I remember those. Wow that s a big question and you re gonna get a big answer. One of the biggest differences is the fact that traditional American animation is a genre all by itself. For example, almost all Disney movies can be lumped together and be called children s fairytales. But if we take a sampling of anime you ll find Sci- fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Action and fairytales.
Stories can take place anywhere and in any time period.
There is no restriction to what the character can or may do. This includes saving the universe or destroying it. Anime tends to be unafraid of examining real life situations even in the most fantastic of storylines. Death can, and often times does, strike without warning. One of the best Japanese war films made, Grave of the Fireflies, is animated.