That's right, I'm only in 6th grade, do you believe me?
Anime has always been in a quagmire that it has not been able to escape from since its conception. Do you relate to grade schoolers and high schoolers by making almost every anime and manga character be the same age as their audience members, or do you use college age or older characters that look a lot cooler? The way most creators have been answering this question is to simply use both, placing a 30-year-old in grade school. If you need an example of this, look no further than Chad from Bleach. I mean seriously, 16-year-old? He’s looks old enough to be my father!
Anime is not the only medium to commit this crime, this happens with live-action shows all the time. Child actors usually suck, are expensive, and have all sorts of laws they have to follow that adult actors don’t. However, anime doesn’t have any convenient excuses like these to lean against. In fact, it has none. Anime has no real reason to commit this crime on a daily basis!
Yes, I'm really 16
Most of these stories are already hard enough for me to relate too. I don’t need on top of all the special powers, the over-the-top fight scenes, and rampant perversion to see a character my age attending a grade school class, even if he is a senpai. Please, no more.
The picture is Tezuka from "Prince of Tennis". In the show he is a Senior in High School (12th Grade). Which would make him roughly 18. Compared to the art style of the older adult characters in the show, his appearance is very suitable for his age.
Why is it okay for children in Pokemon to go off on "adventures"? I think Ash was 11 when his single parent household mom said it was okay for him to leave on his own.
There's also show's like Naruto and Bleach when there are plenty of adults around, but for some reason it's the children and teenagers that hold the world on their shoulders. Of course that doesn't have a lot to do with looks, but its still awkward to me.
EDIT: Sorry, quoted the wrong one. Meant to quote this one.
@LiberalTugboat said:
So making a correction based on actually seeing the source material makes me a nerd?
I do take offense to the mislabeling. I would much more resemble a geek (modern definition, not the carnival attraction) then a nerd. I do not own a pocket protector, wear my pants above my belly button, or own prescription glasses. I do however take issue with inaccuracies; especially when it has to do with topics I am very familiar with.
:)