In this article, I wanted to share some reasons why we shouldn't blindly imitate Japanese anime. As we know, most people who enter the field of animation like to emulate the Japanese style, forgetting their own identity and creative approach. In this article, I'll briefly discuss how we can break free from this cycle and build our own independent path. Keep reading.
My online store has everything you need as artists
Imitation puts us in second place
When we merely imitate the style of Japanese or even American anime, we position ourselves as followers, not leaders. No matter how hard we try to perfect the imitation, we will not be seen as creators of original work, but as imitators. And thus, we will not gain true appreciation, because the audience will always compare us to the original production.
This tradition makes us vulnerable to constant criticism and comparison, preventing us from building our own unique identity. The dream of creating an authentic Arab anime industry will remain unfulfilled as long as we continue to copy the styles of others without adding our own vision and cultural identity.
Using Arabic anime as a tool of soft resistance
Animation has transcended its role as mere entertainment for children; it has become a vehicle for conveying agendas and messages to audiences, and one of the most powerful tools for altering perceptions or manipulating values. However, we can turn this to our advantage by creating authentic animation that reflects our society's issues and way of thinking, without falling into the trap of repetition and boredom, as is unfortunately common in some Arab animation productions. In doing so, we can build our own narrative without having external narratives imposed upon us, thus strengthening our identity and sharing it with the world instead of importing it.
Creating our own animation school
The solution lies in creating an independent animation school that takes into account our capabilities and circumstances, without simply mirroring Japanese or American animation. Even European animation schools have their own distinct style, so why can't we develop our own?
Through my personal experience in animation since the age of fourteen, I learned several techniques. I found that rigging/bone animation is practical and suitable for our production conditions, especially when using programs like Toon Boom Harmony or others, as it allows characters to be saved and animated efficiently without the need for traditional frame-by-frame animation each time.
Building a sustainable industry for future generations
If you do not want to delve into this field for several reasons, then think in a commercial way, and there is nothing wrong with that, as the animation industry can be an industry that generates a lot of profits for the producing companies, and helps to employ a large number of talented Arab artists, instead of them wasting it on social media only, so that it becomes a real source of income for them, because they will combine the hobby and work.
Similarly, opening specialized animation training centers and offering paid courses and workshops can contribute to employing teachers and animators, establishing animation studios, and producing anime series to be broadcast during Ramadan, as well as films that could compete in Arab and international film festivals. Creating an animation industry in the Arab world will open the door to establishing a sustainable sector capable of attracting and developing talent.
Why is Arabic animation weak and does it not reach the global level?
In conclusion, I would say that the world of animation is a double-edged sword; it can either help us spread, preserve, and take pride in our culture, or it can become an external tool that erodes our values and the values of our children. Hence the importance of harnessing this art form for our benefit, making it a subtle tool of influence with which to counter external ideologies. Moreover, our diverse society boasts a wealth of folklore, both Arab and non-Arab, and prominent historical figures in medicine, art, and culture whose achievements deserve to be highlighted through dedicated anime productions.
Do not underestimate this subject, and be a part of this beautiful industry as I am a part of it, and contribute your talent to the Arab animation industry team, so that future generations will remember you.
Thank you for reading the article, and I will meet you in future articles, God willing.
