Imagine yourself in the time of Monet.  His artwork jumps at you because of its style, using large, detached brushstrokes as opposed to the small, fine ones of Classicism, the artform considered great before Monet's Impressionism.  You like Impressionism so much you figure out how it's done and try it yourself, more often than not coming out with a smudgy painting.

   Now fastforward to the present -- to the time of CLAMP, Yuki Kaoru, Hayao Miyazaki, Akira Toriyama, and many others who specialize in one artform that's popular today: anime.  Their work catches you, being so different from the styles of North American cartoons.  Again, you realize the basics behind the artform and attempt it yourself, more often than not producing an alien humanoid with basketball eyes who needs an appointment with the hairdresser.

   There are those who consider anime as merely an illustration, not comparable to great art.  May I ask: what is great art?

   One definition of art is "the study [creation] of drawing, painting, and sculpture" and great is "standing above all others especially in rank, merit, or virtue" (both definitions were taken from The New Britannica-Webster Dictionary & Reference Guide).  In that case, anime is definitely art, but is it great?  Let me ask another question: what exactly is anime being compared with to determine if it's great?  Monet?  Van Gogh?  Michaelangelo?

   Anime is not the same medium as the medium used by the "great" artists of the past.  Anime is meant to be viewed frame by frame, whereas paintings and sculptures are meant to be examined in their own stillness.  Why are the two being compared if they are so different?

   Since the works of Monet and Van Gogh were meant to be viewed in stillness, it would be fair if single frames (the most artistic ones) from the best anime series were to be used as comparison.  However, no matter how clear the emotions, moods, and atmosphere would be in those single frames, part of their integrity would be lost, being looked at not in its original form.  It would be best to compare anime with North American cartoons, but no conclusion would be reached, as illustrations aren't considered great art to critics.

   Anime is not just an illustration.  Even if it was, who says illustrations can't be great art?  Can great art only be sculpted or painted on a canvas?  Sitting in the museum or hanging on the walls of the rich?  One thing is certain: great art can not be determined by what materials you use.

   "Anime can be painted.  If I painted a picture of an anime, is it considered high art because it's in paint?" asks Dana, a Grade 11 student.  "Or a landscape on a computer.  Is that considered an illustration and high art just because I did it on computer?"

   Anime are animated cartoons.  However, I will now refrain from defining anime as an animated "cartoon" since the word "cartoons" are generally considered to be animation meant only for kids, which is certainly not true for anime.  I suggest you watch Gravitation, Yami no Matsuei, Perfect Blue, or Angel Sanctuary if you wish to tell me otherwise.

   Considering that anime is meant to be watched in motion, there are other factors that would draw in an audience and make it popular besides the art.  One would be the plot.

   "I like how anime storylines can be very unpredictable, and how sometimes even the most important characters might die," says Wendy, a Grade 10 student.

   Another factor is the positive impact it can have on viewers.

   "It's changed the way I look at the world," says one Grade 12 male student.  "For instance, Trigun.  You know how Vash [the main character] thinks so highly of life; it makes you value life a little more."

   That doesn't mean that anime is all happy-happy with pink bunnies lolling around under the bright, yellow sun.  Anime can be dark, dirty, and pornographic.

   Some argue that anime is not creative, experimental, ground-breaking, or unique.  Two things:

   1) Anime is not new.  It has been around for about 40 years in Japan; 20 in North America, and its popularity is still growing.  Anime first broke ground in North America when Akira was shown in theatres, shocking the audience with its adult content.

   If you're looking for experimental anime, warp back to 1963 when Dr. Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy, the first real anime, came out.  Tezuka was heavily influenced by American animation, especially by Walt Disney's creations, which explains Astro's (the main character) big, round Mickey Mouse head and big Betty Boop-like eyes.  From there, you'll see artists play with the new medium and mold it into what you see now.

   2) Anime, in loose terms, is a genre.  That means it follows a formula, or rather, a set of requirements for anime to be successfully achieved.  Due to this, some claim that all anime looks exactly the same.  But isn't Impressionism a genre?  Cubism?  Classicism?  Therefore, aren't there a set of requirements needed to be followed to achieve those genres?

   Take Impressionism, for example.  Impressionism requires large, detached brush strokes of paint, natural lighting and for you to paint quickly, capturing the moment on canvas.  Looking at things that way, impressionist paintings would seem alike as well.

   Anime calls for a round head with a pointy chin and larger-than-normal eyes.  It's what you do with those essentials that express creativity and thought.  You may be able to picture in your mind a girl with her wings stretched out, feathers fluttering in the air, but achieving that idea on paper will demand skill and practice.

   Another question comes to mind: since when must the art of different genres be compared to prove its title of being great art?  Can you truly, objectively say that Impressionism is better than Classicism?

   When you think of great art, what comes to mind?  Picasso?  Picasso is the Cubist, not the actual genre, Cubism.  Within each genre, there exist artists whose works far exceed all others.  It is the artists who produce great art, not the genre the artists are in.  If I painted an impressionistic painting right now, I doubt anybody would say it's great art only because it's under the category Impressionism.  Therefore, anime can not be compared with other genres to determine its greatness -- you can only judge which artists in each genre are great.

   We've always looked to the past for great art.  Is this yet another requirement?  If it is, then anime won't be considered great art for a long time.  Why?  Because anime will still be alive on the television screen -- still entertaining, bold, and inspiring -- instead of sitting in a museum, being looked at as something that was.