Anime and manga are Japanese creations which have found a strong following in the States. But, will we ever see American-made anime and manga develop as big a foothold in the US as Japanese-made anime and manga?

Die-hard purists in the anime community refuse to acknowledge that anime or manga written or directed by an American can be just as good as anime from Japan. I’ve read reviews by fans who say Tekkonkinkreet- an awesome anime- was poorly done, due mainly to the fact American Michael Arias directed it.

Manga is also being written and drawn by American mangaka, and sometimes receive flack that their creations are a pale shadow compared to Japanese manga.

Are these opinions valid or are they a reflection of elitism stagnating growth in our community?

Americans, or Westerners in general, may never truly understand the Japanese perspective of anime/manga storytelling, being they weren’t immersed in it from birth. Yet, Americans who do become involved with either medium, can learn to create anime/manga with their own perspectives using the same style of storytelling.

Themes are important in anime, but isn’t it feasible to develop Western themes which will connect to those audiences in a more meaningful way? Moe means nothing to the average American and elicits feelings of revulsion among the more progressive who do know what moe is. It has no connection with mainstream US audiences except to serve as a reminder of how far feminism has come.

Each country has their own mythology and their own history which shape the archetypes in their storytelling. Is it possible to blend Japanese and American mythos to create something new which can still be labeled anime and manga?

Question:

Is pursuing American anime and manga viable or pointless?