The Ottawa Citizen 

November 10, 1992, Tuesday, FINAL EDITION 

SECTION: CITYLIFE; HIGH PRIORITY: THE STUDENTS' PAGE; Pg. E5 

LENGTH: 211 words 

HEADLINE: Japanese anime far too violent to carry 'cartoon' label 

BYLINE: TOM JAYANAMA 


BODY: 

I would like to comment on David Boyle's review of AKIRA (HIGH priority, Oct. 
27). 

Classification of this film as a "cartoon" implies animation that is suitable 
for "family entertainment." 

Certain elements in AKIRA are far too violent to ever be shown to kids, which is 
why the term "animation" is better suited for it (or "anime," as Japanese 
animation is usually referred to). 

It's sad that we associate cartoons with the things we see on Saturday mornings 
and films like Beauty and the Beast . While these cartoons are great for a few 
laughs and entertainment, the characters are often two-dimensional and 
stereotypical. 

Perhaps it's time for the animators at Disney and Warner Bros. to start gearing 
their animation towards a more mature audience, as the Japanese have done. AKIRA 
was never meant to be released outside Japan. A couple of executives from 
Streamline Pictures saw the film and thought, "Wow! This film has all the 
elements of a box-office hit -- violence, violence, and more violence!" 

Katsuhiro Otomo (AKIRA 's creator) wanted the film as a kaleidoscope of images 
based on the comics, a sort of artistic expression. I urge everyone who sees 
this film to see it for its artistic value, not its plot. 

Tom Jayanama Ottawa