Ask John: Why Do Even “Realistic” Anime Use Unnatural Hair Colors?

Question:
I can understand why unnatural hair and eye colors are the norm in fantasy-based anime, but why do they regularly occur in anime series based in present day as if they aren’t out of the ordinary? For example, why is the average person in Popotan not surprised that the Ai, Mai, and Mii have green, pink, and purple hair? Aoi from Ai Yori Aoshi has not only bluish-purple hair but matching eyes as well, and she’s supposed to be from a distinguished classical Japanese family.

Answer:
You do have a valid point, but there is an explanation. At least according to one theory for the existence of unnatural hair colors used in anime, these unusual colors are only a cinematic technique. In effect, viewers see unnatural hair colors to allow them to easily distinguish different characters, but the characters in the anime don’t see unnatural hair colors, or the unusual hair colors are considered natural and normal within the fictional universe depicted. After all, regardless of how realistic an anime’s depiction of the world may be, it’s still not “real.”