Comments on: Ask John: Why Are Anime Credits Sequences So Long Compared to American Ones? http://www.animenation.net/blog/2009/12/21/ask-john-why-are-anime-credits-sequences-so-long-compared-to-american-ones/ Anime News & More! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:08:26 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: kyouki http://www.animenation.net/blog/2009/12/21/ask-john-why-are-anime-credits-sequences-so-long-compared-to-american-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-5520 kyouki Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:22:57 +0000 http://www.animenation.net/blog/?p=19424#comment-5520 Thinking about Star Trek or Knight Rider openings, Key? Thinking about Star Trek or Knight Rider openings, Key?

]]> By: Key http://www.animenation.net/blog/2009/12/21/ask-john-why-are-anime-credits-sequences-so-long-compared-to-american-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-5492 Key Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:38:43 +0000 http://www.animenation.net/blog/?p=19424#comment-5492 If you add "these days" at the end of "occurs very infrequently" then I'd agree with John's argument here. American TV series theme songs becoming popular as standalone entities was much more common prior to the 2000s, especially in the late '70s and '80s. Granted, it has never been terribly common, but I can think of several series theme songs that have endured over the years. If you add “these days” at the end of “occurs very infrequently” then I’d agree with John’s argument here. American TV series theme songs becoming popular as standalone entities was much more common prior to the 2000s, especially in the late ’70s and ’80s. Granted, it has never been terribly common, but I can think of several series theme songs that have endured over the years.

]]> By: Aaron H. Bynum http://www.animenation.net/blog/2009/12/21/ask-john-why-are-anime-credits-sequences-so-long-compared-to-american-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-5487 Aaron H. Bynum Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:45:34 +0000 http://www.animenation.net/blog/?p=19424#comment-5487 We also have to consider the structure of television productions... TV programs break for commercial programming after different minute-marks depending on the network/channel. This is especially true for American programming, though I cannot speak on behalf of Japanese TV viewing experiences. Writers/producers of popular american half-hour programs frequently write for four or five "blocks," anticipating a commercial break at certain points of the series' continuity. We also have to consider the structure of television productions… TV programs break for commercial programming after different minute-marks depending on the network/channel. This is especially true for American programming, though I cannot speak on behalf of Japanese TV viewing experiences. Writers/producers of popular american half-hour programs frequently write for four or five “blocks,” anticipating a commercial break at certain points of the series’ continuity.

]]> By: relentlessflame http://www.animenation.net/blog/2009/12/21/ask-john-why-are-anime-credits-sequences-so-long-compared-to-american-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-5481 relentlessflame Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:47:58 +0000 http://www.animenation.net/blog/?p=19424#comment-5481 Regarding closing credits in particular, there's also a slightly different cultural attitude about them, which is that the average American viewer skips them. On American TV, closing credits are often minimized/interrupted/"shrunk" so that TV networks can show ads to encourage people to stick around for their next show (since that's when people start changing channels). In American movie theatres, the lights generally turn up the moments the credits start rolling (and most of the audience promptly exits). Because the general Japanese cultural attitude is that the movie/show isn't over until the credits are *finished* rolling, the producers in Japan have found ways of both making things more interesting for the viewers and turning it into a marketing opportunity. So I think it all goes hand-in-hand, and may be a bit of a "chicken and egg" issue. If American producers started placing more emphasis on the credits, maybe American viewers would be more likely to stick around. But, because the current attitude is that they're skippable/unimportant, many companies don't bother spending much time on it -- it's more simple and utilitarian. Regarding closing credits in particular, there’s also a slightly different cultural attitude about them, which is that the average American viewer skips them. On American TV, closing credits are often minimized/interrupted/”shrunk” so that TV networks can show ads to encourage people to stick around for their next show (since that’s when people start changing channels). In American movie theatres, the lights generally turn up the moments the credits start rolling (and most of the audience promptly exits). Because the general Japanese cultural attitude is that the movie/show isn’t over until the credits are *finished* rolling, the producers in Japan have found ways of both making things more interesting for the viewers and turning it into a marketing opportunity.

So I think it all goes hand-in-hand, and may be a bit of a “chicken and egg” issue. If American producers started placing more emphasis on the credits, maybe American viewers would be more likely to stick around. But, because the current attitude is that they’re skippable/unimportant, many companies don’t bother spending much time on it — it’s more simple and utilitarian.

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