American Cartoon Shows Compared with Japanese Cartoon Shows
Japan imported the concept of animation from the West, but quickly took the art in different directions. As a result there are several differences between Japanese cartoons (commonly called “anime”) and those made in the United States.
One difference is subject matter. Anime sometimes has the reputation of being incredibly violent or pornographic in nature. This is true for many Japanese cartoons, but by no means all. In America, and the West in general, cartoons are usually seen as mainly child-oriented, even if there are several notable exceptions (The Simpsons, etc.) In Japan, animation as a medium is seen as accessible to anyone, so that adult cartoons are as common as child-friendly fare.
Anime is also usually different in style. While American cartoon characters often have exaggerated or unrealistic features, such as large heads, four-fingered hands, etc., Japan utilizes more natural proportions in many respect. Eyes are one exception, often depicted as much larger than in real life. Japanese characters may also have unusual hair colors such as blue, purple or pink. Due to the popularity of anime in the West, many American shows have tried to imitate the Japanese style, such as Avatar: the Last Airbender or Teen Titans.