Understanding Anime Character Design: The Balance Between Aesthetic Appeal and Narrative Fit

Understanding Anime Character Design: The Balance Between Aesthetic Appeal and Narrative Fit

Reader’s Question:
Why do many Japanese anime character designs seem to prioritize aesthetic appeal and appeal to otaku culture rather than fitting the world or the characters’ backgrounds? For example, in Western-style fantasy settings, we often see characters with youthful faces and hairstyles that obscure their eyes, or brown-skinned characters with