Characters in anime, though they are only two dimensional in shape, are three dimensional in their personalities and makeup. American shows are full of stock characters and stereotypes such as the "smart guy," the "popular girl," the "evil boss," and the "stupid one." However, anime characters usually have an additional facet to them, something to show who they really are and what they really care about. This aspect of a character is something limited to one episode or scene in the American media. It is through the abundance of dynamic characters that the moral lesson or social statement of anime is learned. Viewers watch things happen in the character's world that causes that character to redefine what they think and how they feel, and the viewer is led to draw their own conclusions based on the situation.
Anime also covers a wide scope of genres. The types of anime touch all subjects. Someone can find historical fiction, present day fiction, science fiction, fantasy, reality, comedies, series involving the fate of the world, and any of these mixed into one. Both the American media and anime share these genres, but Americans generally gravitate toward movies and shows that deal with realistic situations. Anime goes further, and places the same "real" people in extraordinary situations to see how they react. In one series, a group of bounty hunters search out their prey while their leader, who is hiding his past from his team, has to evade an organization out to kill him. However, it takes place on Earth, Mars, Venus, and one of Jupiter's moons. It's a perfectly good plot, just with a twist in the setting. Not only that, but it makes for an interesting vision of what the future could be like from the grittier side of society.
Anime is not only broad in respect to genre, but also in respect to length. Anime has movies, short series, miniseries, season long series, and a few shows that last for years before their demise. The main reason for this usual time limit is that the anime creators have a specific story in mind that they want to realize, and once this is completed, they simply stop. This is unlike most American television where shows last for years and years because they are made one episode at a time in an episodic mentality. For example in most American crime dramas, the only thing linking one episode to another is some minor detail in a character's life. However, shows like "24" are exceptions to this rule.
Anime grabs onto the people that watch it with a strength that can't be easily broken. It fascinates people and keeps them hooked. Lord of the Rings and Star Wars have this same effect. They have the ability to connect with people and make them feel something inherent in humans, the longing for the ability to rise above our means and accomplish something spectacular, to see our dreams lived out. In anime, this happens all the time. Someone is taken from their ordinary life, placed in an extraordinary situation, and forced to excel. Already mentioned are the many different worlds used in anime, but when teamed up with the characters and situations, they all bring about a feeling and an experience unmatched in American media. It has a way of capturing a lifestyle and emanating the qualities that go with it. For example, it takes an outlaw and shows the freedom and peril that the characters experience with such vividness that can't be found in the States.
Anime should be treated with more respect. It is a form of entertainment just as valid as the American media, and more and more people are starting to realize it. What started out as a medium for kids and perverts has grown into a market where there truly is something for everyone. The perverts still have their market and the kids still have theirs, but normal people only need to concern themselves with the anime in between, and this market is growing in number and popularity. Look forward to seeing more of anime in the future. Not only is it supported in Japan and America, but it has also caught on in many European countries like France, Italy, and England. Maybe soon a good anime will find itself on a major network like NBC, CBS, ABC, or FOX. Then it might finally get the recognition it deserves.