Anime’s had influences far beyond the “kid focus” market. Many of the shots in big budget movies like “the matrix” have their origins directly in Anime.

It’s not a one way street either. Modern manga had it’s main influences from Disney animation, and there is a tremendous amount of crossfeed between American and Japanese animation/comics.

I think the appeal for Anime geeks like me is that Anime is highly detailed in a way that American animation is not. In the anime series “Gunslinger Girl”, the character Rico carries a sidearm I recognized immediately: A Czech CZ75 in 9mm. How did I recognize it? Because I have one sitting in my weapons cabinet. It’s not just guns, but cars (AE86 anyone?) airplanes (C-17’s in STRATOS4, I know, because I work around them) and places (Tokyo Tower, from YOU’RE UNDER ARREST).

It’s just nice to see other people recognize the value of anime/manga now.

lol. Single word answer for that one. “No.”

Mainly because you can tell when the animation becomes non-Japanese. Let’s be honest, that’s more of a Western media culture issue. Push the envelope on what’s violent, what you can get away with on television, etc etc. Nip/Tuck? Good luck with trying that show about fifteen years ago.

Anime in itself brings out a lot of societal issues that people are less willing to talk about up front. But being less racy, and less nudity? Eh. Depends on what you define those boundaries as I suppose.