As is evident by the way things are told in Lost Innocence and in People of the Darkness, along with Too’s artwork, there is a certain anime influence in these novels. However, part of the community who likes that genre of animation is very hostile towards non-Japanese people who even just remotely inspire to the genre.
Honestly, this puzzles me. While it’s true that some people may just copy other works by style and narration, this is not always the case. Some may just like to add that touch, in addition to their own, in what they do. And that’s not equal to indiscriminate copying. In some way it seems that people who inspire to anime are looked at with a slightly snobish attitude, like that they would never reach the level of greatness of their inspirators.
I’d say “Go, take a look and see if it’s worth it” instead of tarring everyone with the same brush.
I know exactly what you mean! and I hate it! Even I used to be the same way… But since I used to want to be a manga artist one day I felt it was hypocritical to criticize “ameri-manga” or foreign made manga because if I wanted to be one of those people, I realized I had to support my peers in time with my own desires. I think foreign manga artists should be supported by their peers! Because their peers are doing it too! they also want to be manga artists!
I understand the thought though, it’s almost like they are being seen as “imposters” or “cheap imitations” so they attack it… but these people have to realize, if they were given the chance to have their stories published, they’d be doing it too!
Well, as long as it’s not a rip-off, personally I think that those works, either stuff like our own novels or art which inspires from anime needs to be evaluated on their own merits, instead of their inspiration.
Sadly, it doesn’t happen often (that is why I wrote this post).