“One Piece” director Tatsuya Nagamine believes that anime has a clear advantage over Disney films. We summarize.
Unpredictability as a virtue
Tatsuya Nagamine has been directing One Piece for many years and has also worked on films such as Dragon Ball Super: Broly and One Piece Film: Z. He therefore has extensive experience in the industry.
His latest assessment therefore seems all the more plausible: Nagamine is convinced that anime has become so successful abroad and conquered a market that Disney was never able to reach because they inspire with unusual ideas and their unpredictability – this is particularly well received by fans.
Disney films, on the other hand, usually follow a clear, predictable pattern and almost always end with a happy ending. Nagamine therefore wonders whether many international viewers have had enough of these same narrative structures.
Rejecting attitude
A similar view is shared by Shinji Shimizu, consultant at Toei Animation, who discussed the US’s once negative attitude towards anime:
»In the past, there were hardly any foreign animated films shown in US cinemas, especially not Japanese ones. In the US, people believed that only Disney stood for animation, and there was a certain rejection of Asians.
Anime are mostly based on manga, which is why their characters are particularly detailed. Disney stories, on the other hand, remain rigid – they always end happily. Japanese anime, on the other hand, also appeal to adults: the hero can die in the middle of the action or a supposed villain can turn out to be a hero.
Anime once emerged as a niche industry and was able to give free rein to their creativity. There are now many people in the USA who have had enough of Disney and are supporting anime instead – and with full conviction.«
Just a few weeks ago, representatives from CoMix Wave Films (“Your Name”) expressed anger that anime was viewed in Hollywood as just a low-cost alternative. But what is your opinion on this topic? Let us know!
Via President Online
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