Is The Legend of Zelda 'anime'?

[Sheikah_Witch]

Granted, The Legend of Zelda is yet to receive and anime adaption. But as games, do you still think they're 'anime'?

A game being 'anime' is often referring to the game's storytelling framework, narrative devices and sometimes even tropes.

Especially in later entries, Zelda has become more cinematic, and BotW in particular, draws inspiration heavily from various anime works.

Do you consider Zelda to be 'anime' now? If so, how does it impact your viewing of the series?

 

[thePlinko]

No.

usually when I see someone calling a game “anime” it’s usually referring to the general artstyle and animation. Outside of palutenas reveal trailer for smash 4, we haven’t really seen anything from Zelda that’s “anime”

 

[twilitfalchion]

Not in the sense of being within the anime genre, no.

But in the sense of being strongly influenced by anime, definitely. BotW in particular is heavily influenced by anime in its art style, character tropes, and character designs especially. But that kind of influence goes back to and can be seen in SS and even WW in some ways.

I certainly don't mind if Zelda takes influence from anime styles and ideas. It's not like it would be out of place in Zelda as a series.

 

[Chevywolf:30]

I'm with Plinko. Even if it does have some anime story tropes, the art style is really what makes it "anime" in my book. Granted, this is a book where I haven't watched anime. But still.

 

[Mikey the Moblin]

if it was anime I (probably) wouldn't like it

granted I kind of like genshin impact which is anime botw but the fact that it's anime botw reinforces the non-animeness of it to begin with perhaps

 

[Spiritual Mask Salesman]

I think it comes down to what defines anime. In Japan anime is all encompassing, involving all animated works regardless of style or narrative themes. But elsewhere anime is defined as specificly Japanese animation. Nintendo is a Japanese company and their games are animated, so I guess one could say Zelda is anime by that definition.

Not all Zelda games have anime tropes though, but some do. I'd say a game like Ocarina of Time isn't anime-inspired, but a game like Skyward Sword heavily draws from anime.

Overall, I think I'd personally say it's anime-inspired in some cases but it's not necessarily anime. We don't really consider it as anime in America, and I don't know if they do in Japan.

 

[Deleted member 91332]

I don't think its anime at all.
Maybe a lot of tropes and storytelling have more to do with it being japanese than direct anime influence.

 

[mαrkαsscoρ]

I'm on the same boat [pun intended] as SMS, I think it certainly has some anime influences, but it also comes down to what you mean when you say it's "anime"