The article is from MMOsite Writer Club member stranger2020.

Undeniably Japanese Anime, specifically those now considered to be cult classics, have had a profound impact upon the video gaming industry and have even lead to the construction of several much loved genres. Therefore, this article shall be examining the influence of Anime upon video gaming whilst keeping a specific focus upon the new wave of Anime influenced MMORPGS, specifically those having been derived from what is often described as Neo-punk or Mecha.

Before we begin delving into the complex relationships and intrinsic connections between Anime and video games, it is important to first gain an understanding of the historical foundation and to examine the philosophical ideologies underpinning several classic Anime features.

In a historical context, one of the most controversial and yet influential Anime of all time was first released in 1988 and was of course, the featured length, cyber-punk themed Akira. This film, despite its highly philosophical and complex storyline, was a masterpiece of script writing and was quick to become known as one of the greatest cult classics of all time.

Several years after its original release in Japan, Akira began to make its way towards the US, despite protest by film makers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who originally described the film as being unmarketable in the Western entertainment industries. Nevertheless, Akira was unlike anything audiences had ever seen before and soon swept through other Western countries, claiming countless fans upon its journey. Yet, not only did this film capture the imagination of many, it also reflected warnings of contemporary society and the worlds fascination with technological improvement inevitably posing the question, at what point does man have to take a step back and admit that he has gone too far? At what point is man no longer entertaining notions of science and curiosity, but stepping into the realm of god himself. It was these notions and these philosophical underpinnings which influenced a new wave of creativity and spawned a new generation of science fiction fans, darker, bleaker and fuelled by the anarchy of a society gone mad with its own power and having torn itself asunder. Ah yes, I am sure that any who have seen the film and fully come to understand what is being said, would be unable to deny its undying influence upon entertainment, science fiction and of course the ideas, concepts and notions driving current games. However, despite setting the scene of technological revolution, it was the idea of the cyborg, the mechanised humanoid and the giant robot or the mech, which really shook things up and set the video game industry ablaze.