Will anime designs keep getting "younger"?

[xyzone]

Originally Posted by burkhartdesu

You're acting like there's a "young anime style" epidemic. This is not the case, and it is certainly not a new trend as you've implied.

Ok, so you continue to inject words as if it was my commentary. "epidemic"???

I don't think so.

But increasingly popular in bigger scope than 7 year anime pro-ness? Yes.

And I didn't imply it was new. What's "new", anyways? What I say is simply what I say, no hidden message.

[Sinestra]

I see what your trying to say but i dont see it. I have been watching anime since the mid 80's and the gradually change in the appearance of the character is very obvious given the times but the trend you speak of i dont see. Certain genres of anime certain have their own style since they are soliciting to different age groups. Now im not sure genre of anime you tend to watch. But there are plenty of animes where all the characters look very much like adults. With the exception of some character that fulfill the moe or loli sections. Those you can find anywhere but there is reason for their presence and usually it has to do with the overall theme of the series in question. All i can suggest is trying to stay away from shounen or shoujo and maybe jousei if thats what your watching. Try changing up your genres a bit and see if you are still noticing the trend you speak off. But as of right now i would have to disagree with your assessment.

[xyzone]

Originally Posted by Sinestra

I see what your trying to say but i dont see it. I have been watching anime since the mid 80's and the gradually change in the appearance of the character is very obvious given the times but the trend you speak of i dont see. Certain genres of anime certain have their own style since they are soliciting to different age groups. Now im not sure genre of anime you tend to watch. But there are plenty of animes where all the characters look very much like adults. With the exception of some character that fulfill the moe or loli sections. Those you can find anywhere but there is reason for their presence and usually it has to do with the overall theme of the series in question. All i can suggest is trying to stay away from shounen or shoujo and maybe jousei if thats what your watching. Try changing up your genres a bit and see if you are still noticing the trend you speak off. But as of right now i would have to disagree with your assessment.

Never said I went out and watched that stuff, and I mentioned that already many times. But it is there when you go looking for stuff. You wade through a lot of it. The quality stuff that is not [bishou] and given the most attention is few and far between by comparison. That may be a good or a bad thing. But with that said, it's crazy to say that "bish"* whatever stuff is not a massive force in the market. Like any industry, it's motivated by money and will focus on the demand. Name me 20 independent anime in the last couple of years, of high quality that doesn't have at least a tinge of the bishou. For example, look at macross frontier, that's one I really like because of the themes but it does have a pretty big tinge of focusing on the little kid look in protagonists compared to previous macross.

I mean name me a large amount of titles which are completely the opposite of what I say, and very well known. You'll be hard pressed to find even a moderate amount, if even that.

Then I can go to any anime blog, take a screenshot of the review graphics and odds are you won't find a single one.

Defending against this is exactly as I said about blockbuster hollywood movies. Deny it all you want, but it's as obvious as saying the sky is blue.

[Nyororin]

Why on earth did this thread have to turn into a freaking battle?
It`s like it`s own little encapsulated war zone...
PLEASE keep the discussion calm and civil.

[xyzone]

It's all in good fun!

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by xyzone

It's all in good fun!

It may be, but I have to shake my head a bit about the level of passion for a fairly mundane topic (the changing style of anime/manga character designs). Politics, etc, I can understand getting hot... But this is anime. Is it really important enough to start a mini flame war about?

[Mortry]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

It may be, but I have to shake my head a bit about the level of passion for a fairly mundane topic (the changing style of anime/manga character designs). Politics, etc, I can understand getting hot... But this is anime. Is it really important enough to start a mini flame war about?

It's about principles, Nyororin... principles

[iPhantom]

Originally Posted by xyzone

I mean name me a large amount of titles which are completely the opposite of what I say, and very well known. You'll be hard pressed to find even a moderate amount, if even that.

That's because shounen is more popular than the other demographics. Kids watch more anime than us and a lot of people our age watch shounen as well. It's just common sense.

The difference in graphics has been this way since the start.

I'll make you a list then:

Code Geass
Death Note
Higurashi
Umineko
Hellsing
Darker Than Black
Gintama (even though Shounen, graphics are not childish at all)
D-Gray Man
Elfen Lied
Full Metal Panic
Hajime No Ippo
xxxHolic
FLCL
Claymore
Kampfer
Last Exile

Just from my head, there are obviously more, but these are damn popular. Not as popular as Naruto or Bleach though. Naruto is popular because of massive little kids watching it, but when it comes to rating it's so poor compared to the anime above.

[SSJup81]

I thought shows like Naruto had good ratings in Japan. I can't help but wonder what the demographic is for a series like Detective Conan. IMO, the art isn't all that great, but, the characters tend to resemble the ages they're supposed to be looks wise...but not height, imo. Conan and his friends look way too short for how old they're supposed to be...minus Genta.

Oh, adding onto the list iPhantom started, I'll go with Kuroshitsuji.

Anywho, I read what the OP wrote, but I'm not seeing it either, or I'm just not understanding the point he/she is trying to get across. The only series I could think of, aside from Astro Boy, that had that young look with the characters that came to mind, was Gigantor.

Anyway, I don't watch much stuff anymore due to lack of interest as my interest is mostly in J-drama now-a-days, but I've never noticed a trend of characters looking younger than intended in anime/manga, 'cept for series that were aimed at kids in the first place where everything is animated in a cutsey manner. Sometimes, seems the characters may look older than what they're supposed to be.

Ronin Warriors come to mind. Kayura was supposed to have been 12 or something and the Troopers were supposed to have been 14. To me, they seemed older.

[iPhantom]

Originally Posted by SSJup81

I thought shows like Naruto had good ratings in Japan. I can't help but wonder what the demographic is for a series like Detective Conan. IMO, the art isn't all that great, but, the characters tend to resemble the ages they're supposed to be looks wise...but not height, imo. Conan and his friends look way too short for how old they're supposed to be...minus Genta.

I think Detective Conan is included into xyzone old animes.

And Naruto has a decent rating, I don't know in Japan but you can see what we think about anime here:

Top Anime - MyAnimeList.net

Rating stats - Anime News Network

They have almost the same stats . However ANN doesn't have recent anime. MAL is a better source.