Anime in widescreen - why is it so common?

[Parker]

Does anybody here know why widescreen TV anime is so prominent when compared to animated shows in the West? It seemed like there were only a handful of season-length anime series that were released in the widescreen format 4-5 years ago. I'm not sure how many 'standard' 4:3 shows are currently airing, but now it seems like almost every series that's being aired is drawn with the 16:9 aspect ratio in mind.

Is this just a general trend or preference among anime fans and animators in Japan, or does this have something to do with how they are broadcasting television over there?

[Fencedude]

Widescreen displays are far more common in Japan than they are in America.

Though even in america, most shows prime time dramas and such are now broadcast in 16:9 regardless.

[ADC]

There's also the issue of Americans being pretty slow to change their preferences as a whole. I recall back in the day when I was selling DVDs, there were a lot of people who (1) believed that "fullscreen" meant they got to see the whole movie while "widescreen" meant that the top and bottom of the flick got cropped off, or (2) learned the truth of the matter but didn't care because they just wanted the movie to fill their whole TV. These are still pervasive attitudes, unfortunately, and I'm sure it impacts the production decisions made by American animation producers. (I really did try to convince people to go widescreen, but some people would rather have a kick in the nuts than a sensual massage.)

As for anime, maybe I'm just watching the wrong shows, but it seems to me that the split right now is about even, maybe slightly tilted toward widescreen.

[Lego]

Widescreen displays are far more common in Japan than they are in America.

Though even in america, most shows prime time dramas and such are now broadcast in 16:9 regardless.

Obviously not a good indication but in any of the slew of recent shows you always seen LCD TV's strewn about. That and as you get more shows in HD you'll start to see more widescreen. When you have things like GITS SAC that start off at a very high production level, even a Kamichu they're going to port it over. Conan is broadcast in widescreen over here, so it isn't that uncommon.

[something]

Is this just a general trend or preference among anime fans and animators in Japan, or does this have something to do with how they are broadcasting television over there?
Isn't widescreen just common... in general? Even over here in the States, even for live action?

I can't remember the last (new) 4:3 anime I watched, other than Clannad which aired a widescreen version weeks later on another channel.

And thank goodness, I can make proper use of my widescreen monitor(s) now. It's always a bit of an adjustment phase when I go back and watch something older and have to deal with almost-square anime again.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's always a bit of an adjustment phase when I go back and watch something older and have to deal with almost-square anime again.

Watching a 4:3 show is like a blast from the past at this point. In any case speaking fo 4:3 vs 16:9. For awhile I had a DVD player that apparently wouldn't properly show 16:9. Thank goodness we no longer use it.

[TheGreenMan]

I love anime in widescreen, but why is some anime in wide and others not? ARIA wasn't in wide screen (the first and second seasons), My-Hime and Otome aren't in widescreen, Eureka 7 isn't in wide screen. And these shows would have looked better in wide screen IMO.


As for your question, the answer is simple: HD televisions are in wide screen, and with more people buying them, it makes sense that more and more anime is in wide screen. The more the better, I say.

[Ashyukun]

I'm certainly happy that more shows are being made and broadcast in widescreen- I've had 16:9 sets for a looong time now, and it's definitely nice to have the show fill the whole thing. The only thing halfway new (I've been waiting and watching the widescreen Clannad eps...) that I've been watching that's not widescreen is Chi's Sweet Home- and that threw me for a second when I first opened it up and realized it wasn't widescreen.

ARIA wasn't in wide screen (the first and second seasons), My-Hime and Otome aren't in widescreen, Eureka 7 isn't in wide screen. And these shows would have looked better in wide screen IMO.

Aria, My-HIME & Otome, and Eureka 7 are all (relatively) older shows- it's only been in the last year or so that it's become really common from what I've seen. This season that just ended (Winter 2008) is the first I know for certain has been essentially entirely widescreen (I believe the fall season was too- but I can't say for certain).

[something]

I love anime in widescreen, but why is some anime in wide and others not? ARIA wasn't in wide screen (the first and second seasons), My-Hime and Otome aren't in widescreen, Eureka 7 isn't in wide screen. And these shows would have looked better in wide screen IMO.
Because you're talking about shows that are a couple years old. They would be in widescreen if released today.

[kakitamike]

I was disappointed that School Rumble was 4:3.

I think there'll be more widescreen stuff in the states soon, if not already. I remember 6 years back working at a blockbuster, and cringing every time i had to explain to some podunk "why are the tops and bottom of my movie cut off?"

[Parker]

Isn't widescreen just common... in general? Even over here in the States, even for live action?

Well, when it comes to American animation on television, it seems a bit slow to catch on. I guess I was really pinpointing my question to ask why animated shows in the States haven't caught on with the format, even for primetime animation like The Simpsons or Family Guy that are still in 'full screen'.

[something]

Well, when it comes to American animation on television, it seems a bit slow to catch on. I guess I was really pinpointing my question to ask why animated shows in the States haven't caught on with the format, even for primetime animation like The Simpsons or Family Guy that are still in 'full screen'.
Ah, I didn't know they still were, but that's because I haven't turned a television on in... five years? :sd:

[Impreza]

I have no idea if this is true, but it seems like animation would be cheaper to make in fullscreen. Maybe that's why US animation studios are slow to use widescreen.

[treatment]

Does anybody here know why widescreen TV anime is so prominent when compared to animated shows in the West? It seemed like there were only a handful of season-length anime series that were released in the widescreen format 4-5 years ago. I'm not sure how many 'standard' 4:3 shows are currently airing, but now it seems like almost every series that's being aired is drawn with the 16:9 aspect ratio in mind.

Is this just a general trend or preference among anime fans and animators in Japan, or does this have something to do with how they are broadcasting television over there?

Maybe coz the japanese finally realized and fully accepted that their tv-anime is just so limited in, uhh, actual animation compared to western animation that most japanese-studios try to fake it with more wider static pretty backgrounds instead? :eek::D

[Ty]

Well, when it comes to American animation on television, it seems a bit slow to catch on. I guess I was really pinpointing my question to ask why animated shows in the States haven't caught on with the format, even for primetime animation like The Simpsons or Family Guy that are still in 'full screen'.

The Japanese tend to embrace technology more readily than US companies do, who only see it as something that requires an investment with no direct profit return. The whole US television industry is having to be dragged kicking and screaming into the HD era whereas the Japanese companies were eager to make the transition for the most part.

Once the analog blackout date hits in a year the transition to widescreen will be much faster. Right now "non-premium" content is still 4:3 because the new cameras, broadcasting equipment, etc. represents money nobody wants to spend. Even in the case of animation, widescreen implies HD broadcasting, which requires more bandwidth from providers so there's money involved from every angle.

[Falcon_73]

Once the analog blackout date hits in a year the transition to widescreen will be much faster. Right now "non-premium" content is still 4:3 because the new cameras, broadcasting equipment, etc. represents money nobody wants to spend. Even in the case of animation, widescreen implies HD broadcasting, which requires more bandwidth from providers so there's money involved from every angle.

Widescreen implies HD in the US, but as I understand it, the story is very different in the UK. I believe that programming there is mandated to be in Widescreen, independent of whether it is HD or not. Can someone confirm?

Too often in the US, stretch-o-vision is equated to HD, which is sad. Is CBS Evening News still in SD 4:3? Talk about out of touch. The transition might help, a little, but even then stations aren't required to broadcast in HD. Almost all broadcast digital sub-channels in the US (and probably more than half the main channels) are SD 480i.

However, most of the anime I watch is 4:3, but then most of it is over 10 years old. Yes, I'm old school. ;)

[TheFly]

Widescreen implies HD in the US, but as I understand it, the story is very different in the UK. I believe that programming there is mandated to be in Widescreen, independent of whether it is HD or not. Can someone confirm?

Yes. The vast majority of UK programming - certainly BBC programming anyway - has been in standard definition widescreen (576i) for about the last five years. HD broadcasting of primetime programming has only really started here within the last year or so (HD movie and sports channels have been around a little longer).