Why isn't this ANIME?

[I2epresent]

Being a connoissuer of all things Japanese and Japanese culture, I am interested in this game, but confusingly it is not in anime art style and I'm concerned my friends will think this is not authentically Japanese. Why did they make this weird American art style, and is there a version with the original anime graphics?

[Dadang Sudadang]

Uh american art style? What? This is made by japanese developer.

It's in sumi-e, but because it's a ps2 game originally, it appears more jagged.

If this is a bait, you got me lol

[Omoikane]

The art style is based on traditional Japanese art, game story the myths. I'm not sure how it is like American.

NNM
Bait and switch

[AirRevenant]

Originally posted by I2epresent:

I'm concerned my friends will think this is not authentically Japanese.

My humble opinion - Don't put so much emphasis on only being allowed to like something because it falls into a certain niche. If something is a good game, it's good game - And just because something has a japanese art style, doesn't make it a good game.

[Varg]

Originally posted by I2epresent:

Being a connoissuer of all things Japanese and Japanese culture, I am interested in this game, but confusingly it is not in anime art style and I'm concerned my friends will think this is not authentically Japanese. Why did they make this weird American art style, and is there a version with the original anime graphics?

Being a connoisseur you should at least recognise that this is more true to japanese art style than anime is, I'd say.. 8-)

Anime is a rather modern style (or rather, it's an animated version of manga).
This goes further back.

[Caidezes]

A lot of "woosh" going on in this thread.

[leow193]

I want to facepalm so hard on this post

[TwinShadow]

This topic is just one big facepalm.

I'm fascinated by some of the Japanese culture myself, I enjoy a lot of anime... But even I know the difference between anime and traditional art from Japan. Anime dates back (well, the popular stuff) from the early 60's. Some date a bit older depending on how far you want to start researching into it, but as you claim to be a "connoissuer of all things Japanese and Japanese culture" (your words), you would have known this already so why should I be explaining it?

OKAMI is far from being an anime art style; this is much more closer to traditional paintings and sketches you would see in Japan. This is especially so if you start looking up the stories and mythologies that a lot of this game is based on. Such as the legends behind Nami and Nagi (Izanami and Izanagi are the real names), as well as Kushinada and Susano. Then there's the Moon Princess, or Lunar Princess, I don't remember what she was referred as in the game.

[нιт◈ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ]

I'm sorry, but being into current anime doesn't make you a japanese savant, it just means you're a weeb. This art style is actually traditional japanese, like, 1000 BC japanese, and I find it insulting that you're saying it's american art style when it's not.

This is the problem with kids these days, forgetting historic implications and only absorbing themselves so much into current trends that they think an art style isn't "anime enough".

[Musk]

Not exactly an expert in recognising trolls, but this one is almost definitely one. I mean, calling sumi-e an american art style?

[Caidezes]

Originally posted by Caidezes:

A lot of "woosh" going on in this thread.

[Dadang Sudadang]

Originally posted by Caidezes:

A lot of "woosh" going on in this thread.

[sp00ki]

To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand Okami. The artstyle is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of Japanese culture most of the art will go over a typical player's head. There's also Okami's Western influence, which is deftly woven into it's artstyle - the artstyle draws heavily from ancient Japanese ink and watercolour painting, for instance. The fans understand this stuff; they have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of the artstyle, to realize that it's not just anime- It's a niche game with a Japanese artstyle. As a consequence, people who dislike Okami truly ARE idiots- of course they wouldn't appreciate, for instance, the humour in "Why isn't this ANIME?", which itself is a cryptic reference to copypasta's and bait memes; I'm smirking right now just imagining one of those addlepated simpletons scratching their heads in confusion as I2epresent's genius unfolds itself on their computer monitors. What fools... how I pity them. 😂 And yes by the way, I DO have an Okami tattoo. And no, you cannot see it. It's for the ladies' eyes only- And even they have to demonstrate that they're within 5 IQ points of my own (preferably lower) beforehand.

[Falcos01]

Originally posted by I2epresent:

Being a connoissuer of all things Japanese and Japanese culture, I am interested in this game, but confusingly it is not in anime art style and I'm concerned my friends will think this is not authentically Japanese. Why did they make this weird American art style, and is there a version with the original anime graphics?

Wow how rude you are, like if japanese game is only anime arts.

See Final Fantasy, Nioh, Nier etc... these are japanese game but not anime game.

[roboczar]

Lots of people getting trolled in here

[I2epresent]

Originally posted by HitPointG:

I'm sorry, but being into current anime doesn't make you a japanese savant, it just means you're a weeb. This art style is actually traditional japanese, like, 1000 BC japanese, and I find it insulting that you're saying it's american art style when it's not.

This is the problem with kids these days, forgetting historic implications and only absorbing themselves so much into current trends that they think an art style isn't "anime enough".

Okay I'm sorry I didn't know. I need an old person to help me learn the old anime from 1,000 years ago. But if this art style doesnt look like real anime, how do ppl know its Japanese?