Ever since Japanese animation (also known as anime) crossed continents and became popular with generations of American viewers, there's been hot contention as to which is superior: Japanese or American animation. American animators and animation enthusiasts scorn the Japanese style and methods as lazy; Japanese animation enthusiasts deride the American style as clunky or too comical. But what's the difference between the two, really?
The easiest answer is the style: the visual look and feel of Japanese animations vs. American animations, mostly evident in the design of human characters. The distinctive large eyes with numerous reflective highlights and detailed color are the main hallmark of anime, along with small noses and mouths generally denoted by minimal lines. (Even certain styles that favor unrealistically broad, generous mouths depict them using minimal lines.) The style itself uses many angles and flowing, attenuated lines. Things such as eyelashes, hair, and clothing are depicted in more fine detail.