UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE IN STYLE IN ANIME REVIEWS: FRIEREN. BEYOND JOURNEY’S END VERSUS THE APOTHECARY DIARIES
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE IN STYLE IN ANIME REVIEWS: FRIEREN. BEYOND JOURNEY’S END VERSUS THE APOTHECARY DIARIES

Summary/Abstract: Anime critique in America has evolved into a dynamic field which bridges media studies, cultural theory and fan scholarship. As a relatively new concept in art critique, anime, a form of Japanese art has become a cultural icon in America, combining animation, real life situations and psychological development into a form a visual entertainment, so beloved around the world. Initially viewed through the lens of exoticism or youth entertainment, the Japanese style of animation, known as anime, has gradually garnered serious academic attention in the United States. Scholars examine not only its unique aesthetic forms, narrative structures and genre conventions, but also its reception and reinterpretation within American cultural contexts, alongside the language used to assess, evaluate and criticise these pieces of art. Anime critique explores themes of identity, globalisation and transnational media flow, often highlighting how American audiences negotiate meaning through a culturally distinct yet increasingly globalised art form. As anime continues to shape and reflect contemporary pop culture, its critique in America offers valuable insights into cross-cultural exchange, visual storytelling, and the politics of representation. By taking these elements into consideration, this paper focused on identifying the focal points and the patterns of American anime critics when assessing two famous animes nominated by Crunchyroll for Anime of the year in 2025, „Frieren. Beyond Journey’s End” and „The Apothecary Diaries”. The conclusions of this research revealed that critics have adopted a different approach when assessing the value of these two animes, especially insisting upon their uniqueness, due to their plot and storyline centring female figures, rather than traditional male characters.

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