Why do anime characters have big eyes even tho Japanese people have small eyes? Shouldn't the anime character look Japanese like how manhwa characters look Korean?
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Jul 18, 2017 7:57 AM
#1
I am not trying to be racist or anything. I mean if you look at Korean Manhwa then the character's eyes kinda look Korean. I mean the characters in Korean Manhwa do not have very big eyes. Now, let's look at Japanese anime What are your thoughts on this? Edit:- Here's a anime guy with big eyes |
swirlydragonJul 18, 2017 8:31 AM
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Jul 18, 2017 8:05 AM
#2
anime draws its character designs from betty boop and the like |
Jul 18, 2017 8:06 AM
#3
if I remember correctly from psychology class it has to do with the part of the eye that can change size depending on certain situations and it is seen as showing interest at times when becoming bigger. So for example you can be mistaken in thinking the person in question is taking an interest in you because that part is so much bigger than normal causing you to maybe have in turn an interest in them back. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:07 AM
#4
Deknijff said: if I remember correctly from psychology class it has to do with the part of the eye that can change size depending on certain situations and it is seen as showing interest at times when becoming bigger. So for example you can be mistaken in thinking the person in question is taking and interest in you because that part is so much bigger than normal causing you to maybe have in turn an interest in them back. Or maybe Japan has a big eye fetish. Who knows man... |
Jul 18, 2017 8:08 AM
#5
You're comparing a male character to a female. Everyone knows that males in anime have smaller eyes. See the difference? Also, it's a matter of art style. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:09 AM
#6
It's a fucking animation with exaggerated features, look up more realistic styles. But even then, not all japs irl have such small eyes either. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:11 AM
#7
Manhwa eyes look korean? What? I'm sure the drawing standard for manhwa is not Noblesse. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:12 AM
#8
Because they're influenced by old cartoon styles like bambi and betty boop, and those eyes show more emotion, and they aren't supposed to look like real ppl |
Jul 18, 2017 8:14 AM
#9
EcchiLordMamster said: So basically, blame Disney's direct but unknowing influence on then.Because they're influenced by old cartoon styles like bambI and betty boop, and those eyes show more emotion, and they aren't supposed to look like real ppl Also pretty boys that are supposed to be really treated as handsom and mysterious often get that treatment, thouhjnthe anime they're in is made so that such a thing wouldn't feel out of place.. |
CodeBlazeFateJul 18, 2017 8:17 AM
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Jul 18, 2017 8:16 AM
#10
sasalx said: Indeed man. You never truly know in that regardDeknijff said: Or maybe Japan has a big eye fetish. Who knows man...if I remember correctly from psychology class it has to do with the part of the eye that can change size depending on certain situations and it is seen as showing interest at times when becoming bigger. So for example you can be mistaken in thinking the person in question is taking and interest in you because that part is so much bigger than normal causing you to maybe have in turn an interest in them back. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:17 AM
#11
Japanese anime is lightly inspired by Disney... who also uses big eyes in their character designs. Almost all cartoons uses big eyes in their character designs. Why? Because big eyes is considered cute. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:21 AM
#12
Romandy said: Japanese anime is lightly inspired by Disney... who also uses big eyes in their character designs. Almost all cartoons uses big eyes in their character designs. Why? Because big eyes is considered cute. Not really. Bigger eyes make it easier for the artists to portray emotions. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:26 AM
#13
Because, like, uhm... I'm bad at explaining things so just bear with me, Swirly. Assuming you've watched Death Note, you see how Light's eyes go from innocent to like evil. When he was innocent his eyes were sort of like more friendly-ish, but they turn more slanted when he becomes evil. They are mostly used to like show more emotion in the character, you know? |
BellJul 18, 2017 8:31 AM
Jul 18, 2017 8:33 AM
#15
HoodWeeb said: Because, like, uhm... I'm bad at explaining things so just bear with me, Swirly. Assuming you've watched Death Note, you see how Light's eyes go from innocent to like evil. When he was innocent his eyes were sort of like more friendly-ish, but they turn more slanted when he becomes evil. They are mostly used to like show more emotion in the character, you know? So are Japanese people implying that small eyes can't show emotions? That's being racist to yourself :\ Askorti said: You're comparing a male character to a female. Everyone knows that males in anime have smaller eyes. See the difference? Also, it's a matter of art style. YayaChibi said: Plus, guys in animes normally have smaller eyes because IDK.....? There is usually a huge style difference between the male and female faces depending on the style of the artist. I just uploaded a anime guy pic Also, there are some anime girls with small eyes too, but Japanese people mostly prefer to draw big eyes. |
swirlydragonJul 18, 2017 8:48 AM
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Jul 18, 2017 8:35 AM
#16
That's like saying characters in Asterix shouldn't have ridiculously large, round noses, lol. They're cartoon characters. It doesn't matter. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:36 AM
#17
swirlydragon said: HoodWeeb said: Because, like, uhm... I'm bad at explaining things so just bear with me, Swirly. Assuming you've watched Death Note, you see how Light's eyes go from innocent to like evil. When he was innocent his eyes were sort of like more friendly-ish, but they turn more slanted when he becomes evil. They are mostly used to like show more emotion in the character, you know? So are Japanese people implying that small eyes can't show emotions? That's being racist to yourself :\ Not the same rules apply to a drawing than to reality. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:38 AM
#18
Jul 18, 2017 8:39 AM
#19
jal90 said: swirlydragon said: HoodWeeb said: Because, like, uhm... I'm bad at explaining things so just bear with me, Swirly. Assuming you've watched Death Note, you see how Light's eyes go from innocent to like evil. When he was innocent his eyes were sort of like more friendly-ish, but they turn more slanted when he becomes evil. They are mostly used to like show more emotion in the character, you know? So are Japanese people implying that small eyes can't show emotions? That's being racist to yourself :\ Not the same rules apply to a drawing than to reality. Yeah, I agree on that matter. What he said. |
BellJul 18, 2017 8:43 AM
Jul 18, 2017 8:44 AM
#20
swirlydragon said: I am not trying to be racist or anything. I mean if you look at Korean Manhwa then the character's eyes kinda look Korean. I mean the characters in Korean Manhwa do not have very big eyes. Now, let's look at Japanese anime What are your thoughts on this? Edit:- Here's a anime guy with big eyes Both styles are too cute to be realistic. If we're REALLY gonna be accurate, all our anime would look like this: It's a great movie with great characters and a great story, but at first glance it would turn many viewers away. That's why animations and cartoons are embellished with big eyes and glossy colors. You know real female tits don't shine so why do they shine in anime? I get put off every time I see a shiny booty cause I know my ass don't shine like that. But that's why it's a cartoon. It can be as fakey as you want. |
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Jul 18, 2017 8:45 AM
#21
Kami-Koto said: Manhwa eyes look korean? What? I'm sure the drawing standard for manhwa is not Noblesse. Here's another manhwa Look at the design of her eyes |
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Jul 18, 2017 8:52 AM
#22
I don't see why 'big eyes' should be a negative point. Disney originally changed Mickey's design to make him more popular based on the fact that people are fond of baby face features with the big head, big eyes, little mouth and nose. It's called 'Neotany' and it defines the retention of juvenile characteristics in the adults of a species. Drawing a character with bigger eyes appeals to that instinct in people anywhere in the world. Plus the Japanese love to make a character's eyes reflect their feelings, they have developed a long series of codes to express sadness, anger, joy, fright etc. It's only natural that they draw their characters eyes bigger. There's a pretty famous metaphor that says 'the eyes are the windows of the soul'. It's exactly that. The pupils widening in front of a loved one etc. How would you be able to see them if the eyes weren't drawn bigger? It's only logical that they would adapt their designs to what they want to communicate the way they feel ideal to do so. Not even mentioning the fact that Anime features a lot of foreign characters and that the Japanese are fascinated by westerners round, big eyes. If it's supposed to be beautiful to their eyes, why not draw japanese characters so beautiful that they even have big, clear eyes? I really don't see the reason nor point in restricting someone's artistic sense, especially when he draws fictional characters. There are also a lot of realistic mangas like Vagabond or anime like Monster, and there are reasons why the authors chose a realistic art style. To each his one, you can't command people's sense of beauty especially not based on their nationality or ethnicity. Or we're back to Nazi Germany when art had to show the germans all blond with blue eyes like perfect Aryans. Just see how dangerous this is. |
Jul 18, 2017 8:54 AM
#23
swirlydragon said: Kami-Koto said: Manhwa eyes look korean? What? I'm sure the drawing standard for manhwa is not Noblesse. Here's another manhwa Look at the design of her eyes Uhhh.... Since we've been looking at webtoons, here's one for you. But hey, if we're trying to be more representative, let's look at some Hwang Mi Ri stuff. |
Jul 18, 2017 9:01 AM
#24
And why it should looks like Japanese people in anime/manga? This is their art style. The more "natural"/"realistic" art is, the more boring it is. Japanese artists found a perfect balance between "natural" looking and something which is appealing/attractive. Not mentioning about the fact that you compared comic to anime. And? Yeah, Japanese art looks a lot better. And btw I don't believe that all Korean drawings looks like this. |
rsc-plJul 18, 2017 9:07 AM
Dub = fake crap. Always. |
Jul 18, 2017 9:03 AM
#25
Well all of them don't look like this, but most of them are similar |
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Jul 18, 2017 9:18 AM
#26
The sole reason anime characters have big eyes is because the GOD OF ANIME Osamau Tezuka was obsessed with these types of huge eyes in old cartoons and incorporated them into anime. |
Jul 18, 2017 10:13 AM
#27
DrGeroCreation said: The sole reason anime characters have big eyes is because the GOD OF ANIME Osamau Tezuka was obsessed with these types of huge eyes in old cartoons and incorporated them into anime. Uh, No. Big eyes already existed before OsamuTezuka, way before he started to make anime in 1961. Japanese Classic Cartoon(1933), even before the first Disney movie in 1938: Osamu Tezuka may have been personally influenced by Disney, but big eyes weren't new at all. |
Jul 18, 2017 10:14 AM
#28
> Why do anime characters have big eyes even tho Japanese people have small eyes? Shouldn't the anime character look Japanese like how manhwa characters look Korean? 1) Japanese don't actually think they have narrow/small eyes. They think europeans have big noses. Something about the way we recognize faces - apparently, there are no major actual differences in eye size, but other facial features make it look like that. 2) Eye width for cartoon characters is proportional to naivette and openness. Millenia-old vampires have narrow eyes, schemers don't even bother opening their eyes, while innocent princesses have huge eyes. 3) Baseline population in anime doesn't have national features. Non-baseline people do. For example, in a work set in Japan, americans would have distinctive blond hair (and likely blue eyes and an actual nose), but if a work is set in USA, americans would look like generic anime people. Note that Japanese don't have national features in their own eyes, except for hair and eye color (the only Japanese character in a western setting would always have realistic dark hair and eye colors). |
Jul 18, 2017 10:18 AM
#29
I mean, if you think about it, it depends simply on art style. Not to say certain places don't have a standard look in what they draw but it's not always gonna be the same features. |
Jul 18, 2017 10:36 AM
#31
Betty Boop preexists that (1930) and all Disney feature films. Heck Mickey Mouse goes back to the 20's. Aetherzel said: Tezuka popularized it for anime and made it a common trait for anime. Without Tezuka it wouldn't be a common character design trait for anime characters.Uh, No. Big eyes already existed before OsamuTezuka, way before he started to make anime in 1961. |
DrGeroCreationJul 18, 2017 10:46 AM
Jul 18, 2017 10:42 AM
#32
Why do anime characters have big eyes you ask ? it's simple really... you can't do ahegao with small eyes. |
Jul 18, 2017 10:49 AM
#33
swirlydragon said: I am not trying to be racist or anything. I mean if you look at Korean Manhwa then the character's eyes kinda look Korean. I mean the characters in Korean Manhwa do not have very big eyes. What are your thoughts on this? That I nearly believed you and that people should always document themselves before believing anything. This is a South Korean Character in that same manhwa you're talking about. His eyes are as big as any male character in, for example, Bleach. Wait, Ichigo (a japanese character in a japanese anime) 's eyes look even more asian that that other South Korean character. Funny, eh? |
Jul 18, 2017 10:54 AM
#34
Are these cherry picking threads like a new trend on MAL? |
Jul 18, 2017 11:06 AM
#35
DrGeroCreation said: Betty Boop preexists that (1930) and all Disney feature films. Heck Mickey Mouse goes back to the 20's. Aetherzel said: Tezuka popularized it for anime and made it a common trait for anime. Without Tezuka it wouldn't be a common character design trait for anime characters.Uh, No. Big eyes already existed before OsamuTezuka, way before he started to make anime in 1961. Except you don't know that. It already existed and I don't see why they would suddenly have abandoned big eyes. |
Jul 18, 2017 11:18 AM
#36
Its because its designed to be cute. Large eyes and rounder features appeal to the instincts that used to protect small children and babies. The other reason its easier to express emotion with bigger eyes because drawing good facial animations is difficult. If you watch Disney films, the protagonists have round features and the villains have sharper and smaller eyes. |
Jul 18, 2017 11:19 AM
#37
Aetherzel said: Yes I do. In all information about Tezuka it is always mentioned how he popularized the big eyes in anime. It existed before (cartoons started it first before anime) but wasn't super common in anime until Tezuka.Except you don't know that. It already existed and I don't see why they would suddenly have abandoned big eyes. |
Jul 18, 2017 11:20 AM
#38
Is that from ToG or is it something else? |
Jul 18, 2017 11:49 AM
#39
Yup, it's ToG. #characterlimit... |
Jul 18, 2017 11:54 AM
#40
DrGeroCreation said: Aetherzel said: Yes I do. In all information about Tezuka it is always mentioned how he popularized the big eyes in anime. It existed before (cartoons started it first before anime) but wasn't super common in anime until Tezuka.Except you don't know that. It already existed and I don't see why they would suddenly have abandoned big eyes. Whatever. I can see everyone in Asia or the West is imitating anime now that they see how popular it has become so it's not like I've got any reason to defend who copied who first. |
Jul 18, 2017 12:34 PM
#41
I can ask you the same with cartoons. Look at Family Guy. Their eyes are round and big. Americans don't look like that. Cartoons and anime just have their own art style that's it. |
Jul 18, 2017 1:47 PM
#42
Seriously? -_- Anime has a wide variety of different art styles, some more realistic than others, you can't just look at a few and conclude that all anime follow that artstyle. Here's some artstyles to prove you wrong, they are ALL from different anime BTW. Boys: Girls: |
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Jul 18, 2017 3:17 PM
#43
Not all Asians have single eyelids, not all Asians have small eyes If you don't want to be racially insensitive, think before posting a topic like this |
Jul 18, 2017 5:01 PM
#44
1) Not all Japanese people have small eyes. Kinda racist to assume that don't you think? (I know that wasn't your intention) Example of an Japanese person with eyes that aren't small: 2) Not all anime/manga characters have big eyes. I could list plenty of examples, but I'll just use Great Teacher Onizuka because I've always thought the characters in the show had a look that really made it obvious they were Japanese. At the end of the day, it comes down to the art style more than anything else. (I'm sure you could find manhwa characters with bigger eyes if you really looked for them) 3) If you look at western animation, characters often still have eyes that are bigger than the eyes of the people that live in the west. Eyes are seen as the dominant facial feature in many cultures and as such, art tends to focus on the eyes of people and animals when portraying them. Example of western characters with big eyes: tl;dr Art has a tendency to focus on the eyes all over the world, it's not just anime that has characters with big eyes. |
Jul 18, 2017 5:08 PM
#45
Jul 18, 2017 10:46 PM
#46
DrGeroCreation said: Aetherzel said: Yes I do. In all information about Tezuka it is always mentioned how he popularized the big eyes in anime. It existed before (cartoons started it first before anime) but wasn't super common in anime until Tezuka.Except you don't know that. It already existed and I don't see why they would suddenly have abandoned big eyes. Anime usually adapts manga. Far before Tezuka, during the pre-war Japan, the shōjo aesthetic already used those "big eyes" everywhere, in fact during a long time shōjo eyes were noticeably bigger than shōnen ones. The main contributors to the pre-war shōjo aesthetic were Jun'ichi Nakahara: And Katsuji Matsumoto: And those guys aren't the first, they were influenced by the Art Nouveau, the Art Deco, the French dolls and others Europeans stuffs like that, partially explaining those bigs eyes. So with or without Tezuka, the big eyes would have been the norm on manga, and thus on anime, at least on the shōjo side. And shōjo and shōnen influence each other anyway. So even without Tezuka, I'm pretty sure that the big eyes would still be here, albeit maybe different, and the evolution would have been different too. Someone would have done it in lieu of Tezuka, considering how common it already was. It is notable that Tezuka said he was influenced by the art of Katsuji Matsumoto among other guys with a more cartoon-style, like Takeo Takei or Ki'ichi Okamoto. Tezuka did contribute to the "big eyes"; beside his popularity, he added the stars in the already big eyes. But that's it: he added something to it. And Tezuka wasn't the sole contributor to those big eyes at that time, the most influential contributor to the shōjo easthetic of that time was Macoto Takahashi who did freaking awesome eyes, influenced by Nakahara: So, he did popularize it, notably on the shōnen side (since the shōjo was already "big big big" everywhere since at least two decades before). But he is certainly not the creator of that trend, not even the main contributor. |
removed-userJul 18, 2017 11:44 PM
Jul 18, 2017 10:59 PM
#47
Jul 18, 2017 11:08 PM
#50
> it's easier to draw > it's easier to make expression > it was influenced by western drawing... if you want something more japanese, look ukiyo-e style... but pretty sure it was very rare to get animated... my closest memory is isobe isobee monogatari... > it sell > also korean animation is not that different, you are nitpicking, same can be said with japanese counterpart... so in the end... it's historio cultural, easier and ¥¥¥¥¥ reason |
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