Manga & Anime

What is Manga?Manga are Japanese comics

Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons

Manhua are Chinese comics

Anime is the general term for Asian animated films and series

International manga is the term used by the Japanese Embassy to describe manga created by non Japanese artists

The Great Wave of Kanagawa: Katsushida Hokusai

The Hokusai Manga

A collection of sketches of various subjects by the Japanese artist Hokusai. Subjects of the sketches include landscapes, flora and fauna, everyday life and the supernatural.

Tetsuwan Atom

Created by Osamu Tezuka the ‘Godfather of Manga’. Dr Tezuka is largely responsible for the modern artistic style of manga typified in this image of Astro Boy.

Types of Manga

Manga itself is not a genre; rather it is a type of graphic literature that contains many sub-sets, some of which are mentioned below:

ShonenA Japanese word used in English to refer to anime and manga primarily intended for boys.

ShojoA term used in English to refer to manga and anime aimed at a young, female audience.

KodomoA Japanese word that means child. However, to many non-Japanese readers of manga and anime, the word refers to a specific genre intended primarily for children.

Yaoi (also known as Shonen-ai)*Manga or anime focusing on gay male relationships aimed at a (primarily) female audience.*The terms ‘Yaoi’ and ‘Shonen-ai’ are sometimes used by western audiences to differentiate between tales that contain (sometimes graphic) sex scenes (Yaoi) and stories that focus primarily on romance (Shonen-ai).

YuriManga focusing on lesbian relationships. These are (unsurprisingly perhaps) usually aimed at an adolescent male audience.

Shonen

Usually action or adventure based including martial arts, sports and techno-gadgets. They are based around heroes & villains and include lots of fight scenes.

The main character often has spiky hair, usually acts like an idiot and is immature but can show signs of maturity as the series progresses.

Naruto: is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become a Hokage, the ninja in his village that is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of all. The series is based on a one shot comic by Kishimoto.

Shojo

Written for girls, has an emphasis on emotions, feelings and human drama. Often centring on romance, the main character is usually sweet and innocent and can possess a magical power. Often includes stereotypes of women (the cute one, the geeky one, the catty one etc). The men are usually gorgeous and one or more are the focus of the main characters attentions.

Fruits Basket tells the story of Tohru Honda, an orphan girl who, after meeting Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Sohma, learns that thirteen members of the Sohma family are possessed by the animals of the Chinese zodiac and are cursed to turn into their animal forms if they are embraced by anyone of the opposite sex.

Horror

Can be represented in both shojo and shonen but also has cross-over appeal. Japanese horror is sometimes more explicit than the western genre – it can include monsters, mystery and murder. The horror can also be psychological.

This type of manga often has gothic overtones with characters dressed in gothic Victorian clothing.

Rozen Maiden

Mecha

Manga and anime that have robot or cyborg characters. These characters are usually massive and heavily armed in a dystopian future, or a prototype model that is hurried out to fight against a new enemy that can only usually be defeated by a teen mech pilot!

Appleseed

Beyond Reading

Art - contrary to what you may have been told there is a growing community of artists who make a living through manga

Cosplay – a portmanteau of the words ‘costume’ & ‘play’ used to describe dressing up as your favourite manga or anime character

Culture – visit Japan, if you can’t make it that far there are a number of annual events that celebrate manga culture

Links

www.londonexpo.com

www.sci-fi-london.com

www.japancentre.com

www.neomag.co.uk

www.sweatdrop.com

www.umisen-yamasen.com