another life blog

My brother and his wife watches many different shows on network and cable TV. 24, House, Nip/Tuck, whatever - he loves almost all of them. More than once, he tries to get me to watch them with him - and I have! I’ve watched all of Nip/Tuck’s season 1. All of 24’s season 1. A few episode of House, and many other shows - here and there. So, why have I always abandoned TV shows, in favor of anime?

One reasons that I give is having the shows at the tip of my finger. I push a few buttons, it starts playing - no more expensive equipments to buy, no extra monthly subscription service I need to tender to. But that can’t be it - I can just as easily download HQ TV shows! So why? Is it because of the subtitles? Because I like cartoons and am childish? Or is it because I love squeeky Japanese girls?!

Earlier tonight, on the way back home from the theater, I had an epiphany (influenced by Linda) ~ albeit a light one and rather silly: Anime and cartoons resemble the closest in retelling the story as a novel. A novel affords the reader unique perspectives of the characters in question. If characters thinks a particular way about another - they’d think it, and the reader reads and comphreneds the feeling. In an anime, if a character thinks, the audio studio usually changes the character’s voice to neutral/flat, indicative of personal thoughts. But TV shows can’t take this easy of a route, else it loses all sense of realism.

In order for a television show to demonstrate a person’s feelings about certain matters, the screen writer must create situations, plot devices, and ploys which (2/6/06 Linda) would allow personal thoughts to pour through. Flash backs, narration, overhearing of another, etc are all devices to replace where the “thoughts” should be. If a screenwriter is good, then it’s great! The best movie though, probably won’t beat the best book in the world for you. You know the characters more in a book than a movie, thus, more connected!

Anime, without such restrictions, copy manga or novels without any kind of restraint. It’s a free medium, allowing artists to express as they like, much like the books.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 6th, 2006 at 4:01 am and is filed under my life, Current Anime. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.