Zenkaikon 2018

"Western Anime" has long been considered an oxymoron- anime is Japanese, so how can Western nations lay claim to it? But in the contemporary world, these lines blur more and more. This panel explores the mechanical and cultural definition of Japanese anime, and tackles three different lines of thinking: products inspired by anime aesthetics; culturally sensitive and respectful storytelling like 2016's "Kubo and the Two Strings," and the outright adaptation style found in series like Avatar, Teen Titans GO!, Neo Yokio, and the recent live-action Death Note.