In a recent debate that arose on social media, Japanese
netizens discussed the reasons why “ Avatar: The Last Airbender , ” the popular
animated series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, has
not achieved the same level of popularity in Japan as it has in the West. Despite
its visual style being heavily influenced by Japanese anime, the series has
failed to resonate with Japanese audiences in the same way it has with Western
audiences.
The commenter who sparked the discussion wrote:
“ It’s funny how people in the West wonder why ‘Avatar’ isn’t as
popular in Japan, even though it has a style that seems inspired by Japanese
anime. The truth is, for many of us, it doesn’t feel like an authentic anime
series .”
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” first aired in 2005 on
Nickelodeon and quickly became a cultural phenomenon in the United States and
other countries. Set in a fictional world where some people can
control all four elements (water, earth, fire and air), the series follows the
adventures of Aang, the last airbender, who must restore balance to the world
by defeating the Fire Lord and ending a centuries-old war.
Over the course of three seasons, “Avatar: The Last
Airbender” was hailed for its mature storytelling, complex character
development and stunning animation, which combined elements of Japanese anime
with Western influences. The series spawned a sequel titled “The Legend
of Korra” in 2012, which continued to expand the universe and attract a new
generation of fans.
Cultural differences in character design
One of the main topics in the discussion was the
difference in perception of character designs between the West and Japan. In Japan,
character design in anime tends to focus on more subtle facial expressions,
while in “Avatar,” facial expressions and features, especially the treatment of
the nose, can seem more exaggerated and less appealing to Japanese people. One
user commented, “ The way ‘Avatar’ draws noses is very different
from what we’re used to in Japanese anime, where the nose is often depicted
more subtly or almost non-existent .”
Another user added: “ The problem with
‘Avatar’ is that while the visual style seems anime-inspired, the facial
expressions and character design don’t feel entirely natural to Japanese
people. Asymmetrical faces and exaggerated expressions are used more
for minor villains in Japanese anime, while in ‘Avatar’ they are common across
all characters .”
In addition to the differences in character design,
some netizens pointed out that “Avatar’s” narrative approach may have also
played a role in its lack of popularity in Japan. While the series has
a well-structured story, many feel that the mix of Western and Eastern cultural
influences may have been confusing or unappealing to Japanese audiences, who
are already accustomed to a wide variety of high-quality domestic content.
One user commented: “ The story of ‘Avatar’
is good, but it’s perhaps too ‘westernized.’ We Japanese are used to consuming
anime content that has a very different sensibility, and ‘Avatar’ fails to
fully capture that .”
On the other hand, some mentioned that, like
other Western anime-influenced productions such as “RWBY” or “Castlevania,” the
“Avatar” series may have attempted to get closer to Japanese anime ,
but it is still missing something essential for it to be seen as an authentic
anime in Japan.
Source: HachimaKikou
