Perhaps.

But I just posted this response to that declaraction. And I think it's a good lesson, so here it is:

I do agree (quite strongly) that there are disadvantages to anime. And they are many, and they are destructive. If you only imitate, you can't improve, and you're unoriginal. Because of this, I know, anime is many art teachers' nightmare.

However, I have to say that anime, like all things, is what you make of it. If you take the style and incorporate it into your own, or make it your own, some of the work can be very unique, and very well done.

Personally, I can tell whether a piece of 'anime' artwork was done by a skilled artist, or if the person is just using the style to compensate for their skills. And almost always the skilled artist doesn't JUST draw anime. They take from all styles and from there invent their own. Take Masashi Kishimoto, the mangaka behind the infamous Naruto. He can draw wonderful realistic art, as well.

So really the problem isn't so much the style itself, as the susceptability of the style to be adopted by people who lack their own.

Many people jump headlong into it, and skip over the basics of art, such as anatomy. Then they don't progress. Before Picasso could do cubism, he had to prove that he could do realism. Before you can do anime, you have to prove that you can do the basics.

So to everyone who ONLY draws anime, I strongly suggest expanding your horizons. Don't forget that there are other styles out there that might better compliment your skills. Make things your own. Remember, all of the greatest 'anime' artists out there are easily identifiable by their unique styles. And I guarantee it, they've all mastered the basics. There's absolutely nothing wrong with anime if you use it correctly.

Just my two cents.