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Manga: The Japanese Graphic Novel

The Western world usually sees anime as a mere form of entertainment, like how a child does with everyday American cartoons. It is a child's phenomenon and is only targeted towards children. Manga is associated to children interests in America, as that is what comic and animation are seen as over here.

As well, it is to be a "genre" in the United States. Associated with violence and sexuality, it is frowned upon and is embarrassing. From the outside, seeing someone who reads manga can automatically label the person as a pervert.

By mere glance, manga may seem like that. The artistic value of manga is more apparent though and has been evolving. It is different in Japan. It is a respected technique of art and form of literature. In Japan, adults can be found reading manga or a weekly comic magazine when on trains. There are manga cafes where people drink coffee and read manga.

Perhaps, as a reason to why it is seen as a genre in the United States is due to the distinctive style manga uses. The credit for the popularity is of course in debt to Dr. Tezuka. Dr. Osamu Tezuka is said to be the reason for the distinctive eyes that manga characters have. As odd as it is to be considered, the reason behind the usage of large eyes was influenced by Walt Disney animation.

He was born on November 3, 1928 in Toyonoka, in Osaka, Japan. He was trained to be a physician, even getting his degree, but he devoted his life to comics and animation. In comics, he brought "cinematic" art styles and novelistic plots to the form. He would illustrate sequences, which would usually be done in one or two pages, into a one hundred-eighty page sequence full of many perspectives as though many consecutive film frames were pasted onto the page. This form has been seen in manga up to today's time.

Perhaps some of the reason for America's misconception of manga is due to the exports. Japan's export of manga is directed to children or in target audience anime films. In addition, there is the difference of culture as to what is accepted and what is not. In fact, manga has not been put under official laws to limit what can be drawn. This is a difference. There is a sort of freedom given to the artist due to having the ability to draw for every topic or age group.

Various Manga Genres:

☥ Alternative can be comprised of Gekiga (dramatic pictures), La nouvelle manga (Franco-Belgian/Japanese artistic movement) and Semi-alternative (popular publication individualistic style).
☥ Magical girl (mahou shoujo) are identified with girls who gain magical powers.
☥ Mecha (giant robots) are identified with pilots who control robots/machines with remotes.
☥ Moe (also mahou kanojo or magical girlfriend) takes shape with the creation of "the ideal girlfriend".
☥ Shoujo-ai (lesbian romance) actually means any lesbian content from implied to explicit or romantic to sexual. There is also the term "yuri" is used to separate the most explicit from that which is not.
☥ Shounen-ai (gay romance) originally dealt with very strong but non-sexual relationships between young men. Now, it has come to refer to romantic male-male relationships. There is the term "yaoi" that is usually considered to be more explicit than shounen-ai.

There is also the target audience that is broken up into the following: Kodomo is for children. Shojo is for teenage girls. Shounen is for teenage boys. Josei (or redikomi) is for women. Seinen is for men.

Manga is not always as just a means of entertainment though. It can be educational or give deeper meanings. Some are purposely aimed at older audiences. The latter also could string in the misconception America has about manga being violent and pornographic.

Manga and anime have more depth to give. There are different styles, despite the similar idea of form. They can range in style from childish to intricacy. Complex animation will give off a realistic illusion while still being able to manipulate characters and physics all while preserving understanding with the characters.

Another difference is that there is shading to give vigor. American animation is usually completely flat and two-dimensional. In anime, tends to have shadings of three tones that move consistently with the action that is taking place. It gives more realism with the illusion of constant movement.

So, is there a difference between Japanese comics and American ones? I suppose that is for the reader to decide.

Sources:
OsamuTezuka: Osamu Tezuka, Manga History, Influence
Wikipedia.org: Osamu Tezuka

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