Is Invader Zim an anime?

Well, I was wondering if it is...

I mean, it was made by a Japanese guy (EDIT: or so I've heard),

and it's big in the anime community,

but it was aired on Nickelodeon some time back,

so is it an anime still?

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I mean, it was made by a Japanese guy

Johnen Vasquez (or whatever his name is) is Japanese? Didnt know that (but..yeah, not intimately familiar with most aspects of his work either).

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so is it an anime still?

I dont even know if theres a concrete definition of anime, normally its applied to animation of Japanese origin, which...by nature is normally aired over there first. So...I'd guess not. But Im sure someone can/will correct me there.

Im almost positive Johnen Vasquez is not Japanese.

Invader Zim an anime? Huh?

Sorry, but IMHO, I thought Invader Zim would be an anti-thesis to all things being stereotypical anime. Radical art direction, use of crude/disgusting scenes (toilet humor), and a lack of any "cute" characters (well, maybe GIR )... then again, there's anime like that too.

But when I talk about stereotypical anime, I mean BIG eyes, small mouth, androgynous characters, and super-deformed versions of everything all-around. I guess Invader Zim is big in the anime community, but for general reasons unknown to myself.

What I do know however, is that this show ROCKS and Johnen Vasquez is not Japanese. )

In Other Words No but still a cool show.

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...lack of any "cute" characters (well, maybe GIR )...

GIR!!! I LOVE GIR!! "I love the little taco...I love them good!" "Piggy! WHY?" He is the most ADORABLE CHARACTER! Especially his cute dog custom.

Um...Johnen Vasquez...I'd take a stab he's of Spanish origin (just his name.) with a mix of something else.

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In Other Words No but still a cool show

Agrees with statement above. *nods*

Later,
Pen1300

yes i agree, I lovded the Gir and Zim when it was on, the holloween epp was one of the craziest things i have ever seen and it was shown on nick prime time. but no Zim is in no way an anmie. no not in any way shape or form. From jhonan vasques's name to the fact that it was a nick exclusive. shure the animation was done in like korea or some place like that, but no it's not an anmie.

i miss gir. and the fact he could make a hole song out of one word for two months.

Doom doom doom doom, doomie doomie doom.

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I guess Invader Zim is big in the anime community, but for general reasons unknown to myself.

Same, it was an amusing little show, but Im still at a total loss as to how its generated such a massive fanbase.

But yeah, Im weird.

Maybe it's a good thing it only lasted one season, jumped the shark already with the Battle of the Planets episode.

Zim is one of the most original animated shows ever, one of the few shows where you could identify with the main charecters (yes everone else in school are sheep) Baaing while exiting the building for recess in "the wettining" being shunned for being smart(although dib does ask for it) and the world shown is, while exagerated, frighteningly close to reality.
First ep I saw was invasion of the soucer morons(i'm goverment man, come from the government, the goverment has sent me.)
Still my fave.

Elwood.

Johnen Vasquez is Mexican.

Zim is certainly, by definition, not anime. It just happens to be appriciated by many anime fans, that's all.

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Originally posted by Shakey_Jake33 Johnen Vasquez is Mexican. Zim is certainly, by definition, not anime. It just happens to be appriciated by many anime fans, that's all.

Is the definition of anime 100% racist, or would something done in the anime style by a non-Japanese be considered anime?

Generally the only type of animation to be considered 'anime' would be an animation produced in Japan. I suppose the nationality of the creator is irrelevent as long as it is actually a produce of Japan.

Usually something merely following the artistic style of 'anime' would not be considered anime, but as merely a cartoon borrowing an artistic style. Same goes for a manga compared to a comic.
Teen Titans, for example, borrows quite a lot of style from anime cartoons, but given it was produced by Warner Brothers for DC Comics, it would never really be classified as anime.
Likewise I couldn't go and make my own comic and claim it to be a manga, no matter how many anime-style tear drops I put by the characters heads... (though the amount of fan-made online cartoons that get labelled as manga is quite incredible).

It must be noted though that there is no 'definition' as such, because the term 'anime' simply means 'animation' in Japan, and has just been adopted as a general term to describe Japanese animation.

Besides, I wouldn't say Zim looks like an anime really anyway, no more than most other cartoons.

Yeah, Jhonen Vasquez is definitely not Japanese. ^^; He is a very, very weird guy. He's cute, too.

So yeah. I don't see how IZ can be considered anime at all, considering the Western definitions (animation make in Japan, or animation that very much resembles the Japanese style). I guess if you want to to the Japanese definition, then sure, it's anime. But we typically don't abide by that here.

If you like Invader Zim, I'd highly, highly recommend Jhonen Vasquez's comics-- Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee!, I Feel Sick-- which is what he was best known for up til Invader Zim hit it big.

Yeah, some people really like IZ, and some don't. Vasquez has a really unique sense of humor, and it's not for everybody. I showed my mom a couple eps and she didn't get what was so hilarious about it, but for me, it's one of the few things that can make me laugh until I cry. XD I suppose that maybe means I'm a little twisted or something, but I guess that wouldn't come as a huge surprise... <3

Personally, I'd rather see a JtHM cartoon. But then, it'd never make it to anything like CN or Nick (probably a good thing, as I've heard that JV had huge beefs with uptight Nick execs hacking and editing IZ when it was running). I still think it'd be awesome, though.

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Originally posted by Xel Yeah, Jhonen Vasquez is definitely not Japanese. ^^; He is a very, very weird guy. He's cute, too. So yeah. I don't see how IZ can be considered anime at all, considering the Western definitions (animation make in Japan, or animation that very much resembles the Japanese style). I guess if you want to to the Japanese definition, then sure, it's anime. But we typically don't abide by that here. If you like Invader Zim, I'd highly, highly recommend Jhonen Vasquez's comics-- Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee!, I Feel Sick-- which is what he was best known for up til Invader Zim hit it big. Yeah, some people really like IZ, and some don't. Vasquez has a really unique sense of humor, and it's not for everybody. I showed my mom a couple eps and she didn't get what was so hilarious about it, but for me, it's one of the few things that can make me laugh until I cry. XD I suppose that maybe means I'm a little twisted or something, but I guess that wouldn't come as a huge surprise... <3 Personally, I'd rather see a JtHM cartoon. But then, it'd never make it to anything like CN or Nick (probably a good thing, as I've heard that JV had huge beefs with uptight Nick execs hacking and editing IZ when it was running). I still think it'd be awesome, though.

I think I heard somewhere that one of the reasons Nick cut Invader Zim was because of Jhonen making JtHM, which from what I've heard isn't exactly kid-friendly (I'm hoping to read it soon. ^_____^).

I think IZ is hilarious as well. I do believe I am somewhat twisted. Most likely you are too. I'm gonna get my mom to watch, I'll tell you guys her reaction. ^__^


Remember: "The innocent shall suffer...big time." ...whoops, wrong green guy. xD

Zim will rule us all with an iron fist. "You! OBEY THE FIST!!!" There we go.

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Originally posted by GK Version 1 Im almost positive Johnen Vasquez is not Japanese.

he cant be, vasquez is a spanish name. i should know. dont ask me how i know, that is confidential. plus invader zim has absolutley no anime charachteristics.

I am going to squueze right in here and state my opinion.

Invader Zim, while it has been a while sense I have witnessed a showing of the show, it was clearly a show made by us westerners, wether or not is a gratifying show I do not remember, how ever in my psyche the definition of Animé was an animated televison program from Japan. Therefore Invader Zim is something I do not consider an Animeé.


As a note, you do not need Animeé characteristics to be an Animé.