Defining Anime [Production]

As much as we perhaps WANT TO call an American or French animated show or short film an anime because it is influenced by Japanese and Japanese Production Methods, that doesn't automatically qualify it as an anime. Anime is made by Japanese, Japanese citizens and in Japan. If you really want to produce REAL anime, you will put yourself HEADS and TAILS ABOVE THE COMPETITION if you can figure out how to use Japanese-manufactured software, Programs such as RETAS STUDIO, illustStudio, ComicsStudio, Pixia, Pixiv (website), NekoPaint, Open Canvas, ArtRage, CGillust, COMICWORKS, AzPAinter, and SAI. (all of which are available for download online from Japan and imported).

Those software are designed and programmed BY and FOR the JAPANESE. By Japanese, for Japanese. If you want your work to "feel like real Japan", at the very least, use Japanese art studio software. If you're really so hell bent on competing directly with other Japanese filmmakers, at least learn to utilize the same tools they use so you can learn and use those same tools too.

Often it comes down to the software. 

Watching Japanese anime vs. watching anime influenced American animation

is a bit like 

Using Japanese art software like RETAS vs. using Toon Boom or Flash. The format of the software WILL EFFECT the vibe and feel of the finished product. To do authentic work, you need authentic tools.