibilities opened up. For example, Houseki no Kuni used CG to create magical animation scenes.
It is important to note that anime does not only consist of cute, “moe”-styled (extremely youthful-looking) anime girls with large eyes and blushing cheeks. There are numerous outliers like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Mob Psycho 100, and especially Ping Pong The Animation, a very avant-garde -- and frankly, scary -- anime made using Flash animation. Yes, that’s right, the over two-decade-old Adobe Flash was utilized to develop one of the most unique anime visuals!
To sum up the style shifts, anime art has progressively become cleaner, smoother, and shinier. There’s usually an emphasis on bright colors and detailed (but smaller) eyes in modern anime. (One trait of anime has remained consistent, though -- the vibrantly colored hair and eyes!) Compare the artwork of Higurashi: When They Cry (2006) against its 2020 reboot to reveal a mile’s worth of differences:
Left: Higurashi: When They Cry (2006)
Right: Higurashi: When They Cry (2020)
Ultimately, predicting the look of anime art in the next decades, or even the next couple of years, is near impossible. Who knows how far technology will be in 2025, 2030, or 2050? Countless advancements are made each day, and the rise of CGI animation is showing to be a fierce contender against 2D animation. Perhaps anime will start to look more like Land of the Lustrous or Beastars as the years go on. To be honest, I’m anticipating a series that can rival the visual masterpiece of Violet Evergarden (as shown below).
Violet Evergarden (2018)
Anime art cannot be confined to one single art style. The visuals differ depending on the show so that they can work in tandem with the story, music, and characters to elevate a film or series. What’s truly beautiful about the medium is the freedom that comes with it and the limitless possibilities for experimentation, allowing the art to evolve year after year.
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Article by Tiffani Pe
Cover page by Brianna Paulino
Editing by Keisha de Castro
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