Ohm, maybe I hit a nerv here - maybe not. But splitting it up and saying Americans have these style, Japanese prefere that way ... ehr, well it is so fragging ignorant in my oppinion. I'm neither japanese nor american. But I am heavily influenced by both cultures. I collect Marvel and Dark Horse-Comics, have tons of Mangas filling my bookshelves and my favorite movies are Blade Runner, Sent to Chihiro and Sin City. Japanese Art isn't only cute as well as Americans not only produce the Friday Night NViTwS :) It's the same thing like saying all Germans eat Weiurst and Beer all the time (and I know what I am talking about - I am German, NOT from Bavaria and never have been to Neuschwanstein ^.^ ... and I HATE Weiurst) For sure there are different influences - and a certain mainstream in both countries. And you find on each side of the pacific tons of crap as well as astonishing great stuff.