Which animations have better openings: US or Japan?

Watch and compare.

Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lrp7RO7Mtk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_PKgztP0zw&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOpsNTIlK9Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxD_Y6ax95Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMNJwUUHMxc

USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o4-YtEd6Tk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZGz1Ajg7QU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chz8TnoznDc

Japan, no contest. Didn't even to watch those videos to give that answer.

Japan FTW, US not so good..

The animation industry of the US pales in comparison to that of Japan's so naturally Japan would have better production values on their animated shows. Resulting in better openings.

No intro beats the one for Ren & Stimpy as far as I'm concerned.

But as far as nations go, its hit and miss with both. USA ones are usually short and to-the-point without any catchy songs but Japanese ones sometimes have songs that get annoying after a while but have excellent production values.

i kinda like japan openings

Japan also has something most US Animations don't have: Ending Songs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGd35uMf-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN3BYyMpeMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnu3a5-zBT0

Of those Japan. I like USA's more on other things.

Anime.

I tend to skip over them though..unless they're really awesome, like seen in Umineko. Also: Shaft's more recent openings have been great (a lot of people see them as lazy these days, but I really like their style in shows like Bakemonogatari and Ef.) Some other recent favorites: Freedom -- Eden of The East -- Mahoutsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto - Natsu no Sora -- Spice & Wolf (Season 1)

why did you pick the worst american intros

come on no spawn, drawn together, tripping the rift, futurama

i mean you got scooby doo, spiderman(70's) and simpsons going against Gundam and Hellsing that hardly seems unfair

at least this set of intros would stand a chance

Japan, through US does have some really good openings.

USA. Swat Kats comes to mind whenever I think of awesome intros.

USA's animation in general isn't as bad as some people think.

I think Japan gets a little too much praise sometimes.

Japan. US openings use mostly clips. Japanese openings are especially directed.

USA. Swat Kats comes to mind whenever I think of awesome intros.

DOS4dinner

That show was awesome! But I still think american animation has gone downhill, they all seem to have the same ****if you know what I mean (modern). Compare the dead space anime to all the DCS ones to shows like ben 10 and you swear the same guy does the animation for all of them, batman + superman public enemies finally drew a decent looking superman.

I don't really give a crap about openings for any shows, though both American and japanese animations have had some nice openings. So it's a tie for me.

I Dunno....in my opinion, Japan seems more complex, and the US seems more "did you see that episode last night?"

they both have theire good ones but japan have heaps of crap ones as well.

USA! USA! USA!

I just don't like Japanese animation

I mean c'mon how can you not like the catchy tune of Scooby freaking Doo

And I can't understand a damn thing they are saying in those Japan openings.

Anime openings are usually nothing more than glorified music videos that the big media companies use to promote new songs and artists. Furthermore, most of them include the same cliche opening scenes (characters standing against a sky with a strong gust blowing their clothes and hair, some guy slinging a sword/gun over his shoulder, someone calling out for help, split-second filler transistion scenes that have nothing at all to do with anything else in the opening, etc). American animations tend to at least have novel, signature openings.

That said, some anime forego the licensed music and derivative openings, and those are pretty damn top notch. For example, Elfen Lied's opening is one of the best I've seen. And while it isn't an opening but rather an ending, Clannad's ending was also very well done and fit the serie's theme pretty well.

Anyway, I'd say that anime does have more exciting openings, but most of the time those openings feel pretty tacked on and don't really ever seem to feel like a true part of the show. So while American openings are often much shorter and much more simplistic, they at least become part of the show's identity unlike anime where the openings tend to get scrapped and replaced after every season. That said, the best anime openings definitely outshine the best American openings.

japan no contest I cant belive u put up 3 gundam openings and none of them was gundam wing u fail sir

japan no contest I cant belive u put up 3 gundam openings and none of them was gundam wing u fail sir

kemar7856

Very valid point.

For example, Elfen Lied's opening is one of the best I've seen. And while it isn't an opening but rather an ending, Clannad's ending was also very well done and fit the serie's theme pretty well.gameguy6700

Yeah, Elfen Lied's opening is awesome. Pretty much the only memorable thing about the show, though.

Enjoyed Clannad season 1's unique little ending as well.

Japanese animation is better than American in pretty much every respect, not just opening songs. Pretty much the only genre of American animation that can compete with Japanese animation is comedy (depending on your tastes), and even then, Japanese comedies still have better production values.

Japanese animation is better than American in pretty much every respect, not just opening songs. Pretty much the only genre of American animation that can compete with Japanese animation is comedy (depending on your tastes), and even then, Japanese comedies still have better production values.

black_cat19

I'd have to argue that. Anime in general is plagued by lazy animation. The art is definitely much higher quality than what you see in the west, but the animations themselves tend to be very static. If you watch American catoons the animation is very fluid and lively, whereas with anime there's very little movement going on at any given time.

Also, Japanese animated comedies tend to all fall into the "slice of life" genre which imo pales in comparison to American cartoon comedy.

Anime openings are usually nothing more than glorified music videos that the big media companies use to promote new songs and artists. Furthermore, most of them include the same cliche opening scenes (characters standing against a sky with a strong gust blowing their clothes and hair, some guy slinging a sword/gun over his shoulder, someone calling out for help, split-second filler transistion scenes that have nothing at all to do with anything else in the opening, etc). American animations tend to at least have novel, signature openings.

That said, some anime forego the licensed music and derivative openings, and those are pretty damn top notch. For example, Elfen Lied's opening is one of the best I've seen. And while it isn't an opening but rather an ending, Clannad's ending was also very well done and fit the serie's theme pretty well.

Anyway, I'd say that anime does have more exciting openings, but most of the time those openings feel pretty tacked on and don't really ever seem to feel like a true part of the show. So while American openings are often much shorter and much more simplistic, they at least become part of the show's identity unlike anime where the openings tend to get scrapped and replaced after every season. That said, the best anime openings definitely outshine the best American openings.

gameguy6700

While many anime openings and closings have the strong gust of wind blowing character's clothes and hair, and slinging a sword/gun, that alone doesn't make it bad. It may seem very generic, but in some cases, it can really tie in to what the show is about.

As for them being tacked on, I hate that. But for some shows, the openings and closing give a great representation of what the show is about and what is going on in that season. I actually like that they change opening and closings to match the current season. I'd rather have the opening and closer represent what's currently going on, rather then something more general. Often, the new song will be tied in to what the new seaons is about, rather than something random. A great example of a closing that ties in to the currnet mood of the anime, would be Let It Out, as the second closing to Fullmetal Alchemist:Brotherhood. It easily ties in to the mood of what's going on for the episodes where it's used and feels like a perfect way of closing the episodes. Yes, it has the hair blowing against a gust of wind as a major portion, but the overall feeling from it ties in very well to what's currently going on in the show.

[QUOTE="black_cat19"]

Japanese animation is better than American in pretty much every respect, not just opening songs. Pretty much the only genre of American animation that can compete with Japanese animation is comedy (depending on your tastes), and even then, Japanese comedies still have better production values.

gameguy6700

I'd have to argue that. Anime in general is plagued by lazy animation. The art is definitely much higher quality than what you see in the west, but the animations themselves tend to be very static. If you watch American catoons the animation is very fluid and lively, whereas with anime there's very little movement going on at any given time.

Also, Japanese animated comedies tend to all fall into the "slice of life" genre which imo pales in comparison to American cartoon comedy.

How about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9NKu6bSkbc&feature=related

I'd say the animation here is just as fluid and lively as any American animated comedy, and it's definitely not a "slice of life". Be warned, it has a kind of "girly" aesthetic to it, but I think it's really funny, it's absolutely ridiculous and obviously not meant to be taken seriously.

Also, Japanese animated comedies tend to all fall into the "slice of life" genre which imo pales in comparison to American cartoon comedy.gameguy6700

"Slice of life" is not some sub-genre of comedy. Hopefully that wasn't what you were implying..but even then, I don't see how the slice of life element would affect the *quality* of the comedic material as it, at best, just serves to facilitate situations for which material can be written (though that's definitely more interesting than the "LOL SO RANDUM xD" crap you see in shows like Family Guy, imo.)

Shows containing that "daily life" element (a huge number of anime are this way, not just those of comedic focus) ..with a focus on comedy, like Ichigo Mashimaro or Minami-ke..are honestly far more humorous than any western cartoons I've come across. Not that I'm saying you should feel the same -- whether something is funny or not is, of course, subjective.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]Also, Japanese animated comedies tend to all fall into the "slice of life" genre which imo pales in comparison to American cartoon comedy.Velocitas8

"Slice of life" is not some sub-genre of comedy. Hopefully that wasn't what you were implying..but even then, I don't see how the slice of life element would affect the *quality* of the comedic material as it, at best, just serves to facilitate situations for which material can be written (though that's definitely more interesting than the "LOL SO RANDUM xD" crap you see in shows like Family Guy, imo.)

Shows containing that "daily life" element (a huge number of anime are this way, not just those of comedic focus) ..with a focus on comedy, like Ichigo Mashimaro or Minami-ke..are honestly far more humorous than any western cartoons I've come across. Not that I'm saying you should feel the same -- whether something is funny or not is, of course, subjective.

I find it very ironic that you bash Family Guy for being "lol random" when that's all slice of life shows like Azumanga Daioh, Minami-ke, Lucky Star, etc. are. Even Family Guy has coherent, focused episodes compared to the completely unfocused, random nature of SoL anime.

As for Black_Cat19's reply (normally I'd quote it but GS is screwy with posts that combine more than one quote):

I've seen Ouran before. I stopped watching around the 8th or 11th episode. And no, Ouran most definitely does not have fluid and lively animation. Watch the scene where what's-her-name walks into the host club room and breaks the vase. The entire time it's nothing but repetitive (and often simplistic) animations. For example, notice how whenever a character is talking the only thing moving in the entire shot is their mouth? Hell, sometimes there isn't even animation at all, it's just the camera focused on a piece of backdrop scenary and slowly zooming out. Even when a character is actually doing something while talking it's usually a simplistic animation that can be repeated as many times as necessary without any effort (for example, the wiggling arms effect or a character's entire body shifting back and forth on the screen without changing body posture or even moving their legs).

Contrast that to this. Notice how much more movement is going on? The drawing may not be as polished, but the characters do more than just move there mouths and maybe an arm while talking. Rather, you get a full range of fluid facial expressions and the entire body is animated rather than just being static. There's a lot more differences between the two shows than just character animations so keep an eye out for the animation in general and you'll see what I mean.

The opening songs for anime all sound the same.

I find it very ironic that you bash Family Guy for being "lol random" when that's all slice of life shows like Azumanga Daioh, Minami-ke, Lucky Star, etc. are. Even Family Guy has coherent, focused episodes compared to the completely unfocused, random nature of SoL anime.gameguy6700

I'll give you Azumanga and Lucky Star -- both of which I hated with a passion (No idea if the randomness was a factor, but I simply couldn't stand either show. They were not funny in the least.)

However, Minami-ke isn't about jumping around randomness or unfunny references like the above shows are. It's all about putting situational comedy into continual mundane daily life, not about skipping around between completely unrelated skits. Each episode in Minami-ke has some sort of focus. None of the scenes are random or stand on their own like the "LOL HE FELL DOWN, GOT HURT AND SAT THERE ROCKING HIS KNEE FOR 30 SECONDS" stuff you'll find in Family Guy. Scenes tie together and build on one another, for the most part.

The storyline as a whole is also continuous rather than completely episodic (pretty obvious if you watch the show.) The continuity isn't heavily emphasized (as I said, it's more episodic), but the show actually builds on established elements from previous episodes.

Now, you didn't mention it, but I'd probably also give you Ichigo Mashimaro as being pretty "lol randum" (though not Family Guy random) ..despite every episode having bursts of focus throughout. But I don't give a damn. It's funny regardless.

Japan. The last great opening in USA cartoon was in Men in Black.

Japan FTW, US not so good..

sonic__323

this

My favorite is Hunter X Hunter opening 2. So i will go with Japanese.

Unrelated question: Who makes better death scenes?

Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSraFV8AOvM

US

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ

TC is biased...MgamerBD

im going to have to agree with this

As much as I love the Mummies Aliveopening, im gonna say Japan.

Japan, no contest. Didn't even to watch those videos to give that answer.

freek666

TC is biased...MgamerBD