Big eyes in Japanese Anime

None of these answers are exactly true. There are two main reasons and origins of the meaning behind anime eyes. First and foremost dates all the way back to Japanese Kabuki theatre. They eyes were considered the most expressive and were over-emphasized and over-dramatized in the make-up and acting. This was often representing in Kabuki paintings in early Japanese art. Secondly, the size and shape of the eye in anime represents the personality of the character. The larger the eye, the more the character is innocent, pure or true-hearted. The narrower the eye, the more evil or corrupt the character. Pay close attention, you'll see that heros most often have the biggest eyes and villains have very narrow eyes. However, sometimes a hero may have more narrow eyes to show that they have been jaded in the past. They are no longer innocent, even though they may end up doing good. Hero - http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jy0A48phHxM/S8Zs8Y4NXiI/AAAAAAAABjs/jcWQTsghtRQ/s1600/60946597-sailor_moon.jpg Villain - http://www.wfu.edu/~gonzall/Sailor%20Moon/Prince_Diamond-480.jpg

You may be shocked for the reason, It started with a cartoon, yes before the existence of anime there are cartoons. Snow white and the 7 dwarves is shown is Japan and the creator of the first anime is Astroboy an most characters have their eyes inspired from the 7 dwarves of that certain cartoon. Then as decades go by the big eyes inspired from the 7 dwarves evolved in becomes original

I have watched a lot of amime myself and wondered the same question. It has nothing to do with there conquest from ww2 which they had to give up after there defet by the alilled powers. I belive the large eyes are from the inflence of western cartoon chariters form the 20's and 30's. such as betty boop. I learn this a minni doc from a amine dvd.

Anime creators were originally heavily influenced by Disney films, the large eyes from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film is one of the things taken from Disney and lead to works like Astro Boy which also featured the massive eyes. Since Astro Boy and other early anime influenced future generations, they also used the large eye look which has since become a staple.

I think anime characters have big eyes could be the Japanese style animations, which could be their trade mark. also the big eyes make an effect of cuteness.. The younger the character the bigger the eyes, and the older character, they smaller their eyes get.

I learn a few things about anime in my japanese class. From what I can gather, when you see japanese art they are more whimsical then realistic compare to american comics. There is no really main reason then appealing to the audience. Big eyes can show innocent in the character nature. Therefore the range of eyes.

I'm not sure about the reason too. I heard that the reason why Japanese Anime characters usually have big eyes is that they're trying to compensate (and reaaaally compensate) for their characteristic small eyes.

I am rather sure your friend is wrong. I remember reading somewhere that large, round eyes are considered attractive in Japan, so anime eyes might be an exaggeration of that.

I don't really know either why their eyes are like that. But the reason your friend gave ind of made sense.. I think they just made it that way since it's cute and since eyes are very powerful- the mirror f a person's souls, it's good to emphasize it.

lol.. i havent heard that yet,, but i just think they made it big to make look cute,, well that's anime

I wonder the same thing. I looked up Wikipedia and found out that the large, round eyes, and long limbs are common form of anime drawings. So there.

Yes, a lot of eyes in anime are drawn abnormally large, but I never heard of that reason your friend gave you. XD I always thought it was because the Japanese have small eyes and they were jealous of people with big eyes or something. I can't say I agree with your friend's reasoning, because it doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, not all anime eyes are round and big. It's probably just the norm in the genre you watch. There are a lot of anime, mostly the ones aimed at older audiences whose characters have small eyes, not necessarily as small as East Asian eyes, but not round and big either.