Just A Cartoon

By Andy Diehl

Dragonball Z is one of the most appreciated anime's in the world.......or atleast it should be that way. The other day while sitting in my fourth hour C++ class Me and one of my friend's ( He is basically a "dubbie", but still has seen some of the real stuff) were talking about the best DBZ movies. This is when the person next to me started laughing and asked me if I actually watched that stupid cartoon. CARTOON.......I sat for a few minutes trying to contain my anger and then preceeded to explain that Dragonball is not a cartoon, but an anime with not much success. So now why do people see Dragonball as a cartoon, there are alot of reason's. For instance seeing something on Cartoon Network does not help and the butchering of the dialogue by FUNimation hurts to. American telivison has planted in the mind of millions that anything that is drawn is a cartoon and will probably end up with an anvil dropping on top of someone or someone falling off a cliff. That is why when people look at Dragonball Z they don't even give it a chance, they think cartoon. What makes Dragonball an anime and not a cartoon. Well first off Dragonball Z is an evolving series were every day the show is a sequal and has to do with what happened the day before, if you miss a few episodes you could be totally lost on what is going on. Dragonball Z also unlike a cartoon show's us to stand up for what we belive in, work hard and we can achieve anything, and that good conquers evil in the end. These are all things that people need to know and have installed into their minds.

Ever since I really thought of this problem I have done all I can to inform. It started off with me writing an article in my school newspaper that had to do with introducing people to animation. People come up to me all the times asking me to copy my fan-subs and give them to them. Whenever someone has a question I try to take my time to explain to them an answer that will make them know that I care. Now I know that I can not get everyone to like anime, but I will try to get everyone to RESPECT it. To know that it is a great art form that will give a learning experiance. That is what all people should do, if you have the chance atleast get people to respect it. Now there are alot of different ways to get people into an Anime. A wrong way is to critsize someone for making fun of it. Ask them exactly how much they know to make sure that they are speaking without knowing the whole truth. Another way is when you introduce an anime try not to pick one that has alot of sexual content and nudity, so that poeple can respect it. Now ways to introduce it to people are when your friends are over and you have nothing to do pop in a movie so they can watch it. If you ever get a chance in school to show a movie take the opportunity. In your english classes you can write your assignments on different anime's ( showing things in school is a great thing because you usually have everyone's attention). Also when you come in contact with a dubbie who thinks he/she knows it all try not to take this opportunity to shoot them down and show their ignorance, but instead take that ignorance and turn it into an opportunity to educate one more person.

There are other things that people don't respect about DBZ though. One thing is the Japanese music. There have been times when I was listening to a CD and I have had someone laugh and ask what the heck is that. Even though you may not understand the words the music has so much emotion and feeling in it that you feel it in your heart when you listen to it, it leaves you with a great feeling. The music is happy and fast most of the time and that is great because it than makes you happy. In my household Anime is on the tv all the time, now my parents may think it's wierd...they respect it though and can understand why I dig it. I have gotten to alot of people and I am proud of my accomplishments. besides getting throught o friends I have gotten through to cousin's and neighbors. You get alot of self satisfaction when you see someone enjoying what you introduced to them. So all I can really say is to go out and teach everyone about anime. You may not get people to like it, but atleast you can get them to appreciate and understand it.