Why do characters in anime look white even though they are Japanese? ?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

In my opinion they don't look white. They look like very pretty Japanese people/Japanese people who got plastic surgery. They don't have ugly or plain everyday japanese person features but features you would find on Japanese models. Like strong jaw but narrow chin, big double lidded eyes, thin nose, long legs and hourglass figure, youthful overall apparence, small boned etc. The only visibly white people feature they give to character is pinky white skin and pointy thin but prominent nose. Even then sometimes they still give a more japanese tone to the skin even if it's an extremely lightened shade. Sometimes they will also make basically a japanese girl but as if she had naturally pinky white skin blue eyes and blonde hair. But you can still tell it doesn't look like an actual white girl. People who think anime characters look white are too confused by the colors especially that of the skin and don't pay much attention to the details in features. Most of the time when they make white people in anime, boy you will see it because they make them look like easily reconizable caricatures almost everytime.

Madilyn · Accepted Answer

In Japan it is taken for granted that most anime characters (unless otherwise stated) are Japanese. As far as why they have big, round eyes, the answer is that most anime as we know it is influenced by the work of one man. Osamu Tezuka who is known as the "father of anime," kind of the Walt Disney of anime in a way. And, actually, as a kid Tezuka was inspired by Disney's early works like Steamboat Willie and Fleischer's Betty Boop. So, when he began drawing, to him the big round faces and round eyes were just a characteristic of cartoon characters in general, those things were not meant to be a comment on ethnicity. They still are not. As far as hair/eye color. Well, a lot of Japanese people have brown hair rather than black, and lots lighten their hair. Otherwise, I think that it's just done to make things interesting.

ɹǝʇʇɐɥpɐW · Accepted Answer

It's probably related to Japanese beauty standards. Especially after World War 2, Japan started viewing white features as attractive and in fact used a lot of white models in their advertising. Only relatively recently have Japanese models started to become common again. Lighter skin is still commonly seen as more attractive in Japan, though, and it's not uncommon for Japanese people, women in particular, to undergo cosmetic surgery to have white features.

The mid 1900s was when anime as we know it really started going and I guess it kind of just got caught in that. Now it's just kind of the traditional anime art style.

That's just my guess, though. I'm obviously no expert.

TheSpaceGnome · Accepted Answer

1. Japanese people have very light skin.
2. There are Europeans living in Japan.
3. Characters in anime are from all over the place, not just Japan.
4. Things like hair color and body shapes in cartoons are usually not accurate to real life.
5. Most universes in anime are based on fictional versions of reality.

Pacquet · Answer

To be white and pale in Asia is to be affluent. Japan and many Asian countries have a history of painting or bleaching their skin to reach what is considered then and even now as the beauty standard. Western imperialism has influenced the beauty ideals of Asia and in turn their escapism media; anime. Even though times are changing anime sometimes depicts how Japanese wish to be seen.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Why does EVERY anime character over the past 60-some years look and act EXACTLY alike? Even Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck Popeye and Olive Oyl changed several times over just their first 20 to 40 years!
It's like: ever since the `50's, only ONE GUY has been drawing ALL those shitty Jap cartoons!!

MysticDevice · Answer

I think its cause the Japanese are way more pale than us westerners actually realize. I was genuinely surprised the first time I met someone from Japan and she was actually pretty pasty.

It could also just be a media thing, like certain colors on screen render and contrast differently for better picture.

desidoll · Answer

Because as much as how they want to maintain the Japanese look, they know that looking a little “Eurocentric” helps to sell their products. They don’t make it obvious, but you can easily tell.

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Only a handfull of anime is actually taking place in Japan.  The characters are aliens, mythical beings and sometimes humans and rarely japanese people.

strateguy632 · Answer

because japanese face is like caucasian light color.

236color · Answer

They don't look like white people either, nobody has eyes that take up half their face.

AviatorTom · Answer

What colour do you think Japanese people are? Kabuki actors wear bright white makeup.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

They actually look Japanese if you look at them, or just like animated characters that are pale with colored features..

boggboss · Answer

Depends on the anime I dont believe it's the standerd tho

MaxUsefull · Answer

because the Japanese consider white people more beautiful…In the past, Japanese women had plastic surgery to make their eyes look more caucasian.

Nik1hil · Answer

Well, Japan has better Lighting!.. Since they has 2 sun's 🌞😎🌞dropped on them!..

love_conquers_lust · Answer

Ask them. Probably mostly to appeal to a broader audience to sell.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

The only thing that looks White about them is their eyes

In_Trance · Answer

That's either only your perception or maybe the artist is color blind. Or both

TallAnon · Answer

They like how it looks. It's that simple.

Anonymous · Answer

Is this a real genuine question you’re asking?

Why do characters in anime look white even though they are Japanese? ?

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