LoL Wil, I am an avid reader of R. Scott Bakker, you would find it pretty difficult to offend me... I was just trying to say that sometimes things aren't
that general... A drawn image is indeed a drawn image. Put that drawn image in motion and it is technically animation. But all animation is not the same (I don't think this is just my elitest genre ego speaking, lol), just as Game of Thrones as a television show isn't really in the same category as, say Teletubbies. There are differences in the subjects discussed, the quality/funding available to the projects, the nature of the programs goals, and target audiences.
But, yea, I can't really counter your 'a movie is a movie,' logic. I think it's just kind of over-generalizing.
For the most part, when it comes to anime, I think I'm in it for the cultural differences... I have always been fascinated by Japan and mystified by Shintoism. Even anime targeted at young children is usually full of tidbits of Japanese philosophy and religion. Another thing the Japanese seem to be particularly good at is evoking emotion-- and that is the key to anything being good (in my opinion anyway). When something can make me cry (a single manly tear, mind you... quit judging me!), I consider it exceptional. I can't even remember the last time American television or movies made me cry, or even made me laugh for that matter.
Oh, and I hope I'm not coming off as argumentative with all this and I certainly am not touting my opinion as better/more educated than anybody else's... just trying to be a little more active on the boards.