As a long-time anime fan, I keep hearing this old vs new Gen Anime argument. The thing is, it’s way more complicated than most people think.
Animation
People often claim new anime looks better, but that’s not always true. Some of those 80s OVAs had incredible animation. Akira for example – that movie still looks amazing even by today’s standards. The detail, the fluidity of motion, it’s all top-notch. But not every old anime looked that good. There was plenty of cheap, poorly animated stuff back then too.
These days, we get a ton of new shows every season. The average quality might be higher, but that doesn’t mean everything’s great. I’ve noticed a lot of newer shows use stock backgrounds, which can look a bit generic. But then you get something like Demon Slayer with its impressive effects and fluid animation.
The early 2000s were kind of a weird transition period. They were starting to use digital coloring and compositing but hadn’t quite figured it out yet. Some shows from that era look a bit off because of it. It took a while for studios to really nail the digital techniques.
Defining Anime Generations
What really pisses me off is this idea of “anime generations”. Everyone’s throwing around new gen like they know what they’re talking about, but ask them to define it and you’ll get a different answer every time. It’s just meaningless at this point. Some say it started in 2000, others say the 90s, and I’ve even seen people only count the last few years. It’s all over the place. Is a show from 2003 really in the same category as something that came out last year? I don’t think so.
From what I’ve seen, anime doesn’t change in clear-cut generations. It evolves gradually. New techniques get introduced, art styles shift and storytelling approaches change. But it’s not like there’s a clear line where everything before is old and everything after is new.
Storytelling and Themes
Speaking of storytelling, that’s definitely changed over time. Older anime often had these long, sprawling series with lots of filler episodes. Now, we see more tightly-packed 12 or 24 episode seasons. The pacing is different, the way stories are structured has changed. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses.
The themes in anime have shifted too. Older shows often stuck to familiar territory – hero’s journeys, epic battles, that kind of thing. Newer anime seems more willing to tackle complex themes like mental health or societal issues. But again, it’s not a clear-cut divide. You can find thoughtful, complex anime from any era if you look.
Music and Sound Design
Music and sound design have evolved as well. Old anime often had these iconic orchestral soundtracks. Now, we see more variety in music styles, and studios often collaborate with popular musicians. The overall sound quality has improved too.
One massive change is how we watch anime.
Accessibility
Back in the day, you had to hunt down physical copies or rely on fan distributions. Now, with streaming services, almost any anime is available at the click of a button. This has really opened up anime to a global audience in a way that wasn’t possible before.
Conclusion
In the end, I think this whole debate misses the point. There’s great anime and terrible anime from every era. Some old shows still hold up beautifully, while others feel dated. Some new anime pushes the boundaries of the medium, while other shows are forgettable fluff. I just watch what I enjoy, regardless of when it was made. Quality is quality, no matter the year.