The Boondocks. Anime or No?

[Advent_Winter]

This has really been bugging me for the past couple of weeks. I just recently began watching The Boondocks on Adult Swim and on the internet. In a way, it seems like an American cartoon aimed at older teens to adults due to it's slightly racist, vulgar comedy, but the art style of the characters and fight scenes make it seem like it's an anime. So, in terms of visual characteristics, is The Boondocks considered an anime or not?

[_Tri-edge_]

No. The Boondocks is an American-made animation, created by American cartoonist Aaron McGruder. Anime is only considered anime if it is created in Japan. Now, Mr. McGruder, despite being a heavily critized public speaker in American society, has been quite fascinated by anime over the years, and even stated that one of the inspirations to make The Boondocks was because of his love for anime. In terms of visuals, the show is anime-oriented, especially during season 2. I believe some asian animators in Korea help out with the production methods. Possibly Madhouse is involved with it as well. In the end though, it's not pure japanese animation.

[kai the pkk]

the shows still pretty damn funny either way

[Kuukai]

Well, anime is pretty much defined in English as "Japanese animation," but at the same time it's aesthetically close enough that it made it onto the Japanese cable channel Animax, which I watched for a year once and don't think I ever saw a foreign show...

[Azalan]

It is! I first saw it when I was 13. Back when Dothack: legend of the twilight bracelet was still on cartoon network. I miss those day! Boondocks is freakin awesome!

Here's one of my fav moments from the show:

Huey: h**
grandad: What did I hear you say boy? *hits with belt*
Huey: I said H**
grandad: Don't use that word boy! *hits with belt again*
Huey: Stay on the road grandad!!!!
grandad: oh s***! *swerves in traffic.

[Mellow Grunty]

If Boondocks is anime, then Moomin is anime.

So no.

[Kuukai]

Some of the Moomin series are anime. The fact that the original work wasn't Japanese doesn't matter, otherwise Romeo X Juliet, Gankutsuou, Howl's Moving Castle, and like a hundred other things (Nadia? Eva?) wouldn't be anime. Not saying that Boondocks is, just that the first two Moomin adaptations in Japan were done entirely by Japanese staff (the first one even pissed off the author), while that's not true at all for Boondocks.

[AuraTwilight]

All cartoons are anime, technically. Yes, including King of the Hill.

PEGGY-CHAN KAWAII DESU NE ^____^

[S1lentOp]

The Boondocks is an American animated series based on an American comic strip by an African American cartoonist, Aaron McGruder, who was born in Chicago, that serves as a satirical commentary on issues pertaining to American politics and African American culture as well as its portrayal in the media.

Yes, it is absolutely a Japanese anime.

Behold, the face of the next Yoshiyuki Sadamoto

All cartoons are anime, technically. Yes, including King of the Hill.

PEGGY-CHAN KAWAII DESU NE ^____^

What he said.

[Kuukai]

In case anyone didn't know it's worth clarifying that "anime" in Japanese just means "animation." But this is in the same way that "sake" just means "alcoholic beverage" and so forth. In English these words have different meanings, referring specifically to the Japanese version of said thing. Otherwise, we'd just be speaking botched Japanese, as AT illustrated.

[S1lentOp]

In case anyone didn't know it's worth clarifying that "anime" in Japanese just means "animation." But this is in the same way that "sake" just means "alcoholic beverage" and so forth. In English these words have different meanings, referring specifically to the Japanese version of said thing. Otherwise, we'd just be speaking botched Japanese, as AT illustrated.

BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

[AuraTwilight]

In case anyone didn't know it's worth clarifying that "anime" in Japanese just means "animation."

OMG NO WAY WELCOME TO FIVE POSTS AGO.

[Kuukai]

Uh, whatever you guys say. I was just explaining it for the people who don't speak OMG LOLCAPS. Knowing is half the battle, it's been scientifically proven.

[_Tri-edge_]

All cartoons are anime, technically. Yes, including King of the Hill.

PEGGY-CHAN KAWAII DESU NE ^____^

¿Qué? Dora la Exploradora es anime? ¡ESO ASOMBRA!

Si...No piensa tan...

[GyppyGirl2021]

If The Boondocks is anime, then Avatar: The Last Airbender is anime. And if Avatar is anime, I GIVE UP ON ANIME FOREVER.

[twilight_keeper]

I refuse to say that it is an anime based on one thing... anime is a shorthand of Japanimation, which by extension means that it is animation from JAPAN. Nihon did not create either shows, therefore it is not anime.

[GyppyGirl2021]

I refuse to say that it is an anime based on one thing... anime is a shorthand of Japanimation, which by extension means that it is animation from JAPAN. Nihon did not create either shows, therefore it is not anime.

*nod* Exactly. Even though the two shows have a basis in anime, they're not because they weren't made in Japan.

[twilight_keeper]

I'm pretty sure some people just classify it as such because it's art style is not what most people consider "American".

[GyppyGirl2021]

Well, it definitely seems that way. Even my brother was insistent that Avatar was anime because it's anime-style. I pretty much just headdesked and said, "the definition of anime is Japanese animation, so if it wasn't made in Japan, it's not anime."

[twilight_keeper]

That's just how it is. The problem is that people don't understand the premise of the title of anime and what it stands for. As far as the term anime is concerned, the only actual anime that claims that it's not is Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam. After all, it's first season OP was called Anime Janai. Just thought I'd throw that tidbit in there