AMINE AND MANGA

Since there are still a lot of people who don't really know what anime is, it stands to reason that they wouldn't know that some of the cartoons they might have watched were anime. I didn't even know these were anime until I got into it myself.
Star Blazers = Space Cruiser Yamato
Speed Racer = Ippei Kurei
Voltron = GoLion

Dubbed Anime
Anime in the US usually means dubbed anime. While subtitled and unedited anime is becoming more available on DVD, the majority of video tapes are dubbed and often edited. Editing is especially prominent on anime shown on TV. The anime shown in Japan is often considered unacceptable for US children in its original form due. So even mildly violent scenes and language are either taken out or changed. In my humble opinion, I don't think the dubs that the US has produced are as good compared to the original. While this seems to be changing for the better, the US still has an idea that animation is for children and anime is often edited with that in mind. Without a source of subtitled anime, dubs are great to introduce yourself to the world of anime. That is how I got into anime after all. However, I recommend seeing subtitled anime if its available.

Anime Invades America
There was a lot more anime released in the US. In fact, anime in the US dates back to the introduction of 'Astro Boy' in the US in the early sixties. Astro Boy was the first major anime series released in Japan by Osama Tezuka. The end of Astro Boy was never shown due to the prevailing idea that cartoons should not make people think or be portrayed as human. After Astro Boy came Gigantor Tetsujin 28 and The Eighth Man. Speed Racer arrived in the late sixties. Then there was Star Blazers and Voltron to rounded out the 70's and 80's. In the 90's and today, anime seemed to flood the US. Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, Ronin Warriors, Dragonball Z, Tenchi Universe are some of the anime that has been shown on Cartoon Network. Also, plenty of anime is available on video and DVD. There has been some controversy on whether Disney was in turn being influenced by anime. Kimba the White Lion was a popular anime in Japan. Simba was a young lion from Disney's The Lion King. Kimba....Simba.... Both young lions in Africa... I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

It's Everywhere!
Anime appears in the US in other ways than the actual shows. If you look carefully, you can see anime "appearances" in other TV shows and even music. Here are some of them. Unless otherwise noted, I found these myself

The Simpsons --there is an episode where Bart and Lisa were watching TV and the show was obviously making fun on anime shows. The show was subtitled and none of the characters mouths matched their speaking =P Another episode of the Simpsons refers to the aforementioned Disney *cough cough* rip off *cough* of the anime Kimba the White Lion. When Bleeding Gums Murphy dies, and then visits Lisa in a cloud, the face of Mufasa appears next to him just like in the Lion King. Mufasa says "...Kimba...I mean, Simba"

Malcolm in the Middle --If you watch the opening credits carefully, you'll see some anime clips. The anime is called Nazca.

Everybody Loves Raymond --A Keropi doll, from Hello Kitty, is thrown across the room in a frantic effort to clean the living room.

Reboot --In an episode where Mainframe is being destroyed, some of the binomes look suspiciously like the inner sailor senshi. In fact, they ARE the Sailor Senshi right down to the hair dos.

One Week by Barenaked Ladies --Listen carefully to the lyrics and you'll hear '...get in tune with Sailor Moon 'cause that cartoon has got the boom anime babes that make me think the wrong thing'

No Doubt music video --In this video there is a bathroom fight scene. This scene is taken from the anime movie, Kite, with the only difference being the video version is live action.