The Japanese-influence on Samurai Jack is undeniable. Courtesy of Cartoon Network.

A few years back, there was the feeling that anyone with the proper software and marginal talent could design a serviceable Website. Today, there's so much product — and such an avalanche of content available — that in order to stand out a site must dazzle technically — and do so immediately, or browsers will move on.

"Our wide talent base means we have very few limitations," Schroder says. "These days a commercial spot might have a combination 2 and 3D approach. We can provide the resources to do both. A film may in tone and theme lean toward an American character, but graphically, have a Japanese visual sensibility."

That "Japanese sensibility" is in evidence nearly everywhere one looks in recent animated product. The Cartoon Network's Samurai Jack, for instance, is highly distinctive not only for its Asian look, but its pacing and storytelling, which sets it quite apart from the cheerful energy of The Powerpuff Girls, for instance. (However, even the Powerpuff backgrounds have a little anime feel when the girls fly into action.) At the Cartoon Network, for the first time, focus groups are responding more to the Japanese animated product than to classic American shorts like Bugs Bunny — long a staple for cartoon audiences. It's more than a trend: teachers in New York's School of Visual Arts, like Howard Beckerman, will testify that over 60% of their students are creating work that strongly reflects the anime influence. And the use of the heavily anime-influenced Animatrix as part of the marketing blitz for The Matrix Reloaded feature film just proves that anime is reaching the mainstream and considered hip.

Melding of Minds
But are audiences and future animators responding to the visual style of these intricate films, or the stories? No one is quite sure, just yet. For now, the astounding success of shows like Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! seems to indicate audiences (mainly children) are ready for something new and different from Bugs, Scooby and their ilk. Still, the conspicuous failure of Spirited Away would indicate in America, at least, audiences aren't quite sure what to make of the deliberate pacing, complex character motivation, and sometimes Byzantine plotting of Japanese filmmakers. The future success of these movies (and games) may depend on a meeting of the minds and cultures that has not yet occurred.

"That's where we come in," Schroder says. "We're middle men (and women). We're a knowledge network, with access to so many types of talent."

And what advice does Ms. Schroder have for that talent? "Work with people you like," she says. "Sometimes, it's not the project itself that drives the creativity. Ideas grow into what they need to be down the line. Often the time between an original idea and the finished product — be it a feature or a television show — can be as much as two years. Right now, the anime look is hot, but the rules haven't changed. At places like Pixar, they've succeeded because of their dedication to the story. Engaging characters, an engaging story line: you've got to have the basics in place."

With the success of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon it seems like audiences are ready for something different. Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon © 2003 The WB Television Network. All rights reserved.