Why not just call Manga ''comics'' and anime ''Cartoons''?

[Vidocq]

Naming them by different names makes it sound as if they were diferent mediums. Manga and Anime are literally just the japanese words for comics and cartoons. I guess you could argue it references the specific cultural style, but then you got stuff like
''Batman and Son'' that is being called a Cartoon even though it was made by a japanese studio and it looks like seinen anime.

The diferences between the two are becoming less and less blury and it's starting to look even more like just a way for closeted geeks to not admit that they like watching cartoons.

[Overhazard]

I feel like by calling Manga "comics" and anime "cartoons" that would be disrespectful to the culture where they come from.

[thespianphryne]

Naming them by different names makes it sound as if they were diferent mediums. Manga and Anime are literally just the japanese words for comics and cartoons. I guess you could argue it references the specific cultural style, but then you got stuff like
''Batman and Son'' that is being called a Cartoon even though it was made by a japanese studio and it looks like seinen anime.

The diferences between the two are becoming less and less blury and it's starting to look even more like just a way for closeted geeks to not admit that they like watching cartoons.

I agree with you. And unless there's a specific reason, I do just refer to them as cartoons/animation and comics.

[Personamanx]

I once asked an acquaintance who spent a few years in Japan. He told me that in general most folk there did not make the distinction. "Family Guy" and "The Simpson's" are as much anime as "Dragonball" or "Kill La Kill." He may just be going off of a small group of folk he talked to about it of course but I found his observation interesting.

[Michael P]

Calling anime cartoons is actually a really fun way to needle anime superfans. Not that I'm suggesting anyone should do that.

[just another user]

I don't know, when I think about cartoons I think "for kids", and when I think anime I think "tentacles"

[thespianphryne]

HA! JAU, you pervert! Tentacles is hentai.

I get that 'cartoon' has the implication of childlike/-ish. Which is why I'll say 'animation'. And so do the Japanese, except that they like their little cute diminutives, hence 'animé'*







*Source: Japanese Lit. Prof. SO.

[eye of all]

Just for specificity's sake -- the statements "I like cartoons/comics" and "I like anime/manga" mean different things for better or worse. If a Marvel/DC fan asks whether I read comics and then I start spouting off about Manga and Euro Comics, there would be a bit of a disconnect there.