/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

>>6946067
I've come to a revelation. The less Japan-centric and "anime" a manga, or any given japanese media is (in terms of setting, plot, characters and cultural references), the higher the quality. I'm not even kidding, some of the best manga, anime and games are often the ones whose setting aren't based in Japan (Berserk, FMA, Cowboy Bebop, UC Gundam, Frieren, Nausicaa, Steel Ball Run, Zelda, Metroid). Why is this? What about heavy japanese influences stifles quality?

Sometimes we talk about notorious westaboos both online and in the actual anime/manga industry, but are there any good and possibly influential western artists with strong anime/manga influences and deep knowledge about the medium, while still primary drawing in a western art style?
While I can think of anime-influenced cartoons like Avatar and Castlevania, I feel like the creators of most of those weren't exactly full blown anime fans and just wanted to make "realistic" cartoons. Maybe Frank Miller being the first one to implement manga techniques to comic books might count, considering he was influenced by Lone Wolf And Cub, which is pretty far from being an entry level series to manga, and he spoke positively often about the medium before he went insane.

Pic unrelated