Well now. Let me start off by saying, I invite anyone who wants to complain, throw a fit, or argue against this journal entry. Why? Because if I don't, then I know you people are going to be thinking it anyway, and you are just going to sulk and get annoyed about it and then go bother someone else who actually cares. So, go on, have at it, but please, actually read this first and don't make yourself sound like an idiot.

Well, this is another journal about the new categorization system here on DA that some people may still not be aware of. Basically, under this new system, the anime, anthro, and cartoons/comics sections have been taken out of the digital and traditional art sections, and have been made their own little private sections. Yay? No. Lets think about the message they are trying to send to us: Our work isn't real art. I'm here to complain about anime because that's what I do, but the same applies to people of the other 2 mentioned categories. So, in the past, anime art has been severely abused here on DA, even though a huge percentage of artists/fans on the site are here for the anime. Not only was there a ban on anime art from the front page at one point, but there was also a good deal of staff-supported anime bashing and flaming. So, why is anime back on the front page? Because enough people threw fits about it, and the anime community formed a sort of mob effect, and the categorization system was changed and things sort of went back to normal.

But now, with this new system, anime art has been put in it's own, private sector. Sounds like a way to appease anime artists, right? Wrong. The options in this category are so limited, that artists, no matter what their art looks like, are forced to put their art in a category called "Drawings." Or something similarly generic. So, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think "drawings?" Well, considering how vague this is, it can be anything at all. And honestly, I don't care what it is, because that's not the point right now. Anime artists are not allowed to post in another category, let's say fantasy, because it's considered miscategorization. I've seen many an anime artist get flaming or abusive comments when they tried to post in the fantasy section. Well, what belongs in the fantasy category then? According to the submission system, pictures that go in the fantasy category are "Drawings depicting mythical creatures and beings and supernatural elements." Damn, I'm stumped. How could they possibly say that some anime pics don't belong in that category? Has no anime drawing ever depicted a mythical creature and/or supernatural elements? Hell, I have a few in my own gallery like that! But no, it's not allowed, and people throw hissy fits if people try to do it anyway. You know what that means? It means that right now, anime is not considered real art here on deviantart, and as long as I don't see a fantasy category in the manga/anime section, then I don't want to hear a word about it being fair.

Oh, and just for the record, DA automatically recategorized all my pics into the new manga/anime>digital>drawings category so that they could delete the anime section from the old system. Well, go ahead DA, have at it, maybe I'll start purposely "miscategorizing" and see what happens.

Originator of this angry journal entry is
Go read her journal here: [link]
Read Zejeni's here: [link]

If you think your art is being forced into something you believe it isn't, say something. Link the journal, make a stamp, post a forum. If we make enough commotion, someone has to listen, but you're only as loud as the noises you make. <And copy this wherever you can

Oh and by the way, I'm not in a bad mood here, but I just thought I'd bring it to your attention. This issue is something I've been talking about with my friends for several days, and it's time to take a stand, because even if nothing is accomplished, at least I can say that I tried my best and I at least raised a few eyebrows and brought some attention to the issue.

EDIT: Let me further explain, in response to some comments about this being a positive because it was already bad in the first place. Before, I was under a category called "digital art." So the idea that I wasn't allowed to post in fantasy didn't bother me that much, because it was sort of like, saying it's anime but at the same time it's art. Now, the word "art" has been cut out. It's a subtle message, that a lot of people condone. Well, I haven't overlooked it, and it bugs me. Not just that, but they gave anime a separate category to "fix things," but they have just magnified the mistakes. Now that there's a separate anime section, there should be room for things like anime fantasy. I don't understand why that's a weird request, I'm not saying DA went from better to worse, I'm saying it went from bad to bad. I just thought I'd make that point of clarification. Sorry if you get a repeat message here.