I hear what you're saying, Pale.  But that's 
American animation.  The clear message over here 
is "this is fantasy, it's just for kids, don't try 
this at home".  But anime covers a far wider range 
in Japan, right down to soap operas.  Since I've 
never experienced the culture first-hand, I can't 
say for sure, but I wonder if the line blurs.

I guess my comparison would be to something like 
the CK ads over here with all the anorexic (ick!), 
half-naked kids.  That stuff influences young 
people (sometimes with disastrous results).

I should probably state that I'm not decrying 
anime as anything Eeeevil (heh, heh).  I actually 
kind of laugh, thinking of some child using 
child-logic to devise a way to stretch their eyes 
so they are five inches in diameter.....  ;-)

JP