Typically Japanese, but used by us westerners to describe any comic in a certain style which developed in Japan in the late 18th century.
In Korea they call their comics manhwa and in China they're called manhua. Manga artists are called Mangaka.
In an extremely broad sense the common manga will contain either schoolgirls, robots, cutesy animals or monsters. Many westerners think that all mangas contain pornographic material, which is obviously untrue.
This can be insulting to many manga artists.
In 1945ish splits appeared in the styles of manga. This is to do with the US invasion of Japan. Some artists took inspiration from the comic books the Americans brought over with them and cartoons introduced, such as Disney cartoons.
Other artists, notably Kinko Ito, stayed true to the Japanese cultures of comic writing and drawing. However, many hybrid versions were also created. The modern mangas popular
in America, the UK and France would be a mixture of the two styles.
One of the most revered figures in manga and anime is Osamu Tezuka. He's referred to as the 'Godfather of Anime' and the 'God of Manga'.
He created Astro Boy which has received numerous awards and is internationally renowned.
In Korea they call their comics manhwa and in China they're called manhua. Manga artists are called Mangaka.
In an extremely broad sense the common manga will contain either schoolgirls, robots, cutesy animals or monsters. Many westerners think that all mangas contain pornographic material, which is obviously untrue.
This can be insulting to many manga artists.
In 1945ish splits appeared in the styles of manga. This is to do with the US invasion of Japan. Some artists took inspiration from the comic books the Americans brought over with them and cartoons introduced, such as Disney cartoons. Other artists, notably Kinko Ito, stayed true to the Japanese cultures of comic writing and drawing. However, many hybrid versions were also created. The modern mangas popular
in America, the UK and France would be a mixture of the two styles. One of the most revered figures in manga and anime is Osamu Tezuka. He's referred to as the 'Godfather of Anime' and the 'God of Manga'.
He created Astro Boy which has received numerous awards and is internationally renowned.
Mangas are nearly always in black and white and is published in binded volumes, unlike typical western comics, which tend to be colourful and sold in thin booklets. Despite their durability, they aren't that much more expensive, making collecting them much more practical than collecting comics.
There are several main types of manga, unlike American comics which are mostly aimed at the 9-15 age group.
The first group is Kodomo, which is for children. Shonen mangas are for boys aged 12-18, Shoujo is for girls aged 12-18.
Josei is for women over 20, mainly working women, while Seinen is for men aged 18-30.
Hentai is pornographic, and is most of the manga that reaches the internet and obscure comic book shops in the west.
A few more things.
Manga is read from right to left. Animated manga is called anime. There are many sub-cultures based around mangas and anime. One of the biggest American manga conventions is Wonder Con.
pictures:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/AstroBoyVolume1.jpg
http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/song-chart-memes-japanese-population.jpg
I'm just getting into Manga and Anime myself. I've noticed that stories created in one medium are often retold in the other, and it doesn't matter which version comes first. Also - the stories themselves change, sometimes dramatically, with different characters and endings.
ReplyDeleteActually, this is pretty cool.
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