You definitely have some really good points though I don't whole-heartedly agree on all of them. I can applaud you for making your statement and dealing with so much response. I know you shouldn't write off american cartoons as crap next to anime but I do consider it a totally different type of category and not comparably.
I would actually compare anime more to the movie/short series market for americans. It has as wide of genres as movies, some get cliche or very stereo typical (like any stereotypical romance or action packed movie), many are just "normal" --they have some drawbacks but are overall solid and can be enjoyed by many, and then there are those that stand above the crowd (like movies like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Matrix will etc.). It takes all kinds to form an entertainment industry---there will be duds and there will be masterpieces.
As for american cartoons, I'm more of a fan of older series. Loony tunes, scooby doo, jonny quest--in my eyes those were the good old days. Now it's spongebob and powerpuff girls and simpsons etc. I think my favorite american cartoon is still Batman Beyond. I just can't stand most of the new stuff they've come up with. So just my overall view of american cartoons have gone down-hill. I can't argue that the animation for something like Simpsons isn't superb and on par with most anime, but it's far from "my thing" if you know what I mean.
I do appreciate the more realistic look (not saying that anime is realistically proportion--though some are really close such as Hana Yori Dango or The Twelve Kingdoms--but it's far from the powepuffs or wacky animals or creatures.) It's just a more stylized style but more comparable to animated features such as Titan AE or Anastasia or some of the older Disney movies. Americans overall seem to give less credit to good old animation--it's usually live-action or (more recently) computer-generated(not that I don't like a lot of those movies... but I feel like they're pulling away more from classics like Mulan and Little Mermaid and Beauty and the beast..).
And yes, I still believe that anime has a better chance at character originality/depth and storline/plots than cartoons--at least as much as books or movies. I think Japan just gave more credit to animation. You don't see american animated series (or cartoons) that are like our live-action series such as Taken, Alias, Smallvile, Firefly or whatever else is out there. A few may have more merit and I'll give them that, but they still don't quite reach that caliber. If america did something like an animated series of Harry Potter than I'd say there's hope for us yet.
And a final point I can make.. which deals nothing with the merits of anime or american cartoons but a preference... I'm just plain in love with Japanese culture. It just happened over a long period of years of watching anime. I can hardly watch most series anymore in the English dub. I love the language, I love their animation style (I don't care for styles so much like DBZ... but animation lik in Cowboy Bebop, Miyazaki films, Blackcat, Gilgamesh, Gokusen, Jigoku Shoujo... I mean mind-blowing. Then others a step down but still great quality such as Fruits Basket, Kare Kano, Naruto etc.) I like the japanese customs and traditions.. and just the feel of their society. Even IF america decided to do more animated series that I would actually like and consider on par with anime... I would really miss the japanese feel.
And yeah... that's about all I can say for now. Have to get ready for our anime night tonight... we're celebrating White Day which is actually on the 14th. One day I'm decent with the language I'm going on a loonggg trip to Japan with friends.
In fact, I posted something similar in a similar thread. Except that thread was trying to argue that art should not be a competition as art builds on other art, and that everyone should appreciate the inner beauty of all forms of art, and one type of art isn't better than another type of art, so therefore people shouldn't say that anime is better than american cartoons.
My response was that firstly, it would be wonderful in an ideal society that every person appreciates all forms of art. But realistically, this is far from the case. Each person's reaction to different forms of art will differ. (whenever i say the word reaction, I always think of Yakitate! Japan!)
Plus I would argue that one piece of art could possibly be considered superior to another piece of art. Perhaps it's due to funding? Or passion, or experience, time restraints, or just support from the general population. In this capitalist society, the public plays an undeniable role in art.
It's true that artists build on other art... copying styles, experimenting, adjusting. But many artists can't soley rely on self-betterment. Many artists have to conform (even slightly) to what the public wants. Artists are COMPETING for fans... these fans provide funding, feedback, criticism, support, etc!
My personal feeling is that IF fans want to proclaim their love for a specific series, genre, style, culture... then by all means they should do so! Support their beloved artists or mangakas! It might be annoying to others to see fangirls who scream over english dubbed Naruto, or some other series... but I feel they are supporting the series they love in their own way. It's not hurting anyone, let them scream! If they want to say that anime is better than american cartoons, then I say let them say it!
And I'm speaking as a rabid fangirl myself