Ask John: Are There American Equivalents to Sazae-san and Doraemon?

Question:
It is well-known in Japan that “Sazae-san” and “Doraemon” have got high TV rating over 10 percent for dozens years. They are not aimed initially at hardcore anime fans, and you, in fact, would probably find them more boring than Black Lagoon, Fate or XXHolic. I, however, believe that many, many Japanese children grew up with family-friendly anime shows like Dora and Sazae to be anime fans, and they supported the anime industry. I’m curious if there are cartoon shows equivalent to them in your country.

Answer:
Simply put, I don’t think that America has equivalents to Japanese programs like Sazae-san and Doraemon. America has iconic, long running animated series, but America does not have iconic animated series that serve as initiations into a deeper fascination with animation. Differences in the cultural perception of animation may contribute to the difference in function and style between American and Japanese animation. Ironically, the animated series in America which have had the most impact on creating future generations of anime fans have all been anime series to begin with.

Most Americans have grown up with animated series like The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny, and more recently Spongebob Squarepants. These long running shows are familiar to nearly all Americans. They are part of America’s cultural heritage. The Simpsons and South Park are also modern entries into this canon of American animated television programs that have become a culturally and historically significant part of Americana. But none of these programs encourage viewers into a further devotion to animation, in general, or anime specifically. American children who grow up watching Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, or Spongebob Squarepants typically don’t develop a lasting affinity for animation for two reasons. American animation does not exist as a product of a close-knit, singular artistic community. And American society does not encourage or condone a continued, lifelong interest in animation. Japanese programs like Sazae-san and Doraemon are anime; they are individual examples of the larger realm of anime. American animated series are isolated, singular programs. They’re not a part of a greater whole, so watching one doesn’t naturally lead to other similar programs.

America produces a lot of animation, and America has an animation industry and community, but it’s not as collective nor as well known as the solidarity of Japan’s animation industry. America’s animation industry consists primarily of many individual, competing companies. Japan’s animation industry is far more organic, with studios frequently assisting each other, and staff moving freely from studio to studio. Watching one anime series gently encourages viewers into exploring other similar programs. American animated series, though, rarely have stylistic or atmospheric consistency because they’re produced by totally separate studios. American animated series are self-contained and designed to encourage viewer loyalty exclusively to a single series, not loyalty to a style of film or the product of a collective industry. Furthermore, unlike Japanese society, which at least tolerates a continuing devotion to animation, American society encourages a strict detachment from animation during the teen years. Children’s cartoons are appropriate for children. Adult animation like The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy are targeted at grown adults. Animated series for teens, like Teen Titans and Justice League are targeted primarily at niche market comic book fans. America does not promote a gradual, progressive interest in animation from childhood into adulthood the way Japanese society does, or at least accepts.

Most American teens and adults can name animated series that they fondly remember from their childhood: Rocky & Bullwinkle, Inspector Gadget, Duck Tales, He-Man, G.I. Joe, Animaniacs, Wacky Races. But rarely, if ever, are these shows cited as the roots of an obsession with animation. The American television programs most often cited as the cause of a devotion to animation include Astro Boy, Speed Racer, Starblazers, Voltron, and Robotech. It’s American imports of Japanese animation which are, I think, more responsible for creating American animation fans than any American animated television programs, possibly because Japanese children’s animation challenges the intelligence and imagination of children while American children’s animation seeks to entertain, occupy, and avoid stimulating the mental interaction of children. Anime inspires viewers to interest in more anime. American children’s animation, including even the most celebrated and iconic programs, strives to encourage childish fantasy and wonder, which must one day be outgrown.

America has long running, widely recognized animated TV series that are similar to Sazae-san and Doraeman in those respects. But the philosphy behind the purpose of animation, and the audience for animation is very different in Japan than it is in America. Iconic Japanese programs like Sazae-san and Doraemon encourage responsibility and awareness, and serve as the foundation for a lifelong interst in animation. American childrens’ animation is designed to placate children and keep them childlike.