end of anime as we know it?

[Michael Kerpan]

On Monday 02 July 2001 18:20, you wrote:

> The effect of so much photo-realism may only serve to distance viewers, if
> we are to believe comic theorists like Scott McCloud, who says that the
> more basic and less realistic the character, the more projection from the
> audience and the empathy extended to the character. (Hence why Peanuts is
> more endearing than Prince Valiant--among other reasons, of course).

I consider Takahata's _Yamada_ film absolutely brilliant -- precisely because 
he made such patently unreal-looking characters completely believable.  After 
all, how many people talk by opening their heads sideways a la Picasso at his 
most cubist.  My understanding, however, was that _Tonari no Yamada-kun_ was 
not a big financial success and didn't even win unanimous plaudits from the 
critical cadre.  Disney shows no sign that it ever intends to release this in 
the US -- and yet it is more genuinely a universal family film than anything 
Disney has released in a long, long time.  Why wasn't Takahata's wonderful 
film a "success"?  And if something so good can't make a reasonable return,  
what hope is there for lesser creators? 

Waiting with bated breath to see what transpires with Miyazaki's soon to open 
film --

Michael Kerpan
Boston, MA