Top 10 Reasons Why American Cartoons are Better Than Anime

The Top Ten
Iconic Characters

While anime does have its iconic characters like Goku and Naruto, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Scooby-Doo, Popeye, and other classic cartoon characters are far more iconic.

Western animation has all-time classics like Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse. Anime has Pikachu... and not many other characters who are recognizable outside their respective fanbases.

From the days of Tom & Jerry to the days of SpongeBob, America has come up with such iconic creations.

Different Art Styles

Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, Adventure Time - just naming these shows brings their distinctive art styles to mind. I first watched Steven Universe on a hospital TV, and its pastel, unique art style stuck with me. After that, it was easy to identify it.

In anime, however, I struggle to find a creative or distinctive art style. Sure, some shows like Naruto and Dragon Ball stand out, but most of them blend in with each other. Even the characters often look similar, with only different hair colors or eyes to distinguish them. It becomes a bit monotonous for me when watching anime.

Better Characters

I agree with this point. Let's compare two major characters: one from My Hero Academia (MHA) and Bugs Bunny.

MHA Protagonist: First, I can't pronounce his name properly. Second, he's constantly whining, gets bullied, and is basically your typical anime protagonist.

Bugs Bunny: He's stood the test of time, a timeless classic character. Bugs Bunny is a global icon, and honestly, he's one of the reasons anime is even around. Almost everyone in the world knows who Bugs Bunny is.

Sure, anime has deep characters, but that doesn't necessarily make them better. Most main anime characters are just cute boys with spiky hair trying to become some kind of master.

Simple Stories

I am an anime fan who still loves cartoons. When I want to watch something just for fun, I'll watch cartoons, but anime is better for a proper story.

Allow me to say this on anime's behalf:
*clears throat* *Adventure Time*, *Steven Universe*, *Gravity Falls*, and both *Avatar* series. That is all.

Back in the 1940s, 6-minute cartoons were common. Some say they have never been better.

Funny Gags

I don't really get the humor in anime. Sure, America has dumb toilet humor, but the old episodes of SpongeBob had way more humor, in my opinion.

There are also quick-wit jokes and adult innuendos. Most anime fans say only American cartoons have slapstick.

Anybody who says cartoons are not funny hasn't watched The Amazing World of Gumball or Rick and Morty.

Great Catchphrases

There's Bugs Bunny's "What's up, Doc?", Porky Pig's "That's All, Folks!", SpongeBob's "I'm ready!", Scooby-Doo's "Scooby-Dooby-Doo!", Charlie Brown's "Good grief!", He-Man's "By the power of Greyskull...", and more. American cartoon catchphrases are more well-known than Japanese anime catchphrases.

Guys, we're in America, so of course, we're going to use catchphrases from American shows. There's a language barrier between Japan and America, so catchphrases wouldn't really work in the same way.

"What's up, Doc?"
"Hot dog!"
"I'm ready!"

All-time classics, while anime doesn't really have catchphrases.

Actually Funny

Anime is not that funny - just characters with Dorito chins and whiny, high-pitched girls who are Mary Sues. That being said, I think the Digimon anime is better than the Pokémon anime. It's okay to disagree, but please respect my opinion.

Sure, western animations have dumb toilet humor nowadays, but the old SpongeBob episodes are extremely funny.

Better Animation

Yes, I said it. Anime animation is lazy. They only have two different mouth shapes - one big and one small. When characters fight or something dramatic happens, it's always that same dumb background.

Aside from the action scenes, anime doesn't really have fluid animation. It still looks nice, but it lacks fluidity. Western animation (with some exceptions) tends to have better overall animation.

Anime mouths just change shape while the character stays still. The lip-syncing in anime is worse than Ratatoing.

No Creepy Fetishes
Bright Colours

I have watched anime before, and it was mostly pretty dark.

The Newcomers

? Quality Over Quantity

With anime, truckloads of new shows are ALWAYS being made, making it hard to catch up with them all. Most people will forget about them within a year.

? Less Sexualization of Characters Who are Minors

If someone in the West tried to make a show like Boku No Pico, they'd basically get fired on the spot. (If you don't know what BNP is, I envy you.)

The Contenders
Family Appeal

Most anime fans prefer anime (for really bad reasons) because they want it to have a sad ending. That's just foolish. Cartoons often have happy endings, which help you escape reality and forget about the troubles of the world. You don't want to watch a murder story or a depressing anime that reminds you of the harshness of life.

Also, the idea that emos are cool is absurd. All they do is cry, moan, and cut themselves.

American cartoons are mostly made for families. Anime is more diverse and appeals to all types of audiences, from five-year-olds to 50-year-old adults, but much of it is geared toward teenagers. I know of plenty of anime shows that have "family appeal." In fact, I watch some with my parents.

Talented Voice Actors

I am much more a fan of cartoon voice actors, but I disagree with this argument. Both anime and cartoon voice actors are talented and bring a lot to their roles.

However, I believe that cartoon voice acting showcases more talent because actors create a wider range of voices. In anime, they often use the same voice but with different tones, which is still talented but not as varied.

People often say that anime voice actors are better than those in American cartoons. I can name just one American cartoon voice actor, and those biased anime fans would fall silent.

American cartoons had Mel Blanc, and some people still claim anime voice actors are better? That's ridiculous! Total BS, I say!

Stars On the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Usually, whenever you see voice actors and hear about how famous they are, you typically think of cartoon voice actors. Of course, anime voice actors are famous too, but compared to cartoon voice actors, they aren't as well-known. This is why you don't often see them on lists of the greatest voice actors.

Even the most famous anime voice actors, like Sean Schemmel and Chris Sabat, can't compete with legends such as Mel Blanc, Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, June Foray, Tara Strong, Grey DeLisle, Phil Lamarr, Daws Butler, and Tom Kenny - actors who primarily starred in cartoons. I am aware that some voice actors have worked in both mediums, but I haven't known cartoon voice actors to regularly voice anime characters. From my experience, anime voice actors don't frequently work in cartoons. There are several anime voice actors I'm not even familiar with.

Also, while Chris Sabat voices many characters in Dragon Ball, especially with his recent behavior, he will never be able to compete with people like Mel Blanc or Frank Welker.

They're Never Depressing

True! There's usually only one episode per season that might have a cliffhanger or a thrilling ending if you're talking about more serious cartoons like Gravity Falls. The rest of the time, it's just great humor, artwork, and acting.

There are plenty of anime series that transport you to a world where you can escape everything you know. Anime isn't always overly dramatic. Watch Acchi Kocchi sometime, and you'll realize that anime isn't inherently sad or emotional. In fact, many anime blend emotions, going from tragedy to a happy ending.

More Memorable
Less Predictable

Some people argue that anime is less predictable and doesn't run as long. First, I don't see how a show's length relates to whether American cartoons or anime are better.

Second, Pokémon is one of the most predictable shows in the world, and guess what? It's an anime.

I have seen clips of some anime and even a few episodes. I predicted correctly that the main character would get into a fight. Can you do that with cartoons? No.

Anime has a huge problem with overusing shonen tropes and character archetypes. This complaint mostly applies to shonen and harem anime, but those two genres account for 90% of all anime.

More Pleasing to Watch

I can't just sit on the couch, turn on my TV, and casually watch anime. With American cartoons, you can start in the middle of an episode and still understand everything. Anime always ends with a cliffhanger every single episode.

Fewer Fan Wars
Bigger Legacy

So big, the British tried to get in on the act in the 1970s.

Not as Much Fanservice

Well, it's the anime fans who need to find every little difference that anime has and then say it's better because they're biased!

Better Music Scores

American cartoons were often scored by legendary maestros like Carl Stalling, Hoyt Curtin, and Scott Bradley, among others. What does anime have? Trash, that's what.

Fun for All Ages

Anime fans often claim that cartoons are only meant for children, but they base this opinion on shows like Dora the Explorer or newer episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants. They need to stop using two American cartoons that were either never good or have declined in quality to compare with anime.

There are plenty of cartoons that are enjoyable for all ages: Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, The Simpsons, Animaniacs, Gravity Falls, Pinky and the Brain, The Classic Disney Cartoons, DuckTales, Freakazoid, Tiny Toon Adventures, Adventure Time, and Gargoyles - just to name a few.

Anime Was Influenced by American Cartoons
Animation Renaissance
Better Fight Scenes
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