The clash of steel and the roar of flames offer a promise of danger, melting away to reveal a not-so-peaceful scene in a quiet town where a mischievous young ninja who is late for class is fleeing from his teacher. The theme song comes to an end, and viewers are welcomed into a world of secrets and adventures from "Naruto.''
Amazing anime
This is one of the universes waiting to be discovered in the realm of anime. A thriving and diverse audience is bound together by one thing: a love for anime and manga.
Anime, or Japanese animation, has been growing in popularity for the past 30 years, reaching new heights with series like "Naruto" and "Nana," which is the story of a punk rocker and an artist who are two very different girls sharing the same name. This year's Fanime at the San Jose Convention Center on Memorial Day weekend drew roughly 7,000 fans, and the anime convention Expo in Anaheim brought more than 50,000 participants last summer.
Manga, or Japanese comics, can be found in major bookstores like Barnes & Noble, and toy "Naruto" weaponry is sold in stores such as the Anime Palace in Sunnyvale. Not only do fans watch and read their favorite series, but they also take part in discussions and forums online, posting both "fanart,'' personal drawings of favorite characters, and "fanfiction," stories written by fans using their favorite anime characters, on sites like Fanfiction.net. Card tournaments for Duel Monsters, a game taken from the anime "Yu-Gi-Oh,'' are held weekly in stores such as Superstars as well as during school breaks.
Why the popularity? According to fans, it's the sheer variety, aesthetic appeal, unlikely characters and deeper, underlying themes that both entertain and intrigue.
"The artwork's just great," said Hannah Chang, 17, from San Jose, a recent graduate from Cupertino High and an ardent fan of anime and manga since she was in third grade. "It's affecting a lot of people and the way they draw now. It's refreshing, vs. contemporary art, where you can put a yellow dot on a piece of canvas and call it art."
As an art form, the Japanese styles have enchanted viewers, including young girls who fall in love with the bishonen or "beautiful boys" in various series, Chang said.
There are many different styles of anime and manga, but in general characters are drawn with large, expressive eyes and fancy hairstyles.
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, audiences often are captivated by the sheer possibilities and places presented in anime.
It's "the fantasy about it, the different worlds that storytellers create for their audiences," said Alex Dvorsky, 17, from San Jose. Dvorsky, who is president of Bellarmine College Prep's Anime Club, said, "Everyone watches for their own reasons, but overall, it provides an escape to normal reality."
With its various plots and conflicts, anime resembles live TV more than American cartoons.
"The way anime is done with long-arc story lines catches people like how soap operas suck people in," said Jaime Starling, 30, a spokeswoman from Stonebridge Press, which has been translating anime from Japanese to English for about 10 years. "There are so many different kinds, someone's going to find one they like."
From modern high schools to temples in feudal Japan, anime offers a wide selection of tales that fans can relate to and be entertained by. The variety offers something for everyone from science fiction fans to people who just want to see stories about people like themselves.
As in novels, anime characters grow and change, from child to adult or from immature brat to selfless defender of the wronged. "Characters have a lot of depth to them," said Anthony Pichardo, 15, a Gilroy resident and anime fan of seven years.
"Everyday school girls who suddenly find that they're heroes - people see this and think, oh, well, I'll never be Superwoman," Starling said, laughing wistfully, "but I can actually be an anime character. Many anime heroes don't even have special powers."
Anime provides youths with the promise that, even though they may not be legendary magicians, they can make a difference. They can have adventures, and there is always the possibility of something amazing happening in their lives, an unexpected love or mystery.
"Everyone grows up reading about the importance of being No. 1 and being the star, whether a president, astronaut, student, athlete or musician. But the odds of being the best are like winning the lottery and are sure to leave many kids feeling inadequate," said Oliver Chin, the publisher of Immedium and former director of sales and marketing at Viz Media, which brought anime and manga into mainstream America. "Therefore, when they read of how a person who has flaws, a poor reputation or negative expectations can actually turn everything around and save the day, this revives their self-confidence, inspires them to keep their dreams alive and reminds them that they can contribute to society in their own special way and time."
Anime draws people in with its darker themes and deeper concepts that invite viewers to dwell on episodes long after watching them, and wonder.
In "Naruto," the main character is an orphan who is ostracized in his village because of a demon sealed in his body. He struggles for years to achieve his dream of becoming a ninja. Neither talented nor powerful, he nonetheless gives it his all, never giving up and always getting back onto his feet when he fails.
People appreciate the determination of characters such as these, admire their courage and ponder their struggles.
"They address certain issues like where and when to trust," Pichardo said of anime characters, "where to set your goals, and the importance of knowing your limits."