Why is calling anime a cartoon offensive?

Nothing is offensive about that. Anime is cartoons.

The word "cartoon" may have just rubbed him the wrong way, because when you think "cartoon," you think Spongebob and Looney Toones and such, mostly silly comedies aimed at kids, and that's not what he's telling you he's into. I guess he really wanted to make it clear to you that he wasn't spending his time obsessing over talking sponges and whatnot.

Anime is just Japanese cartoons, though. For some reason, a lot of anime fans seem to be in denial about that. I guess it's hard for a lot of people, especially older people, to admit to enjoying "cartoons," since animation is a medium that has traditionally been seen as something for kids, especially in the west. By insisting that "anime" is not "cartoons," people try to convince themselves and others that they're not watching "cartoons" at all - they're watching "anime."

Oh well this post is a few years old oh well anime basically means animation and a cartoon is a type of animation so anime is not a cartoon it's a animation same as cartoon is a animation and there's differences between animations from japan and animations from the west thats it really

Anime are just Japanese cartoons. Sure,there are more mature than most western animation,just 'anime' is just the Japanese word for cartoon. Tom and Jerry etc are known as anime in Japan. Maybe he just doesn't want to admit he's watching cartoons because he finds them childish or something,and he thinks that's something anime is clearly not. Well maybe the ones he's watching,but there is plenty of anime for kids. He should open his eyes. They are cartoons. And there are good western cartoons. The new My Little Pony for example. :)

And Mitzy,manga is comics. -_- They're just a different style.

Anime is basically a cartoon, yet cartoons aren't anime. Anime is short for Japanese animation. Cartoons are normally associated with western animation and can be considered childish. Some are childish yet there are exceptions such as the animated movies that DC and Marval put out. And some anime can be childish as well. So if japan states that any form is of animation is anime, my little sisters tv show which has a talking panda speaking in a childish voice is anime.

In short, cartoons and anime are basically the same thing. However, anime is not more mature than cartoons. You're friend is embarassed by the fact that you said cartoons because he associates it with immature thing, which some aren't.

Well I think it's because when people say "cartoon" it sounds like mickey mouse and powerpuff girls or something... and when they say "anime" there's a totally different feel/atmosphere to it?

if you've seen anime before you'd probably get it...even though it's pretty much the "same thing" except for one's Japanese in the actual definition of 'anime' and 'cartoo--

ohmymotherfuckinggosh this is so hard to explain. Well anyway.

Search 'anime' on google images. Then search 'cartoon'.

That's the difference.

The moral of the story is to never say anime is cartoons in front of a hardcore anime fan.

.____.

[saying anime is cartoons is like saying manga is comics =_=]

They are the same thing, the only difference between anime and cartoons is that Anime comes from Japan, usualy it is more intesne and feels like a real story and not like the cartoons we americans get that are simply goofy, but no difference to me is shown.

It's just a Japanese Cartoon.

Cartoons-

Made in countries like the United States of America, usually for children.

Anime-

Animated japanese cartoons based on Japanese comics called Manga. Usually made for kids as well.

The only difference is that Anime has various generes and ratings.

They can be for kids, and adults.

Anime is cartoons from Japan. Cartoons are just animated shows. They are one in the same.

In Japan anything that is an animation, like Spongbob, is considered an Anime.

If you want to say Cartoon, go for it, but don't call Spongbob an Anime, because it isn't.

Well anime is a Japanese cartoon. In Japan they call all cartoons anime (short for animation), from Spongebob to Naruto, while in the Western world anime specifically denotes Japanese anime.

They are cartoons, really.

Well, it's not 'a' cartoon. There are many of them, and collectively they are a subset of cartoons.

However I think a lot of people draw a fairly rigid distinction between anime and typical western cartoons, and may get very defensive if they think you're confusing the two.