OPINION: Is anime simple or simply misunderstood?

Graphic by Olivia Welhoelter The op-ed below does not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Kansan and its members.Anime can teach a toddler their shapes, and it can leave an adult staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m. questioning everything they believe. Somehow, it still gets dismissed as “just cartoons.” But it's not just a genre. It’s a medium, and it’s been misjudged for decades. Here's why it's not just cartoons.Anime is hand-drawn or computer-generated animation originating from Japan. It can have a very kid-like cartoon aesthetic or very mature animation for poised palettes, with narratives or visuals strong enough to get it banned in many countries.Animes can be simple or complex. Many animes traverse a philosophical plane that some live-action shows don’t touch as much or as well as anime can. It can be especially impactful as it reflects worlds similar to ours, with the same problems we deal with in our society.

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