Ok, so this is a late post however I was watching howls moving castle to understand the difference and you can pick up on a lot of differences. To start with films directed by people like Hayao Miyazaki and created beautfiul painting like figures and environments. However the characters do not smile very much, instead they bow as they do in their tradition and wear different shoes. Their upbringing's are different from ours. Animations from america would be the typical up the table, possibly praying? if they are christians. However the japanese sit on the floor on cushions on an extremly low table and in a lot of films eat their tradtiional food like Ramen.
In japan they are not as protective as we are and the united states. They allow things to happen which usuall wouldnt be shown like indecentcy. Regular shows are known in japan for pretty much anything even if its mainly about death.
I believe i got a lot out of this lecture and feel I understand a lot more about japanese animation.
